FMT News |  |
- Education blueprint offers opportunity to unite students
- Govt to table emergency motion on Israeli attacks
- Nik Aziz: Not wrong to pray for Umno’s downfall
- Ability of Syariah Court to enforce hudud in doubt
- ‘Umno-linked ustaz implied Prophet was racist’
- 14 usul dilulus termasuk 8 tanpa bahas
- 50 penyokong PAS Kg. Pak Mali sertai Umno
- How looking good can be bad for you
- Top 10 tips to escape a hangover
- Asean leaders meet amid tensions
- Islamic scholars: Fight pluralism concept
- Education blueprint will cover needs of special children
- Search goes on for abducted duo
- Mancini doesn’t expect miracle against Real
- Di Matteo says Chelsea have to tighten up
- Norwich outfought United – Ferguson
- Mahabharata – Bahagian 7
- BN’s only strategy in economics
- Rumble in Jelapang
- PAS’ unwavering pursuit of Islamic state
| Education blueprint offers opportunity to unite students Posted: 18 Nov 2012 03:30 AM PST
He said that the country needs the combination of old and new ideas to break down the racial barrier existing among students. He was asked a question on the lack of interaction among students from different types of schools in the Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia's annual conference today. While defending the existence of multi-stream education, he said the system itself must be de-racialised. "We should go back to the day when we have elected local governments, and local education authorities. "In every local authority, the municipal council used to decide the number of Malay schools, Chinese schools, Tamil schools or religious schools needed to be built based on needs," he said. The former Suaram chief said that the newly-released National Education Blueprint 2013-2025 provided a "fantastic opportunity" to press for the cause as it has proposed the establishment of education precincts. Under the concept of education precinct, the government would build different types of schools within the same area with shared facilities such as sports stadium, performance theatre and canteen. Kua said the idea could be extended to organising interschool activities such as Malay language debates and sports day. However, Tamil Foundation advisor K Arumugam opined that the stereotyping between students from different ethnicity was the real cause to the lack of interaction. Relating his own experience, he said he was a graduate who came from a Tamil primary school and was not very proficient in Malay or English when he entered the national secondary school. "But I had no problems interacting with the Malay and Chinese classmates because there was no stereotyping," he said. He said this was in stark contrast to the situation involving his daughters and his neighbour who spoke perfect English but refused to communicate. He said it would take everyone's mutual respect to each other to tear down the communication barrier. |
| Govt to table emergency motion on Israeli attacks Posted: 18 Nov 2012 03:14 AM PST
The prime minister said the motion would call on the Dewan Rakyat to adopt a resolution, among others:
“To express the support and concern of the government and people of Malaysia on the issue, I have directed Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz to table an emergency motion at the Dewan Rakyat on Monday, Nov 19, 2012,” said Najib. The prime minister is here to attend the 21st Asean Summit Conference and other related summit conferences for three days, from today. Israel had launched a new attack named, ‘Pillar of Defence’, on Palestinian territory at Gaza and so far, 40 people were killed, including Hamas leader Ahmed Jaberi, six children, a pregnant woman and a teacher with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), with more than 345 people injured. Three Israeli citizens were also killed and 18 others injured as a result of counter attacks by Hamas. Najib said the attacks were clearly inhuman and violated international laws, international humanitarian laws, UN Charter, and they were indeed, war crimes under the 1949 Geneva Fourth Convention on the protection of civilians in a war. - Bernama |
| Nik Aziz: Not wrong to pray for Umno’s downfall Posted: 18 Nov 2012 03:06 AM PST
Nik Aziz, who is also Kelantan Menteri Besar, said such a call was allowed for by Islam because the party deemed that Umno had been belitting Islam all this while. “Not wrong (to call for the prayer). Umno has already rejected Islam, so how can it return to the fold,” he told reporters at the end of PAS’ 58th Muktamar (Annual Congress) here today. He was commenting on the “sembahyang hajat” (special prayers) held by the party in conjunction with the muktamar at the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium here on Friday which sought Umno’s and the Barisan Nasional’s downfall . The prayers were also for the opposition pact of PAS, PKR and DAP to make it to Putrajaya come the next general election. Meanwhile, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, when asked about the same matter, said the prayers could be recited when one felt oppressed. Asked why no prayers were recited for Muslims in Palestine and Syria who were oppressed and also the Rohingya in Myanmar, he said this was often done at other religious functions including the Friday prayers. - Bernama |
| Ability of Syariah Court to enforce hudud in doubt Posted: 18 Nov 2012 02:14 AM PST
"A simple problem like divorce, or a woman who has been abused by her husband…and she has presented it to the Syariah Court with medical report and police reports… "But the syariah judge just asks the husband to take an oath, to swear that he had never abused his wife, and that's all, case closed," he said at the Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia annual conference today. He also cited cases where wives who have been abandoned by husbands for years having to go to the court every two months to get a RM250 of sustenance (nafkah) payment as an example of the court's shortcomings. Ahmad Farouk said this while replying to a question from the floor on hudud and whether non-Muslims should oppose such law. The academician echoed the stance of Egypt-Swiss Muslim scholar Tariq Ramadan who called for a moratorium of hudud in light of the current socio-political situation.
He added women and the poor were generally the victims in countries that implemented hudud. Ahmad Farouk also noted that it "does not make sense" to have two different sets of laws and punishment, especially when a Muslim and a non-Muslim commit the same crime. |
| ‘Umno-linked ustaz implied Prophet was racist’ Posted: 18 Nov 2012 12:24 AM PST
He said Fathul Bari Mat Jahya (photo), from the Umno's Islamic scholars group Ilmuwan Muda Umno (Ilmu), has made the argument in an op-ed in Utusan Malaysia earlier this year. "The worst thing about Ilmu people… one of its leaders wrote specifically in a column in Utusan that it's alright for the government to practice racism, because the Prophet was a racist," he said in a NGO conference this morning. "And this is the character who is touted to be the next Perlis MB," he told some 100 audiences in a speech which themed on national unity.
