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Forward Olic wants to leave Bayern Munich Posted: 31 Oct 2011 04:07 AM PDT Bayern Munich's Ivica Olic (left) and Inter Milan's Christian Chivu fight for the ball during their Champions League final football match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 22, 2010. ― Reuters pic BERLIN, Oct 31 ― Striker Ivica Olic is ready to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season after being restricted to a substitutes role following his return from a long injury break. "No. I want to play more, I want to have fun for another two years," the 32-year-old told Munich's tz newspaper when asked whether he would stay on. "I am not the type of player who comes on towards the end of the game. That is not enough for me." Olic, whose contract runs out next year, joined Bayern in 2009 from Hamburg SV and played a crucial role as they claimed the domestic double and reached the Champions League final the following year under then coach Louis van Gaal. He only recently returned from a two-month injury break after partially tearing a hip tendon in August in only his second game back following a nine-month injury lay off. Bundesliga top scorer Mario Gomez has been coach Jupp Heynckes' first choice in attack this season with the Croat forced to shift to his less favoured position of winger when coming on. "I am a centre forward. On the wing is not really my position. But the coach sees me as a winger." ― Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

Hazard to leave Lille at the end of the season Posted: 31 Oct 2011 02:10 AM PDT Valenciennes' Rudy Mater (L) fights for the ball with Lille's Eden Hazard in their French Ligue 1 soccer match at Hainaut Stadium in Valenciennes on October 30, 2011. ― Reuters pic PARIS, Oct 31 ― Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard triggered the attention of Europe's top clubs today when he said he will leave French champions Lille at the end of the season. The highly-regarded Hazard, who was voted Ligue 1 's best player by his peers last season, told French sports daily L'Equipe he was playing his last season in France. "I feel ready to make it to the next level in a great club," Hazard said. "I stayed in Lille this season because there were still things I had to work on, things to prove. But now, I'm ready." In the close season, English Premier League sides Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City as well as Serie A club Inter Milan were reportedly interested in signing the Belgian. Hazard was also linked with big spending Ligue 1 side Paris St Germain with French media saying the league leaders were ready to make a €50 million (RM215.5 million) offer in January, but Hazard ruled out the move. "Paris is not for now. After France, I want to go abroad," he said. Hazard, 20, has scored four goals and set up as many in 12 Ligue 1 games this season. ― Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

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Hong Kong’s Giordano joins Aussie wool campaign Posted: 31 Oct 2011 03:40 AM PDT Shoppers walk past the front of a Giordano clothing store in Hong Kong. The chain has joined a campaign against wool production that is cruel to sheep. – AFP pic HONG KONG, Oct 31 – Hong Kong clothing chain Giordano on Friday became the latest brand to join a campaign against Australian wool over allegations of cruelty to sheep, in a bid welcomed by activists. Animal rights groups have campaigned against "mulesing", the practice of cutting a slice of flesh from lambs' rear ends to prevent the animal dying of flystrike – the infestation of flesh-eating maggots. "We will urge our vendors to stop using wool grown from mulesed sheep so long as commercial alternatives are easily available," said the retailer, which has more than 2,400 outlets in Asia, Australia and the Middle East. US-based group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which has spearheaded the campaign against mulesing, which it describes as "barbaric", said Giordano set a "worthy example" and urged other retailers to follow suit. "Consumers in China and across Asia are shocked to learn about Australia's dirty little secret, mulesing," said PETA Asia vice-president Jason Baker. PETA's efforts have seen major fashion companies such as Hugo Boss, Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch and Adidas shun Australian wool. Farmers in Australia, one of the world's major wool producers, however insist that the practice is necessary to prevent many slow and painful deaths. – AFP Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

UK vigil part of struggle for prostitute memorial Posted: 30 Oct 2011 10:09 PM PDT LONDON, Oct 31 — It may seem somewhat grisly, but for author John Constable, paying tribute to the "outcast dead" buried at Crossbones Graveyard in London's Borough of Southwark, has been part of life for almost 15 years. At 7pm on the 23rd of each month, up to 50 people take part in an open-air ceremony led by Constable's shamanic alter-ego John Crow at the iron gates of a plot of land that, from medieval to Victorian times, was an unconsecrated graveyard used for prostitutes and paupers. Vigil participants — who include office workers, prostitutes and witches, Constable says — sing songs and attach offerings of ribbons, handicrafts and other baubles to the gates amid the pungent scent of wafting incense. "People walk past and see us and it's easy for them to think we're a bunch of nutters, but actually I find anybody who spends five minutes or so with us tends to get quite drawn in — what we're doing isn't that weird actually," said Constable, who wants at least part of the Crossbones site to be transformed into a memorial park designated as a world heritage site. The Crossbones land on Redcross Way is slated for redevelopment by owner Transport for London (TFL) as part of a controversial modernisation scheme in Southwark, which is changing the character of London's Bankside, Borough and London Bridge areas. "Crossbones burial ground is part of a much larger site owned by TFL," a TFL spokesman said. "TFL is seeking a comprehensive redevelopment of the whole site and has been working with stakeholders, including John Constable, to see how the burial ground can be sensitively incorporated." In the Middle Ages, prostitutes known as "Winchester Geese" were free to ply their trade around these parts in the Liberty of the Clink under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Winchester. The Liberty of the Clink was in an area on the same south bank of the Thames river as modern-day Southwark across from and, in medieval times, outside the laws of the old City of London. Historically, the area featured brothels, bear-pits, prisons and pubs, providing creative fodder for some of England's most important writers, including Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens. The South Bank was also home to the Globe and the Rose theatres where some of England's earliest plays were performed. The prostitutes of the Liberty of the Clink were buried in unhallowed land, despite working under licence from the Church. The Crossbones burial ground served the poor of the parish of St Saviour's, Southwark, but the ground is thought to have been used at least as early as the 17th century, as a single women's or prostitute's cemetery, according to the Museum of London Archaeology Service. By 1769, it was a paupers' cemetery until the graveyard was closed in 1853. In the 1990s, archaeologists removed 148 skeletons from Crossbones when the extension of the London Underground Jubilee tube line opened up a section of the site. The bodies, buried between 1800 and 1853, represent only a sample portion of an unknown number of bodies on the site. The cemetery was associated with paupers and prostitutes, but it was meant to serve the poor of the parish, said Jelena Bekvalac, curator of human osteology at Museum of London. It is impossible to link current skeleton research findings to determine whether the Winchester Geese were buried on the site. "The land belonged to the Bishop of Winchester, it was unconsecrated and they had the name associated with him as Winchester Geese," she said. "That could be one of the great unknowns." On the night of November 23, 1996, Constable says he was immersed as his Crow alter-ego, writing in his Georgian attic room in Southwark when he received a visitation from the "spirit of a medieval whore" — or "the goose, as she called herself" — which led to a prolific bout of automatic writing. "Effectively, in a single night I wrote a very long poem or a very long poem was written in or through me by the goose," he said. "It was the story of a medieval prostitute, or really a woman, who travels through many ages of this area." Subsequently, in 1999, he published "The Southwark Mysteries", an epic drama, which was performed at Shakespeare's Globe theatre in 2000 and at Southwark Cathedral in 2000 and 2010. "I realised I was trying to heal a spirit by remembering her," Constable said. — Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

