FMT News |  |
- Pakatan’s stateless Indian protest on Dec 12
- Green Walk crowd swells to thousands
- Vietnam inflation hits six-month high
- NGOs protest against Sri Lanka president’s arrival
- Transformasi pertanian bawa hasil positif
- Rakyat M’sia mesti berani pertahan perlembagaan
- Tensions flare at political rally in Bangkok
- World Cup host Brazil fires national coach
- Dallas star Hagman dies at 81
- 48 hours in Perth
- Benitez: Lampard and Cole to leave Chelsea
- Making way for the president
- VW to invest over $60 billion in drive to be top automaker
- Tabung Haji trespassing on native land in Saratok
- UBS Bank sedang siasat skandal Musa
- Health mistakes that everyone makes
- Pakatan must do more for Penang Malays
- Schumacher faces final curtain call
- Top 10 worst female health habits
- Players locked out of stadium by protesting staff
- Hamilton sets Brazil pace, Vettel edges Alonso
- Menezes sacked as Brazil coach
- Reconsider plans for dams in Sarawak
- Kobayashi to raise funds via website
- Statue of Ferguson unveiled at Old Trafford
- The sinseh and the long march
- Pakatan’s battle for PM must take backseat
- Hamilton fastest before farewell
- Redknapp wants to save QPR from relegation
- Rafa expects Lamps and Cole to leave Chelsea
- Man City baptism for Chelsea new man Benitez
- Can Pakatan weather the Hadi storm?
- Sabah Umno could lose ‘birthplace’
- Christians forced to become Muslims by NRD
- Open letter to an ‘empty vessel PM’
- Clashes in Cairo after Mursi seizes new powers
- With eye on Iran, Gaza conflict reassures Netanyahu
- Israel wins US support on Gaza but differences remain
- Tax soft drinks to prevent diabetes
- Four new cases of SARS-like virus found in Saudi, Qatar
- Mexico arrests suspected murderer on FBI most wanted list
- Put your money where your mouths are…
- Sarkozy judge mistook hostage for billionaire
- Frenzied US shoppers swarm stores on Black Friday
- Syria: Turkey request for missiles ‘new act of provocation’
- RM40m case on Hong Kong’s top agenda
- Green Walk to end with People’s Assembly
- KL shares end lower as investors stay sidelined
- Pairin: Jeffrey doesn’t love me anymore
- Philippine massacre clan jostling for power again
| Pakatan’s stateless Indian protest on Dec 12 Posted: 24 Nov 2012 01:06 AM PST
Announcing this after lodging a police report over a stateless Indian case, "We will not move until home minister and prime minister promises to resolve the problem facing some 300,000 Malaysian Indians," he said. Also present at the police station were among others Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam, Teluk Intan MP M. Manogaran and 69-year-old stateless Indian Letchumy Suppiah and her family members. Surendran said the government has breached the Article 14 of Federal Constitution by denying Letchumy's rights to identification document. "Article 14 says that those who born in this country are automatically citizens of this country. Don't tell me the government doesn't know anything about this," he said. Manikavasagam said his deceased mother only obtained her identification card (IC) after she passed away. "When she was still alive, we called the NRD for more than ten times but still couldn't get the IC," he said. He criticised the government for being insincere in resolving the problem. |
| Green Walk crowd swells to thousands Posted: 24 Nov 2012 12:15 AM PST  GOMBAK: The number of men, women, and children supporting the cross-country 300km Green Walk has swelled tremendously, with estimates putting the crowd at more than 2,000 today. Many new faces had congregated at the Gombak toll this afternoon before joining in with the core group of roughly 30 led by Himpunan Hijau chairman Wong Tack. A few hours before resuming the Kuantan-Kuala Lunpur journey, the atmosphere was carnival-like. Many were posing for photos with Wong, PKR MP Tian Chua as well as DAP State exco Ronnie Liu. The group was also joined by a team of observers from the Malaysian Bar. Bar Council’s human rights comittee co-chair Andrew Khoo told FMT that while they did not expect trouble, they were here to record and hoped that there would not be any interference by the authorities or saboteurs in the last two days. “We’ve been told that Dataran Merdeka is now closed off. We have to see what happens but we hope not to see the violence of Bersih 3.0. Thegovernment must allow people to voice out.”
Pausing in between requests for photographs,Wong spoke to FMT. “Everything is alright and good. It has become so crowded but I keep reminding people its not about the numbers but how many hearts you can touch to fight with us,” he said. Asked about his expectations tomorrow and the possibilities of a confrontation with the police, Wong said it did not bother him. “Whatever we do we do it peacefully. We are doing something right and righteous. Why should we worry?” Wong said the authorities should not be preventing anyone from gathering at Dataran. However, Wong said if there were barricades, breaching them won’t be necessary. Meanwhile, a few Himpunan Hijau volunteers admitted that it has been a difficult journey, despite the spirited front their leader Wong puts up. “It has not been easy at all. We do not have enough manpower but we have to take care of many. Everyone is tired. the heat and rain is not helping either, ” said the group’s official photographer Bobby Lau. “One thing is consistent in my walk with these brave people: I am seeing so many Malaysians willing to do something to protest and protect their country against something harmful” said volunteer Pang Shee Lim.
“We just hope that what we are doing here means something. And that the government can hear us.” The group, which has formed a long line of green along the Karak highway, will be stopping at the former PAS headquarters at Taman Melewar, where the participants will spend the night. They are expected at the Sentul KTM Station at 2pm, the Titiwangsa Monorail Station by 2.30pm Maju Junction at 3pm and enter Dataran Merdeka by 4pm on Sunday. They will then proceed with an assembly at Dataran Merdeka where they expect to meet with parliamentarians. They initially wanted to walk to parliament but had canceled this. The 2,000 over participants in the Green Walk which started on Nov 12 in Kuantan by Wong alone. They are campaigning against the controversial Lynas rare earth plant in Gebeng as well as to highlight other environmental issues. |
| Vietnam inflation hits six-month high Posted: 24 Nov 2012 12:13 AM PST
Consumer prices gained an estimated 7.08 percent this month from a year earlier, following a 7.0-percent rise in October, according to the General Statistics Office. It was the sharpest increase since May. Month-on-month, prices edged up 0.47 percent in November. “The government is really struggling to curb inflation while pushing economic growth,” said a senior manager at one of Vietnam’s major private banks who did not want to be named. Vietnam struggled with double-digit price rises for years but after a string of interest rate hikes by the central bank to prevent the economy from overheating, annual inflation dropped to a three-year low of around 5.0 percent in August, well off a peak of 23 percent seen a year earlier. The authorities have since changed tack in response to slowing economic growth, cutting interest rates five times since the start of 2012. The communist country expects economic growth of just 5.2 percent for 2012 — the slowest rate in 13 years. Vietnam is also grappling with falling foreign direct investment and rising fears about toxic debts in the fragile banking system. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung admitted last month that his government had made mistakes in its stewardship of the troubled economy and had “learned our lesson”. -AFP |
| NGOs protest against Sri Lanka president’s arrival Posted: 23 Nov 2012 11:44 PM PST
The People Welfare and Rights Organisation (Power) president S. Gobi Krisnan issued the threats after lodging a police report against Rajapaksa's arrival with other NGOs leaders today. The NGOs were upset that the government has planned for a red carpet welcome for Rajapaksa, whom they deem have committed genocide against the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka. "The government has been hurting the Indians' feeling in this country, and now the invitation is an insult to Indians . "We will use all means, including force if necessary, to stop him from coming," he said. The group would stage a protest outside of the parliament building on Tuesday, and have planned for similar rallies at the forum's venue in JB. The 26-year civil war in Sri Lanka ended in 2009 with the government army's quashing Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and re-established control of the northern part of the country. It was reported that some 100,000 civilians including 40,000 of Tamils were killed while more than 300,000 people were displaced during the long-standing conflict. The United Nations Human Right Council had on March adopted a resolution to urge the Sri Lankan government to take all steps necessary to ensure accountability for alleged serious violations committed during the final stages of the country's civil war. However, Malaysia was among the eight countries that abstained in a vote that saw 24 in favour and 15 against the resolution. AP Raja Retinam, member of the NGOs umbrella group Sri Lanka War Victim Concerned Team (Api), has taken Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to task for the abstention. "He is a real hypocrite. When the Israelis launched attacks against the Palestine, he tabled a motion to condemn the violence. "But when it is about Sri Lanka war crimes, he abstained, despite knowing very well that there was a great pressure on him to vote against Sri Lanka," he said. He urged the government to stop its double standard and prevent Rajapaksa from entering the country. "Rajapaksa and (Israeli Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu are the same people. If you say no to Benjamin, then you must also say no to Rajapaksa. "If they say the forum was meant for business discussions, then I challenge them to invite the Jews to attend, they are the richest people in the world," he said. The NGOs held a protest at the Sri Lanka embassy in Ampang this afternoon while MIC Youth has also lodged a police report against Rajapaksa's arrival. |
| Transformasi pertanian bawa hasil positif Posted: 23 Nov 2012 11:41 PM PST  SERDANG: Transformasi dalam bidang pertanian yang disaran oleh kerajaan telah memberikan pencapaian yang positif, kata Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. Beliau berkata pencapaian positif tersebut adalah kerana transformasi atau lonjakan yang telah diusahakan bagi meningkatkan hasil pengeluaran pertanian adalah melalui inovasi. “Melihat kepada pencapaian dalam sektor pertanian pada suku ketiga tahun ini, sektor agro makanan telah menyumbangkan sebanyak RM6.7 bilion kepada KDNK,” kata beliau semasa berucap merasmikan pameran Antarabangsa Pertanian, Hortikultur dan Agro Pelancongan Malaysia (MAHA) 2012 dan Hari Penternak, Peladang dan Nelayan Kebangsaan 2012 di sini hari ini. Perdana Menetri berkata ini membuktikan bahawa transformasi dalam bidang pertanian telah dan sedang berlaku. Beliau berkata subsektor tanaman makanan, ternakan dan perikanan masing-masing mencatat pertumbuhan positif iaitu sebanyak RM2.6 bilion atau 7.6 peratus, RM1.7 bilion atau 7.1 peratus dan RM2.4 bilion atau 4.7 peratus. “Manakala nilai eksport bahan makanan bagi tempoh Januari hingga Jun 2012 pula adalah sebanyak RM9.9 bilion iaitu peningkatan sebanyak 2.8 peratus berbanding tempoh yang sama tahun lepas,” kata Najib. Untuk memastikan sektor pertanian terus maju, beliau berkata kerajaan buat pertama kalinya telah memberi peruntukkan yang besar iaitu sebanyak RM5.8 bilion dalam Belanjawan 2013. Beliau berkata kerajaan menyedari kepentingan bidang pertanian serta potensi industri ini secara menyeluruh. “Sektor pertanian akan terus dipacu bagi meningkatkan pendapatan negara bagi projek pertanian seperti kelapa sawit, getah, herba bernilai tinggi dan padi selain dari memastikan kelestarian bekalan makan terjamin,” kata beliau. Berlangsung selama 10 hari bermula 24 Nov hingga 2 Dis, MAHA edisi ketujuh dihoskan oleh Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani dan dianjurkan oleh Institut Penyelidikan dan Kemajuan Pertanian Malaysia. MAHA kali ini menyaksikan penyertaan 2,240 syarikat tempatan termasuk dari 23 negara. - Bernama |
| Rakyat M’sia mesti berani pertahan perlembagaan Posted: 23 Nov 2012 11:00 PM PST
Timbalan Dekan Pusat Pengajian Sains Kemasyarakatan, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) itu berkata perlembagaan negara perlu terus menjadi rujukan dan sandaran semua rakyat dalam mengekalkan perpaduan serta mewujudkan hubungan etnik di kalangan masyarakat pelbagai kaum di negara ini. “(Penghayatan) perlembagaan bukan ikut suka. Bila kita suka kita ikut, tak suka tak ikut. Kita mesti berpegang kepada perlembagaan pada setiap masa,” katanya. Beliau berkata demikian semasa berucap mengenai “Masa Depan Hubungan Kaum dan Perpaduan” pada Himpunan Barisan 1Malaysia yang menghimpunkan ribuan anggota pelbagai badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) untuk berkongsi pandangan mengenai dasar negara di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC) di sini, hari ini. Beliau berkata perkara-perkara yang termaktub di dalam perlembagaan terutama berkaitan kontrak sosial tidak harus dipersoalkan. “Soal agama Islam, Bahasa Melayu, keistimewaan orang Malayu dan institusi Raja-raja Melayu harus dipertahankan sebagai satu kepelbagaian. Jangan sama sekali cuba diubah,” kata Sivamurugan dengan disambut tepukan gemuruh para hadirin. Beliau juga berkata corak hubungan etnik di Malaysia mesti ditentukan oleh rakyat negara ini sendiri dan bukannya bergantung kepada negara luar. Bagi memastikan hubungan etnik yang berkesan, beliau menegaskan sensitiviti setiap masyarakat harus dijaga dengan mencari titik keseimbangan dan konsep menerima satu sama lain harus dipakai, dan perlu juga melihat kepada keadaan menang-menang untuk semua pihak. Beliau berkata mentaliti rakyat negara ini juga harus berubah seiring dengan perubahan fizikal yang dikecapi negara dalam usaha Malaysia untuk muncul negara maju menjelang 2020. “Tiada guna perubahan fizikal hebat seperti di negara maju lain, tapi mentaliti kita masih di takuk lama. Perubahan harus seimbang antara perubahan fizikal dan minda,” katanya. Tambah nilai Rektor Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) Datuk Prof Dr Zaleha Kamaruddin yang berucap mengenai ‘Masa Depan Pendidikan Negara’ berkata ramai masyarakat di negara ini menganggap universiti adalah seperti sebuah kilang, dan ini adalah pandangan yang salah dan perlu diubah. “Ini adalah kerana universiti adalah tempat di mana kita menambah nilai seseorang individu supaya ia berguna dalam segala segi, bukan sekadar tempat untuk hasilkan graduan,” katanya. Untuk itu, paradigma pemikiran semua pihak, khususnya golongan pendidik di negara ini perlu diubah daripada hanya mementingkan kuantiti maklumat yang diterima kepada nilai maklumat itu sendiri, dan ini perlu dalam memastikan proses transformasi pendidikan negara mencapai kejayaan, katanya. Zaleha juga berkata masyarakat, terutama golongan muda, juga perlu mengubah persepsi yang menganggap semua maklumat yang didapati daripada internet adalah pengetahuan. Golongan ini terlalu bergantung kepada internet untuk mendapatkan maklumat, dan mereka ini telah terpenjara dengan era maklumat dan malangnya segala informasi yang ada di internet tidak boleh dianggap sebagai ilmu pengetahuan kerana informasi itu perlu ada nilai sebelum menjadi ilmu pengetahuan yang bermanfaat dan meluas, katanya. Beliau berkata dalam era globalisasi dan teknologi maklumat yang mencabar ini, rujukan maklumat kepada internet semata-mata tanpa pengesahan boleh mendatangkan implikasi terhadap kesahihan fakta sesuatu ilmu. - Bernama |
| Tensions flare at political rally in Bangkok Posted: 23 Nov 2012 10:51 PM PST
Thousands of police have been deployed for the rally, organised by the royalist group Pitak Siam, which wants Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s government to step down. The authorities expect tens of thousands of people to attend the demonstration, the first major street protest against Yingluck’s 16-month-old administration. Police estimated that about 10,000 protesters were gathered by about 9am at the Royal Plaza in the city’s historic district. “In the name of Pitak Siam and its allies I promise that we will topple this government,” the movement’s head, retired general Boonlert Kaewprasit, told demonstrators from the rally stage. Police fired 10 tear gas canisters at a group of protesters who removed barbed wire and barriers blocking their route in front of a UN building close to the main rally site, police said. “Tear gas was used in one area because protesters did not comply with the rules,” said national police spokesman Major General Piya Uthayo. Three people, including one police officer, were taken to hospital because of the effects of the tear gas, while several others received first aid at the site, according to the city’s Erawan emergency centre. The authorities said they would allow the rally to go ahead at the Royal Plaza so long as protesters gathered peacefully. Yingluck on Thursday voiced fears the protesters aimed to use violence and to “overthrow an elected government and democratic rule”, in a televised address to the nation. The government has invoked a special security law, the Internal Security Act (ISA), in three districts of the capital to cope with possible unrest. “We will evaluate the situation daily and if it escalates we are ready to invoke emergency rule, but so far I think the ISA will be sufficient,” Thai police chief General Adul Sangsingkaew said on national television. Politically turbulent Thailand has been rocked by a series of sometimes violent rival street protests in recent years, although an uneasy calm has returned after national elections in 2011. Two months of mass opposition protests in 2010 by “Red Shirt” supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra sparked a deadly military crackdown that left about 90 people dead and nearly 1,900 wounded. Thaksin’s sister Yingluck is now prime minister after his political allies won a landslide election victory last year. Thaksin, who made billions as a telecoms tycoon, is adored by many poor Thais for his populist policies while in power, but reviled by many in elite, military and palace circles who see him as authoritarian and a threat to the monarchy. “This government ignores widespread disrespect of the monarchy and even supports the perpetrators. It is a puppet of Thaksin,” Pitak Siam spokesman Vachara Riddhagni told AFP ahead of the demo. Observers say prosecutions for insulting the monarchy have surged since royalist generals toppled Thaksin in a coup in 2006. Many of those targeted are linked to the Red Shirt movement. -AFP |
| World Cup host Brazil fires national coach Posted: 23 Nov 2012 10:21 PM PST