Ahmad Farouk was referring to the Utusan article titled "The Prophet Racist Agreement and The Malay Rulers' Deal" which was published on Feb 29. In the article, Fathul argued that the Prophet appointed the keeper of the holy Kaaba key based on the person's lineage. The Kaaba key keeper overlooks the Zamzam Well, which is believed to be a miraculously-generated source of water from the god. While Fathul did not openly declare the Prophet as a racist, he however drew similarity between the Kaaba appointment and the social contract "sealed" by the country's forefathers which guarantees the rights of the Malays.
"They have committed so many uncivilised acts, such as holding a protest to whip the effigy of (Opposition Leader) Anwar Ibrahim and the burger protest in front of (Bersih co-chair) S Ambiga’s house," he said. Islamists groups like Fathul’s, on the other hand, hold a strong grip on their religion and allow only subscription to a single ideology of Islam, he said. The academician concluded by asking people who want to seek for a change to effect the change, for an oppression-free society that can see unity in diversity. |
| 14 usul dilulus termasuk 8 tanpa bahas Posted: 18 Nov 2012 12:10 AM PST
PETALING JAYA: Sebanyak 14 usul diluluskan oleh muktamar tahunan PAS ke-58 yang diadakan di Kota Baru iaitu enam dengan bahas dan lapan lagi tanpa perbahasan. Enam usul yang dibahas itu adalah, satu usul dari Dewan Ulamak, dua dari pemuda, satu muslimat dan dua PAS Pusat, lapor Harakahdaily. Dewan Ulamak PAS Pusat membawa usul organisasi agar Majlis Syura Ulamak PAS menubuhkan satu unit audit syariat bagi tujuan mengaudit perjalanan badan eksekutif yang terdiri daripada wakil ahli jawatankuasa PAS Pusat, Badan Perhubungan PAS Negeri dan kerajaan negeri yang ditadbir PAS. Pengauditan ini menurut mereka perlu merangkumi semua aspek pentadbiran supaya semuanya memenuhi pematuhan syariat dan tidak melakukan perkara yang bertentangan dengan syariat bagi memastikan kualiti kepimpinan kerajaan negeri ditadbir PAS. Usul itu telah dibentang dan dibahas semalam dan telah dipersetujui sebulat suara oleh para perwakilan muktamar. Dewan Pemuda PAS pula membawa usul mendesak kerajaan supaya Sistem Penguatkuasaan Automatik (AES) ditangguhkan serta merta bagi mengelakkan pengainayaan kepada rakyat. Usul itu juga mendesak agar kerajaan mewujudkan satu tatacara kelola trafik yang baru berdasarkan kajian dan juga piawaian negara maju yang lebih bersifat mendidik pengguna jalan raya. Satu lagi usul yang dibawa dewan itu adalah usul mendesak kerajaan Malaysia menerima usul tergempar berkaitan Palestin dan Rohingya. Usul tersebut juga menggesa kerajaan melalui OIC, Liga Arab dan PBB mengambil tindakan segera terhadap isu ini. Kerajaan juga digesa menyatakan sikap yang tegas serta menggunakan seluruh mekanisma operasi untuk membantu krisis kemanusiaan yang berlaku di kedua-dua negara ini. Tangguh laksana PBS Kedua-dua usul pemuda tersebut juga telah dibentang dan dibahas semalam dan juga telah diterima sebulat suara para perwakilan. Usul dari Dewan Muslimat PAS Pusat pula bagi mendesak Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia menangguhkan perlaksanaan Pentaksiran Berasaskan Sekolah (PBS). Ini kerana perlaksanaan itu masih kabur sehingga menimbulkan tekanan kepada guru yang hampir 80 peratus dari mereka sebenarnya tidak faham. Mereka juga menuntut agar hak yang adil dan sama rata kepada seramai 800,000 pelajar Sekolah Agama Rakyat (SAR) dalam PBS ini serta memastikan akses internet 1 Bestari Net yang menggantikan School Net di sekolah diatasi dengan sebaiknya sebelum perlaksanaan dilakukan. Usul tersebut yang dibentang pagi ini juga diterima sebulat suara oleh perwakilan. PAS Pusat pula membawa usul agar memperhebatkan siri penerangan pengkhianatan Umno kepada orang Melayu melalui semua medium yang ada. Pada masa yang sama, PAS juga perlu meyakinkan pengundi Melayu bahawa PAS mampu menjaga Melayu lebih baik daripada Umno serta menerangkan segala pembohongan Umno. PAS juga perlu menonjolkan kemampuan memerintah dengan memberi contoh Kelantan yang telah diperintah 22 tahun dan Kedah yang telah berjaya menunjukkan prestasi yang baik walaupun terpaksa menanggung beban hutang RM1.8 bilion peninggalan BN. Kukuhkan JK Bersih Satu lagi usul PAS Pusat adalah agar PAS mengukuhkan sokongan ke atas Jawatankuasa Bersih yang telah mengemukakan lapan tuntutan untuk membersihkan pilihan raya. Usul terssebut juga mahu PAS mendesak Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) dan kerajaan Umno BN untuk memenuhi kesemua tuntutan Jawatankuasa Bersih. Pada masa sama, jentera PAS juga perlu terus membongkar penyelewengan Umno melalui daftar pemilih dan terus memberi tekanan kepada SPR untuk membersihkan kesemua daftar undi sebelum PRU-13. Usul yang juga dibentang pagi ini itu juga diterima sebulat suara oleh para perwakilan. Sementara itu, lapan usul yang diterima tanpa bahas adalah usul memperkasa Harakah, usul mengutuk Presiden MCA Dr Chua Soi Lek yang berterusan menghina Islam, serta usul agar Pakatan Rakyat mengutamakan seluas-luasnya aspek pendidikan di dalam pentadbiran di negeri-negeri yang dikuasai. Selain itu, usul-usul agar usaha dakwah terhadap bukan Islam dimaksimakan, usul pembantu rumah tempatan dimartabatkan, usul calon Dewan Himpunan Penyokong PAS (DHPP) diberi peluang bertanding dalam PRU-13 juga dilulus tanpa bahas. Dua lagi usul juga dilulus tanpa bahas adalah usul menghapuskan Pinjaman Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) serta usul agar diadakan satu himpunan besar-besaran pembabitkan parti-parti dalam Pakatan serta NGO bagi mendesak kerajaan memastikan pilihan raya adil dan saksama. |
| 50 penyokong PAS Kg. Pak Mali sertai Umno Posted: 18 Nov 2012 12:07 AM PST BACHOK, 18 Nov – Sekumpulan 50 penyokong PAS di Kampung Pak Mali, Bakong di sini menyerahkan borang permohonan untuk menyertai Umno di sini malam tadi. Ketua Umno Bahagian Bachok Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin menerima borang daripada kumpulan terbabit diketuai Syed Zain Syed Hassan, 48, dengan disaksikan lebih 300 penduduk kampung. “Ini bermakna Umno berjaya menembusi kubu kuat PAS yang sukar dimasuki sejak 20 tahun lepas,” kata Awang Adek kepada pemberita selepas menerima borang-borang itu pada majlis bongkar isu semasa di kampung berkenaan. Awang Adek yang juga Timbalan Menteri Kewangan berkata tindakan mereka akan membantu Umno dalam usaha menawan Parlimen Bachok dan tiga kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) di kawasan berkenaan iaitu Jelawat, Perupuk dan Tawang pada pilihan raya umum akan datang. Mat Usof Mat Junoh, 57, berkata kegagalan PAS membangunkan Kelantan mendorongnya mengambil keputusan meninggalkan parti yang disertainya sejak 20 tahun lepas. Katanya, usaha akan dibuat untuk menarik kira-kira 60 lagi penyokong dan anggota PAS di kawasan itu untuk menyertai Umno. -Bernama |