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Balkis: Selangor tiada locus standi ketepikan keputusan RoS Posted: 31 Oct 2011 03:00 AM PDT KUALA LUMPUR, 31 Okt – Kerajaan Selangor dan lapan orang lain tidak ada locus standi untuk mengetepikan keputusan Pendaftar Pertubuhan (RoS) untuk membubar dan membatalkan pendaftaran Persatuan Kebajikan dan Amal Isteri-isteri Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri dan Ahli Parlimen Selangor (Balkis). Mahkamah Tinggi di sini hari ini mendengar dalam Kamar permohonan semakan kehakiman yang difailkan oleh 10 pemohon – kerajaan Selangor, isteri Menteri Besar Selangor Puan Sri Salbiah Tunut, Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad, Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad, Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor, Worldwide Holdings Berhad, Selangor Industrial Corporation Sdn Bhd, Selaman Sdn Bhd, PKNS Infra Berhad dan PKNS Engineering and Construction Bhd – mencabar keputusan RoS. Peguam Kanan Persekutuan Datin Azizah Nawawi, yang mewakili RoS memberitahu media bahawa sembilan pemohon itu hanya mencabar keputusan ROS berdasarkan bahawa mereka ada kepentingan peribadi sepenuhnya terhadap keputusan tersebut kerana dana mereka secara langsung atau tidak langsung telah menyumbang ke arah aktiviti sosial Balkis. "Sehubungan itu, kita menghuraikan bahawa pemohon-pemohon itu kecuali Salbiah, hanya sebagai penyumbang kewangan kepada Balkis, gagal membuktikan hak perundangan mereka dan dengan itu, mereka tidak ada locus standi untuk menerima sebarang perintah daripada mahkamah mengenai pembubaran dan pembatalan Balkis," katanya dipetik Bernama Online. Sementara itu Peguam Derek Fernandez dan S Selvarajah memberitahu pemberita bahawa mereka telah memberikan hujah bahawa notis untuk membubarkan Balkis tidak pernah disebut dalam agenda mesyuarat semasa mesyuarat untuk membubarkan Balkis. Fernandez juga berkata mengikut undang-undang Menteri Dalam Negeri boleh mengecualikan pembubaran Balkis mengikut peruntukan Seksyen 70 Akta Pertubuhan 1966, tetapi dalam kes ini, beliau berkata, menteri telah melakukan kebelakangan, setelah akta itu dibuat. Beliau berkata RoS hanya membatalkan pendaftaran Balkis pada 11 Februari 2009 tetapi surat pengecualian bertarikh 20 Mac 2009. Fernandez juga memberitahu bahawa Hakim Datuk Rohana Yusuf dijadual memberikan keputusan pada 30 November. Balkis menjadi bahan perbualan apabila Abdul Khalid mendakwa bahawa terdapat penyalahgunaan dalam dana Balkis di bawah bekas presidennya Zaharah Kechik, isteri bekas Menteri Besar Selangor Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo. Dalam permohonan itu, para pemohoan antara lain memohon satu perintah untuk mengetepikan keputusan RoS, satu pengisytiharan bahawa keputusan itu batal dan tidak sah serta mendaftarkan semula (mengambil) pertubuhan itu (Balkis). Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

Isu Elton John: Pemuda PAS bukan Taliban, malah tidak tiru cara Taliban Posted: 31 Oct 2011 12:59 AM PDT KUALA LUMPUR, 31 Okt — Ketua Pemuda PAS pusat Nasrudin Hassan mempertahankan kenyataan pihaknya mengenai konsert Elton John bulan depan sambil menegaskan, saya muda parti Islam bukan "Taliban dan tidak meniru pendekatan Taliban." Malah kata beliau, Dewan Pemuda PAS juga bukan ekstrem dan menjadi hak mereka untuk mengatakan pendirian mereka tidak bersetuju dengan penganjuran konsert-konsert yang tidak sihat di negara ini. "Jangan salah faham... kami bukan Taliban, kami juga tidak pernah meniru cara Taliban. Pandangan yang kami lahirkan bukan bermaksud kita bertindak ekstrem, menghalang sesiapa daripada menghadiri konsert, menyerang mana-mana pihak (yang menghadiri konsert)... tidak, tidak," kata beliau ketika dihubungi The Malaysian Insider hari ini. Dalam laporan dibawa The Malaysian Insider pagi tadi, bekas mufti Perlis Prof Madya Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, yang semalam diselar Pemuda PAS sebagai "keterlaluan", menegaskan beliau tidak pernah mengatakan PAS sebagai Taliban, kecuali menasihatkan parti Islam itu agar "jangan tiru Taliban" dalam pendirian mereka menentang konsert artis itu di Malaysia bukan depan. "Saya tidak kata PAS Taliban, saya kata jangan tiru Taliban," katanya. Petang semalam, Nasrudin (gambar) menyelar Asri yang mengaitkan sayap itu dengan Taliban ekoran pendirian mereka membantah penganjuran konsert artis, yang dikaitkan dengan amalan gay, di Genting Highlands akhir bulan depan. Sambil menganggap pandangan Asri sebagai "belum mengenali Pemuda PAS", Nasrudin berkata, bekas mufti itu juga boleh memberi tanggapan salah masyarakat terhadap sayap PAS. Sambil menekankan bahawa pihaknya tiada kuasa untuk membatalkan atau menghalang konsert-konsert yang tidak sesuai mengikut nilai negara ini, Nasrudin berkata, pandangan yang pihaknya lahirkan selama ini termasuk dalam isu konser Elton John bertujuan menyatakan pendirian tidak bersetuju. Justeru itu kata beliau, adalah tidak bagi mana-mana pihak mengatakan Pemuda PAS sebagai ekstrem ataupun mengikut langkah golongan Taliban. "Ini bukan kali pertama kami mengambil pendirian seperti ini. Sebelum ini pun ada. Lagi pun bukan semua konsert kami membantah. Malah golongan bukan Muslim juga setuju anak mereka terikut-ikut dengan perkara tidak sihat," kata beliau. Ketika ditanya sama ada tindakan mereka akan menjejaskan peluang partinya dalam pilihan raya umum ke-13, Nasrudin berkata, "tidak, tidak... saya percaya tidak." "Ini kerana mereka yang dekat dengan kami, aktiviti pergerakan Pemuda PAS akan faham pendirian kami. Oleh itu, kami pasti tidak," katanya. "Orang ramai perlu tahu bahawa kami membantah konsert hanya untuk mengatakan rasa tidak bersetuju kami, itu sikap kami. "Kalau pihak mereka dan kerajaan mahu terus membenarkan konsert, kita tidak boleh buat apa-apa. Kita tiada kuasa untuk menghalang dan tiada kuasa untuk membatalkan," katanya lagi. Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