The five-times world champions have won six of their last eight games, scoring 26 goals in the process, and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said the surprise decision had little to do with results. “I don’t think it was for negative results, if that was the case he could have been fired last year,” national teams director Andres Sanchez told a news conference in Sao Paulo. “It was that the president (Jose Maria Marin) wants to change the way things are done.” Sanchez, who hired Menezes and is a close friend, himself disagreed with the decision. “I don’t think we should be changing tack at this time, but I was overruled,” he said. Menezes had been facing almost continual speculation about his future for the last year, but recent performances appeared to have lifted the pressure. His last match was a friendly away to Argentina on Wednesday when they lost 2-1 in a match featuring only home-based players. A new coach will be chosen in early January, Sanchez added, with Luiz Felipe Scolari, who led Brazil to their fifth world title in 2002, among the favourites to take over. Menezes replaced Dunga shortly after Brazil’s quarter-final exit at the 2010 World Cup and immediately began a complete overhaul of the team, which included moving them away from their physical and counter-attacking style. In 40 games, Menezes’s side won 27, lost seven and drew six, according to his official website . Although some performances were unconvincing, Menezes’s extensive experimenting appeared to be bearing fruit in the last few weeks, as they clocked up a 6-0 win over Iraq, a 4-0 demolition of in-form Japan and a 3-0 win over Sweden. The pairing of Paulinho and Ramires in front of the defence has brought creativity to roles which were purely destructive under Dunga, while the attacking combination of Oscar, Neymar and Hulk is one of the best in the world. With Thiago Silva in commanding form at the centre of defence and Kaka back to provide some experience, the team was starting to look more robust and dangerous. Many felt that Menezes was in an impossible situation as many of the friendlies arranged by the CBF were against lightweight opponents such as South Africa, China, Gabon and Iraq, where his team had nothing to win. But they fared badly against established sides, losing to Germany, Argentina and Mexico. Brazil also performed poorly at last year’s Copa America, losing on penalties to Paraguay in the quarter-finals, and in the Olympics, when his under-23 team were beaten by Mexico in the final in London. Although he brought a quiet elegance to the team set up off the field, the former Corinthians boss was not universally popular and was even booed by his own fans in recent months. When they struggled to a 1-0 win at home to South Africa in Sao Paulo in September, fans jeered Menezes and striker Neymar. Some of them celebrated Menezes’s demise on Friday. “This is a good day for Brazilians. Now we can win,” said psychologist Sergio Gomes, giving a thumbs-up sign of approval at a bar in the capital Brasilia. Former Brazil great Romario also lauded the decision, calling it “overdue” and “a historic day in which Brazil should be letting off fireworks and partying.” Menezes made a brief statement on Twitter thanking the players and staff and wishing the squad the best of luck. “I wish every success to the Brazilian national side in fulfilling the fans’ dream of winning the World Cup for a sixth time in 2014,” he said. Among those mentioned to take over include Scolari, Tite, who took Corinthians to the Copa Libertadores title earlier this year, Muricy Ramalho, who turned down the job before Menezes and is now Santos coach and Abel Braga, who recently led Fluminense to the Brazilian championship title. Although Sanchez said he was opposed to a foreign coach, some commentators have suggested that Brazil should attempt to hire former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola. Whoever takes the helm in January will face intense pressure. One previous manager famously said Brazil is a country where every man, woman and child thinks they can do a better job coaching the national team than the coach. The new coach’s first game will come against England at Wembley on February 6. Four months later Brazil host the Confederations Cup, the team’s only competitive matches before they open the World Cup in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014. -Reuters |
| Posted: 23 Nov 2012 10:15 PM PST
Hagman died at a Dallas hospital of complications from his battle with throat cancer, the newspaper said, quoting a statement from his family. He had suffered from liver cancer and cirrhosis of the liver in the 1990s after decades of drinking. Hagman’s mother was stage and movie star Mary Martin and he became a star himself in 1965 on I Dream of Jeannie, a popular television sitcom in which he played Major Anthony Nelson, an astronaut who discovers a beautiful genie in a bottle. Dallas, which made its premiere on the CBS network in 1978, made Hagman a superstar. The show quickly became one of the network’s top-rated programs, built an international following and inspired a spin-off, imitators and a revival in 2012. “Dallas” was the night-time soap-opera story of a Texas family, fabulously wealthy from oil and cattle, and its plot brimmed with back-stabbing, double-dealing, family feuds, violence, adultery and other bad behavior. In the middle of it all stood Hagman’s black-hearted J R Ewing – grinning wickedly in a broad cowboy hat and boots, plotting how to cheat his business competitors and cheat on his wife. He was the villain TV viewers loved to despise during the show’s 356-episode run from 1978 to 1991. “I really can’t remember half of the people I’ve slept with, stabbed in the back or driven to suicide,” Hagman said of his character in Time magazine. In his autobiography, Hello Darlin’: Tall (and Absolutely True) Tales About My Life, Hagman wrote that J R originally was not to be the focus of Dallas but that changed when he began ad-libbing on the set to make his character more outrageous and compelling. To conclude its second season, the Dallas producers put together one of US television’s most memorable episodes in which Ewing was shot by an unseen assailant. That gave fans months to fret over whether J R would survive and who had pulled the trigger. In the show’s opening the following season, it was revealed that J R’s sister-in-law, Kristin, with whom he had been having an affair, was behind the gun. Hagman said an international publisher offered him US$250,000 to reveal who had shot J R and he considered giving the wrong information and taking the money, but in the end, “I decided not to be so like J R in real life.” The popularity of Dallas made Hagman one of the best-paid actors in television and earned him a fortune that even a Ewing would have coveted. He lost some of it, however, in bad oil investments before turning to real estate. “I have an apartment in New York, a ranch in Santa Fe, a castle in Ojai outside of L.A., a beach house in Malibu and thinking of buying a place in Santa Monica,” Hagman said in a Chicago Tribune interview. An updated Dallas series began in June 2012 on the TNT network with Hagman reprising his J.R. role with original cast members Linda Gray, who played J.R.’s long-suffering wife, Sue Ellen, and Patrick Duffy, who was his brother Bobby. The show was to focus on the sons of J.R. and Bobby. Hagman had a wide eccentric streak. When he first met actress Lauren Bacall, he licked her arm because he had been told she did not like to be touched and he was known for leading parades on the Malibu beach and showing up at a grocery store in a gorilla suit. Above his Malibu home flew a flag with the credo “Vita Celebratio Est (Life Is a Celebration)” and he lived hard for many years. In 1967, rock musician David Crosby turned him on to LSD, which Hagman said took away his fear of death, and Jack Nicholson introduced him to marijuana because Nicholson thought he was drinking too much. Hagman had started drinking as a teenager and said he did not stop until the moment in 1992 when his doctor told him he had cirrhosis of the liver and could die within six months. Hagman wrote that for the past 15 years he had been drinking about four bottles of champagne a day, including while on the “Dallas” set. Liver transplant In July 1995, he was diagnosed with liver cancer, which led him to quit smoking, and a month later he underwent a liver transplant. After giving up his vices, Hagman said he did not lose his zest for life. “It’s the same old Larry Hagman,” he told a reporter. “He’s just a littler sober-er.” Hagman was born on Sept 21, 1931, in Weatherford, Texas, and his father was a lawyer who dealt with the Texas oil barons Hagman would later come to portray. He was still a boy when his parents divorced and he went to Los Angeles with Martin, who would become a Broadway and Hollywood musical star. Hagman eventually landed in New York to pursue acting, making his stage debut there in The Taming of the Shrew. In New York, he married Maj Axelsson in 1954 while they were in a production of South Pacific. The marriage produced two children, Heidi and Preston. Hagman served in the Air Force, spending five years in Europe as the director of USO shows, and on his return to New York he took a starring role in the daytime soap The Edge of Night. His breakthrough came in 1965 when he landed the I Dream of Jeannie role opposite Barbara Eden. In his later years, Hagman became an advocate for organ transplants and an anti-smoking campaigner. He also was devoted to solar energy, telling the New York Times he had a US$750,000 solar panel system at his Ojai estate, and made a commercial in which he portrayed a J.R. Ewing who had forsaken oil for solar power. He was a longtime member of the Peace and Freedom Party, a minor leftist organization in California. Hagman told the Times that after death he wanted his remains to be “spread over a field and have marijuana and wheat planted and harvest it in a couple of years and then have a big marijuana cake, enough for 200 to 300 people. People would eat a little of Larry.” -Reuters |
| Posted: 23 Nov 2012 09:38 PM PST The hometown of Australia’s richest citizen, mining magnate Gina Rinehart, Perth is the centre of the country’s iron ore and oil and gas boom. with some of the largest resources firms churning out billions in profits here. But Perth has a laid back side too — there’s a saying that W.A., the acronym for Western Australia, actually stands for “wait awhile.” And why not take it easy in this city with a sunny Mediterranean climate and miles and miles of coastline where even on a busy summer weekend, you have a good chance of having a big stretch of beach all to yourself. Closer to Asia than it is to Australia’s main population centers on the continent’s east coast, Perth is often described as the most remote city in the world with the Indian Ocean at its doorstep and miles of Outback at its back. Reuters correspondents with local knowledge help visitors get the most out of a 48-hour visit. Friday 5 p.m. – Arrival and hotel check in. The central business district is a convenient and central location to stay, with more public transportation options on offer, including the free Central Area Transit (CAT) buses if you decide not to hire a car. There are several hotels along the Swan River with beautiful views. Coastal neighborhoods such as the ritzy Cottesloe neighborhood and the less exclusive Scarborough offer beachside accommodation. 6 p.m. – Head over to the Old Swan River Brewery(www.theoldbrewery.com.au/). Beer is no longer made onsite, but the restaurant does have several tasty house brews and a view overlooking the Swan River, where you might spot a dolphin popping up for air if you are lucky. Enthusiastic carnivores can try the tomahawk steak, an Australian cut that generally weighs around 1.5 kg (just over 3 lbs) and can feed up to four. If you opt for the giant steak, the riverside promenade is a lovely spot for a walk after a heavy dinner. Look for Western Australia’s state flower, the kangaroo paw, along the esplanade during the wetter months of the year. 9 p.m. – From here, you can head north up to the Northbridge neighbourhood, the center of the city’s nightlife, just a few minutes away by taxi. The area is renowned for being one of the places where mining workers belly up to the bar to spend their hard-earned cash after spending weeks digging minerals out of the ground in the Outback. Saturday 8 a.m. – Wake up early like Perth natives and head out for a morning swim in the Indian Ocean or jog along the coastline, or, if you’re staying in the city center, a jog along the Swan River. If you’re even more adventurous, drag yourself out of bed at the crack of dawn and head over to the Perth Surf School(www.surfschool.com) on Scarborough Beach, where classes begin at 7:15 a.m. Book ahead.
10 a.m.- Drive out to the Swan Valley (swanvalleywinemakers.com.au), Western Australia’s oldest wine producing region, about 25 minutes from the city center. You can sample a wide range of wines since many vintners that produce in the lauded Margaret River region also have cellar doors in the Swan Valley – and many of the smaller wineries only sell from the cellar door. A branch of the Margaret River Chocolate Factory(www.chocolatefactory.com.au/) also offers treats for the those not inclined to sample the wines. Australia is well-known outside its borders for its bargain bottles of shiraz, but some of the best are only distributed domestically. Oenophiles also shouldn’t miss the many other varietals grown here. 12 noon – The cafe at Houghton Wines(www.houghton-wines.com.au), the state’s oldest winery, on a large estate with towering eucalyptus trees, a cafe, and picnic benches, makes a nice spot for lunch. It sometimes has art exhibits and musical entertainment at the weekends. 2 p.m.- Head toward Fremantle, the small port city about 20 minutes from Perth, to visit the Fremantle Prison(www.fremantleprison.com.au), originally built to house convicts transported by the British government but closed in 1991. The prison is a window into Australia’s convict era as well as its more recent past, and tours take visitors through cells, some of which include murals by prisoners. Tours run throughout the day and torchlight tours are also available at night. If you find prison lore too depressing, head over to the Western Australian Maritime Museum (museum.wa.gov.au/museums/maritime) on Victoria Quay, where you can check out the yacht that won Australia the America’s Cup, the Australia II, ending the New York Yacht Club’s 132-year winning streak and bringing the Cup to Fremantle in 1983. 3:30 p.m. – Stroll along Fremantle’s “Cappucino Strip” which is dotted with art galleries, including some that carry Aboriginal art and shops– a good place to pick up all things kangaroo, emu, or crocodile-themed. The Fremantle Market (fremantlemarkets.com.au/)is also a great place for knick-knacks, crafts and souvenirs. 6 p.m. For dinner, take your pick from several establishments along the fishing boat harbor which serve up seafood by the waterfront, including Cicerello’s (www.cicerellos.com.au), Joe’s Fish Shack (www.joesfishshack.com.au), and Kailis Fish & Lobster Market Cafe (www.kailis.com). Order up some oysters on the half shell and barramundi, one of Australia’s most popular fish. 8 p.m. Just down the waterfront is one of Western Australia’s most well-known microbreweries, Little Creatures Brewery (www.littlecreatures.com.au). This little town is a heaven for craft beer lovers and you can easily while away your Saturday night sampling microbrews. The Monk Brewery & Kitchen (www.themonk.com.au), with its rustic patio and occasional Saturday night musical entertainment, is a good choice. If you like your beer full of flavor, try “The Chief” brew. Sunday 9 a.m. – Start off with a more leisurely breakfast at one of Perth’s brunch spots. On the high end, Fraser’s (www.frasersrestaurant.com.au) in King Park in the center of town. For thriftier, but very hearty, option, try Miss Maud Pastry (www.missmaud.com.au), a Perth chain with locations all over town for the quintessential Aussie breakfast – a meat or veggie pie. 10 a.m. – Time to squeeze in some more culture. The Art Gallery of Western Australia is free to the public and has a good collection of indigenous art.(www.artgallery.wa.gov.au/)
12:30 – Head back out to the coast to grab lunch at one of the fish and chips shops on the coast. Adam’s Cafe Tonino’s in North Beach is not fancy, but has an amazing view. 2 p.m. – Off to the beach! This is the place to be, especially during the summer where the “Fremantle Doctor”, a soothing sea breeze, will cool you down. Take a hat and sunscreen, the Australian sun is fierce. 4 p.m. – Before you leave, join the locals in a Perth tradition – the Sunday session. The pubs dotting Marine Parade along the coastline are a popular gathering place for this weekly ritual of raising a few pints from mid-afternoon till after the sun sets. The Indiana Tea House(indiana.com.au/)directly on Cottesloe Beach is also a popular choice, with an alfresco terrace and great views. The waterfront Clancy’s Fish Pub (www.clancysfishpub.com.au/) in the suburb of City Beach is a more laid back option and with a lax dress code and changing rooms and showers downstairs, you can slip in a swim in the Indian Ocean before starting your Sunday Session. After session, it’s time to indulge in another Australian staple – the “burger with the lot”, the classic Australian burger piled high with goodies: pineapple, bacon, a fried egg, fried onions, beet root (red beet), and standards cheese, lettuce and tomato. Any pub worth its salt has its own version of the burger with the lot, but if you’ve just had a Sunday Session in Cottesloe, Madlily’s Burgers is right off the main drag.—Reuters |
| Benitez: Lampard and Cole to leave Chelsea Posted: 23 Nov 2012 09:35 PM PST
Asked if it was the end of a glorious era for the pair who will be out of contract, Benitez said: “I think so, that is the case at the moment. I am only here for seven months. If it is for two or three years then maybe I would have an influence. “Sometimes you are in a difficult position as manager because there’s too much to decide on, so it’s better to have a technical director sometimes,” he was quoted in Saturday’s Daily Mail as telling reporters. Former Liverpool manager Benitez has been appointed until the end of the season in place of Italian Roberto Di Matteo who was sacked this week after the team’s dip in form despite winning the Champions League and the FA Cup last season. Midfielder Lampard, 34, their third highest scorer ever, and left back Cole, 31, have had huge success at Chelsea including helping the club owned by Russian Roman Abramovich to became the first from London to lift the European Cup. Lampard has also won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups in 11 years since joining from West Ham United while Cole also won a league title and four FA Cups with the west London club since leaving London rivals Arsenal in 2006. Benitez said he met Abramovich for dinner on Thursday. “I spent two or three hours with the owner, we talked about everything. He knows my ideas, but we didn’t have that much time together. Maybe we will in future,” he was quoted as saying. “If you have confidence in yourself and explain yourself, everyone can understand,” added the Spaniard, who won the Champions league with Liverpool. “My impression with the owner is he’s a nice person. You can talk with him and he understands. He likes to see you have a clear idea: I think it’s black and white with him.” -Reuters |
| Posted: 23 Nov 2012 09:26 PM PST
A party insider confirmed to FMT today that Devamany is MIC candidate who has also been endorsed by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak. Devamany has been reportedly reluctant to step down from MIC's safe parliamentary seat of Cameron Highlands which he had won for two terms, to contest in Sungai Siput. However, Palanivel flexed his political muscles and is set to contest in Cameron Highlands while sending Devamany to Sungai Siput. Devamany could not be contacted while his office staff declined to comment on this speculation, saying only Premier Najib knows the chosen one. Since 1974, former party boss S Samy Vellu had kept an iron grip for 34 years on this MIC strong hold but lost the parliamentary seat to Parti Socialis Malaysia Dr Michael D Jayakumar in 2008 . After Samy's defeat, a few MIC leaders were reluctant to contest in Sungai Siput. Among those were MIC information chief and Samy's son S Vell Paari who cited that he does not want to step into his father's shoes but had kept his options open to serve the party in other ways. Another reluctant candidate was MIC secretary-general S Murugesan whose wife is believed to be a native of Sungai Siput but the ambitious MIC leader had set his political sights on Selangor . Another name mentioned was fomer party state chief S Veerasingam but he was sidelined by the new state chief. Another party hopeful was former deputy minister T Murugiah who had set his sights on this former party stronghold but party veterans were unwilling to give this new kid a chance. In the Sungai Siput parliamentary constituency, the Chinese voters hold the majority percentage with 40.2 while Malays form 36.3% and Indians 22.6%.