| How looking good can be bad for you Posted: 17 Nov 2012 11:36 PM PST
Eyeliner Tight ponytails Hair dye Hair straightening products Mascara Lipstick Fish pedicures Shared beauty products Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids False nails LINKS |
| Top 10 tips to escape a hangover Posted: 17 Nov 2012 11:29 PM PST
Don't drink on an empty stomach – this will slow the rate at which alcohol can be metabolised. Try to have a small meal or snack before you hit the party. Bar snacks like crisps and peanuts will just make you thirstier. Give your liver a helping hand with Milk thistle – a daily dose during a party season will do wonders. Check the label of any medication you are taking to ensure it doesn't react adversely with alcohol. Stick to clearer-coloured drinks to minimise the effects of a hangover. Red wine is one of the worst offenders, as are dark spirits like whisky, brandy and rum. Stick to one drink! Switching from vodka to wine and then to beer is a recipe for oblivion – and a thudding headache the next day. Watch your portion size! A 'small' glass of wine in a bar or pub these days is often 175ml – and a large is 250ml, which is actually the equivalent of a third of a bottle of wine. Order a non-alcoholic drink between each alcoholic one. This works particularly well if you are drinking spirits, as you can simply order the mixer without the spirit, and no one will know!
Have a snack before going to bed – a slice of wholemeal toast and honey is ideal. Honey contains potassium which helps to counteract the effects of the alcohol. Finally prevention is always better than cure – just pace yourself to stay in a merry mood and when you are drunk just stop! LINKS |
| Asean leaders meet amid tensions Posted: 17 Nov 2012 10:38 PM PST
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit was being held following months of acrimony within the 10-member bloc over how to handle disputes with China over rival claims in the South China Sea. The maritime tensions were expected to be high on the agenda at the summit in Cambodia, as well as during two days of expanded talks starting on Monday that will include US President Barack Obama and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. Asean Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said the bloc was ready to present a united front to China over the issue, after proposing on Saturday a hotline with its giant Asian neighbour aimed at defusing tensions. “There is a good intention to push the momentum forward,” Surin told AFP in an interview on Sunday just ahead of the opening of the talks. Rival claims to the South China Sea have for decades made the waterways, home to some of the world’s most important shipping lanes and believed to sit atop vast natural resources, a potential military flashpoint. China insists it has sovereign rights to nearly all of the sea, including waters close to the coasts of its Asian neighbours. Asean members Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, as well as Taiwan, also have sometimes overlapping claims to the sea. Tensions escalated this year amid complaints by the Philippines and Vietnam that China was becoming increasingly aggressive in staking its claim to the sea, including by employing bullying diplomatic tactics. An Asean foreign ministers’ meeting in Phnom Penh ended in July without issuing a joint communique for the first time in the bloc’s 45-year history because of divisions over how to handle the South China Sea issue. The Philippines and Vietnam had wanted the communique to make specific reference to their disputes with China but were thwarted by Cambodia, the host of the talks and a close Chinese ally. In one of the major set pieces for Sunday, Asean leaders are scheduled to endorse a declaration they say will enshrine human right protections for the bloc’s 600 million people. However, drafts of the pact have drawn widespread criticism from human rights groups, which say it allows loopholes for governments. ASEAN’s members have a wide range of political systems, from authoritarian regimes in Vietnam and Laos at one end of the spectrum to the freewheeling democracy of the Philippines at the other. And even as the rights pact is signed, Asean leaders will on Sunday have to focus on violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state between Muslim and Buddhist communities that has left 180 people dead since June. Surin said Asean foreign ministers discussed the violence during meetings on Saturday, the same day as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation branded attacks on the minority Rohingya Muslims as “genocide”. Surin told AFP Asean leaders may voice official concern in their end-of-summit statement on Sunday. Directly before travelling to Phnom Penh, Obama will on Monday make a historic visit to Myanmar to reward and further encourage political developments by the new reformist government there. Rights groups have also urged him to raise concerns over the violence in Rakhine. Obama’s aides have already said he will raise “grave concerns” in Phnom Penh over Cambodia’s rights record and the need for political reform when he meets Prime Minister Hun Sen. “We’ll continue to make clear that we want to see greater political freedom in Cambodia,” said Ben Rhodes, a deputy US national security advisor who is travelling with Obama. Asean leaders are also aiming to use the Phnom Penh talks to push forward a planned giant free trade zone with China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. Negotiations for the free trade area, which would account for roughly half the global population and around a third of the world’s annual gross domestic product, are set to be officially launched on Tuesday. AFP |
| Islamic scholars: Fight pluralism concept Posted: 17 Nov 2012 10:28 PM PST