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Did Malaysia mature when we were not looking? Posted: 30 Oct 2011 09:48 PM PDT OCT 31 — The flurry of Malay organisations making the news in Malaysia bodes well for the country, whether or not these group together extreme rightists, opposition voices, concerned students or professors, or green or human right activists. The matter has now become too obvious to be denied, which is that the Malay community in Malaysia is like any other community anywhere in the world. Its collectiveness, like anyone else's, is pragmatic and contingent. This is how it should be. They are not an entity whose extremely diverse and individual needs, thoughts and aspirations can be articulated through one single political party. The myth is broken. What will take its place is a cacophony of noises or a symphony of tunes, depending on one's politics and disposition. That powerful party, Umno, is the oldest in the country, founded as it was just one year after the Second World War. It has dominated Malaysian politics to this day, but now rightly fears that it will lose power in the very near future. When the party started, its slogan was "Hidup Melayu" — Long Live the Malays. Only after changing that to "Merdeka" in March 1951 did it begin to make serious headway into the popular consciousness. From the very beginning, Malay political consciousness went in many directions. There were pan-Indonesianists, communists and other leftists, monarchists, Fabian socialists and republicans. The British, with their reputation lost through their defeat by the Japanese, favoured conservatives who were willing to work closely with the nine sultanates. This entity was Umno. The amazing diversity found in the Malay community — as in all communities — was obvious from the onset. Those more concerned about religious values broke away to form PAS in 1951, while Umno itself split around the same time when its president, Onn Jaafar, left with his group of followers to form the Independence of Malaya Party (IMP). Umno gained the upper hand through co-operation with the Malayan Chinese Association, formed at the instigation of the British to draw Chinese support away from the communists. This coalition managed to gain independence in 1957 for the country after its electoral successes saw the British abandoning the IMP, which they had favoured since its founding. Even after 1969, when the so-called Malay agenda could be applied fully through the New Economic Policy, internal fighting continued within Umno, leading to outright splits in 1988 and 1998. Today, when more and more Malays are urban and well educated, and make up an increasing portion of the population, the expression of diversity within that community — the breaking of the collective myth — should be seen as the coming into being of Malaysia's modern citizen, largely determined by the Malays. Opposition from other communities since 1969 has been generally weak, and based on the activism of certain individuals. The propaganda that had served Umno for so long, that the Malays are in danger of extinction, does not work anymore. This became most obvious when the group Himpun recently demonstrated with a cry against purported Christian threats to Islam. Despite the claim that a massive crowd of one million would turn up, the Umno government granted the permit. Only 5,000 people showed up, indicating quite clearly that Malays in general cannot relate to the old idle logic any longer. The Malays continue to decide the national discourse, as they have done since the beginning. But most hearteningly, diversity is taken for granted, and a lot of activism is done in collaboration with non-Malays. The Malaysian citizen has come into his and her own right. There is no longer any doubt that the Malays will "hidup"; and Merdeka was won a long time ago. What seems to be the problem now is, how quickly will the death of the old myth mean the fall from power of Umno? Instead of 1 Malaysia, Umno's latest slogan, to be correctly reflective of the government's concerns, should be "Hidup Pemimpin Umno" — Long Live Umno Leaders. — Today * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist. Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