Meanwhile, MIC's proposed party candidates for the other parliamentary seat of Tapah is incumbent M Saravanan while the state seat of Hutang Melintang may go to state party deputy chief and state speaker R Ganesan. The party's Tanjong Malim division chief K R A Naidu is expected to contest the Sungkai state seat in the coming polls. According to party sources, the party's traditional state seats of Pasir Panjang and Behrang has been taken over by Umno and MIC was supposed to be compensated for these two losses with a senator 's post and another state seat in Selangor. However, Palanivel and Veerasingam declined the Umno's offer and insisted on two more state seats. The source said that the party has eyed MCA's two state seats of Buntong and Tronoh as replacements. Buntong has the highest number of Indian voters in the country with 46.2 % while the Chinese voters form 37% in this state seat. The party state secretary S Jayagopi who is also the Buntong BN coordinator is expected to be fielded if MCA makes way. Meanwhile, Tronoh which has a Chinese voter majority of 67% and Indians about 2% may see MIC Kampung Baru Lahat branch chief S Mokan as a candidate in the coming polls if MCA agrees to the exchange. |
| VW to invest over $60 billion in drive to be top automaker Posted: 23 Nov 2012 09:01 PM PST  FRANKFURT: Volkswagen AG has earmarked 50.2 billion euros ($64.7 billion) of investments over the coming three years as it accelerates plans designed to help it become the world’s largest car maker by the end of the decade. As the company strives to replace Toyota Motor Corp as the No.1 auto maker globally, it is expanding its presence outside Europe, building or planning new factories in markets such as China, Mexico and Russia. It is also stepping up investments in products and technology to consolidate its lead over stricken western European peers, which have slowed or shelved whole programs, engine technologies and platform revamps while grappling with high costs in a shrinking European market. “Despite the challenging economic environment, we are investing more than ever before to reach our long-term goals,” the German group’s Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn said in a statement on Friday. Volkswagen’s total spending equals an average 16.7 billion euros for the three years from 2013 through 2015. Last year, it had said it would invest 62.4 billion euros in the five years from 2012 until 2016, or an average 12.5 billion per year. The Wolfsburg, Germany-based company said its capital expenditure would total 39.2 billion euros, or 6 to 7 percent of sales for the period, broadly in line with analyst estimates. That means Volkswagen will invest almost as much in property, plants and equipment over the next three years as analysts see Toyota and U.S. rival General Motors Co (GM.N) spending together, according to Thomson Reuters StarMine. VW’s strong sales outside Europe have allowed it to offer cut-price deals and swell its share of the battered European market to almost a quarter. Yet while the multi-brand group is less exposed to austerity-hit Europe than rivals Peugeot SA and Fiat SpA (, finding the cash to achieve its goal is becoming harder and it has to balance keeping a tight rein on short-term costs with the need to develop new products. VW, which had a net cash cushion of 9.2 billion euros at the end of September, will spend 10.6 billion euros on development, for instance on the introduction of new models and the design of alternative drives. More than two thirds of overall investments will go towards increasing vehicle efficiency and the development of more environmentally friendly products. In addition, 9.8 billion euros will be invested in new production facilities and products at joint ventures in China. As these joint ventures are not consolidated, their spending is not part of VW’s overall plans. -Reuters |
| Tabung Haji trespassing on native land in Saratok Posted: 23 Nov 2012 08:57 PM PST
"Tabung Haji Plantations has been cultivating oil palm in that area, which was initially Native Customary Rights Land. "The Sarawak government, through the Land and Survey Department has excised and gazetted a portion of the land under Section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code dealing with Native Communal Reserve. "The total areas covered by the new land classification under Section 6 are 1.4ha and 1,024.8ha respectively named as Lot 480 & 489Block Awik-Krian Land District, Entebu-Selambong Saratok," he said during the debate on the 2013 budget. "However, currently Tabung Haji Plantations is trespassing and occupying the Native Communal Reserve Land illegally," said PKR assemblyman Biju . According to him Tabung Haji is "manipulating" the landowners and the state government must step in and stop the company's actions. "The company is manipulating innocent native landowners who have been suffering for a long time. The relevant government ministries and agencies must stop Tabung Haji Plantations from occupying this native land area immediately. "Tabung Haji Plantations must move out of the gazetted area and handover the land to its rightful owners immediately. "The situation whereby native landowners take the law into their own hands must be avoided at all costs," he said adding that the Land and Survey Department should demarcate clearly the boundaries of the native communal reserve and inform the native landowners accordingly. He also called for urgent steps to subdivide the land individually so as to avoid overlapping claims among the landowners. Oil and gas Meanwhile on the issue of oil and gas, Biju asked that Chief Minister Taib Mahmud "update" the State Legislative Assembly on the progress of the negotiations involving oil royalties. He said the state's projected revenue for the year 2013 of RM4,150 million is lower than the actual revenue for 2012 of RM4,702 million. "The Sarawak state economy is increasingly dependent on petroleum revenue. During most of the 1990's, petroleum royalty comprised less than 10% of Sarawak's total revenue annually. "By the 2008 budget, the oil and gas contribution to the state's overall revenue had increased to a massive 34%, i.e RM1,326 million out of the total projected revenue of RM3,550 million. "Hence, any shortfall in oil and gas prices will inevitably have an adverse impact upon the state's revenue," said Biju whose business involves oil and gas. He said that a high percentage of the state's revenue for 2013, which is 39.2% of total revenue, is derived from the oil & gas sectors, compensation in lieu of oil and gas rights, as well as compensation in lieu of import and excise duties on petroleum products. "At RM1,629 million, this figure reflects the importance of these sectors' contribution towards the state's economy. "This is despite the fact that Sarawak receives only 5% of oil and gas royalties. "In view of the huge contribution from the oil & gas sectors, I would like the Chief Minister to update the house on the progress of negotiations between himself and the Prime Minister with regard to an increase in the oil & gas royalty. "Any increase in the royalty percentage will contribute substantial additional revenue, which can be used to improve the well-being of all rakyat. According a report from the State Planning Unit EPU 2009,” he said. Poor allocations Biju added that Sarawak had produced RM67.7 billion of petroleum products in the year 2008 alone. “Just imagine how much 20% royalty would add to our state budget? How long can we Sarawakians endure this unfair distribution of our state's wealth? "We, the wakil rakyat are trying our very best to serve our constituents. However, without sufficient revenue, we are facing monumental obstacles. "Almost every wakil rakyat is still requesting for construction of basic amenities such as a proper road system, steady supply of electricity and clean drinking water, and also we are still talking about poverty eradication. "I urge the state government, together with all members of this august house to be united seriously and determinedly to negotiate with the Federal Government to increase our oil and gas royalties for the benefit our beloved people," he said. |
| UBS Bank sedang siasat skandal Musa Posted: 23 Nov 2012 08:51 PM PST
"Nama Musa Aman dikaitkan dengan siasatan kes 'money laundering' (pengubahan wang haram) berjumlah USD90 juta di Switzerland. “Musa dikatakan sebagai salah seorang pemegang akaun yang disiasat," katanya di hadapan lebih 5,000 orang pada ceramah Merdeka Rakyat di Padang Bola Apartment Damansara Damai, di sini malam tadi yang dipetik dari laman web Kelab Greenboc. "Bukan itu sahaja, kes melibatkan Musa Aman juga kini akan dibuka di Hong Kong melibatkan wang pemberian oleh jutawan balak Michael Chia berjumlah RM40 juta," katanya yang ahli biro politik PKR itu. Sivarasa berkata, puluhan laporan dibuat terhadap pemimpin Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) kepada polis dan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM), namun hingga kini tiada seorang pun didakwa. "Bila kita buat laporan, dia tutup fail. Bila kita tanya di Parlimen, mereka tak jawab," jelasnya. Beliau juga menyentuh berkenaan kekayaan yang dikumpul Ketua Menteri Sarawak, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud dan keluarganya selama lebih 20 tahun memerintah negeri itu. "Harta atas nama Taib Mahmud sahaja RM15 bilion. Dicampur dengan nama anak-anak dan adik beradiknya yang berjumlah RM6 bilion, bermakna keseluruhan harta keluarga Taib Mahmud berjumlah RM21 bilion. "Macam mana dia dapat? Kalau nak cerita hal rasuah pemimpin Umno-BN, ceramah sampai esok pun tak habis. Kerajaan Malaysia ini seperti orang yang sudah nyanyuk. Tapi mereka takkan boleh tutup mata rakyat (dari penyelewengan)," tegasnya. Turut hadir, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Bukit Lanjan, Elizabeth Wong dan Ketua Cabang PKR Rembau, Badrul Hisham Shaharin. |
| Health mistakes that everyone makes Posted: 23 Nov 2012 08:37 PM PST
Driving with the windows down Carrying a heavy handbag Spending too long exercising Scrimping on sleep Avoiding the scales Silent worrying Stopping medicines suddenly Forgetting to floss Skipping breakfast Drinking water from the warm tap LINKS |
| Pakatan must do more for Penang Malays Posted: 23 Nov 2012 08:36 PM PST
The rumour mill is working overtime in Penang now since PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim announced last week that Mansor, a party vice-president, will contest the Nibong Tebal parliament seat. The seat is presently held by Tan Tee Beng who had won the seat under the PKR banner in 2008 but has since become an Independent. Anwar declined to comment on whether Mansor will be allowed to defend his present Penanti state seat on the mainland. To this, the congress’ president Rahmad Isahak said it was becoming clear that both PKR and PAS have failed to maintain Pakatan Rakyat’s hold on the Malays. Moving Mansor out of Penang, stengthens the congress’ belief that Pakatan is concerned about the Malay ground here and confirms that the Malay electorate is disappointed with them, Rahmad said. Mansor has been underfire for the last three years for failing to champion Malay issues well, and he is often seen as being subservient to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. To arrest an alleged decline in Malay support, Rahmad said Pakatan needs to revamp its present leadeship allocation. A Malay DAP candidate, who wins in the next election, should instead be made the DCM I as this will demonstrate to the people that the party is committed to the Malays, Rahmad said. Talk is that Penang DAP will consider fielding at least two Malay candidates here to challenge the perception among the Malay community that it is a Chinese party. DAP’s failure to field any Malays may also give rise to a number of independent candidates – sponsored by Malay civil groups where 23 organisations have sprouted up in Penang since 2008. Rahmad said the Malays in Penang have become restless due to the inability of the DAP-led state government to effectively address their socio-economic issues. The community’s grouses are over the lack of affordable housing, erosion of their heritage and culture values, made worse by the demolition of traditional villages on the island and the lack of quality jobs despite a record number of fresh investments. “If you ask a critically minded Malay if they support Pakatan, they remain speechless. It is not because Pakatan failed them, it is because the issues of the community has gone unnoticed by the inexperienced government for the past four years.” The Malay dilemma The Malays are now venting their anger on PKR and PAS for failure to convince DAP over the critical need to look at the community’s issues. Even during Barisan’s era, the Malay community here has been stirring up issues and expressing their anger, Rahmad said in an interview. The Malays are in a dilemma here because if they support Pakatan, there is a preception out there that their issues will not be effectively resolved unless a strong-willed Malay leader is appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister I, Rahmad said. On the other hand, it is pointless to support Umno as the party is part of the Barisan Nasional coalition, which is finding it increasingly difficult to regain acceptance in Penang, he said. “Where do the Malays vote with a sense of security in Penang? That is the question every aspiring politician here must ask and find answers ahead of contesting in the coming general election,” said Rahmad. PAS has limited political mileage here unlike in the Malay heartland states, and to make matters worse, its local leaders do not address the anxieties of the Malay community, he added. This is the main reason why the congress was founded last year, its activists want to act as a bridge between the present government and the community, who feel sidelined in Penang, Rahmad said. The growing disparity in socio-economic levels in Penang, separated by the Penang Channel where the island is dominated by the Chinese while the mainland, has many Malays, is not an overnight issue. It is at least five decades-long in a making and no government can resolve it within one month, Rahmad explained. It takes time, sacrifices and most importantly, a political will to introduce the changes to ensure no community lags behind in Penang. Rahmad asked can Pakatan convince the Malays that it has their best interests at heart. “The Malays are not sentimentally driven. They are a religious pious group while at the same time, they want to know what has Pakatan delivered when governing. It is not enough to point out who is corrupt and who is not. That is not governance! Managing a government is about overcoming issues and making life better for all, including the Malays, who remain a minority in Penang for now.” But, if one were to analyse the population’s demographics in Penang, the Malays can soon become a majority here, Rahmad said. |
| Schumacher faces final curtain call Posted: 23 Nov 2012 08:28 PM PST  SAO PAULO: In the expected tumult of the championship celebrations that will follow Sunday’s championship-deciding Brazilian Grand Prix, one man will linger, take it all in and make a quiet, dignified exit.Michael Schumacher, veteran of 305 Grands Prix starts, 91 race wins and seven world championships, will bid farewell to a sport he has graced, upset, laced with controversy and at times turned into a processional march through the record books. When the 43-year-old parks his Mercedes in the team garage on Sunday he will begin his second retirement, three seasons after his return to the sport and after rarely reproducing the speed and aggression of his years at Jordan, Benetton and Ferrari. But he will do so knowing he has created moments of drama and delivered hints of the talent that once burned so brilliantly. “This time round, I will be able to pay more attention to my farewell and hopefully savour it too,” said Schumacher, when asked to reflect on his feelings ahead of his final race. “I have had fantastic years in Formula One and a lot of support from fans around the world, and I wish to particularly thank them for that. “Of course, I would be happiest if I could say goodbye with a strong race and I am sure we will be doing everything we can to make it happen.” For Schumacher’s fans, as in 2006, there is an air of disappointment about his exit because it has come not by choice, but circumstance. When he retired after the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix, it was after Ferrari had made clear they were signing Kimi Raikkonen from McLaren. This time around, it is another McLaren driver, Lewis Hamilton, who has to be accommodated by the German’s departure as Mercedes build for the future. But unlike 2006, Schumacher is not involved in a title battle with Fernando Alonso. Instead, he will be battling to score his first points since the Italian Grand Prix in September and secure a mid-table finish. “My departure will probably be less emotional for me this time than in 2006, when we were still fighting for the championship and everything was much more intense,” said Schumacher. “I am hoping to do a decent competitive race and to be able to enjoy it.” For the F1 fraternity, even those absorbed by another potentially-thrilling finale to the season between championship leader Sebastian Vettel and Alonso, Schumacher’s last race and retirement is sure to be emotionally charged. After 306 races, few of the drivers are without the bruises to show as proof of their scraps with the man Mercedes team chief Ross Brawn this week described as “probably the best Formula One driver of all time”. Brawn was with Schumacher at both Benetton and Ferrari and is widely regarded as the architect of his seven championship triumphs — a haul that is unlikely to be challenged in the near future. “It will be an emotional weekend for everyone in the team,” said Brawn. “We have both greatly enjoyed and benefited from working with Michael over the past three years and I would like to pay tribute to his enduring commitment, passion and team spirit. “The results that we all hoped for over that period have not come to fruition, however the progress that our team has made has been significant and I am confident that we will see the rewards in seasons to come. “Having worked with Michael for the majority of the 21 seasons of his career, I feel that he is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Formula One driver of all time and we wish him the very best with his future plans.” If statistics tell a story, they tell supreme success for Schumacher: 306 races (including Brazil), 91 wins, seven drivers’ world titles, 68 poles and 77 fastest laps. Schumacher bows out with a fitting message for fans on his race helmet: “Life is about passions – Thank you for sharing mine.” - AFP |
| Top 10 worst female health habits Posted: 23 Nov 2012 08:27 PM PST
Wearing heels Carrying a heavy handbag Sleeping in makeup Matching men drink for drink Wearing the wrong bra size Worrying and harbouring regrets Obsessing over appearance Emotional eating Not getting enough sleep Putting themselves last LINKS |
| Players locked out of stadium by protesting staff Posted: 23 Nov 2012 08:17 PM PST  ATHENS: Players from Greek second division club Thrasyvoulos had their yesterday training session cancelled when unpaid employees locked the doors of their Fylis Stadium.The financially-troubled Athenian-area team has failed to pay players and staff for the last two months and Thrasyvoulos captain Giorgos Syros said in an interview earlier this week that some of his teammates do not have enough money to buy food. “The players have pride and dignity despite the problems,” Syros was quoted on the club’s website. Team president Sotiris Masouris said that Syros’ statement was made in a “satirical way and was misunderstood”. Many of Greece’s football clubs are struggling to survive because the long-running financial crisis has led to dwindling crowds and ticket revenues. - AFP |