Therefore, they hoped all Muslims irrespective of their professions and status in the community should play their roles with the Islamic religious authorities in the states to fight the concept so that the position of Islam as the official religion continued to be preserved as enshrined in the Federal Constitution. Former Kedah Mufti, Syeikh Hassbullah Abd Halim, who expressed his concern, said the understanding of religious pluralism concept was that all religions had similar values in the eyes of God. “This is against the Islamic faith and it could lead to disbelief. “I see the effort to disseminate religious pluralism among Muslims getting more widespread. As Muslims who love their religion, they should act within their own capacity,” he told Bernama. Syeikh Hassbullah said to fight the concept, Muslims in the country should unite and return to the true Islamic path as prescribed by Prophet Mohamad. Young Scholars Secretariat (Ilmu) working committee chairman, Ustaz Fathul Bari Mat Jahaya said pluralism was an understanding which adopted extreme tolerant attitude based on western perspective. “I am waiting for the National Fatwa Council to issue a clear fatwa (edict) on the understanding for Muslims to refer to,” he said. He said the fatwa need to be implemented with strict religious action and enforcement to eradicate such ills effectively. National Mosque Imam Azhar Tuarno said the younger generation should be careful with the concept of freedom, especially involving the Islamic faith. He said this was in view of the development of borderless technology now which enabled communications among people to be easier and more liberal. Bernama |
| Education blueprint will cover needs of special children Posted: 17 Nov 2012 10:20 PM PST
The inclusion of the chapter followed feedback obtained after the launch of the preliminary report on the blueprint in September, he said. Pursuant to this, he said, a laboratory on the matter was set up and that he had endorsed recommendations made by it that could be implemented without any hitches. “The new chapter spells out in detail on how the requirements of this group (special needs children) will be addressed,” he told Malaysian journalists at the end of his nine-day working visit to Australia here Sunday. Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said there was still time for various quarters to give their feedback on the preliminary repory before the blueprint was finalised, even though it was at its final stages. Also being taken into consideration was feedback from the Chinese community on the vernacular education system like the request by Dong Zhong for remove classes to be retained, he said, adding that a flexible approach would be taken on the matter (remove classes) and that its retention would depend on the capability of the students involved. “It could also be that the students need remove classes for just three or six months, no need to wait up to a full year to attain higher proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia (for students from national-type schools). For me, this is not a major issue,” he said. On another matter, Muhyiddin said he hoped sponsors of scholarships for Malaysian students in Australia could review the rates as the cost of living in the country was soaring. He said the Malaysian students he met during his visit had conveyed this to him and also that the exchange rate from Malaysian Ringgit to Australian Dollars was unfavourable to them. He added that he would be raising the matter with the Public Service Department (PSD) as Malaysian students on PSD scholarships in Australia were currently receiving USD1,200 a month but the cost of living had risen to USD1,500 a month. On his visit, Muhyiddin said it helped further boost ties between Malaysia and Australia parcticularly in the fields of education, services and trade. During the visit, Muhyiddin had delivered the keynote address at the World Chinese Economic Forum (WCEF) and held meetings with the Chief Minsiter of Victoria state Ted Baillieu and the Australian-Malaysian Business Council. - Bernama |
| Search goes on for abducted duo Posted: 17 Nov 2012 10:08 PM PST
Police said the navy was helping in the effort as the group had sped from the Felda settlement in Tungku near here to international waters, possibly to one of the many islands in the Southern Philippines which is just a half hours boat ride away. Up to late Saturday, there was no communication from the group said to have been armed with M16 rifles but further details of what transpired last Wednesday afternoon, the day of the kidnapping, have now been released. According to plantation worker, Benny Suriya, who was with his bosses Chong Hong Xiong, and Wong Dao Xiong of Lian Hin Lee Plantation Sdn Bhd, who were inspecting their birds’ nest farmhouse together with the victims when the incident took place, the five armed men had approached them claiming to be policemen. Recounting what transpired to state CID chief, Omar Mama, who visited the crime scene Saturday afternoon accompanied by Chong and Wong and other police officers, he said they had just collected some of the birds nests when they were approached by the group of five armed men.
The four were then bound, told they were being taken to the police station for questioning, and marched at gunpoint towards the sea about two kilometres away where a boat was moored by the beach. Suriya claimed that he asked his abductors if they knew where the police station was but was told to keep quiet and just walk. He said he was also asked by one of the men if he was a Muslim and he said he lied to them that he was. He noted however that the only man who was masked never uttered a word either to them or the others. Both Suriya and Wong said they were constantly prodded in the back by the gun-wielding men to walk faster until they reached the boat which Suriya estimated to be over 10 meters long.
Kalau ada wang… The released duo, still bound, managed to free themselves a short while later and rushed to the nearest police station to lodge a report about the kidnap. Wong also told reporters that he had called the cellphone taken from him about an hour after the incident and was answered by an accented voice which asked in well-known Sulug slang "who is this?" and "what do you want?" before hanging up.