Vimala bikin filem Posted: 30 Oct 2011 05:29 PM PDT 31 OKT — Saya penggemar filem tetapi tidak banyak filem tempatan yang mampu menarik minat serta memenuhi citarasa saya. Bagaimanapun, filem Tamil tempatan berjudul "Vilaiyaatu Pasange" menarik perhatian saya kerana ia ditulis dan diarah oleh seorang wanita yang baru berumur 29 tahun. Selain mencatat sejarah sebagai filem sulung arahan Vimala Perumal, "Vilaiyaatu Pasange" juga mungkin menjadi bahan dokumentasi dan arkib yang merakamkan suasana di sekitar Kuarters KTM di Bangsar. Hal ini tidaklah menghairankan kerana kawasan itu pasti menjadi "mangsa" pembangunan dalam masa terdekat. Kebimbangan ini amat berasas kerana khabarnya penduduk sekitar kawasan terbabit sudah pun mula diarah berpindah. Vimala yang lahir dan membesar di Sungai Petani, Kedah merupakan graduan bidang perfileman dan animasi dari Universiti Multimedia, Cyberjaya. Beliau sedang meneruskan pengajian peringkat kedoktoran dalam bidang penerbitan filem dan komunikasi kemanusiaan di Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) sambil menjadi tenaga pengajar di Universiti Multimedia. Maka, walaupun masih muda, Vimala bukan "budak hingusan" yang menempah bala dengan terjun ke dalam lautan yang bergelora dan dipenuhi jerung. Filem "Chalanggai" yang ditulis dan diterbitkannya pada tahun 2007 mendapat pengiktirafan pada peringkat antarabangsa. Begitu juga filem pendek "Navarasas" yang ditulis dan diarah olehnya pada tahun lalu. Saya mengenali Vimala menerusi filem pendek "Chellam" sebelum kami menjadi rakan di laman rangkaian sosial Facebook. Apabila filem "Vilaiyaatu Pasange" mula ditayangkan pada 13 Oktober 2011, saya kurang berminat membuat ulasan filem. Sebaliknya, saya lebih berminat bertemu pengarah filem untuk berkongsi pengalamannya. Peluang itu muncul sepuluh hari kemudian apabila saya bertemu Vimala dan abangnya di Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. "Pada mulanya saya membincangkan projek pembikinan filem ini bersama suami selepas menghasilkan filem pendek berjudul 'Appa' pada tahun lalu," Vimala yang sedang mengandungkan anak sulung memulakan cerita. Beliau mengakui mengalami masalah kewangan bagi menghasilkan "Vilaiyaatu Pasange". Orang luar belum menaruh harapan pada kemampuannya, tapi beliau mendapat sokongan padu daripada keluarga. Ibunya, Lim Chiew Yet, bersedia menjadi penerbit eksekutif bersama-sama Dr Jaya Shankar James dari Lackshaea Production untuk memberi bantuan kewangan yang amat diperlukan bagi menjayakan projek pembikinan filem berkenaan oleh Veedu Production Sdn Bhd. "Keseluruhan skrip sudah disiapkan pada Jun 2010 dengan kerjasama suami saya, Denes Kumar yang juga penerbit dan pelakon dalam filem ini. Rakan-rakan pula tampil membantu mengikut kemampuan dan bakat masing- masing," katanya yang melangsungkan perkahwinan pada November 2010. Proses pra-penerbitan mengambil masa tiga bulan di mana tumpuan khusus diberi pada aspek pengembangan dan penghayatan watak oleh para pelakon. "Sejak awal, saya sudah 'membina' watak dan perwatakan. Maka, pelakon perlu menghayati sepenuhnya watak yang dilakonkan bagi menjayakan filem ini.  "Ada lapan watak utama dan saya tidak menghadapi masalah mengadakan uji bakat kerana kebanyakan mereka adalah rakan-rakan yang memang saya kenali dan tahu bakat mereka," Vimala menceritakan. Saya faham bahawa beliau tidak mempunyai ruang, peluang dan wang untuk mengadakan uji bakat secara profesional. Hal ini tentu menjadi semacam hambatan tetapi ternyata tidak mematahkan semangat beliau kerana rakan- rakannya sedia tampil berlakon. Sesi pembacaan skrip diadakan secara intensif bagi memastikan pelakon berjaya menghayati watak, perwatakan dan keseluruhan cerita sebelum penggambaran dilakukan. Latihan lakonan babak demi babak dibuat selama hampir dua minggu. Pelakon yang terlibat dalam filem pendek "Appa" juga terlibat dalam "Vilaiyaatu Pasange". Maka, tidak timbul masalah besar dari aspek penghayatan watak dan sebagainya. Untuk makluman, filem pendek "Appa" sepanjang 15 minit sudah siap tetapi tidak ditayangkan kepada umum atas permintaan penerbit memandangkan filem pendek itu dikembangkan menjadi filem "Vilaiyaatu Pasange". Pada Oktober 2010, penggambaran berjalan selama sepuluh hari; diikuti pasca-penerbitan dan penyuntingan oleh MS Prem Nath selama tiga bulan. "Tayangan bermula pada 13 Oktober lalu di pawagam GSC Mid-Valley, 1 Utama dan Pavilion KL. Sambutan sejak hari pertama memang amat menggalakkan. "Saya dan para pelakon yang menghadiri tayangan hari pertama memang terkejut dan amat gembira atas sambutan yang diberikan masyarakat," kata Vimala. Filem ini menampilkan watak Samy (lakonan David Anthony), seorang pengumpul besi buruk yang sanggup melakukan apa sahaja demi kebahagiaan anaknya, Kumar (Denes Kumar). Kausalya (Jasmine Michael) bukan sekadar hadir sebagai kekasih Kumar. Sebaliknya kehadirannya sebagai watak penari Odissi dalam filem ini memberi ruang kritikan sosial, kekeluargaan dan pelbagai masalah/isu yang menjadi stigma dalam kalangan kaum India di Malaysia pada waktu ini. Kumar pula meminati bola sepak dan kurang serius terhadap hal-hal luaran memandangkan umurnya baru 23 tahun dan belum sepenuhnya mengenal dunia. Kehadiran pelakon veteran, Accapan sebagai jurulatih bola sepak pula mampu memberi semangat kepada golongan belia bukan hanya dalam sukan, tetapi juga dalam hidup. Hasil sambutan orang ramai, tayangan yang pada mulanya dijadualkan sehingga 19 Oktober di layar antarabangsa (international screens) dilanjutkan sehingga 9 November walaupun terdapat Festival Filem Latin di GSC pada 20-23 Oktober. Reaksi penonton turut diterima menerusi Facebook. Ramai juga yang tertanya-tanya mengapa pengakhiran filem seperti tergantung. Sebenarnya, ini suatu usaha berani yang dilakukan sebagai tanda bahawa Vimala selaku penulis dan pengarah filem "Vilaiyaatu Pasange" menghormati minda dan kemampuan berfikir khalayak. Filem ini bukan sekadar filem hiburan berciri "to tell" tetapi menampilkan aspek "to show" yang secara langsung memerlukan penonton berfikir sambil berhibur. Melihat kepada khalayak yang hadir menonton filem ini sejak 13 Oktober lalu, ternyata "Vilaiyaatu Pasange" sesuai bagi tontonan seisi keluarga. Sama ada tua, muda, belia atau kanak-kanak, semuanya ternyata terhibur dengan sajian filem sulung Vimala. Satu lagi aspek menarik berkaitan filem ini adalah lokasi yang digunakan iaitu Kuarters KTM di Bangsar. Malah, kisah yang dipaparkan dalam "Vilaiyaatu Pasange" adalah berdasarkan insan-insan biasa yang pernah ditemui oleh Vimala sendiri dalam hidupnya. Saya percaya bahawa aspek ini juga membantu menyumbang ke arah kejayaan "Vilaiyaatu Pasange" kerana penonton merasakan seolah-olah mereka "terlibat sama" dalam apa yang dipaparkan menerusi filem ini. Penonton belia kaum India di Lembah Klang khasnya pasti akan terkenang akan pengalaman mereka semasa remaja apabila menonton filem ini. Vimala mengakui bahawa skrip filem ini adalah berdasarkan pengalaman beliau sendiri sering berkunjung ke sekitar kawasan Kuarters KTM di Bangsar sekitar sepuluh tahun lalu. Wajar juga dinyatakan bahawa Denes Kumar membesar di kawasan itu. Vimala sendiri banyak menghabiskan masa di sekitar kuil Mariamman, padang bola sepak, tempat mencuci kereta, pangsapuri dan rumah kuarters yang menjadi latar filem. Adegan pasangan bercinta di kawasan pembuangan sampah pula berdasarkan apa yang pernah dilihat oleh Vimala pada masa lalu di kawasan sama. Maka, segala nostalgia, kenangan dan pengalaman silam dituangkan secara penuh seni ke dalam filem ini sebagai suatu dokumentasi. Pengalaman melihat segala peristiwa lucu semasa Denes Kumar bermain bola sepak bersama rakan-rakannya juga diimbau menerusi filem ini. Dalam kesederhanaannya, filem "Vilaiyaatu Pasange" menyampaikan mesej tersirat yang sangat mendalam dan penting bagi masyarakat India. Vimala sudah pun memulakan kerja-kerja menulis skrip bagi sebuah filem susulan berjudul "Murattu Pasange". Hal ini membuktikan keyakinan dan keberanian yang dimilikinya. Ternyata Vimala tidak "main-main" dalam menyahut cabaran menulis skrip, mengarah dan menerbitkan filem. * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist. Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