| Hamilton sets Brazil pace, Vettel edges Alonso Posted: 23 Nov 2012 08:11 PM PST  SAO PAULO: Lewis Hamilton continued at Interlagos yesterday where he left off in Texas last Sunday by setting the pace in opening free practice for this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix title showdown.On a day of soaring heat and rising tension, the 27-year-old Briton clocked a best lap time in one minute and 14.026 seconds to outpace defending champion German Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull. Vettel, who leads the title race by 13 points ahead of Sunday’s finale, only needs to finish in the top four to become the youngest triple world champion in Formula One history. His only rival for the title, two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Ferrari, was fifth fastest, separated from the front pair by Vettel’s Red Bull team-mate Australian Mark Webber and his own in-form Ferrari team-mate and local hero Felipe Massa. Vettel was three-tenths of a second slower than Hamilton while Webber, Massa and Alonso were so closely matched that they were separated by just 0.007 seconds at the end of the afternoon session. The defending champion was mindful of the forecasts for unpredictable weather with heavy rainstorms on Saturday night and Sunday. “It was very slippery for everyone, quite hot today and in terms of track conditions not that easy. So everyone suffered the same kind of problems – track, stability and so on — so we have to do our homework now no matter what the weather forecast says,” said the German. Asked if he felt confident he could clinch his third title, he said: “We will see. It is a bit unknown what is going to come. So far we can be happy. We have to do our homework and improve the car, there is a lot still to come. “Obviously we don’t know what the weather is going to do. Today is incredibly hot, tomorrow is supposed to be hot with maybe some rain, and Sunday a bit cooler — this is Sao Paulo so it could be anything.” Hamilton, who won the United States Grand Prix in Austin last weekend, and won the 2008 title in dramatic fashion at Interlagos, topped the times in both sessions and looked supremely confident and fast in his 110th and final race for McLaren before his impending move to Mercedes next season. He showed his emotion by reportedly bursting into tears during a television interview on Thursday and by adding the slogan ‘Thank You McLaren’ to his bright yellow helmet. “It’s been a positive first day — I hope we can maintain our form or even progress it tomorrow. We’re certainly looking strong, but this place can be so tough on tyres that it’s hard to make any accurate predictions at this stage,” said Hamilton. “The track and ambient temperatures were so high today that it felt almost as though I was sliding around the track with the tyres melting.” “It’s great to have such a positive final Friday with the team — it’s been one of the best Fridays we’ve had for a long, long time. I’m savouring every moment of this weekend.” Seven-time champion Michael Schumacher was sixth fastest for Mercedes, in his final Friday practice session before heading off into retirement at the age of 43 and with tributes ringing in his ears. His Mercedes team-mate and fellow-German Nico Rosberg was seventh ahead of Hamilton’s McLaren team-mate and compatriot Jenson Button, Frenchman Romain Grosjean of Lotus and Briton Paul Di Resta of Force India. After a warm, bright morning, the afternoon session was run in hot, dry early summer weather with the air temperature rising to 33 degress and the track temperature into the mid-40s, conditions that meant tyres had to be treated with great respect. The track peaked at 49 degrees. But a weather forecast of heavy rain due to arrive late on Saturday and into the weekend, posed questions for the teams’ set-ups with some opting for more down-force than others. Alonso and Ferrari were among the teams that seemed to favour higher levels of downforce, which would be an advantage in wet conditions, and after the early fast laps from Vettel, he jumped top of the times midway through the session. Grosjean then replaced him as fastest man before he was, in turn, outpaced by Hamilton’s crushing lap in one minute and 14.026 seconds with 37 minutes remaining as they switched to softer medium compound tyres. Massa and Rosberg also lapped more quickly and clocked the second and third-fastest times before Vettel, on fresh tyres, went on a charge but was still 0.274 seconds slower than Hamilton who concluded his work with an impressive long run in the final minutes. - AFP |
| Menezes sacked as Brazil coach Posted: 23 Nov 2012 08:07 PM PST  SAO PAULO: Mano Menezes was sensationally sacked as coach of five-time world champions Brazil yesterday, dealing a hammer blow to the misfiring hosts of the 2014 World Cup.“I gave him the news myself,” said Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) national squad director Andres Sanches. “Nobody likes to receive news of these kind of things in any circumstances, but everyone in football knows that these things happen. “A new coach will be announced in January.” Menezes, 50, took over from Dunga following the team’s elimination in the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup finals. But he had come under intense pressure after the team’s failure at the 2011 Copa America, where they lost in the last-eight to Paraguay, and at the Olympic Games in London this summer where they finished runners-up. Menezes, who was axed after a meeting with the CBF president Jose Maria Marin, oversaw 20 wins in his time at the helm, six draws and five defeats. His job had been on the line since Brazil’s latest attempt to win Olympic gold ended in humiliation after a lacklustre 2-1 loss to underdogs Mexico at Wembley in August. Media speculation has already linked former Selecao boss Luis Felipe Scolari with a return to the hot-seat after he guided Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002. After the setback at the Olympics, Menezes appealed to Brazil’s football federation chiefs not to be panicked into sacking him. “Any coach must be ready to suffer the consequences of their results,” Menezes said. “Even when teams win tournaments people (in Brazil) don’t always praise the coach so imagine what it is like when you lose. “But defeat in one match should not have a decisive influence. Had we won that would not have solved all of our problems either. Lessons must be learned from every match.” Menezes said he believed that the Olympic loss could have been used to inspire Brazil to a sixth World Cup on home soil in 2014. “The important thing is the right corrections are made so the next time we can win,” he said in London. “You learn from defeats as well as victories.” Menezes had previously coached Brazilian club side Gremio from 2005 until 2007, leading the team to the final of the Copa Libertadores where they were defeated by Boca Juniors. He then took charge of Corinthians with whom he won the 2009 Brazilian Cup. While Scolari remains the favourite to take over, some reports have linked Corinthians coach Tite and Santos boss Muricy Ramalho witn the job. - AFP |
| Reconsider plans for dams in Sarawak Posted: 23 Nov 2012 07:58 PM PST
The proposed Baram Dam has created much opposition and protests from inhabitants worried about losing their lands, properties and heritage to being submerged by water. Do we really need that much electricity by building so many mega dams, now that we already have excess capacity from existing dams like Bakun and Batang Ai? Must we also move towards heavy industries like the aluminium smelting plant which are generally highly polluting and damaging to the people's health and environment? Is SCORE (Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy) really the way forward for the economy and people of Sarawak, at the expense of the rich biodiversity of tropical rainforests, native lands and heritage of the indigenous people, and the natural environment? From the recent Penan blockade of the Murum Dam project, we learned that the state government has failed to ensure participation of the affected Penans in the decision making process. The government did not obtain free, prior and informed consent from the indigenous people which violated the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous People (UNDRIP) to which Malaysia is a signatory. UNDRIP explicitly recognises that indigenous communities should have a voice in their own development, including the design of any housing, economic and social programmes on their behalf. By building dams without their consent, the government is violating their rights. I urge the state government to reconsider plans for the 12 new mega dams and relocate funds to other more useful and practical projects, like the construction of a comprehensive network of roads and highways much needed by the people. I believe foreign investors will also welcome the availability of good roads and highways in Sarawak that will ease the flow of their goods and services, and the people will thank the government for improving their mobility and helping to boost the local economy. Alan Ling Sie Kiong is the state assemblyman for Piasau. He is also an advocate & solicitor. |
| Kobayashi to raise funds via website Posted: 23 Nov 2012 07:28 PM PST
Speaking to reporters at the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix on Friday after Sauber announced Mexican Esteban Gutierrez would be taking his place in 2013, Kobayashi did his best to sound confident. “We see I think still some seats that are available so we try to get a seat,” he said. “If we can find some sponsors I think it is easier.” Kobayashi said money, or rather his lack of it, was “the main issue for sure” in why Sauber, who have several Mexican sponsors, had opted for Gutierrez alongside Germany‘s Nico Hulkenberg. “This is Formula One,” shrugged the Japanese, the son of sushi restaurant owner, who arrived in Formula One with Toyota support but no other backing and joined Sauber when the carmaker pulled out at the end of 2009. “For Sauber it is my last race but for myself I think it is different. “Everybody looks really worried but I don’t really worry at the moment, I try to work hard to get sponsors and find out what’s available for next year’s seat.” Kobayashi, an extrovert overtaker, has huge popularity in Japan after finishing third for Sauber in his home race at Suzuka this season but he has suspected for some time that he would not be kept on at the team. He said he was trying to harness some of the goodwill at home through a ‘www.kamui-support.com‘ website, with the url posted on his Twitter account to 93,000 followers, offering wristbands in exchange for a donation. “Suzuka had more than 100,000 people at the race… over the three days we had 200,000,” said Kobayashi, comfortably Japan’s most successful grand prix driver by career points scored. “I think we have a lot of potential to get some money from the fans as well. It has been just two days but it’s going to help my career for sure.” Force India, Caterham and Marussia still have seats available but all have made it clear that they are looking for sponsorship money as part of the deal. - Reuters |
| Statue of Ferguson unveiled at Old Trafford Posted: 23 Nov 2012 07:25 PM PST
The 2.7 metre statue was revealed at a ceremony attended by the current United squad and many of the greats who have worked under the long-serving Ferguson such as Eric Cantona, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Peter Schmeichel. Artist Philip Jackson, who was also responsible for another Old Trafford statue portraying former manager Matt Busby as well as the United Trinity piece featuring Bobby Charlton, George Best and Denis Law, resisted the temptation to capture Ferguson berating a referee, chewing gum or looking at his watch. “I’ve tried to portray him as a man of great determination and as a thinking man, but also with humour which he has in abundance, so there’s just a slight smile in the corner of his mouth. That’s really what I wanted to portray,” Jackson said. Ferguson, who has been in charge for 26 years and won 12 Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues, appeared delighted with his likeness. “Normally people die before they have a statue. I’m outliving death,” he said at the unveiling which drew a crowd of 2,500 to the stadium. - Reuters |
| Posted: 23 Nov 2012 07:21 PM PST
Teo has been practising for over a decade but he says the 300km walk from Kuantan to Kuala Lumpur was the highpoint in his career. Since last week, he has been walking with the other participants and his knowledge of medicine was put to good use. During the first few days in Maran and Lanchang, the group stopped and camped overnight in a locations where there was no electricity, he said. "I had to treat the walkers in the dark," he said. "I only relied on two orang aslis who lit up candlelight besides me." "There were also times when we have to put up an extension to obtain electricity from a house nearby," he said. Teo said the first few days were the hardest period as he had to treat an average of 30 to 40 participants who suffered blisters, leg cramps and fatigue. He said the situation has since gradually improved as the number of "patients" reduced everyday. "Many of them have either become more accustomed to the daily long march or more experienced in taking care of themselves," he smiled. Teo said despite only providing the group with basic medical services, his services was much appreciated. Displaying a rose given by a participant, he said the gift contains a special meaning for him. "This is the first time after so many years as a sinseh that I received a rose, and there were people who even asked for my signature," he said. Green Walk was a movement initiated by Wong Tack to rally support against the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (Lamp) in Gebang, Pahang. Wong said when they reached Bukit Tinggi he was surprised by the warm hospitality they received. He said a woman allowed the participants to stay overnight in her house. "I was quite worried because I don't know many of them but the woman had so much faith in the walkers. In another case, Wong said a man on crutches had travelled from KL to Bukit Tinggi to meet him personally. "He told me that he can't take part in the walk, but he felt like contributing. So he donated a sum of money without even mentioning his name," he said. Meanwhile, Johanes Luwat, a participant from Sarawak and an activist against the proposed Baram Dam, said he felt very happy to take part in the walk. ”A total of 25 orang asli villages will go under water once the dam is built. This is a serious problem," he said. |
| Pakatan’s battle for PM must take backseat Posted: 23 Nov 2012 07:20 PM PST
For one, there is no consensus among the Pakatan members on who is deserving of the premiership mantle. PAS believes its president, Abdul Hadi Awang, meets the pre-requisites of a prime minister while DAP says it backs former deputy prime minister-turned-Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim. To have dissenting voices in the Pakatan fold on who is the preferred choice to helm Malaysia is giving its arch-rival Barisan Nasional the much-needed fodder to further discredit the opposition in the eyes of the rakyat. The people have in the aftermath of the 2008 general election learned to be more selective in their choice of who really is deserving of their trust and support to call the shots from Putrajaya. But for now, it is important that Pakatan pulls the brake and puts a stop to the "Abdul Hadi Awang vs Anwar Ibrahim as PM" speculation. What is more urgent is the need to stay united and leave no room for BN to infiltrate and subvert Pakatan's efforts in staying in the good books of the people. Whether it is Hadi or Anwar or Lim Guan Eng, for that matter, is not the issue; the point that needs to be driven home is that the premiership is not for the popular but instead is an arduous responsibility that requires the right aptitude. Hence, the need for Pakatan to take a good and hard look at who is the right candidate for the job. Does Pakatan have the answer as to which candidate is the perfect pick? Are the names that are being mentioned truly deserving or is it a case of "popular appeal"? Pakatan needs to think hard Should Pakatan outdo BN in the 13th general election and land in Putrajaya, the rakyat will in no way tolerate any BN-like shenanigans by the opposition. With that in mind, Pakatan must be very sure whom it wants to place in the premier's chair. Is Anwar the right candidate, despite the many controversies surrounding him? Or is it the scholarly Hadi whom the rakyat can depend on to navigate the nation to greater heights? For now, with time still on its hands, the opposition has to double up efforts in sustaining the rakyat's trust in it, instead of politicking and appearing disinterested and disunited. Maybe that is why former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad seized the opportunity to take a swipe at Pakatan and its over-enthusiasm in name-dropping for the premiership. As usual, taking liberty with his words, Mahathir says even the former Tiger of Jelutong and DAP chairman and no-nonsense lawyer Karpal Singh will be gunning to become the next prime minister. Sounding callous as ever, Mahathir, who thus far holds the record for being Malaysia's longest- serving premier, is implying that greed for power has become the order of the day in Pakatan's fold. "Let Karpal be the PM. He, after all, has fought for so long. And when he retires, Karpal will receive the Tun title," was how Mahathir put it. Serving the rakyat, not thyself Mahathir's sarcasm is troubling for it points to the fact that politicians have no interest in serving the rakyat and are only on the lookout for self-gratification, that is, aiming for honorifics. Here, who better to prove him wrong than the Pakatan pact, provided the members speak in one voice, giving the rakyat the assurance that they have what it takes to govern the nation. In this regard, it will be in Pakatan's best interest to learn from the mistakes of BN which, despite having led the country since independence, failed to clean up its act and continued to remain arrogant, until its unexpected losses in 2008. For the rakyat's sake, remember that the prime minister's seat does not "belong" to any one particular person. It is a duty and obligation to steer the country in the "right" direction, serving only the interest of the people. Until then, it is wise for Pakatan to focus on the many tasks at hand and put "who best be PM" speculations to rest. Jeswan Kaur is a freelance writer and a FMT columnist. |
| Hamilton fastest before farewell Posted: 23 Nov 2012 07:18 PM PST
The Briton, who took his 2008 Formula One title at Interlagos and arrived in Brazil after winning the U.S. Grand Prix in Texas last Sunday, lapped the anti-clockwise layout with a best time of one minute 14.131 seconds in sunny but hazy morning conditions. The 27-year-old, who joins Mercedes next season, then lapped in 1:14.026 in the heat of the afternoon. Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel, the championship leader who is favourite to clinch his third successive title on Sunday, was second fastest in both sessions. He was just 0.009 off Hamilton’s pace before lunch and 0.274 slower after the break. However, the 25-year-old German set his morning time on this year’s Pirelli tyres while Hamilton’s came in a test of next year’s prototype rubber. Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, Vettel’s only title rival but 13 points off the lead, was fifth on both timesheets – 0.261 and 0.566 slower respectively than the quickest McLaren. Hamilton, who welled up with emotion in a BBC interview earlier in the week, said he was savouring every moment of the weekend. “I just took some pictures of my engineers. I’ll take some pictures of my mechanics later on today and I said we have to take a picture every day,” he told reporters after practice. “This is one of the best Fridays we’ve had for a long, long time. It’s a perfect last Friday to have. “I feel very good at the moment. we’re definitely strong, just as we were in the last three or four races,” said the Briton. “But here is so tough on the tyres. I hope that we can continue to compete with them (Red Bull) tomorrow. That would be the best Saturday to have a pole, for sure.” Slippery Track Vettel said the track had been very slippery but was happy with his day’s work. “It was quite hot today and, in terms of track conditions, not that easy,” he said. Australian Mark Webber was third in the morning and afternoon while McLaren’s Jenson Button was fourth in the first session. Alonso’s Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa was fourth after lunch. Spaniard Alonso must finish on the podium on Sunday to have any hope of taking his third title while Vettel will be champion regardless of other results if he can secure fourth place or better. “We have not yet found the ideal balance on the car, so there is still a lot of work to be done with the engineers going into the rest of the weekend,” said the Spaniard, mindful also that the weather is expected to turn wet at the weekend. “Our targets are clear but also difficult to achieve.” Hamilton has raced for McLaren for all of his Formula One career and could face a barren spell at Mercedes, a team that has been largely uncompetitive this year with their only highlight Nico Rosberg’s win in China. The Briton acknowledged after arriving in Brazil that Sunday’s race could be his last chance in a while to stand on top of the podium but Mercedes did their best to give him some hope on Friday. Michael Schumacher, the seven-times world champion who is retiring for the second time on Sunday to make way for Hamilton at Mercedes, was sixth in the second session ahead of Rosberg with Button eighth. The 43-year-old German had a special message for his fans on his helmet: “Life is about passions, thank you for sharing mine.” - Reuters |
| Redknapp wants to save QPR from relegation Posted: 23 Nov 2012 07:17 PM PST