The incident has left the state government and police here with a bloody nose after insisting that security in the east coast, which had experienced several incidents of lawlessness for years including cross-border crimes linked to terrorism, is guaranteed. Several foreign embassies including the US, have issued alerts from time to time to their citizens to avoid the east coast areas of the state after receiving intelligence reports of planned kidnappings and other threats by Southern Philippines linked militant groups. Such reports and incidents have however dwindled over the last year with the last major incident being a kidnapping in 2010. This incident lays bare the fact that Sabah’s east coast border, despite extra security measures having been put in place, remains porous and illegal entry or exit from the state can done at will. |
| Mancini doesn’t expect miracle against Real Posted: 17 Nov 2012 09:50 PM PST  MANCHESTER: Roberto Mancini believes Manchester City’s 5-0 thrashing of Aston Villa will count for nothing when they host Real Madrid in the Champions League.City continued their unbeaten start to the defence of their Premier League title with their most emphatic display of the season at Eastlands on Saturday. But, with just two points from their opening four Champions League group matches, their hopes of reaching the knock-out phase of Europe’s elite club competition are bleak. And Mancini, who ruled out City’s chance of progressing from their group, admits facing the Spanish champions on Wednesday will be a far tougher proposition than the feeble challenge provided by struggling Villa. “They are two different competitions and on Wednesday we play against one of the best teams in the world with a fantastic history,” Mancini said. “We want to do a good job and we will have not much of a chance to go through but we will try.” Mancini had been concerned about a lack of goals from his strikers but after Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko scored in the 2-1 win over Spurs, Argentina striker Aguero and his compatriot Carlos Tevez each scored twice against Villa. City’s frontmen have now scored 13 times in the league this term and Mancini hopes that can spark a goal rush for the rest of the campaign. “I hope from the last two games we changed something,” Mancini said. “In our minds we had a period like this last year and the problem that we had in the first two months (are behind us). “For us it’s important we’ve started to play well and scored six goals with our strikers in the last two games and we missed the strikers scoring. “We can do better but I hope we are starting to find the form of last season. Also against Tottenham it was like the period that we had last year.” City goalkeeper Joe Hart has faced plenty of criticism for his recent performances, particularly in England’s 4-2 defeat to Sweden in midweek. But he pulled off two fine saves in the opening period, blocking from team-mate Vincent Kompany and Villa striker Christian Benteke. “This is his job. What happened after the international game, this is part of our life,” Mancini said. “Sometimes you do well and sometimes it’s a bad game but it’s important to have a strong character and he made important saves in the first half.” David Silva opened the scoring with his first goal of the season and after the interval Aguero made no mistake from the penalty spot after a handball from Andreas Weimann. Tevez also scored with a penalty after Barry Bannan handled in the area. Aguero broke clear to thump in a fourth before Tevez tapped in a fifth goal from Samir Nasri’s cross as City extended their unbeaten home run in the league to 36 games. Despite the one-sided nature of a defeat that plunged his side into the relegation zone, Villa manager Paul Lambert is adamant they can still stay up. “This won’t hamper our progress. We will bounce back strongly,” Lambert said. “The last few weeks the lads have given it everything they’ve got. “Joe Hart made some world-class saves to keep it 0-0. We had some chances. They are a top side with fantastic players. Take nothing away from them. But I’m disappointed. “The lads have been excellent for the last few weeks and we will continue to try and keep progressing the football club.” - AFP |
| Di Matteo says Chelsea have to tighten up Posted: 17 Nov 2012 09:47 PM PST  LONDON: Roberto Di Matteo has hinted strongly that Chelsea may abandon their attacking style in favour of a more defensive mentality after their 2-1 loss at West Bromwich Albion.The Chelsea coach is concerned by his team’s slump in form after seeing the European champions take just two points from four games and relinquish top spot in the Premier League. And with a crucial Champions League game against Juventus in Turin on Tuesday evening followed by a Premier League meeting with Manchester City at Stamford Bridge next weekend, Di Matteo says it is time to tighten up. Chelsea’s midfield trio of Juan Mata, Oscar and Eden Hazard have been lauded for their contribution to the team’s expansive, attractive style this season. But one of them may be sacrificed — if only temporarily — as Di Matteo’s plans for Turin revert back towards the more obdurate approach he utilised to land the club’s first ever Champions League title last May. “We have played differently this season, but we might have to go a little bit tighter to win games and make sure we don’t concede,” he said. “Maybe it is time to look at it, change it, and get a win. We have massive games coming up, but we have players with a lot of experience in these situations. “We cannot rely on scoring three goals to win a game. Sometimes you need to be able to win 1-0. “We will look at the set-up of the team and maybe sacrifice a little of the attacking options.” Di Matteo chose to leave Mata, Oscar and Ramires out of his starting line-up against Albion on Saturday, but rejected claims he was saving them for the Juventus clash. Instead, the Chelsea manager said their mid-week globe-trotting to play international football with Spain and Brazil had shaped his thoughts. All three came off the bench in the second half as Chelsea fought to retrieve a 2-1 deficit. Shane Long fired West Brom into an early lead before Eden Hazard levelled just before half-time. Long then set up Peter Odemwingie for the winner before Albion goalkeeper Boaz Myhill twice denied Daniel Sturridge an equaliser. Albion coach Steve Clarke savoured victory over the club where he was a player and coach for 15 years, but had a special word for Long, who opted to play after receiving news this week of the death of his grandmother. “He wanted to play and that is the measure of him. He is going back to Ireland tonight (yesterday) to be with his family,” said Clarke, whose side now sit fourth in the table. “I ran out of words to describe Shane a few weeks ago. He has been outstanding for us this season and produced another fantastic display. “There was a little bit of everything in our performance. There was quality attacking play, two good goals, and dogged defending at the end. “It’s a great time to be at the club. If our fans want to believe (about Champions League football) they can, but we will keep our feet on the ground and concentrate on the next match. “Boaz Myhill has waited a long time for his chance, but I was not surprised by him because I see that every day on the training ground.” - AFP |