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Van Pelt canters to victory in Malaysia Posted: 30 Oct 2011 05:43 AM PDT KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 — Overnight leader Bo Van Pelt cantered to a six-stroke victory over fellow American Jeff Overton in the US$6.1 million (RM18.7 million) CIMB Asia Pacific Classic here today. Leading by one shot from Overton, the 36-year-old Van Pelt (picture) hit a bogey-free seven-under 64 to win his second career title and a first prize of US$1.3 million at the Mines Resort and Golf Club. Van Pelt hit the ground running with birdies on the third and fourth holes, before adding five more on the back nine to card a four-day total of 23-under 261 to capture the PGA Tour and Asian Tour co-sanctioned event. "I feel like the luckiest guy in the world. I get to do what I love to do for a living," Van Pelt, who won his maiden title on the US circuit in 2009, told reporters after his win. "It was funny. I got here Tuesday morning, went to the hotel, got showered and then went to the range. "My swing felt good right at the first warm up and I kind of continued that all week and had confidence with what I wanted to do with my golf swing." Van Pelt was delighted with the margin of his victory. "I had a chance to win a couple of times this year but it didn't come out on top," he added. "I wanted to do a better job when I was having the lead and I took a lot of satisfaction with the way I played today. "I've watched other guys coming down 18 with a big lead and I thought that would be fun some day if I could do that and it was." Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson finished third, a shot behind the 28-year old Overton, who is still searching for his first title on the PGA Tour. Overton, who arrived in Malaysia on Tuesday evening after a last-minute call up following the withdrawal of David Duval, paid tribute to his fellow American. "That was one of the best rounds of golf I've seen ... at the end of the day, the guy, he played one of the best rounds of golf anybody has all year." Overton said. — Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

McIlroy pockets US$2m after playoff win over Kim Posted: 30 Oct 2011 05:32 AM PDT SHANGHAI, Oct 30 — US Open champion Rory McIlroy held his nerve in the closing stages to edge out American Anthony Kim in a sudden death playoff and pocket the US$2 million (RM6.13 million) winner's cheque at the Shanghai Masters today. The Northern Irishman, who led by three strokes overnight, fell behind on the 11th hole but rallied to force Kim into a playoff with an even-par round of 72, matching the American's 18-under 270 at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Lake Malaren course. McIlroy hugs his caddy after winning the Shanghai Masters today. — Reuters pic The 22-year old had a chance to win in regulation play but narrowly missed a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th to head into a playoff at the 30-player, non-sanctioned invitational event. "I'll be the first to say I haven't won enough in my four years as a pro. I should have won a lot more," the mop-haired McIlroy said in a television interview. "Today was great for me ... under pressure on the back nine. One behind with four to play. "To win from that position gives me a lot of satisfaction. I don't care how I win as long as my name is on that trophy at the end of the day." On the first extra hole, the par-four 18th, McIlroy landed his chip from a greenside bunker to within a foot of the cup after both players had sent their approach shots next to each other in the sand. Kim left himself a five-foot putt for par after his bunker shot but could only look on in horror as his putt to the left of the cup kept its line and skimmed past the lip to gift McIlroy the victory. "When I went out today with a three-shot lead, I figured if I could shoot in the 60s it would have been enough but it was tricky out there today," McIlroy said. "The wind was stronger than it had been in the first three days. Anthony has played great all week and got off to a fast start when I didn't. I had to hang tough on the back nine." American Hunter Mahan and South Korea's Noh Seung-yul finished in a tie for third at 13-under in the inaugural event, a stroke clear of Briton Lee Westwood, who recorded a hole-in-one on the par-three 12th. Winner's purse McIlroy said the US$2 million first prize was not on his mind when he squandered his first chance of claiming the title. "All I was thinking the first time was 'I want to hole this putt because I don't want to go into a playoff'," he said. "It really never crossed my mind until that last putt went in. I just wanted another win as I feel I have been close to winning the past few weeks but haven't got it done. To get another win is nice." McIlroy, currently second on the European Tour money-list, has set his sights on overtaking world number one Englishman Luke Donald to win the order of merit that culminates at the Dubai World Championship in December. "I want to get closer to Luke (Donald) in the Race to Dubai. I know he's not playing next week (the WGC Champions event in Shanghai) and I feel I am playing well enough to contend there," he said. "So a big week next week could put me in the frame to win the Race to Dubai." Donald, who recently won the US PGA Tour money-list title, withdrew from next week's event to be at home in the US with his wife Diane, who is due to give birth to their second child. — Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

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Big-hearted snakes offer clues to healing humans Posted: 30 Oct 2011 08:24 AM PDT The secret to the giant Burmese python's success is in a massive amount of fatty acids that circulate in the snake's blood after eating a meal. – AFP pic WASHINGTON, Oct 30 – Snakes get a bad rap for being slimy, cold-hearted creatures, but US researchers said recently some actually have huge hearts that could offer clues to treating people with cardiac disease. The secret to the giant Burmese python's success is in a massive amount of fatty acids that circulate in the snake's blood after eating a meal, which could be as big as a deer, according to the study in the journal Science. Scientists at the University of Colorado at Boulder found that as the snake starts digesting its catch, natural oils and fats called triglycerides spike by more than 50 times the usual level. But there is no fat deposited in the snake's heart, due to the activation of a key enzyme that protects the thumping organ as it grows in mass by as much as 40 per cent in the first few days after a meal. Scientists identified the chemical composition of the python's blood after eating, and injected either the fed python's plasma or a mixture devised to imitate it into pythons that were fasting. "In both cases, the pythons showed increased heart growth and indicators of cardiac health," said the study, noting that Burmese pythons are as thick as a telephone pole, grow to around eight metres long and can go without food for up to a year. Researchers then tried the experiment on mice, and found that mice injected with either fed python plasma or the fatty acid mixture showed the same results. "It was remarkable that the fatty acids identified in the plasma-fed pythons could actually stimulate healthy heart growth in mice," said researcher Brooke Harrison. Researcher Cecilia Riquelme said the next step is to figure out how the concoction works so that it may be one day adapted for use in people. "Now we are trying to understand the molecular mechanisms behind the process in hopes that the results might lead to new therapies to improve heart disease conditions in humans," she said. Not all heart growth is good. Conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, in which the heart muscle thickens and can lead to sudden death in young athletes, is one example. However, the kind of heart growth exhibited by most elite athletes is a reflection of their superior cardiac health. "Well-conditioned athletes like Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps and cyclist Lance Armstrong have huge hearts," said Leslie Leinwand, a professor in the molecular, cellular and developmental biology department and leader of the study. "But there are many people who are unable to exercise because of existing heart disease, so it would be nice to develop some kind of a treatment to promote the beneficial growth of heart cells." The trio of fatty acids identified in the snake's blood were myristic acid, palmitic acid and palmitoleic acid. The enzyme that protected their hearts was superoxide dismutase, which also exists in humans. "We are trying to understand how to make those signals tell individual heart cells whether they are going down a road that has pathological consequences, like disease or beneficial consequences, like exercise," Leinwand said. – AFP Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