“I’m hopeful we can get it done tonight, there shouldn’t be any problems,” the 65-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur manager told Sky Sports News on Friday. “I can only do my best. I’m ready to give it a go now and see if I can change their fortunes around.” QPR sacked Mark Hughes earlier on Friday, having taken just four points from 12 matches this season. They are the only club without a win in all four professional divisions in England. Club owner Tony Fernandez publicly backed Hughes, although there was a change in tone after Saturday’s home defeat by lowly Southampton left them four points adrift at the bottom. “Mark Hughes is a top, top manager and a great guy as well,” said Redknapp. “He was just unlucky and they just couldn’t get the results they needed. “If I can manage to keep them up I will be the happiest man around. But it won’t be easy for sure”. “I fancy getting back into the Premier League. QPR is a good club, with great fans and a great atmosphere,” added the former West Ham United player, who was sacked by Spurs in June despite leading QPR’s London rivals to fourth place last season. “It’s a privilege to go there (QPR) and manage them. I’m looking forward to the challenge. It will be a tough job to take on but I am up for the challenge,” he said. “There’s some good players there and I have obviously got to find a way of picking a team that can win some games. Worse Starts “They have gone 12 games without a win so you couldn’t have too many worse starts than that. I am going to go in and give it my best shot and if it works it will be fantastic.” Redknapp, who will be at Old Trafford on Saturday to watch Rangers play Manchester United under Hughes’ assistants Mark Bowen and Eddie Niedzwiecki, had been “very close” to taking over as Ukraine manager when the QPR offer came up. The Ukrainian Football Federation said earlier this week that they wanted Redknapp to take charge of the national team. “The (Ukraine) job was exciting. Something I had never done in my life before. To go abroad and coach was something I was really up for,” said Redknapp. “Yesterday (Thursday) I was sort of almost on my way to the Ukraine. It was something I really fancied doing. “When we got the phone call today to say we’d like to talk to you it changed everything around really,” added the former Bournemouth, West Ham, Portsmouth and Southampton manager. “If everything gets sorted, and I’m sure it will, I’ll be in Sunday morning, will have the team in training on Monday, then fly up to Sunderland.” Redknapp, who hopes to have his former Tottenham assistants Kevin Bond and Joe Jordan working alongside him at QPR, enjoyed an eventful four-year spell as Spurs manager. He took the north London team from the bottom of the league to victories over European giants in the Champions League. Redknapp was heavily linked to the England job before the Football Association appointed Roy Hodgson in May. - Reuters |
| Rafa expects Lamps and Cole to leave Chelsea Posted: 23 Nov 2012 07:13 PM PST
Asked if it was the end of a glorious era for the pair who will be out of contract, Benitez said: “I think so, that is the case at the moment. I am only here for seven months. If it is for two or three years then maybe I would have an influence. “Sometimes you are in a difficult position as manager because there’s too much to decide on, so it’s better to have a technical director sometimes,” he was quoted in Saturday’s Daily Mail as telling reporters. Chelsea’s technical director is Michael Emenalo. Former Liverpool manager Benitez has been appointed until the end of the season in place of Italian Roberto Di Matteo who was sacked this week after the team’s dip in form despite winning the Champions League and the FA Cup last season. Midfielder Lampard, 34, their third highest scorer ever, and left back Cole, 31, have had huge success at Chelsea including helping the club owned by Russian Roman Abramovich to became the first from London to lift the European Cup. Lampard has also won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups in 11 years since joining from West Ham United while Cole also won a league title and four FA Cups with the west London club since leaving London rivals Arsenal in 2006. Benitez said he met Abramovich for dinner on Thursday. “I spent two or three hours with the owner, we talked about everything. He knows my ideas, but we didn’t have that much time together. Maybe we will in future,” he was quoted as saying. “If you have confidence in yourself and explain yourself, everyone can understand,” added the Spaniard, who won the Champions league with Liverpool. “My impression with the owner is he’s a nice person. You can talk with him and he understands. He likes to see you have a clear idea: I think it’s black and white with him.” - Reuters |
| Man City baptism for Chelsea new man Benitez Posted: 23 Nov 2012 07:05 PM PST  LONDON: Rafael Benitez’s hopes of winning over the Chelsea supporters face a stern test when his new side take on champions Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.Chelsea fans have not universally welcomed Benitez’s appointment as Roberto Di Matteo’s interim successor, after the frequent spats that accompanied clashes between Benitez’s Liverpool and Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea. The Spaniard’s response has been to confidently declare he will gain acceptance through success on the pitch and there is no doubt victory over the reigning Premier League champions would be a step in the right direction. Benitez has been appointed until the end of the season but has talked of impressing the Chelsea hierarchy sufficiently to convince them to shelve any plans of pursuing former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, who has also been linked with a move to City. And the new manager has already received first-hand experience of dealing with the kind of off-field issues that have become a feature of life at Stamford Bridge in recent years. The announcement by the Football Association that referee Mark Clattenburg had been cleared of racially abusing Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel threatened to overshadow the new manager’s first media briefing yesterday. Mikel is now facing a charge relating to his behaviour after the 3-2 home defeat by Manchester United, but is available for the visit of City. Benitez must tighten up a defence that has looked shaky without John Terry – missing again with a knee injury – and, perhaps more dauntingly, attempt to coax striker Fernando Torres back into the form he showed when they worked together at Liverpool. The manager insists, though, that only minor tweaks are needed to a side that lost 3-0 at Juventus this week — a result that triggered Di Matteo’s departure and seriously undermined their hopes of progressing in the Champions League. Describing his first meeting with his players, Benitez said: “We didn’t talk about the Champions League or the next game but about little things I saw and we could improve a bit, and things they were doing well, which Roberto Di Matteo was doing. “It’s a good squad, a good team. If I’m here, it’s because I think we can win with them. If we can improve by training hard, we will.” The events at Chelsea this week have helped deflect some of the attention away from City’s failure to reach the Champions League knockout rounds for the second successive season. Manager Roberto Mancini knows his expensively-assembled side must respond to their European demise with a positive result at Stamford Bridge to appease fans restless at the club’s lack of progress against the continent’s best teams. Mancini is clearly frustrated at City’s abrupt Champions League exit and was annoyed by the comments of Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, who had claimed City’s struggles were “not normal” for a big team. The City manager spent part of his pre-match press conference yesterday discussing Mourinho. “Mourinho is not my chairman, he is not my owner,” said Mancini. “What Mourinho said is for me not interesting. “Mourinho wants to talk about everything, but for me it is not important.” Mancini also praised City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak for his patience, in a week that saw Di Matteo fired six months after masterminding Chelsea’s Champions League triumph. “I don’t know (Chelsea owner Roman) Abramovich, I don’t know that situation,” added the Italian. “All I can say is that I am happy to work with my owners and my chairman. They are good men, they understand the situation. They know it is impossible to win every game. “When we lose they are disappointed like me, like the players.” - AFP |
| Can Pakatan weather the Hadi storm? Posted: 23 Nov 2012 07:00 PM PST
As far as knowledge of the workings of PAS is concerned, this columnist dares to say that a Hadi candidature will only get as far as the PAS central working committee (CWC). This is how it works. The Dewan Ulama will propose Hadi’s name to the Syura Council consisting of religious leaders/ulama headed by Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat, the PAS spiritual adviser. After obtaining the endorsement of the Syura Council, Hadi’s name will then be submitted to the PAS CWC which has members consisting of both ulama and professionals. At the end of the day, even if one million PAS members want Hadi to be the prime minister, the decision is at the hands of the CWC which has 35 decision-makers. Unlike Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim who has already been endorsed by both the Syura Council and the CWC, Hadi has yet to obtain the endorsement of both the Syura Council and the CWC. In fact, there are others in PAS with economic expertise who are more suited to the prime minister’s post compared to Hadi but let us not get into that. Moreover, Anwar has sound economic knowledge and thus the PAS CWC will stick with Anwar and therefore even if PAS wins more seats than its coalition partners, Anwar will still be the prime minister. So the polemics of this matter can be put to rest although it must be said that that particular PAS delegate who raised this issue at the PAS muktamar (national conference) is unwise to do so at a time when the 13th general election is just around the corner. As usual, the Barisan Nasional-controlled mainstream media will play up the issue to the hilt by saying that there is no unity or harmony among the Pakatan component parties. According to a PAS MP, who wished to remain anonymous, the conservatives in PAS have fallen into the trap laid by ex-PAS man Dr Hasan Ali (state assemblyman for Gombak Setia) and the present Bachok MP, Nasharuddin Mat Isa. “These two men keep harping on PAS’ so-called deviation from its Islamic struggle and this caused the conservatives to try to promote a more Islamic image for PAS. The exuberance displayed by the conservatives no doubt has spilled over into the muktamar,” said this MP. “However, we adhere to the principle of ‘tahaluf siyasi’ which is the principle of co-operation with our Pakatan allies and this principle has already been endorsed by both the Syura Council and the CWC. This simply means that Anwar will be the prime minister in the event that Pakatan wins the 13th general election,” added the same MP, who is also a member of the high-powered PAS CWC. Thus this simply means that Hadi’s name will be stuck at the CWC assuming that the Syura Council will endorse him but even this has yet to happen. Prayer against Umno Another issue of interest raised by the mainstream media is PAS’ prayer for the downfall of Umno. It is not so much a prayer for Umno’s downfall as a prayer for the fall of evil. This, of course, is omitted by the ever BN-compliant mainstream media. At the end of the day it boils down to how savvy or cunning the Malaysian voters are in sifting the wheat from the chaff. Otherwise, BN looks set to win easily in the 13th general election if voters are diverted by this issue played up by the mainstream media. Malaysian voters must look beyond issues raised by BN leaders, one of which is that Pakatan is breaking up. All issues raised by BN leaders pertaining to the "breaking-up" of Pakatan are pure nonsense and must be treated as such. Voters must not be side-tracked and must be wise in only one resolve and that is to vote for credible political parties. No one must ever forget that it is during the tenure of the BN government especially from 2010 till now that we have seen such a blatant increase in the number of illegal immigrants and unskilled workers being given fast-tracked citizenship. This is the greatest treachery of all time – the selling out of a nation’s citizenship rights. And this traitorous move will continue if the same bunch of rogues with their octopus grip on all the national institutions are voted into power yet again for the umpteenth time. This means that the wisdom of Malaysian voters will be tested to the utmost as the BN propaganda machine will seize on any and every issue to demonise Pakatan besides spinning half-truths and falsehood to put Pakatan in a bad light. Therefore, Malaysians must look at the overall bigger picture. What happened at the PAS muktamar is just a storm in a teacup and only a suggestion from an over-enthusiastic delegate – it will fail to carry weight. Selena Tay is a FMT columnist. |
| Sabah Umno could lose ‘birthplace’ Posted: 23 Nov 2012 06:59 PM PST
STAR’s Sabah chairman, Jeffrey Kitingan, was elated to see about 150 senior citizens and the young who thronged to his ice-breaking “ceramah” at two kampungs here recently. One session was held in Tempasuk Tamau, an Iranun kampung, not very far from Umno’s Pandikar Amin Mulia’s home. The ceramah was hosted by a local ustaz who recently joined STAR. The other function, attended by some 170 individuals, was in Usukan’s Lebak Moyoh at the residence of a local Umno leader and well-known Bajau political activist, Ridzuan Sikah. Ridzuan's entry into STAR is a signal that Umno in Kota Belud is not invincible and that change is coming. In fact, in the last 2008 general election, through manipulations by local political warlords, Umno did lose votes in some of the Muslim kampungs in this district, especially in Iranun areas. At that time, Kota Belud’s Umno members were humiliated when the party chose outsider Abdul Rahman Dahlan, who is from adjacent Tuaran, to contest under the Barisan Nasional banner, dropping popular Salleh Said Keruak. The decision was seen as discrediting a pool of many local talents. Abdul Rahman went on to win Kota Belud parliamentary seat, nevertheless, but with a much reduced majority as compared with his predecessor Salleh who won the seat for Umno in the 2004 general election. Salleh, in a three-cornered fight, then retained Kota Belud with a thumping 10,227 vote majority. Abdul Rahman in 2008 won it in a straight fight with a PKR candidate, Saidil Simoi, but with only a 3,020 majority. Divided Tempasuk According to Umno insiders, disgruntled party leaders and members in Kota Belud are still licking their wounds from the humiliation and their angst will resurface and be magnified if again the incumbent, an “outsider”, is retained at the coming polls. And, STAR is cashing on the still disgruntled local community. Its Tempasuk coordinator, Suwah Buleh, is a personal friend of the young ustaz who is affectionate to many people. According to local observers, Suwah is gaining ground there already. STAR flags have begun coming up much to the frustration of Umno local leaders. Businessman Suwah, who is active in his SIB church, is poised to be STAR candidate for mixed-seat Tempasuk. He is set to attract the bulk of the votes from the Dusun community. Coupled with this are pockets of growing support in the Iranun and Bajau areas. Observers believe that Suwah is likely to scrap through at the polls which could be called anytime soon. Meanwhile, Pakatan Rakyat is almost certain to field a strong Muslim candidate in Tempasuk. With Umno’s candidate also certain to be a Muslim, this, according to the locals, would split the Muslim votes thus paving the way for Suwah to win. The last time a Dusun Christian won Tempasuk was during the era of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) (1985-1994). The same goes for the Kota Belud parliamentary seat when the late Maidom Pansai was with PBS. Meanwhile, Ridzuan from Usukan may be aiming to be STAR’s candidate in Usukan, an overwhelmingly Muslim seat. According to observers, it would be a tough fight for any contender there, especially if Salleh is given the chance to stand again in Usukan, his family fort for ages. Another state seat under Kota Belud is Kadamaian, currently held by PBS-BN, where many parties including STAR, PKR and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) are keen to contest. |
| Christians forced to become Muslims by NRD Posted: 23 Nov 2012 06:11 PM PST FMT LETTER: From P Ramakrishnan, via e-mail Who determines one's faith – the individual or the The National Registration Department (NRD? It is obvious that it has to be the individual concerned. The NRD has no business to disagree when a person lays claim to a certain faith. The NRD's function is to issue MyKad and it cannot act beyond this function. It is very clear. But why then is the NRD making the lives of Bumiputra Christians in Sabah and Sarawak miserable (as reported in the Malaysian Chronicle)? For Christians, it has been one long struggle to claim their rights. To use the word 'Allah' was a tussle; to import the Bible in the national language was a problem. Now, even to claim that they are Christians is a formidable challenge. Many Bumiputra Christians have traditionally used the word 'bin' and 'binti' in their names. But that does not make them Muslims. They are Christians for all intents and purposes. Even when they point out that they are Christians, the NRD overrides their objection and lists them as Muslims rather arbitrarily. Who is in a better position to determine the religion of any one – the person concerned or a civil servant in the NRD? It is most shocking that despite their pointing out that they are not Muslims – but Christians – the NRD refuses to entertain them. This is really ridiculous! The NRD is insistent that it would continue to list these Christians as Muslims simply because they have 'bin' and 'binti' in their names. It has stubbornly refused to rectify the mistakes in the MyKad claiming that it would only act upon an order by a Syariah High Court declaring that they are not Muslims. These cretinous Little Napoleons in NRD should realise that 'bin' is merely an Arabic term for 'son of', while 'binti' means 'daughter of'. So, in general, these terms don't necessarily indicate that one is a Muslim. If they need reminding, to be Arabic may not necessarily be the same as being Islamic! But why has this case to be referred to the Syariah High Court when they are in fact not Muslims? What is the NRD up to? What has happened to the PM's slogan 'People First'? Can a petty civil servant make a mockery of the PM and his pledge? When a person applies for the MyKad, isn't he or she required to fill in a form in which the religion of the applicant is stated? If the officer has any doubt as to the claim, it can be easily cleared up by questioning the applicant over this matter. These Christians must have undergone baptism in a church and there would be records to support their claims. Why wasn't this taken into consideration? In this way the problem could have been easily solved. In one recent case even when documentary evidence from the Sabah Islamic Affairs Department was produced stating that the person concerned was not a Muslim according to the Islamisation Register – a fact that was reported to the Syariah Court in Kudat – the NRD still would not rectify the error. It wants the person to go to the Kudat Syariah High Court for a declaration that she is not a Muslim before action could be taken to rectify its mistake. It is very strange that the NRD is unwilling to accept or respect the evidence produced by the Sabah Islamic Affairs Department. Shouldn't the word of the Islamic Affairs Department carry some weight? Why does this matter, in spite of being cleared by the Islamic authority, have to be referred to the Syariah Court, entailing unnecessary delay and expenditure? The Syariah Court had in March last year barred a Christian lawyer, Victoria Jayaseele Martin, from practising in a Syariah court despite having a Diploma in Syariah Law and Practice from the International Islamic University Malaysia, in addition to a University of London law degree. Going by this precedent, why should these Christians who are non-Muslims be part of the Syariah Court proceedings. These Christians were not born Muslims nor were they converted Muslims. There is no authoritative evidence to state that they are Muslims. In the face of this overwhelming evidence in favour of these Christians, on what authority does the NRD insist on listing them as Christians? Is the NRD a law unto itself? Can it act beyond its scope and make the lives of these Christians miserable? Because of the unnecessary and irritating behaviour of those in the NRD, these Christians are subjected to numerous problems. Their children cannot be baptised in a church and they cannot get married in a church. They cannot be accorded a Christian burial. Is this fair? Must they continue to suffer this indignity indefinitely? They need not if they wise up. What they are subjected to is the result of the Barisan Nasional government being too long in power. It has lost its compassion; it has become arrogant; it is unable to recognise the problem or provide a solution. It has become indifferent to their misery. There is only one answer to get out of this misery: Vote for change! The writer is the immediate past president of Aliran |