| Norwich outfought United – Ferguson Posted: 17 Nov 2012 09:44 PM PST  NORWICH: Alex Ferguson admitted that his Manchester United side had been out-fought in yesterday’s 1-0 defeat at Norwich City.The result, coupled with a 5-0 victory for Manchester City at home to Aston Villa earlier in the day, meant United ended in second place in the Premier League table. A goal from Anthony Pilkington – a former United youth player – on the hour mark sealed a remarkable win for hard-working Norwich. “It’s disappointing,” Ferguson said afterwards. “You have to give credit to Norwich. They battled all over the pitch and defended fantastically well. Their goalkeeper had a really good night also. “It was a marvelous cross and a magnificent header – there was nothing the goalkeeper could do about that. They deserved the win just because they worked so hard for it. “We had a lot of possession and one or two half chances without having any great chances. It just wasn’t our night.” United had fallen behind on a number of previous occasions this season but had always come back to secure at least a point, and more often than not a victory. Not on this occasion however. “We always feel we can do that and the history of the club is like that,” Ferguson added. “The players we have got are used to making comebacks and in matches we are always a threat. We were in some respects tonight also. “But they defended really well and the goalkeeper made two or three really good saves.” Ferguson had been unable to call upon England forward Wayne Rooney because of tonsillitis. Javier Hernandez, the Mexico forward, made a rare start after netting five goals in the previous eight games mainly from the bench, but he and Robin van Persie did not fashion any clear chances to beat John Ruddy in the home goal. “You always miss your good players, there’s no question about that, but we had plenty of good players on the pitch tonight,” Ferguson said. Norwich had won none of their first seven Premier League games under Chris Hughton, who succeeded Paul Lambert as manager in the summer but are now unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions. That run began with a home victory over Arsenal by exactly the same score-line but Hughton insisted beating Manchester United was the bigger achievement. “It’s our best result of the season simply because it’s Manchester United,” he said. “They tested us more than anybody we have played this season but we were resilient enough. We are on a good run at the moment and we were able to use the confidence we had from that today. “It’s certainly a wonderful achievement to get a result against the likes of these. It’s still three points but there is a great feeling tonight because it’s Manchester United. After the first few games of the season where we had a few good performances but didn’t get the rub of the green it is just so vital to pick up points. “We have proved that we can do that but we know our levels. If we fall below then we can get beat. We need to play at that level, which will give us a chance. “Over the 90 minutes we deserved what we got. It was such a resilient performance and we limited them to minimal chances. They got a lot of ball into the box because that’s what Manchester United do and however well you play it’s difficult to stop that. “But we defended well as a unit and we could have, with a little more composure at the end, have sealed it a little bit earlier.” - AFP |
| Posted: 17 Nov 2012 06:45 PM PST
Vyasa menyampaikan kisah kompleks keturunan Kuru dalam bentuk epik dan puisi yang dinyanyikan berdasarkan apa yang dihafaznya selama ini. Dewa berkepala gajah pula mendengar dengan teliti dan memahami sepenuhnya kisah kompleks itu sebelum mencatatkannya dalam bentuk tulisan sepertimana diminta oleh maharishyi berkenaan. Ruang waktu yang digunakan oleh Ganesha untuk menghayati dan memahami kisah yang dinyanyikan oleh Vyasa memberikan pula peluang kepada pendeta itu untuk memikirkan serta menggubah stanza-stanza baru untuk dinyanyikan. "Jadi, apakah Vyasa sekadar mereka-reka kisah Jaya yang disampaikan itu?" Demikian Hassan bertanya dengan penuh rasa ingin tahu. "Yalah. Bukankah epik Mahabharata yang berasaskan pada epik Jaya dianggap sebagai teks kudus dan teks sejarah?" Hussain juga tidak mahu melepaskan peluang untuk mengemukakan kemusykilan. Datuk berfikir sebentar. Ternyata beliau tidak mahu terburu-buru memberikan jawapan berupa penjelasan yang mungkin mengeruhkan keadaan. Lebih teruk lagi jika penerangan yang diberikannya boleh ditafsirkan sebagai cuba mempersoalkan kredibiliti Vyasa sebagai individu pertama yang mendokumentasikan kisah yang dipercayai berlaku di Hastinapura. "Saya serahkan persoalan itu kepada kamu sendiri untuk memikirkan. Bagaimanapun, tidaklah menghairankan jika seorang tokoh seperti Vyasa memerlukan masa untuk berfikir dan menggubah ayat-ayat yang paling sesuai dalam bentuk stanza berdasarkan kisah yang sudah dihafaznya," datuk cuba menghuraikan. Pasangan kembar yang tekun mendengar cerita datuk kelihatan termenung seketika. Mereka mengangguk-angguk kecil sebagai tanda memahami logik yang diperkatakan oleh datuk. Hasil daripada pembacaan dan rujukan pelbagai sumber yang sahih, Hassan dan Hussain juga sedar bahawa teks Razmnameh dalam bahasa Parsi yang ada pada mereka adalah terjemahan daripada teks Mahabharata yang dikarang dalam tulisan Sanskrit. Teks itu sendiri sudah melalui suatu proses pengubah suaian yang agak banyak sejak Vyasa menyanyikan kisah Jaya untuk ditulis oleh Ganesha. Sesudah teks Jaya dikarang dan didokumentasikan dalam bentuk bertulis, Vyasa terasa amat lega kerana sudah ada sumber rujukan yang sahih. Walaupun apabila dia meninggal dunia nanti, akan wujud teks bertulis yang boleh dijadikan rujukan. Dalam pada itu, maharishyi berkenaan tetap berusaha memperturunkan kisah epik keturunan Kuru kepada anaknya, Suka. Epik Jaya turut diajar kepada para pengikutnya yang berminat mengetahui kandungan sebuah epik agung yang bakal menggegarkan dunia. Adalah dipercayai bahawa Narada berpeluang mendengar kisah berkenaan, lalu menyampaikan (menyanyikan) kepada golongan dewa di kayangan dengan iringan veenai (bukan tambura) yang sering dibawanya. Sementara itu, Suka – anak Vyasa – pula terlibat dalam usaha bersungguh-sungguh menyampaikan kisah Jaya kepada golongan gandhara, raksasa dan yaksha. – Bersambung minggu depan. |
| BN’s only strategy in economics Posted: 17 Nov 2012 06:40 PM PST
The FGV listing simply illustrates that special interest groups in this country determine our democracy instead of the wishes of the majority. The listing of FGV has more to do with the agenda of the moneyed class than the agenda of the no-money settler class. Settlers and employees got 200.6 million of the 2188.9 million shares to be sold. The people representing the majority and overriding interest are the settlers and the employees. There are 112,635 settlers and 3835 employees. They represent directly the interest of Felda people. They are the majority on whose backs and on whose name, this listing was supposed to be done for and benefits meant. My questions to the Felda people is this: Why get only 200.6 million out of the 2.188 billion shares offered? Why own the same from the 3.6482 billion of the enlarged share capital? That's only 5.5% of the interest in Felda. What Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and the government are doing to you is just cosmetics. Because you are 116,470 strong, you are bribed with RM15,000, RM380 duit raya, 810 shares worth RM3685 at listing and your sons' and daughters' PTPTN are being paid by the government using money that belongs to YOU. Najib will do anything to keep you corralled and addicted to the cocaine of handouts. Who are the “people”? This country's future is being determined by special interest groups who are self-selected