Highly sexed crickets take to the ring in China Posted: 30 Oct 2011 02:05 AM PDT Chinese men watch a cricket fight at a street market in Hefei, in east China's Anhui province. Cricket fighting is believed to have started in China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and enjoyed its height of popularity during the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD) period. – AFP pic BEIJING, Oct 30 – Unlike many sportsmen who avoid sex the night before a match to ensure they have enough strength, Chinese crickets are encouraged to enjoy as much hanky-panky as possible on the eve of a fight. "Crickets need lots of sex," said Guo Junxiong, 60, after watching one of his long-antennaed insects overpower an opponent in a bloodless battle held in Beijing during the annual cricket fighting season. "They should live as couples otherwise the male won't fight." Cricket fighting, a Chinese tradition dating back more than a thousand years to imperial times, remains a popular pastime for many men who gather every autumn to watch their insects fight in specially designed glass enclosures. At a recent tournament in the Chinese capital dozens of men – mostly middle-aged and smoking heavily – crowded around white plastic tables to watch pairs of male crickets fight for a gold trophy and US$300 in prize money. "I always want to be the winner," said Zhao Boguang, vice president of the Singing Insects Association in Beijing and owner of a store specialising in cricket equipment. The best fighting crickets – always male – are found in the eastern province of Shandong where they are reputed to be the biggest in China. A single insect can cost between a few dollars and US$300 – or more. Enthusiasts spend hours every day feeding and watering their chirping pets, with some keeping them in their bedrooms so they can be easily checked during the night. Yang Yupeng, 82, said he has been playing with crickets since he was 10 and credits the harmless creatures with keeping him healthy in body and mind. "The more I watch them fight the happier I am," said Yang, wearing a grey suit of a kind made famous by former Chinese leader Mao Zedong. "Playing with crickets can alter your mood – it can keep you feeling calm, happy and solve your worries." Before a tournament begins, each cricket must be weighed on a tiny set of scales. Owners carefully remove their crickets from small clay pots using wooden scoops and then gently slide them into a plastic cup or modified beer can, which is hooked onto the scales. After their weight is recorded on a white strip of paper, the crickets are returned to their container where they wait for battle. "I've been playing with crickets since I was very young," said Yu Xin, 30, one of the youngest participants at the tournament in Beijing. "Now I work in an office with computers and playing with crickets brings me closer to nature." In the seconds before a fight begins, owners "tease" their crickets by stroking their backs, head and antennae with a long piece of dry grass. Aroused and ready to fight, the crickets grab at each other with their front legs for an intense but shortlived battle before breaking apart and one of them – the loser – scurrying away. Although betting on cricket fights – or any other type of competition – is illegal in China, it is common for Chinese to have a discreet flutter. "I've been involved in cricket fighting for 40 years and I still find it interesting, they can bring you happiness," said Man Zhiguo, 48. Cricket fighting is a male dominated sport and, according to Man, that is the way it should be. Women "don't have the skills to buy, raise or fight crickets and also going to the countryside to find the crickets is hard and hot work," he said. During their short life – about 100 days – crickets are fed a diet of soya beans, carrots and corn, while some enthusiasts even give their beloved insects doses of Chinese traditional medicine to boost their performance in the ring. And, of course, there is the "excessive sex" needed to enhance their fighting prowess. "Crickets must have female companions so their bodies can be strong," said Yang. "I check them every day to see if their mood is good or not. If not, I have to find them a new partner." – AFP Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

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Tom Cruise in ‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol’ Posted: 30 Oct 2011 06:53 AM PDT LOS ANGELES, Oct 30 – The first full-length trailer for Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, starring Tom Cruise and Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker, The Town). Opening on the Kremlin exploding, the footage shows Cruise, returning as Ethan Hunt, being told the government has shut down the IMF, which was implicated in the bombing. He is about to receive his next assignment (if he choose to accept the mission), when the vehicle is attacked and his team is on its own. What follows in the adventure is a series of action-packed scenes, leaping off bridges, repelling on buildings, chases, gunfire, getaways, missiles, and high-tech gadgetry as the rogue team goes undercover and plots to clear the organisation's reputation. The epic film also co-stars Simon Pegg (Paul) for a touch of humor and Tom Wilkinson (The Ghost Writer). MI4 is the first live action film for Brad Bird, who directed the animated Ratatouille, The Incredibles and The Simpsons. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol opens worldwide on December 16, then releases in the UK on December 26, Brazil on December 30, and Sweden and Italy in January. As a bonus, producer J.J. Abrams (director of Super 8) provides a featurette with Cruise climbing the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. – AFP Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

Cameron unveils scenes from ‘Titanic’ in 3D Posted: 30 Oct 2011 04:03 AM PDT LOS ANGELES, Oct 30 – Filmmaker James Cameron on Friday unveiled the first scenes from his new 3D version of the mega-blockbuster hit "Titanic," the second biggest earner in film history, ahead of its April 2012 release. Cameron and producer Jon Landau showed 18 minutes of film in the huge screening room at Paramount Studios – the only major motion picture studio left in old Hollywood. "This a film that many people have seen, obviously, sometimes multiple times, but there is a whole generation of people who haven't seen it in theatres," Cameron said. "I love the 3D, I think it's spectacular. If I had had 3D cameras at the time, if there had been 3D theatres at the time, I would certainly have shot the film in 3D." "Titanic" – which starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as star-crossed lovers aboard the ill-fated passenger steamship that struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic and sank in 1912 – was first released in 1997. The film earned more than US$1.8 billion (RM5.52 billion) worldwide and 11 Oscars including Best Picture and a Best Director statuette for Cameron. It remained the highest-grossing film of all time until Cameron's "Avatar" shattered the record with more than US$2.8 billion in worldwide receipts. "I do believe that there is an array of 10 or 20 movies – think of the best movies of all times – that should be converted in 3D, but it has to be done right," Cameron said. "I firmly believe that 3D is an enhancement even for just normal, narrative scenes, not necessarily the action scenes," he said. "That feeling that you're right there, actually with characters, enhances the emotional interaction between the audience and the film." He however admitted that "Titanic" for him would only become a film in "2.99D" as opposed to one originally filmed in 3D. The 3D version of "Titanic" will hit theatres in North America on April 6, 2012, four days before the 100th anniversary of the ship's doomed maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. – Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