| Open letter to an ‘empty vessel PM’ Posted: 23 Nov 2012 06:05 PM PST FMT LETTER: From P Ramakrishnan, via e-mail My dear PM, You sounded like a great statesman when you urged Malaysians "to disregard political difference and work toward nation-building". That was simply fantastic! It was very heart-warming to hear you say, "We must build the nation together. Irrespective of the political differences that we have, at the end of the day this country is ours." That was simply unbelievable! How we wish that you really meant what you said. If that was your philosophy, by now you would have been proclaimed as the greatest Prime Minister this country has ever had. If that had happened, you need not now scramble around the country desperately trying to get the Barisan Nasional returned to power. If you had put this rhetoric into practice, this country would have moved forward in leaps and bounds, astounding the rest of the world. We would have achieved so much during your three and a half years of premiership that would have helped you to walk through the coming 13th General Election without a sweat. But when we assess you and try to match you with what you said at the launch of the Genovasi Challenge in Kuala Lumpur on 14 October 2012, we are gravely disappointed. You come across as a hollow politician who is not capable of living up to your words. This country is “ours” – then why do you let extremists call us ‘pendatangs? If you truly meant that "at the end of the day this country is ours" why is it that a vast majority of citizens are not made to feel that way? Why do you tolerate and refuse to take to task those narrow-minded Umno petty politicians and Perkasa poison-spewing ultras who refer to the rest of the citizens as 'pendatang'? This is as much the country of the ordinary citizens and they have as much right as these name-calling despicable and loud-mouthed politicians who claim sole ownership to this right. If you truly meant that "we must build the nation together", why is it others are not given their chance to contribute as well? Why is it that those outside the Barisan Nasional circle are excluded and denied their legitimate right to voice their opinions and articulate their policies and promises? Why do you punish those who had voted for the Opposition by denying their MPs and state assembly members the allocations that you lavishly make available to your BN MPs and assembly members? Aren't these elected opposition representatives also citizens of this country? Don't the voters who elected these opposition representative have the same voting rights to choose whoever they prefer – just like those who elected the BN MPs and assembly members – without being punished for their choice? Why then this discrimination? What has party affiliation to do with the democratic process and the benefits that are due to the citizens? And yet, hypocritically you declare, "We must build the nation together." How do we do that when you don't reach out to the others; when you completely shut them off and punish them? You don't even bother to consult the Leader of the Opposition before introducing new Bills to parliament as is done in mature democracies. You don't give sufficient time for citizens to comment on these policies that are bound to impact them in various ways. Very often you rush through these Bills with super speed and with very little debate. How do we build this nation together? It has always been only your way and no other way! If there is no room for inclusion or co-operation, how then do we work together? "Irrespective of the political differences that we have, at the end of the day this country is ours," you say. But how is it that others are not allowed to work together with you for the common good of the nation? Why are you so divisive in your policy and approach? You have done nothing to stop Utusan from spreading its venom and lies. You have never reprimanded them or replaced the editorial staff responsible for creating discord and hatred. They seem to have a field day. How do we "disregard political differences and work toward nation-building" when we are constantly bombarded with vile and vicious and divisive commentaries without any let up? How is that those who disagree with or who have different views from you are hardly given the space to operate democratically? They have to contend with the police and the hooligans who turn up to disrupt Opposition events and activities. How do we "build the nation together…. Irrespective of the political differences that we have"? How do we bring the various communities together and strengthen our national unity for the good of the country when the entire fabric of BN policy is racial? It is never based on justice irrespective of ethnicity – it is always based on racial quotas and racial handouts. It is a policy designed to keep the poor and the helpless dependent on the BN charity and not to rescue them from their poverty to lead a life of dignity. That is how the BN has thrived as a saviour of the rakyat for more than half a century, deluding the people that they don't have a life and hope beyond the BN. But you are not partial even to all the Malays even though you claim to represent the Malays. You only look after the cronies and the elites in Umno. When the Malays don't belong to these groupings, they don't get any benefits. But Umno will always speak in the name of the Malay community as if it is the benefactor of all Malays. The reality is that the Malays in Pas are almost completely ignored when it comes to receiving benefits; the Malays in Parti Keadilan Rakyat are treated as enemies. They get hardly any goodies. How do we work together? How do we believe you when you say "at the end of the day this country is ours"? Do we all equally have a share in the wealth of this nation? Sad to say, no one is brimming with joy In spite of the much touted BR1M magic that you introduced, in spite of the greatly proclaimed 1Malaysia delusion that you created, Malaysians are not brimming with joy! If after more than half a century of nationhood, we can't rise above our racial identities and political differences and work together as citizens of this country then we have failed ourselves miserably. For this the BN must be solely held responsible. It is their divisive policies that have kept us apart and never brought us together. The BN policy has failed this country and its people. They are not capable of any alternative policy that will benefit every citizen. The wealth of the nation really has not been equally distributed among the people – only cronies and certain leaders at the top have harvested benefits beyond the wildest dreams of the ordinary, common man. The BN's so-called nation-building efforts have not yielded the results this country deserves. We have to turn to an alternative policy to achieve this and this opportunity will be available at the 13th General Election. P Ramakrishnan is the immediate past president of Aliran |
| Clashes in Cairo after Mursi seizes new powers Posted: 23 Nov 2012 06:05 PM PST
Police fired tear gas near Tahrir Square, heart of the 2011 uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak at the height of the Arab Spring. Thousands demanded that Mursi should quit and accused him of launching a “coup”. There were also violent protests in Alexandria, Port Said and Suez. Mursi on Thursday issued a decree that puts his decisions beyond any legal challenge until a new parliament is elected. Opponents immediately accused him of turning into a new Mubarak and hijacking the Egyptian revolution. “This is the point of no return for Mursi. He has dug himself deeper in a hole and won’t know how to get out of it,” said Ahmed Saleh, an activist who said many would stay in Tahrir square until Mursi withdrew the decree. “The people want to bring down the regime,” shouted protesters in Tahrir, echoing a chant used in the uprising that forced Mubarak to step down. The United States, the European Union and the United Nations expressed concern at Mursi’s move. Mursi’s rivals condemned him as an autocratic pharaoh who wanted to impose his Islamist vision on Egypt. The president’s aides said the decree was intended to speed up a protracted transition to democracy that has been hindered by legal obstacles “I am for all Egyptians,” Mursi said on a stage outside the presidential palace, adding that he was working for social and economic stability and remained committed to the revolution. Judges meet Egyptian judges will meet on Saturday to respond to Mursi’s move, which put him above the judicial oversight. The judges could threaten to go on strike, which would bring the judiciary to a halt. Some non-Islamist political parties called for a million-strong march on Tuesday to demand that Mursi rescinds his decree. But Islamist parties, including the Building and Development Party, accused Mursi’s opponents of undermining the democratic process that brought him to office. “Those calling for the downfall of President Mohamed Mursi have rejected democracy because President Mursi has been democratically elected by popular will,” the party said in a statement. Mursi’s decree would “save the revolution from the remnants of Mubarak’s regime”, it said. Buoyed by accolades from around the world for mediating a truce between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip, Mursi on Thursday ordered that an Islamist-dominated assembly writing the new constitution could not be dissolved by legal challenges. Mursi, an Islamist whose roots are in the Muslim Brotherhood, also gave himself wide powers that allowed him to sack the unpopular public prosecutor and opened the door for a retrial for Mubarak and his aides. Turbulence and turmoil The president’s decree has consolidated his power but looks set to polarize Egypt further, threatening more turmoil in a nation at the heart of the Arab Spring. In Alexandria, north of Cairo, protesters ransacked an office of the Brotherhood’s political party, burning books and chairs in the street. Supporters of Mursi and opponents clashed elsewhere in the city, leaving 12 injured. A party building was attacked by stone-throwing protesters in Port Said, and demonstrators in Suez threw petrol bombs that burned banners outside the party building. Although Washington has praised Egypt for its part in bringing Israelis and Palestinians to a ceasefire on Wednesday, it expressed reservations about Mursi’s latest move. “The decisions and declarations announced on November 22 raise concerns for many Egyptians and for the international community,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement. The European Union urged Mursi to respect the democratic process, while the United Nations expressed fears about human rights. “The decree is basically a coup on state institutions and the rule of law that is likely to undermine the revolution and the transition to democracy,” said Mervat Ahmed, an independent activist in Tahrir protesting against the decree. Leading liberal Mohamed ElBaradei, who joined other politicians on Thursday night to demand the decree was withdrawn, wrote on his Twitter account that Mursi had “usurped all state powers and appointed himself Egypt’s new pharaoh”. Almost two years after Mubarak was toppled and about five months since Mursi took office, Egypt has no permanent constitution, which must be in place before new parliamentary elections are held. An assembly drawing up the constitution has yet to complete its work. Many liberals, Christians and others have walked out accusing the Islamists who dominate it of ignoring their voices over the extent that Islam should be enshrined in the new state. -Reuters |
| With eye on Iran, Gaza conflict reassures Netanyahu Posted: 23 Nov 2012 06:03 PM PST
Israel views Iran’s nuclear program as an existential threat in a totally different league to the problems posed by the Islamist group Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu fears a nuclear-armed Iran could one day eradicate Israel and has promised that Tehran will not get the bomb should he win a third term in office in elections on January 22. In the meantime, he has just ended an eight-day offensive against Hamas with the aim of halting rocket fire out of the coastal Palestinian territory into southern Israel. Six Israelis and 163 Palestinians died in the fighting before an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire came into effect on Wednesday, ending a localized, asymmetric conflict that looked very different to any potential war with Iran. “You cannot compare the Gaza Strip to any other military environment, which makes it unwise to describe what has happened there as a rehearsal for attacking Iran,” said Uzi Eilam, senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies. Nonetheless, the Israeli military inflicted serious blows to Hamas’s weapons arsenal, much of it sourced from Iran, and showed the world that it has cutting-edge technology, particularly when it comes to missile defense. Israel says its new Iron Dome interceptors knocked out 421 incoming rockets from Gaza, scoring an 84 percent success rate. Without it, there would have been much more destruction and a significantly higher death toll. Hezbollah Analysts here believe this will worry Iran’s main ally in the region, the Shi’ite movement Hezbollah, which is based in neighboring Lebanon and is estimated to have anywhere up to 60,000 rockets pointing across Israel’s northern border. Netanyahu has suggested he might attack Iran if diplomacy and international sanctions fail to halt its nuclear progress. Iran says its atomic program is peaceful, and if war breaks out Israelis fear Hezbollah might leap into the fray. Politicians say the Iron Dome gives Israel an advantage. “The Iron Dome has proved itself to be a game changer … and has undoubtedly lessened the threat of Hezbollah,” said Yohanan Plesner, an opposition member of parliament who sits on the Knesset’s foreign affairs and defense committee. The fact Israel weathered some 1,500 short-to-medium range rockets from Gaza with relative ease was savored by the country’s leaders, who, for once, were not clamoring for an committee of enquiry following a major military enterprise. “We have moved light years ahead in recent years, both in terms of preparation, instructions to the people, the whole way the municipalities operate,” Plesner told Reuters. “This explains why almost 1,500 rockets have caused a relatively astounding level of low casualties.” Defence Minister Ehud Barak predicted that it would take a “few years and billions of shekels” to build a defensive shield that covered the whole country, but the groundwork was in place. “No army has such a system, nor does any state or civilian population… From this point we look on with optimism,” he said. “Eventually (it will) protect the entire state of Israel against most threats, short and medium-range missiles.” Israel’s answer to the bigger, ballistic missiles of Iran is Arrow II, an interceptor that works in a similar way to Iron Dome, but at far higher altitudes. Tehran has vowed to retaliate if it comes under attack and is estimated to have a few hundred long-range rockets which could hit the Jewish State. Developers of the Arrow II, which has so far proved itself only in trials, boast a shoot-down rate of some 90 percent. Iranian isolation Israeli ministers were not just singing the praises of their missile technologies in the wake of the Gaza offensive, but also their intelligence gathering. The Israeli Defence Forces said it attacked 1,500 sites in Gaza and “severely impaired” Hamas’s launching capabilities, suggesting it would take a long time to recover – possibly helping to sideline it in the event of an Iran conflagration. “In Iran, I have no doubt, there are fevered discussions going on as they try to understand how was it that the Jews managed to crack so many targets,” Civil Defence Minister Avi Dichter told Israel Radio. Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel’s right to exist, has claimed victory in the fighting and denied that it suffered any major losses in the round-the-clock bombing raids. Whatever the result on the ground, there is little doubt in Israel that Iran suffered a diplomatic setback this week. “It was very important for Iran to see a major rift between Israel and Egypt,” said Meir Javedanfar, an Iranian expert who teaches at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) in Herzliya. But by avoiding a potentially bloody ground invasion of Gaza and welcoming Egyptian mediation in the crisis, Israel managed to stave off a major split with President Mohamed Mursi and opened a welcome window of dialogue. Moreover, the ceasefire brokered by Mursi made clear that Hamas, once viewed as being under Iranian sway, is very much in the Egyptian camp and is not taking any orders from Tehran. “It’s becoming clear that major Palestinian groups have realized that (Iran) would fight Israel to the last Palestinian, and this is a price which they are unwilling to pay,” said Javedanfar. “Hamas has moved away from Iran.” Few Israelis believe that the ceasefire with Hamas will last for any great length of time, but it should provide Netanyahu with time to refocus on the Iranian dossier. Whereas he had broad support from the military, the public and politicians for his Gaza offensive, he will rapidly rediscover that the divisions over a much more difficult assault on far-away Iran remain as deep as ever. As such, the perceived achievements of the last eight days are unlikely to inform on final decision-making on Iran. “This is not going to affect the future possible confrontation between Israel and Iran,” said Giora Eiland, a former Israeli National Security Adviser. - Reuters |
| Israel wins US support on Gaza but differences remain Posted: 23 Nov 2012 06:00 PM PST