and thrive on a single chosen issue. When the FGV shares rose up to near RM6 per unit, everyone said that was a testament of the confidence people have with FGV. But who are these “people” exactly? The “people” – a nebulous and hazy term which could be infused with whatever meaning one wishes – refers to the various state governments that were asked to buy the shares and the various government-linked companies (GLCs) that Najib directed to buy FGV's stocks. More important, these “people” are really the moneyed and special interest groups. And of course, Najib alone represents the “people” and naturally he wasn't shy to pat his own back. He must now be an accomplished contortionist. Now that the share price has gone down tremendously, everyone who previously jumped up and down, are saying that it is a normal course in share trading. Going down is part of the normal course, but going up is taken to mean much more? Our take is this – going by the logic of the majority of us with only weak school certificates – the reduction in price, must be testament to lack of confidence. FGV’s poor record We are not confident FGV will take settlers new heights nor are we confident Najib, Umno and BN can take our country to new heights. Najib's only strategy in economics is to give out money, here, there and everywhere. Right from the beginning, the listing of FGVH and the choice of the vehicle for listing of Felda's business interest was questionable. For a start, there weren't any settlers' representative on its board. FGV does business mostly overseas. Its business record was far from good or sufficiently good enough to inspire confidence that it can bring Felda to new heights. It incurred continuous losses in its business most of the time and only made spectacular rebound on the profits nearing the listing date. Most of its profits came from the portion it owns in Felda Holdings which is anchored in its brick and mortar business- planting of palm oil trees and selling CPO to the world. It wasn't doing anything bordering on rocket science that seems to be preferred by FGV. The writer is a former Umno state assemblyman but has now joined DAP. He is a FMT columnist. |
| Posted: 17 Nov 2012 06:27 PM PST
“I will be in Jelapang till death and not be a renegade," she said, as the voters of Jelapang have accepted her decision as she has been serving them all this while. What a pleasant surprise for the Jelapang folks. Her announcement is timely and noble of her to reassert her rights as an Independent elected state rep. MCA who is also eyeing the seat has expressed shocked at such a notion and promptly passed judgment that she is unlikely to win the seat. But if she does contest in Jelapang, it is quite certain that any MCA candidate wouldn't stand a chance in a three-cornered fight. Even the DAP candidate may lose his deposit under a heavyweight like Ms Hee. Yes, if there is anyone that can make mincemeat of the opposition, it would be none other than Hee Yit Foong. A petite giant From a nobody, she crawled up to be an MP and a Deputy Speaker. Today, she is an Independent DUN with a fiery ambition, and possesses a beautiful and desirous face that sells. In short she is candidate material and a winnable one too. She is the epitome of political mastery and an example for other aspiring politicians. DAP should seriously woo her back again and apologise for her ill treatment. She is an asset to any coalition. If she happens to contest, DAP knows that the seat is as good as gone. She has determination, self-dignity, loyalty, unselfish, focus and honesty. Such traits are not found in many candidates nowadays. You can be sure that she would not let her constituents down again. A petite lass with a cute smile, somewhat handicapped but still willing to give her life to fight for the downtrodden masses. Today, she is well known as the patriot of Jelapang and the warrior of Jelapang. Someone even called her St Joan of Arc – a famous French woman crusader who fought against the tyrants in the Royal Court. A victim of hate propaganda She was even accused of being bought over for thousands of ringgit, even though there was no concrete proof. Another rumour was that she was spurned by the DAP who denied her an official Toyota Camry vehicle which led to her walking out. And to top it all, she was blamed for the loss of the Perak state. That is so unfair and you can hardly blame her, as once she turned independent, she obviously cannot be PR-friendly anymore. The fact that she was seen later in a Mercedes Benz proves that she did not leave because of a miserable Camry?! Today, Perak state is in good hands under the meticulous leadership of Zambry Abdul Kadir and efforts are underway to ensure that BN retains the state from falling into the wrong hands again. Kudos to her for such a fine job! There are even critics who said that fielding a donkey against her; the donkey will win hands down. Now, that is rather absurd, as a donkey does not carry an IC and thus cannot become a candidate. Secondly, if the donkey cannot garner enough votes and loses its deposit, how is anyone going to get the money out of that donkey? Leave it to the wisdom of BN In fact MCA and Dr Chua Soi Lek should give her undivided support as it is highly unlikely that MCA can muster a win. In fact, she does not need any blessings from BN, as she can stand as an independent, win the election and continue to be BN friendly. This time round, she may be able to hand a two thirds win to BN. Who knows? Like other independents, she is one of those that are willing to put her foot down on all the corruption and mismanagement going on in this country. She is an agent of change, and Hee will continue to plod on alone to right the wrongs and she will not abandon the good folks of Jelapang. Strickened with polio has not stopped her from fighting the good fight and even though she may be confined to her wheelchair, she will still fight for the nation, and is capable of protecting herself with a pepper spray. Her late Datukship proves that she still has the magic to transform our political quagmire into a first world nation. She is a gifted politician with a sound political future and Jelapang folks should be grateful for her contributions. A tour guide, trained pilot and naturalist, Iskandar Dzulkarnain has been writing a few years now, especially enjoying satirical pieces like this one. He is a FMT columnist. |
| PAS’ unwavering pursuit of Islamic state Posted: 17 Nov 2012 06:05 PM PST