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Miss Transgender Malaysia 2011 Posted: 29 Oct 2011 05:21 PM PDT OCT 30 — The event was called "Fashion and Sense" but behind this euphemism necessary in a "conservative" country like Malaysia was the national beauty pageant for Malaysia's transgender community. I didn't know what to expect, but after it was all over, I would describe the event as professional, energetic, and awesome. Such a function is especially needed in 21st century Malaysia. Recently in the media, the transgender community has been portrayed negatively and incorrectly. "Miss Kelantan". — Pictures by Colin Boyd Shafer. Click on the photo to view the picture gallery. On a TV3 talk show called "Wanita Hari Ini" aired on October 4, the transgender community was said to be a "threat to women's livelihoods." A couple of days later, Berita Harian published an unscientific article ("Salah makan punca pondan") stating that "wrong food consumption [is] the cause of effeminate men" and that the transgender phenomenon is increasing rapidly in Malaysian society. The mainstream media also had a field day when Aleesha (Mohd Ashraf Hafiz Abdul Aziz) wanted to change her name from a male to a female one. After she was denied this human right, this Malaysian citizen went into depression and died of a heart attack. To make it even worse, the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development,  which is supposed to protect women, family and community (I hope!) — when questioned about what they do to help the transgender community — said they run programmes with the "intention of 'correcting' behaviour etc. in line with socially accepted norms." So, in conclusion, Malaysia has a lot of work to do regarding this issue. For me, this pageant was a sign of progress as human rights by definition includes transgender rights. It is important that all peoples should be able to express themselves comfortably. Article 19 from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression." This event was organised by PT Foundation's Transgender Programme and Mila Entertainment. From the excellent food, positive atmosphere, gorgeous dresses with traditional influences to the lights, dancing, and laughs, it was definitely very Malaysian. "Miss Selangor". Click on the photo to view the picture gallery. These people, representing the 14 states of Malaysia, should make their respective states proud. They were intelligent, well-spoken, and much more deserving of such an award than many beauty queens I have seen on TV. According to freelance designer Shika who attended the event, this was special because "it's made for the community by the [transgender] community itself." Having it co-organised by PT Foundation was also excellent because half of the money raised went to the programmes they run. They have a strong focus on HIV/Aids Awareness and Sexuality Rights — both honourable pursuits that need more focus and financial attention in Malaysia. This event wasn't properly advertised though, likely because the organisers wanted to ruffle as few feathers as possible. Hopefully in the future this type of event can be seen and appreciated by many more. In the end, Miss Kelantan was the winner. Everyone did a great job — an excellent event for all of humanity! For more photographs, go to Colinizing Photography on Facebook. * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist. Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