Israel’s ambassador to Washington Michael Oren became a regular fixture on cable news channels and talk shows. Pro-Israel lobby groups such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and the Israel Project bombarded journalists with e-mails offering footage of Hamas rocket strikes and interviews with ordinary Israelis in the line of fire. After a year of increasingly public disagreements over how to tackle Iran, relations between the Obama Administration and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government were perhaps worse than at any time in recent memory. But the level of US backing for Israel in the last week, both Israel’s supporters and independent analysts say, shows both the depth of ties between the two countries and the level of influence Israel’s supporters can exert when the country feels threatened. Few doubt there will be differences ahead, particularly when dealing with Iran returns to the top of the agenda. But for now, Israeli officials and supporters simply say they are satisfied with the level of support received over Gaza. “I think you’ve seen a very strong response… standing resolutely with Israel,” says Josh Block, chief executive of the Israel Project, a Washington-based pressure group that has long pushed for greater US support and a tougher line against its enemies. “It’s a reminder of … how lasting the special relationship is. This is about more than the personal ties between two leaders.” Widely seen as having tried to nudge this year’s US presidential election against Barack Obama and towards Republican challenger Mitt Romney, Netanyahu seems keen to repair relations. On Thursday, he praised Obama for his “unwavering support.” In a CNN/ORC poll conducted over last weekend, 57 percent of Americans said they believed Israel was justified in taking military action compared to 25 percent who opposed it. But Gaza may be almost the only issue on which the two countries genuinely and popularly agree. Beyond differences over Iran, many Democrats in particular – as well as liberal members of the U.S. Jewish community, which makes up two percent of the total population – have expressed frustration over Israeli settlement building on the West Bank and the growing influence of Orthodox and hardline parties. “Of course, during a war many – though by no means all – parts of American society will rally round Israel,” says Ariel Ratner, a former Obama Administration political appointee and now fellow at the Truman National Security Project. “But potential problems loom large in the future if Israel doesn’t address them.” Urging restraint? A spokesman for the UN mission of the Palestinian Authority – which administers the West Bank and lost control of Gaza to Hamas in 2007 – would not comment on US media coverage of the war or the relationship between Israel and Washington. But he said Palestinians viewed the entire Israeli campaign as a deliberate distraction from their bid for nationhood at the United Nations. “We believe they would try anything to stop this,” the spokesman said, asking not to be identified. The United States may have been influential in urging Israeli restraint. According to Israeli officials, Obama phoned Netanyahu at the beginning of the conflict to say the United States would rather not see a ground invasion of Gaza like that during its 2008-9 war. That may have helped avoid escalation and casualties on the scale of that war, which killed well over 1,000 people, almost all in Gaza. Israeli officials say Netanyahu always hoped to avoid another ground campaign. Four Israeli civilians and two soldiers were killed by rocket fire from Gaza during the latest conflict. Palestinian casualties were much higher – 163, according to local officials. While Israel used a much greater tonnage of explosions than Hamas, it says it used precision munitions and went to great length to avoid collateral damage even as Hamas fired from densely populated areas. Israel’s supporters say they have been able to use a variety of techniques – from traditional newspaper editorials to Twitter and Facebook- to get their message across. “How people get information has changed and traditional media no longer has a monopoly,” says Israel Project’s Block. “That presents challenges and opportunities. You’ve seen Israeli officials making their case – echoing the views of most Americans – very persuasively through both social media and traditional outlets.” Iran differences room Pro-Israeli groups have long used a similar approach to raise awareness of their worries over Tehran’s nuclear program, but with perhaps less success. US voters might like their leader’s pro-Israeli, but there is little enthusiasm inside or outside Washington for more major wars. “I think events in Gaza have heightened public sympathy for Israel, and that may last for some time,” says Nikolas Gvosdev, professor of national security studies at the US Naval War College. “That may make it more difficult for Obama to push for concessions on the peace process with the Palestinians, but I don’t think it wins the Israelis anything on Iran.” On one level, there seems little difference in position between those in Washington and their Israeli counterparts. Both want ever tightening sanctions and both nations have co-operated heavily on covert action to slow Tehran’s alleged nuclear development. The United States says it will not allow Tehran to reach “breakout capacity” to build a bomb, while Israel says its “red line” is the less well defined “nuclear capability.” Israel’s repeated threats this year to take matters into its own hands and strike nuclear facilities directly, however, were seen by some, in the Obama Administration in particular, as a clear attempt to influence US policy. Israeli officials say military action would only be a last resort, but a nuclear Iran would simply be too great a threat and they might simply have no choice. More attempts to push US policymakers around, however, could just be counter-productive. “It’s important that Israelis understand the exact nature of the damage caused by Netanyahu’s involvement in the US election and general treatment of Obama,” says Truman Project’s Ratner. “The real problem for Israel is that very important American constituencies, including many young people and segments of the Jewish community, the media, military and next generation of Democratic party leadership, have been disturbed by general trends in Netanyahu’s Israel.” - Reuters |
| Tax soft drinks to prevent diabetes Posted: 23 Nov 2012 05:57 PM PST FMT LETTER: From S M Mohamed Idris, via e-mail Diabetes has become a condition of epidemic proportion worldwide, prompting the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) to declare Nov 14 as World Diabetes Day. At the current population of 28 million and at the prevalence rate of 15%, it is estimated that there are 4.2 million diabetics in Malaysia. In the first National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) carried out in 1986, the prevalence of diabetes was 6.3%. The figure increased to 8.3% in 1996 and the latest 2006 NHMS revealed that the diabetes prevalence has increased to 14.9%. Diabetes in Malaysia is expected to continue to climb at an increased rate due to the typical Malaysian diet and lifestyle. A can of soft drink have 5-8 teaspoonfuls of sugar and it is one of the reasons why Malaysians consume extremely high levels of sugar, averaging 26 teaspoonfuls a day, making us the eighth largest consumers of sugar in the world. Besides obesity and diabetes, soft drinks are linked to many other health problems. Sodium benzoate, a preservative used in soft drinks, is linked to asthma. Colas with high phosphoric acid are linked to tooth decay, osteoporosis, kidney stones and other kidney problems. BPA or Bisphenol-A used in the lining of soft drink cans can cause reproductive abnormalities. In view of the detrimental implications of consuming soft drinks on health a number of countries in the world had impose a tax on soft drinks. The soda tax should focus on sugar-sweetened beverages like soda drinks, other carbonated and non-carbonated drinks, and sports and energy drinks which have high sugar content. Norway has an excise tax on refined sugar products, including soft drinks, at 7.05 kroner (RM3.70) per kg. Hungary and Finland introduced taxes on soft drinks and other high-sugar foods. The French government approved a tax on colas and other sweetened beverages early this year. The states of Maryland and Virginia in the US levied taxes on soda drinks. And New York and Richmond in the USA are the latest cities to propose taxes on sugary drinks. In Malaysia, we have a sugar subsidy which encourages sugar consumption. We must remove this subsidy and on top of that impose a soda tax to curb the diabetes epidemic. The prevalence of diabetes has skyrocketed over the years in spite of many campaigns against diabetes. Simply put, the authorities have failed to stop the diabetes epidemic. Surveys have shown that for every two known diabetics, there is at least one more that is undiagnosed and untreated until irreversible complications set in. Worse still, Type 2 diabetes is no longer seen as a disease of middle or old age – children as young as 10 years old suffering from diabetes are not uncommon nowadays. The diabetes prevalence rate in Malaysia has risen much faster than expected, almost doubling in magnitude over the last decade. Diabetes does not only take a toll on the country's resources, but also on the limbs (amputation), eyesight (blindness), kidney (failure), heart (failure), stroke* and nerve (damage) of its sufferers. Diabetes is the mother of many diseases. The alarming increase in Malaysia's prevalence of diabetes needs strong measures by the Government to stem this epidemic. Given the above situation the Consumers Association of Penang urges the authorities to:
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| Four new cases of SARS-like virus found in Saudi, Qatar Posted: 23 Nov 2012 05:56 PM PST
The UN health agency issued an international alert in late September saying a virus previously unknown in humans had infected a Qatari man who had recently been in Saudi Arabia, where another man with the same virus had died. On Friday it said in an outbreak update that it had registered four more cases and one of the new patients had died. “The additional cases have been identified as part of the enhanced surveillance in Saudi Arabia (3 cases, including 1 death) and Qatar (1 case),” the WHO said. The new virus is known as a coronavirus and shares some of the symptoms of SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which emerged in China in 2002 and killed around a 10th of the 8,000 people it infected worldwide. Among the symptoms in the confirmed cases are fever, coughing and breathing difficulties. Of the six laboratory-confirmed cases reported to WHO, four cases, including the two deaths, are from Saudi Arabia and two cases are from Qatar. Britain’s Health Protection Agency, which helped to identify the new virus in September, said the newly reported case from Qatar was initially treated in October in Qatar but then transferred to Germany, and has now been discharged. Coronaviruses are typically spread like other respiratory infections, such as flu, travelling in airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The WHO said investigations were being conducted into the likely source of the infection, the method of exposure, and the possibility of human-to-human transmission of the virus. “Close contacts of the recently confirmed cases are being identified and followed-up,” it said. It added that so far, only the two most recently confirmed cases in Saudi Arabia were epidemiologically linked – they were from the same family, living in the same household. “Preliminary investigations indicate that these two cases presented with similar symptoms of illness. One died and the other recovered,” the WHO’s statement said. Two other members of the same family also suffered similar symptoms of illness, and one died and the other is recovering. But the WHO said laboratory test results on the fatality were still pending, and the person who is recovering had tested negative for the new coronavirus. The virus has no formal name, but scientists at the British and Dutch laboratories where it was identified refer to it as “London1_novel CoV 2012″. The WHO urged all its member states to continue surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections. “Until more information is available, it is prudent to consider that the virus is likely more widely distributed than just the two countries which have identified cases,” it said. - Reuters |
| Mexico arrests suspected murderer on FBI most wanted list Posted: 23 Nov 2012 05:54 PM PST
Saenz, a US citizen, was arrested in the city of Guadalajara in western Mexico on Thursday following an investigation carried out by the federal police in conjunction with the FBI, the government said in a statement. According to the FBI, Saenz is suspected of shooting and killing two rival gang members in Los Angeles in July 1998. For the FBI’s most wanted list, see: www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten Less than two weeks later, Saenz allegedly kidnapped, raped, and murdered his estranged girlfriend. Saenz is also believed to have murdered another man in October 2008 in Los Angeles County. FBI records suggest Saenz is 36 or 37, and the bureau offered up to US$100,000 for information leading to his arrest. Born in Los Angeles, Saenz was known to travel between the United States and Mexico, and was believed to be working for a Mexican drug cartel, the FBI said. He had a number of aliases including Zapp, Peanut Joe Smiley and Honeycutt, it added. - Reuters |
| Put your money where your mouths are… Posted: 23 Nov 2012 05:53 PM PST FMT LETTER: From Sean Whyte, via e-mail When suggesting NGOs and scientists should pay their own way, the author of ‘Orangutans being sold out’ (FMT, Nov 22) makes a very valid point. Knowing many relevant scientists and NGOs, my guess is, if they did have to pay all the costs, about 80% of them would find reasons not to attend and chief among them would be, 'conferences are a waste of time and money.' Hardi Baktiantoro, founder of Indonesia's Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP), had this to say about conferences in the Bali Times, July 2010. "These meetings achieve nothing. They are only talking shop using donor money and adding to delegates' carbon footprints, but never saving any orangutans or their forest homes. “I see the reality every day in Kalimantan, where orangutans are being killed in large numbers and no one is ever prosecuted. Workshops and action plans will achieve nothing as long as the government offers no real protection to orangutans." He was right. It has to be said, though, this did not deter Baktiantoro and a colleague from travelling to Sabah to attend the all-expenses paid conference and numerous workshops last month. Would they have travelled to another country if they had to pay the costs themselves or, would the July 2010 comments have still applied? Would donors money not have been better spent on helping save orangutans in Indonesia? At the time of writing Baktiantoro has just sent two of his staff to a workshop in Taiwan. Is it any wonder orangutans in Indonesia are in such desperate trouble? COP seem to have acquired the taste for international travel while foreign donors send their hard earnt money to Indonesia in the belief it will help save orangutans. Coincidentally, within the Indonesia government ministers are often condemned in the press for their rapacious appetite for international travel, subsidised by the EU, etc, at a time when the problems they are meant to be dealing with are on their doorstep in Indonesia. As best as we can see, the Sabah conference appears to have achieved nothing tangible for the orangutans. For reasons known only to the organisers we still don't know if the conference will save a single orangutan or a hectare of forest, and that is a sad reflection on those concerned. Why the secrecy? Are they embarrassed about something? If we knew what the Sabah conference cost, who paid for it and what it has achieved for orangutan conservation besides words, we could each make a judgment as to whether or not the conference was another massive waste of time and money. Conferences have never worked for orangutans or their habitat. If anyone feels differently, they would be wrong, but if they still want to attend conferences, let them pay their own way out of their own pockets. Better still, if they feel the Sabah conference was anything other than a major disappointment, let them repay sponsors and donors now from their personal savings; in other words put their money where their mouths are for a change. Also read: Orangutans are being sold out |
| Sarkozy judge mistook hostage for billionaire Posted: 23 Nov 2012 05:52 PM PST
Sarkozy, who lost power in May, was questioned for 12 hours on Thursday by a judge who is trying to establish whether his election win in 2007 was aided by illegal funding from France’s richest woman, 90-year-old Liliane Bettencourt. Rather than Bettencourt, daughter of the founder of the L’Oreal cosmetics empire, the diary entry referred to the Franco-Colombian Ingrid Betancourt, who was held hostage in Colombia for six years and freed in 2007, lawyer Thierry Herzog told French radio. Herzog said judge Jean-Michel Gentil had made a note reading “name spelt wrongly” next to the name “Betancourt” on a list of Sarkozy’s appointments, implying that he had believed the meeting was with the L’Oreal heiress, but eventually acknowledged his mistake. In a statement on behalf of the judge, Bordeaux prosecutor Claude Laplaud did not deny Herzog’s account, but said Sarkozy had not been summoned specifically to discuss the meeting with Ingrid Betancourt, and had not been questioned about it. Gentil decided after the questioning not to open a full-blown inquiry into Sarkozy, who has bowed out of politics but remains a possible candidate for the conservative camp in the next presidential contest in 2017. Sarkozy’s departure has sparked a feud within his UMP party, where two men who faced off in an internal leadership election are exchanging accusations of fraud. A BVA poll released on Friday indicated that 73 percent of conservative voters want Sarkozy back in politics. It pointed to plunges in the popularity of the two men who fought to take his place as leader of the mainstream right, Francois Fillon and eventual winner Jean-Francois Cope. Herzog said the ex-president, who denies any wrongdoing, was relieved after Thursday’s meeting with the magistrates. Gentil and two other judges who questioned Sarkozy classified him as a witness, a status in French judicial procedure that signals he is not liable to face trial. Initial suspicions were fuelled three years ago when a woman who worked as an accountant for the mentally frail Bettencourt, now aged 90, alleged that a large cash withdrawal had been earmarked for Sarkozy’s campaign. Liliane Bettencourt’s family has long had close connections with the UMP party of Sarkozy, who lost presidential immunity when he left office. “For him and for me, this affair is an affair that no longer exists,” said Herzog. Sarkozy may also be asked to testify in two other judicial investigations, concerning the terms of a submarine sale to Pakistan and lavish spending on opinion polls by his office when he was president. While the BVA poll suggested that three in four conservatives want to see Sarkozy back in action, it also indicated that 65 percent of French voters more generally do not want him back after he lost May’s presidential election to Socialist Francois Hollande. - Reuters |
| Frenzied US shoppers swarm stores on Black Friday Posted: 23 Nov 2012 05:49 PM PST  NEW YORK: Frenzied shoppers across the United States joined the Black Friday rush for bargains, the kick-off to the crucial holiday shopping season being closely watched amid a lackluster economy.Television images showed berserk buyers charging through doors as stores opened up for Black Friday sales on the day after the Thanksgiving holiday. Some stores opened at midnight, while others such as big-box retailers Walmart and Target jumped the gun, opening on Thanksgiving night and carving into the family-centered holiday. At 11:00 pm Thursday, scores of people were lined up outside a Best Buy store electronics store waiting for its midnight opening. Phyllis Loges, 52, and her daughter had already waited four hours. “I want to buy a home cinema with TV and sound system,” she said, adding that the doorbuster sale price was US$1,500, instead of normal prices around US$3,500. In New York City, the well-known Macy’s flagship department store was a destination for many. Macy’s chief executive Terry Lundgren was on the scene as it opened at midnight. “I swear I was standing there for 18 to 20 minutes, and the lines of incoming traffic never stopped,” he told NBC. “People are definitely shopping and kicking off the shopping on Black Friday.” Black Friday was a boon for tourists, too. At 7:00 am Friday, Abdul Albudikhi, a 22-year-old from Saudi Arabia, left a Hollister clothing store on Fifth Avenue, his arms laden with shopping bags after shopping since midnight. “I bought jeans, shoes, a present for my girlfriend, one for my father,” he said. Walmart, the world’s biggest retailer, said it had its “best ever” Black Friday, with larger crowds than last year. Meanwhile, disgruntled Walmart workers mounted strikes and protests across the country seeking better pay and benefits. “There is going to be an impact,” employee William Fletcher told MSNBC. “The point isn’t so much to hurt Walmart as much as it is to get them to listen to us and appreciate the work we do.” Some competitive shoppers lost their cool as they tussled over items or staked out their spots in line. According to the San Antonio Express News website, one man pulled a gun on another who punched him in the face while the two were waiting in line outside a Sears store late Thursday. Black Friday starts the year-end holiday shopping season that often tips retailers out of the red and into the black for the year. But the day’s impact on balance sheets is starting to wane, as more and more stores try to reel in customers on Thursday, even if it means that their employees have to forego the traditional Thanksgiving feast. A decade ago, it would have been impossible to find a single store open on Thanksgiving along New York’s big shopping arteries such as Broadway. But on Thursday, as for the past several years, nearly all the stores were open where Broadway traverses the SoHo neighborhood of lower Manhattan. Despite a still-struggling economy, Macy’s Lundgren seemed upbeat about prospects for the rest of the year, although he acknowledged that November would likely be “a little bit softer” than retailers might like. The growth of 24/7 online sales is another challenge to brick-and-mortar shopping. While the National Retail Federation is expecting a 4.1 percent rise in holiday sales this year compared with 2011, data tracker comScore is projecting a jump of 15-18 percent in online purchases. The NRF projects fewer shoppers in stores and online on Black Friday and the weekend: 147 million, down 3 percent from a year ago. “Black Friday’s on a crash course with irrelevance. Before long, all we’re going to be talking about is Cyber Monday,” said Louis Banese at Wall Street Daily. Peter Morici, an economics professor at the University of Maryland, said that Black Friday remains important for retail sales, a big part of the consumer spending that powers about 70 percent of US economic growth. But he warned that Americans remain cautious amid a fragile recovery. “If the weekend numbers are not good, the holiday season won’t be good.” - AFP |