It appears rather incongruous that despite the acceptance of Buku Jingga or Orange Book as a comprehensive framework of the opposition front on how to govern the country when they come to power, PAS seems to have a higher agenda – to transform the multiracial and multi-religious country into a full-fledged Islamic state with Islamic laws. Islamic laws and hudud were never mentioned in Buku Jingga and neither was the establishment of Islamic State. PAS even came out with its own manifesto "Nation of Care and Opportunity". However this concept of a benevolent state is not well received by many PAS members themselves. Reason being, the so-called Erdoganists in PAS mainly mooted it. Recent spate of debate about the concept of Islamist Democrat – a term popularised by the Erdoganists – between the ulama faction and the young Turks clearly proved that they are considered contaminants in the "pure and pristine" PAS struggle. The changing trend In the words of Bobby Said in his book "A Fundamental Fear: Eurocentrism and the Emergence of Islamism", he said: Islamism is a project that attempts to transform Islam from a nodal point in the discourse of Muslim communities to a master signifier. In particular, the Islamist project is an attempt to make Islam the master signifier of the political order. However this project of political Islam has taken a new turn after what is known as the Arab Spring or the Arab Awakening. The discourse now is not about establishing an Islamic state or implementing hudud laws. The aspiration now is to nurture pious Muslims within a democratic polity. Rachid Ghannouchi, leader of en-Nahdha in Tunisia has categorically rejected Islamic State in favour of parliamentary democracy. His party en-Nahdhah is committed to social justice, multiparty democracy and religious pluralism. A Professor of Sociology at the University of Illinois, Asef Bayat termed this shift as post-Islamism. There was a clear shift from the age-old slogan of al-Islam huwa al-hal – Islam is the solution to all problems – to a more practical approach and solution. As put forward by Rachid Ghannouchi in interpreting the saying of the Prophet: "You are the best people to know what is beneficial for you in your worldly affairs" meaning to say that it is not the duty of religion to teach us agriculture, industrial or even governing techniques. Reason is qualified to teach this truth through the accumulation of experiences. The role of religion, however, is to answer the big question for us, those relating to our existence, origins, destiny and the purpose for which we were created. It is to provide us with a system of values and principles that would guide our thinking, behaviour and the regulation of the state to which we aspire. Same old rhetoric Obviously this is a clear contradiction to the mutually agreed Buku Jingga. Whether they are aware of the repercussion or not, it definitely provides ammunition to the ruling party that PAS has an ulterior motive to change this country into an Islamic state. The patronising speech by head of Dewan Ulama or the Religious Council in saying in a jest that hudud will create more job opportunities since training is needed in order to chop off hands and that training is also needed for caning of alcohol drinkers only showed that they are not serious about the current economic problems faced by the nation. It is as though by simply implementing hudud, all the economic woes and social ills of the society will be solved. Nothing serious was discussed about the idea of nation of care and opportunity. PAS seems to have lost interest in pursuing the welfare state agenda. The main tone that vibrates especially among the Islamic scholars was nothing more than hudud and their unyielding push for this agenda and not in the least worried about going public about it. One of the most worrying trends during the muktamar is the voices of little Napoleons who tried to silence Harakah and the online Harakahdaily who had been accused to give more space to progressive figures in PAS and sidelining conservative forces. Harakah is accused to have strayed away from its original intent and aspiration of PAS. Such an act would have been seen by many who understand freedom of the press as stifling with the most fundamental foundation of freedom of speech. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression: this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers. Now this act by the little Napoleons only showed how much they understand and respect human rights and what the future may hold if they come to power. There will not be any room left for dissension and differing opinions than what is being held by them. The political reality PAS should not misunderstand the votes they received as amounting to the support for their Islamic agenda. More than a hundred thousand went to the street for demonstration during Bersih 3.0 recently. The demand was not to implement hudud or establishing an Islamic state. People of various races and religions from all walks of life marched together for a better democracy. They wanted a clean and fair election and a government free of corruption. It was an act of defiance to the draconian and unconstitutional Act that prevented people from any peaceful assembly. It must be heard loud and clear that the people want a truly democratic state. Not a state ruled by a group of Mullahs who considered themselves to be above the law. The precedent was already set when one state under PAS passed an enactment that a fatwa or religious verdict from a Mufti cannot be challenged in the court of law. It has to be understood that the state is not something from God but from the people. The state has to serve the benefit of the people and not just a certain group based on their faith. The state has to be neutral in all aspects. It must also be made clear that a state is a human product and managing a state requires human endeavor and not divine inspiration. The governance of a state falls under the realm of political and is not in the realm of revelation. Any observance of religious values must never be through coercion. A state should respect personal beliefs and moral values and not imposed itself on its citizens. Unfortunately, the current situation in states under PAS rule failed to prevent this obtrusion of the state into private sphere. A state should not dictate how we should wear in public as this falls under personal affairs. However to regulate how women should dress seemed to be the first agenda under many Islamic governments; PAS not excluded. Matters of the heart such as faith should be left to individuals. It is not the state to meddle in matters of the heart. There is no value in observing a faith that was made through coercion. Coercing people to believe in a faith they have no believe anymore through state's coercive tools only turn them into hypocrites. People are created free and any effort of the state to coerce people from embracing or leaving a faith is worthless and futile. The road forward However a clear demarcation must be made between what belongs to the realm of ad-deeni or religious and those that fall under as-siyasi or political. Great Islamic jurists like ash-Shatibi and Ibnu Ashur have agreed that the highest objective of all divine messages is to establish justice and attaining maslahah by realizing people's interest. The pursuit of justice and public interest is done merely through the exercise of reason. And religion only provides values and guidelines in this pursuit. Hence it is wrong to envisage that governing a state must follow a fixed manual and that manual is none other than the Qur'an. The domain of state governance falls under as-siyasi – the political – that will require human intellect to establish justice and equality. Thus justice cannot be achieved unless human rights are secured for every individual and group in this country. And primary among human rights are rights to belief and to express one's belief. In a country that has achieved independence since 1957, the sovereign nation was founded upon the principles of justice and freedom as stated in the Declaration of Independence. Unfortunately, the principles of justice and freedom were forgotten and the provisions of fundamental liberties enshrined in the constitution were progressively compromised and eroded by the ruling elite. Our aim now is to recover the lost hope, of justice and freedom, and not to turn this country into another repressive state that claims to rule with a mandate from God. Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa is a director at Islamic Renaissance Front. This article first appeared in New Mandala. |
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