Masa depan Libya pasca Muammar Gaddafi Posted: 29 Oct 2011 05:15 PM PDT 30 OKT — Nama Muammar Gaddafi kini tinggal dalam lipatan sejarah. Kematian beliau pada usia 69 tahun pada tanggal 20 Oktober lalu dipercayai dipukul dan ditembak pada bahagian kepalanya oleh salah seorang daripada pejuang Majlis Peralihan Kebangsaan Libya (NTC), membawa bersamanya segala kezaliman yang dilakukan beliau sepanjang 42 tahun memerintah Libya ke dalam liang lahad. Membawa bersamanya juga ke dalam liang lahad adalah perwatakan dan sikap aneh Muammar yang kadangkala mencetuskan kontroversi hinggakan kuasa-kuasa Barat pernah menggelarkan Muammar sebagai "anjing gila." Segala misteri mengenai riwayat hidup Muammar mati bersamanya dan tidak mungkin dapat dirungkaikan lagi. Dari awal lagi, kematian Muammar sudah dijangka. Ini kerana kuasa-kuasa Barat melihat Muammar sebagai satu lagi halangan kepada agenda mereka untuk menguasai sumber minyak di negara berkenaan. Tindakan Muammar yang dikatakan menaja keganasan tidak seiring dengan agenda Barat. Sementara pemerintahan kuku besi selama lebih empat dekadnya bercanggah dengan sistem demokrasi dan hak asasi manusia yang diperjuangkan mereka. Dari detik-detik kediamannya di Bab Al-Aziziya jatuh kepada pihak NTC hinggalah kepada kejatuhan Bani Walid dan Sirte, Muammar tidak mempunyai banyak pilihan. Sama ada memilih untuk mati sebagai syahid di negara kelahirannya ataupun bertindak sebagai pengecut dan mendapatkan suaka politik di negara luar. Namun pada akhirnya, beliau tetap memilih penyelesaian pertama. Ternyata, Muammar tidak berganjak daripada pendirian asalnya bahawa beliau akan mati di bumi Libya. Kini, harapan untuk melihat Muammar lenyap daripada persada politik Libya telah tercapai. Muammar sudah pergi selama-lamanya. Yang tinggal kini hanyalah kesan-kesan parut dan pengalaman hitam yang mewarnai sejarah negara tersebut. Kuasa-kuasa Barat seperti Britain dan Perancis yang mendalangi Revolusi di Libya boleh menarik nafas lega kerana dengan ketiadaan Muammar di hadapannya, hasrat untuk membentuk sebuah demokrasi di negara itu, sudah separuh tercapai. Lebih signifikan lagi, kejayaan menggulingkan Muammar dalam keadaan yang tersusun dan dalam tempoh yang singkat, memberi petunjuk kepada Amerika Syarikat, apa yang kuasa besar tunggal dunia itu boleh buat di Iraq, Britain dan Perancis juga mampu berbuat demikian. Cumanya apa yang berbeza kali ini, usaha tersebut dibuat secara multilateral membabitkan pelbagai pihak. Reaksi serta-merta yang ditunjukkan oleh pemimpin-pemimpin Barat seperti Presiden Perancis, Nicholas Sarkozy dan Perdana Menteri Britain, David Cameron menunjukkan betapa risaunya mereka kalau-kalau operasi untuk menggulingkan rejim Muammar tidak berjaya. Mereka bagaimanapun cukup bernasib baik. Libya bukan seperti di Iraq atau Afghanistan. Dalam fikiran kuasa-kuasa Barat termasuk pihak Pertubuhan Perjanjian Atlantik Utara (Nato) yang mengetuai kempen pengeboman di Libya selama lapan bulan lamanya, sekurang-kurangnya kempen anjuran mereka berbaloi dan tidak sia-sia. Keputusan untuk menamatkan misi ketenteraan di Libya menjelang esok, 31 Oktober 2011 sekurang-kurangnya menyelamatkan Nato daripada mengulangi kesilapan yang pernah dilakukan oleh Amerika Syarikat dalam misi penaklukannya di bumi Iraq. Kejayaan Nato dalam menggulingkan rejim Muammar secara tidak langsung turut menghantar mesej kuat kepada pihak yang melihat Nato sebagai sebuah entiti yang sudah tidak relevan dalam era pasca Perang Dingin untuk berfikir semula. Mesej yang cuba disampaikan di sebalik kejayaan ini ialah "kami masih mempunyai peranan yang boleh dimainkan." Bagi kuasa-kuasa Barat dan penentang Muammar, kematian diktator itu membuka satu lembaran baru dalam lanskap politik Libya yang selama ini terkongkong dalam doktrin bawaan beliau. Pada mereka, selepas kematian Muammar, tidak akan berlaku lagi penindasan, tiada lagi kezaliman ke atas rakyat Libya dan Libya akan muncul sebagai sebuah negara demokrasi contoh kepada negara-negara Arab lain. Pada pemikiran kuasa-kuasa Barat juga, mereka percaya rakyat Libya akan mengenangkan saat-saat inilah sebagai detik paling bersejarah dalam hayat mereka sekali gus terhutang budi dengan Barat yang membantu mereka. Dan seperti yang dijangka, NTC beberapa hari lalu telah meminta Nato untuk terus berada di Libya sekurang-kurangnya sehingga akhir tahun ini kerana merasakan keadaan keselamatan di negara itu masih belum stabil sekalipun Muammar telah mati. Walaupun tindakan dan visi itu dilihat terlalu idealistik, rakyat Libya tidak menghiraukan sangat aspek itu. Bagi rakyat Libya, inilah julung-julung kalinya negara tercinta mereka bebas daripada bayangan Muammar dan mereka mahu merasai detik-detik yang bersejarah ini, selagi terdaya. Begitu tebalnya perasaan kebencian rakyat Libya terhadap Muammar hinggakan ada antara mereka yang sanggup berbaris panjang untuk berjam-jam lamanya untuk melihat jenazah Muammar yang dipamerkan di sebuah bilik mayat di Misrata. Malah, ada yang mengambil kesempatan itu untuk bergambar dengan Muammar dalam keadaan terbujur kaku. Apapun, adalah satu tindakan tidak bijak untuk membuat rumusan bahawa dengan kematian Muammar, maka berakhirlah segala permasalahan yang melanda Libya. Hakikatnya, perjuangan untuk membina sebuah Libya yang lebih telus, terbuka, makmur lagi membangun baharu sahaja bermula. Buat masa ini, rakyat Libya tidak boleh dipersalahkan jika mereka masih dalam keadaan terkejut dan optimis dengan masa depan negara berkenaan. Apa tidaknya, "mood" revolusi masih membara dan belum berakhir. Para pejuang NTC masih belum mahu meletakkan senjata mereka sehingga kesemua saki-baki pejuang Muammar dihapuskan. Tidak salah untuk bersikap optimis dalam hal ini tetapi harus diingat apa yang berlaku di Iraq dan Afghanistan wajar dijadikan teladan agar perkara sama tidak berulang di Libya. Sepanjang dekad pertama abad ke-21, bumi Iraq dan Afghanistan ditakluk oleh AS. Kehadiran AS pada mulanya disambut dengan penuh optimis malah mereka dijulang sebagai hero kerana berjaya membebaskan negara mereka daripada rejim kuku besi. Tetapi lama-kelamaan perasaan optimis itu kemudiannya bertukar kepada perasaan benci dan meluat. Keengganan AS untuk mengundurkan askar-askarnya daripada bumi Iraq dan Afghanistan selepas kejatuhan rejim Saddam Hussein dan Taliban mengukuhkan keyakinan bahawa kedatangan mereka dipenuhi dengan muslihat tersembunyi. Apakah dalam kes di Libya, situasi serupa akan berulang? Tidak mustahil ia boleh terjadi jika kuasa-kuasa Barat memandang remeh terhadap sentimen penduduk di sini. Kehidupan berpuak-puak yang begitu menebal dalam kalangan rakyat Libya, masing-masing dengan budaya serta identitinya tersendiri, akan menyukarkan lagi usaha itu. Dalam menilai perkembangan mutakhir yang berlaku di Libya ketika ini, terdapat banyak persoalan yang masih belum terjawab. Sebagai contohnya, tekad NTC untuk tidak membalas dendam ke atas musuh-musuh politik mereka selepas kejatuhan Muammar berupa omong-omong kosong sahaja. Pembunuhan ke atas Muammar oleh seorang pejuang NTC (walaupun NTC menafikannya) membayangkan betapa sukarnya untuk mengawal kemarahan rakyat Libya terhadap Muammar. Lebih sukar lagi ialah bagaimana untuk menterjemahkan janji itu kepada tindakan konkrit. Selain itu, beberapa anggota NTC seperti Mustafa Mohammed Abdul Jalil dan Ali Issawi pernah berkhidmat dalam Kabinet Muammar satu ketika dahulu, sekali gus mengundang tanda-tanya mengenai kesetiaan mereka. Mustafa umpamanya berkhidmat sebagai Menteri Kehakiman sementara Ali pula Menteri Ekonomi, Perdagangan dan Pelaburan. Sejauhmanakah kesetiaan mereka kepada perjuangan NTC boleh dipercayai? Jika mereka boleh berpaling tadah dengan rejim Muammar, apakah ada jaminan ia tidak akan berlaku dalam Kabinet baru nanti? Apakah sebab-musabab di sebalik pengkhianatan mereka kepada rejim Muammar? Adakah sekadar tidak berpuas hati dengan kezaliman Muammar semata-mata? Dalam dunia politik, prinsip kesetiaan tidak pernah wujud. Jika wujud sekalipun, hanyalah mereka yang berpolitik mengikut lunas-lunas sebenar. Pun begitu, dalam mempertahankan prinsip tersebut, mereka terpaksa membayarnya dengan harga yang tinggi. Satu lagi trend yang kurang menyenangkan dalam konteks ini ialah saban kali sebuah kerajaan baru ditubuhkan selepas kejatuhan rejim lama, kedengaran rejim baru yang berjanji untuk melaksanakan pelbagai pembaharuan tanpa menyedari kemampuan untuk mengotakannya. Semua sedia maklum bahawa janji-janji sedemikian merupakan satu kenyataan politik yang ada kalanya tidak realistik dan tidak mungkin dicapai. Antaranya, rejim baru berjanji untuk mewujudkan peluang pekerjaan yang secukupnya, membasmi gejala rasuah dan memperkasakan sistem demokrasi. Namun sering kali janji-janji itu berakhir dengan kehampaan. Dan inilah yang dibimbangi oleh rakyat Libya. Apakah momentum dan perasaan optimis ini akan berterusan? Sudah pasti, semua rakyat Libya mengharapkan sedemikian. Tetapi kepimpinan baharu Libya perlulah peka untuk memastikan bahawa ia mampu menguruskan jangkaan rakyatnya dengan bijak. Kelahiran Libya yang baru haruslah bermula daripada rakyatnya sendiri dan bukannya kuasa-kuasa Barat yang berkepentingan. * Pandangan di atas adalah pendapat kendiri penulis. Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

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