| Syria: Turkey request for missiles ‘new act of provocation’ Posted: 23 Nov 2012 05:46 PM PST  DAMASCUS: Syria said yesterday that plans by Turkey to site Patriot missiles along its border was “a new act of provocation,” while allies Iran and Russia warned the move would complicate the situation and could spark a regional conflagration.Turkey turned to its NATO partners earlier this week to request the deployment of the surface-to-air Patriot missiles to protect its troubled border with Syria, which is engulfed in a war that has cost some 40,000 lives. In its first reaction, the Syrian foreign ministry accused Ankara of causing “tension and destruction.” The action is “a new act of provocation,” state television quoted a foreign ministry official as saying. “Syria holds (Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip) Erdogan responsible for the militarisation of the situation at the border between Syria and Turkey, and the increase of tension and destruction to the detriment of the Syrian and Turkish peoples,” the unidentified official said. The Syrian government has long accused Turkey of harbouring, financing and arming rebels fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad. In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that any deployment of Patriot missiles by Turkey on its border may create a temptation to use the weapons and spark a “very serious armed conflict” involving NATO. “I understand that no one has any intention to see NATO get sucked into the Syrian crisis,” Lavrov said. But “the more arms are being accumulated, the greater the risk that they will be used.” And Iran’s foreign ministry accused Turkey of aggravating the situation. “Not only does it not help resolve the situation in Syria but it will also aggravate and complicate the situation,” spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said, quoted on state television. “The insistence (of certain countries) to resolve the Syrian crisis through military means is the main cause of tensions and threats in the region,” he said. Meanwhile, Iran’s influential parliament speaker Ali Larijani was in Damascus at the start of a three-nation tour billed at trying to find a solution to the conflict roiling Syria. Larijani accused regional powers he did not name of causing “problems” in Syria, in an allusion to the principal champions of arming the rebels fighting to overthrow Assad’s regime – Qatar and Saudi Arabia. “Syria has played an important role in supporting the resistance (against Israel and the United States) but some in the region want to carry out actions with negative consequences, to cause problems in Syria,” he told journalists. On the ground, violence erupted in flashpoints across the country, while tensions spiked in the northeast near Turkey, where Kurdish militia are engaged in a standoff with rebels. Following several days of combat against a rebel advance into Kurdish areas, two main Kurdish groups have agreed to join forces, an activist said. Hundreds of fighters loyal to the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) – which has close ties to Turkey’s rebel Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) — have been locked in fierce battles with fighters of the jihadist Al-Nusra Front and allied Ghuraba al-Sham group in Ras al-Ain on the border with Turkey. The activist said agreement had now been reached in Iraq “to create a united military force, bringing together PYD forces and other Kurdish dissidents” in Syria. The agreement sets the stage for an expanded conflict in the area between Islamist rebels opposed to Assad and Syrian Kurdish forces. - Reuters |
| RM40m case on Hong Kong’s top agenda Posted: 23 Nov 2012 03:17 AM PST
Rafizi, who is also the PKR strategy director, said that the delegation that travelled to Hong Kong to lobby the re-opening of the controversial case met with three members of the Security Panel of the Legislative Council. They were James To (vice-president of the security panel), and two other members, Leung Kwok-Hung and Raymond Wong. “They have given us the assurance that this case will be on their agenda; it will be one of their priorities as this is something that reflects Hong Kong’s credibility as a clean financial centre,” said Rafizi. Rafizi returned today after flying to Hong Kong on Wednesday with PKR MPs William Leong and Hee Hoy Sian, and Perak assemblyman Chang Lih Kang. Their mission was to query if the Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) investigation of timber tycoon Michael Chia was stonewalled by the Malaysian government, and to re-open the 2008 case. Rafizi said that the security panel would be seeking a monthly briefing from the ICAC, one of the enforcement bodies that the committee oversees. He also expressed confidence that the case will now be re-opened after ICAC’s acting chief investigator Martin Chan sought more evidence from the delegation. The delegation plans to return to Hong Kong in two weeks time. Strong evidence However, the ICAC would not disclose its decision even after it has obtained evidence as this was its policy, said Rafizi. “We have very strong evidence, but we can’t tell you what it is as the ICAC is also very strict about us keeping what we have confidential so that investigations are not jeopardised,” he said. However, he said that PKR has evidence of monetary transfers and transactions that took place in Hong Kong that will show the link between the giving of timber concessions by Musa himself and the RM40 million donation. He said he plans to submit new evidence in two weeks, adding that he cannot reveal his source. Rafizi also said that the delegation has found no proof that the ICAC had stopped its investigations of the link between Musa and his alleged associate Chia. (Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Aziz has said the ICAC was satisfied that there were no elements of corruption in the case.) “If, let’s say, ICAC finds them [Musa and Chia] guilty; they would be wanted men in Hong Kong and their bank accounts may be frozen. Perhaps they can be prosecuted in absentia, or sought to be extradited. I don’t know. We leave it to the prosecutors,” he said. Rafizi also said the three members of the Security Panel of the Legislative Council had expressed surprise over the statement by Hong Kong's Director of Public Prosecutions, Kevin Zervos. Zervos had told FMT that Hong Kong authorities were ready to re-open the case if there was fresh evidence. Zervos said that the previous evidence that ICAC received from Malaysia indicated that the funds were "political donation". “The Security Panel members were surprised and didn’t believe that their ‘attorney-general’ [Zervos] would make that kind of statement." ‘Issue will not die off’ Meanwhile, Chang said that To expressed strong support for the case to be re-opened. “He wants the case to be re-opened so that Hong Kong does not become a paradise for money laundering. Don’t want the good name of ICAC to be tarnished. "With the help of our friends in the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, I’m sure this issue will not die off.” The case surrounds the reported arrest of Chia, a Sabah businessman, at Hong Kong International Airport on suspicion of trying to smuggle out Singapore currency worth RM40 million in 2008. He had then allegedly told ICAC that the money was meant for Musa. In October this year, Nazri told Parliament that the money was political funding for Sabah Umno. He announced that both Hong Kong and Malaysian authorities had closed the case. Nazri disputed reports about the case, saying Chia was never arrested by the ICAC. He also said the RM40 million seized from him was wired into an account in Hong Kong and was not in the businessman's possession. Previously, Sarawak Report alleged that ICAC's investigation had been dropped after three years because of lack of cooperation by the Malaysian government. Nazri had recently denied this. It also reported that leaked MACC files revealed that Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail had shelved the files on the investigations and refused to prosecute Musa. |
| Green Walk to end with People’s Assembly Posted: 23 Nov 2012 03:05 AM PST
The hundreds of participants in the so-called Green Walk arrived in Selangor today in a journey that began on Nov 12 in Kuantan with one man—Wong Tak, who leads the environmental group Himpunan Hijau. Wong said Monday's assembly would begin at 9am and would collectively decide how to respond to yesterday's arrival of 100 containers of rare earth ore at Kuantan Port. "There will be a true people's assembly at Dataran," he told reporters. "We will show that the choice is in our hands. We will let the people to decide how we should go forward to change the country." He speculated that the gathering might decide to march to Kuantan to protest against the import of the ore. He said Himpunan Hijau had decided to carry out a blockade against future imports. "We want to give a stern warning to Lynas. You might escape this time, but you won't be able to do it the second time. We will try every means to bring down your operations." He would not give details about how his group would conduct the blockade or how it would halt Lynas' operations. Lynas Australia has said that the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant (Lamp) in Gebeng, Kuantan, would begin operating within "the coming days". Wong denounced Malaysian authorities and Lynas for not informing the public about the arrival of the ore. Lunch treat
The group will march to the Gombak toll gate tomorrow, expecting to arrive there by 2pm. It will then move on to the former PAS headquarters at Taman Melewar, where the participants will spend the night. They will enter Dataran Merdeka by 4pm on Sunday. Wong said he did not anticipate trouble at Dataran Merdeka. "We walk with love inside us," he said. "What can be so threatening about that? The people have marched for some 300 kilometres. Is it so unreasonable for them to request a space to sit down and stretch their legs?" Also read: Anti-Lynas group shocked by secrecy |
| KL shares end lower as investors stay sidelined Posted: 23 Nov 2012 02:09 AM PST
The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) slipped 4.23 points to 1,614.32, after hovering between 1,611.09 and 1,618.73. Vice-president/head of retail research, Affin Investment Bank, Nazri Khan, said the speculation arose due to the upcoming Umno general assembly, which will be held next week, and the market was expecting Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to dissolve Parliament anytime soon. He said investors expected the market to move to the 1,600 point-level and they are awaiting a strong catalyst before making a decision to participate in the market. "At below the psychological level of 1,600, the funds will flow in as the market will be considered as attractive," he told Bernama today. Market breadth was negative with losers leading gainers by 436 to 215, while 335 counters were unchanged, 662 untraded and 26 others suspended. Volume rose to one billion shares worth RM1.49 billion from 892.34 million shares worth RM1.57 billion yesterday. The Finance Index fell 8.48 points to 14,964.67, the Industrial Index dipped 3.38 points to 2,770.69, and the Plantation Index lost 8.02 points to 7,883.87. The FBM Ace Index rose 9.36 points to 4,253.85 while the FBM Emas Index dipped 34.23 points to 11,019.24, the FBMT100 lost 31.60 points to 10,858.32, and the FBM Mid 70 Index decreased 50.23 points to 12,113.12. Among actives, Metronic Global rose 1.5 sen to 15 sen, Ariantec Global and Scomi-LA was both flat at 8.5 sen and nine sen, respectively. Of the heavyweights, Maybank and Sime Darby were both flat at RM9 and RM9.55, respectively, while CIMB added two sen to RM7.69. Volume on the Main Market rose to 771.87 million units worth RM1.47 billion from 743.22 million units worth RM1.55 billion yesterday. Turnover on the ACE Market swelled to 138.76 million shares valued at RM16.40 million from 69.31 million shares valued at RM13.12 million previously. Warrants fell to 60.26 million units worth RM3.03 million from 77.74 million units worth RM2.95 million yesterday. Consumer products accounted for 69.09 million shares on the Main Market, industrial products 145.50 million, construction 22.85 million, trade and services 343.27 million, technology 37.8 million, infrastructure 21.60 million, finance 47.72 million, hotels 1.48 million, properties 61.78 million, plantations 14.45 million, mining 104,000, REITs 6.03 million and closed/fund 198,400. - Bernama |
| Pairin: Jeffrey doesn’t love me anymore Posted: 23 Nov 2012 01:46 AM PST
Speaking to reporters at the end of the recently-concluded PBS congress here, Pairin accused the younger Kitingan of not loving him and of breaking the unity within the KadazanDusunMurut communities. He also said Jeffrey was uncooperative and hurled half a dozen more accusations against his younger brother. For the record, as of yesterday, Pairin, 72, seemed to still want to be renominated as Barisan Nasional candidate in both the Keningau parliamentary and Tambunan state seats. It is now an open secret that the Kadazandusuns in Keningau and even Tambunan are clamouring for change. But Pairin, being the longest (and uninterrupted) serving state assemblyman in the country, refuses to acknowledge the shifting ground. In fact, he loathed to entertain the idea of people wanting change. "I am ready to contest both seats,” said Pairin, who is also a deputy chief minister and Sabah’s minister of infrastructure development. On his chances in the election, he said: “Are the people ready to chuck me off?” He said that while it was up to the people in Keningau and Tambunan to decide, it must be noted that he has “done a lot more in terms of fighting for the people” via PBS. “I would say that I have a lot going and I have done a lot more in terms of fighting for the people in the context of our [PBS] struggle all this while. And that is something which needs to be considered…,” said Pairin, obviously already on the defensive about his chances in the coming general election. But he quickly qualified that he, however, would be guided by the requests from the constituents and the party. Asked about rumours and reports that he would only contest one seat this time, the seasoned politician retorted: "Did I say that? No, I did not. I have always been open for these two [seats] and of course I am also guided by requests from the ground, my division and the party.” Which means to say, it is still very much an option. He may go for both, or may go for only one. Many local observers from Tambunan claimed that it is Pairin’s trademark to be seen as open to any option, and that like other wise politicians, he could be saying one thing and doing another thing later. “I won’t be surprised at all that Pairin would eventually contest in Tambunan only. I am not even surprised if he does not contest at all at the coming general election. Once the truth set in him, he would be guided by it,” said one seasoned observer who wished to be known only as Mark. Pairin, meanwhile, said he had taken note of Jeffrey’s signal “to send him into retirement by contesting against him”. "Well that is Jeffrey’s wish all the time; right from the time he has been against me, that has been his wish. He wants me to retire and now he doesn't care anymore. "He doesn't love his brother, he doesn't have any feeling, any consideration, he just wants a place to go to because he is now the leader in STAR [State Reform Party], an imported party from Sarawak. Now he is happy leading a party," Pairin said. Jeffrey has on numerous times and in his speeches before this told the people that he had nothing against Pairin as a brother and that he loved him like any brother does to his own brother. “It is not that I love Pairin less, but it is because I love the people and Sabah more…," Jeffrey had said everytime such accusations were hurled at him by Pairin or PBS leaders. But Pairin did not let up on Jeffrey yesterday. He said: "That is why Jeffrey has been changing parties all the time because he is not wanted in all these parties and he cannot work with anyone." Jeffrey always popular But the facts, however, tell a different story. When in the AKAR party, Jeffrey was very popular. He was in fact appointed as the “president’s representative” by its late president Mark Koding when the latter left for a theology study in Australia. That appointment was challenged by another deputy president of AKAR at that time, Pandikan Amin Mulia, who saw himself as more senior. This threw the party into turmoil, and eventually Pandikar dissolved the party for Umno. In Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), Jeffrey got the highest number of nomination for the presidency, leaving incumbent Joseph Kurup with only two nominations from the party divisions. With the writings on the wall obvious for Kurup, he engineered the suspension of Jeffrey’s membership, and therefore a democratic process was disrupted, splitting PBRS. PBRS remains a tiny party in the BN coalition to this day. In the coming general election, PBRS could well be wiped out as it has only one parliamentary seat in Pensiangan and a state seat in Sook, both in the interior. In Sabah PKR, Jeffrey was again a sought-after popular figure with a majority of its divisional heads voting for him to be the state chief. But this was thwarted by the PKR national leaders who went ahead to appoint its own favoured man to head Sabah. Jeffrey certainly has more bullets to fire at Pairin, a stalwart supporter of Umno hegemony in Sabah. In the past, Jeffrey has refused to be dragged into personal attacks on his brother, preferring to focus on his view of the future of Sabahans and the state in Malaysia, something that he feels PBS and Pairin have failed to achieve. But Pairin is stubbornly refusing to accept Jeffrey’s views. He is adamant of his own inclinations. "He [Jeffrey] has his idealism… Yes we have our idealism; we, my colleagues in PBS and myself have been fighting for the people. This is the idealism for Sabah. "It is up to the people to decide, I am not there to contest just for the sake of contesting. “It is to serve the people. In my own way I have served the people. In his [Jeffrey's] own way he has served the people or has he succeeded in breaking up unity among the KDM communities, breaking up more relationship and confusing the people?” asked Pairin. The fights for Keningau and Tambunan seats are to be closely monitored and any further exchanges by the Kitingan brothers would surely fire up the election fever in Sabah. |
| Philippine massacre clan jostling for power again Posted: 23 Nov 2012 01:45 AM PST  MANILA: Dozens of members of a clan whose leaders are on trial for the Philippines’ worst political massacre are candidates in 2013 elections, some for the president’s party, media and rights groups said today.The revelations sparked outrage on the three-year anniversary of the massacre, in which 58 people died, with critics saying the Ampatuan family’s enduring political influence underlined the country’s “culture of impunity”. “That some clan members are running under the banner of President (Benigno) Aquino’s party is a serious cause for concern because it imparts a damaging message that impunity is alive and well,” Human Rights Watch’s Carlos Conde told AFP. Leaders of the Muslim clan, then allied to Aquino’s predecessor, Gloria Arroyo, are accused of carrying out the massacre to stop a local rival from filing his candidacy for Maguindanao province governor in 2010 elections. Andal Ampatuan Snr, the patriarch and then governor of the province, and four of his sons are on trial, accused of planning or participating in the massacre. Eighty-two people in total are on trial, many of whom were allegedly members of the Ampatuans’ private army. The victims included 32 media workers who were travelling in a convoy to report on the opposition candidate’s attempt to file election papers. The Ampatuans and their gunmen allegedly stopped the convoy and shot everyone dead. In the aftermath of the massacre, Arroyo was forced to cut political ties with the family, and its power base in Maguindanao, a Muslim-populated province plagued by violence, appeared to have been diminished. But 72 members of the clan are running again as candidates in next year’s elections, including nine for Aquino’s Liberal Party, said the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines. They are representing mostly local level positions in Maguindanao, such as town mayor and on government councils. Without confirming exactly how many Ampatuans were running for the Liberal Party, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda defended the decision to recruit them, saying they did not share the same “brand of politics” as the accused. Meanwhile, the trial drags on with no signs of an end. Lawyers have said it could take years, or even decades, for the proceedings to conclude amid the Philippines’ notoriously overwhelmed justice system. Three witnesses for the prosecution have been killed over the past three years. The Ampatuans deny all charges against them. - AFP |
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