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Liverpool have two sent off in thrashing at Spurs Posted: 18 Sep 2011 08:59 AM PDT LONDON, Sept 18 — Liverpool had two players sent off, while Emmanuel Adebayor scored twice as Tottenham Hotspur strolled to a 4-0 Premier League victory at White Hart Lane today. Marching orders for Charlie Adam after having earlier been flashed a yellow. — Reuters pic The visitors produced a woeful display and Spurs took full advantage, with Luka Modric and Jermain Defoe also on target as the early-season optimism on Anfield begins to recede. Only Modric's superb early strike separated the sides until Martin Skrtel's second-half red card opened the floodgates. Charlie Adam had already been dismissed for the visitors for a mis-timed tackle on Scott Parker in the 28th minute. Tottenham's second victory of the season, after they lost their opening two matches, lifted them to 11th place with six points. Liverpool are in eighth spot with seven points after a second successive league defeat. Later today, leaders Manchester United were hosting Chelsea (1500 GMT) while Manchester City, who like United have maximum points from their opening four games, were away to Fulham and Sunderland were hosting Stoke City (both 1400). Liverpool collected seven points from their opening three games but defeat at Stoke City last week halted their progress and today's poor display will raise questions about their ability to challenge for a top-four finish. It was their heaviest Premier League defeat since 2003. Liverpool started slowly and fell behind when Modric produced a moment of pure class, smashing a right-foot shot into the top corner of the net after the ball came back off Defoe on the edge of the area. Luis Suarez had a goal disallowed as Liverpool tried to respond and their afternoon took a turn for the worse when Adam, who had already been cautioned, caught Parker with a lunge and was shown a red card. Modric forced a sharp save from Pepe Reina and Tottenham had a succession of free kicks in dangerous positions but could not extend their lead before halftime. A flowing move after the break ended with Defoe wasting a great chance for the hosts. Skrtel saw red in the 63rd minute when a foul on the lively Gareth Bale earned him a second booking and three minutes later Defoe lashed a low shot past Reina. Two minutes later Reina could not hold Defoe's shot and on-loan Adebayor showed a delicate touch before side-footing the ball into an empty net. The Togo striker, who used to score regularly for Arsenal against Tottenham before moving to Manchester City, then further endeared himself to the White Hart Lane faithful with a powerful second goal in stoppage time from close range. — Reuters

Stoner homes in on title with Aragon win Posted: 18 Sep 2011 07:49 AM PDT ALCANIZ, Spain, Sept 18 — Australian Casey Stoner moved a step closer to the MotoGP world title when he streaked away to win the Aragon Grand Prix today. The 2007 champion had started on pole, having set a lap record in qualifying, and after briefly slipping down to third, he hit the front on the second lap and left the rest of the field trailing. Spaniard Dani Pedrosa, Stoner's Repsol Honda teammate, claimed his third consecutive runner-up spot while defending champion Jorge Lorenzo was third on a Yamaha. Stoner on the podium after winning from pole. — Reuters pic With four races left, championship leader Stoner extended his lead over second-placed Lorenzo to 44 points, climbing to 284. "We had a difficult race in San Marino (when Stoner came third two weeks ago) but we knew the problem, that I was tired and that the bike was good enough," Stoner told Spanish television. "But this weekend the bike's been good, I've been good and everything has been perfect." Stoner went on to say riders' worries about the fallout from the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March had been overcome ahead of the September 30 Japanese Grand Prix. "It looks like everything's going ahead for Japan," he said. "We found out as much information as we could and really there is no reason for us not to go there now. Three months ago it was a bit different, but I think everybody will be there." Close call Under cloudy skies, with a gusting wind, Stoner and Pedrosa almost came together before the first bend at the MotorLand circuit and Ben Spies took advantage to nip into first place, but he did not hold on to it for long. Stoner stormed back to take the lead and finished more than eight seconds ahead of Pedrosa, and 14 in front of Lorenzo. "We passed from glory in the last race to being a long way off Stoner and Pedrosa today," Lorenzo said. "In the end this was the best result we were capable of." Earlier in the season, the Spaniard had also questioned the wisdom of going ahead with the Japan race but seemed to have changed his mind. "In the end we are going," he said. "Let's hope the race doesn't go as badly as it did here." Italian Marco Simoncelli was fourth ahead of American Spies and Spaniard Alvaro Bautista. Former champion Valentino Rossi came in tenth after being forced to start from the pit lane with a 10-second penalty for opting to use a seventh engine in the race. Riders are allowed only six per campaign. Spaniard Marc Marquez won the Moto 2 race ahead of Italians Andrea Iannone and Simone Corsi, with championship leader Stefan Bradl of Germany finishing eighth. Another Spaniard, championship leader Nico Terol, won the 125cc race ahead of Frenchman Johann Zarco and Spaniard Maverick Vinales. — Reuters

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‘Mad Men’ tries to fend off ‘Boardwalk’ at Emmys Posted: 18 Sep 2011 06:48 AM PDT LOS ANGELES, Sept 18 — Television's "Mad Men" will bid for a fourth straight Emmy today, hoping to fend off the Prohibition-era gangsters of "Boardwalk Empire" and the warring kings and knights of "Game of Thrones" for the industry's top honours. After months of anticipation, the stars and creators of dozens of comedies and dramas gather in Los Angeles for the annual Prime-time Emmy Awards ceremony that celebrates the best of television. "Mad Men" stars Elisabeth Moss and Jon Hamm in the running of Emmys honours. — Reuters pic More than 20 Emmys will be handed out today in a live telecast on the Fox network hosted by "Glee" star Jane Lynch, who could find herself accepting an acting award for her role as a sarcastic cheerleading coach on the hit musical comedy. But all eyes will be on the top prizes — for best comedy and drama series — and some major upsets could be in store, especially in the acting categories. ABC mockumentary and 2010 Emmy comedy series winner "Modern Family" goes into today's awards with 17 nominations, including acting mentions for all six of its stars. That puts it in a commanding position for a repeat victory over rivals "Glee", "The Office", "Parks and Recreation" and "The Big Bang Theory". The contest for best drama is much closer. HBO's lavish new show "Boardwalk Empire", with 18 nominations, has already taken Golden Globe and Screen Actor's Guild trophies and is regarded as a major contender, despite the 19 nods to "Mad Men", the 1960s advertising drama on AMC. Medieval fantasy series "Game of Thrones", which proved a surprise success for HBO, has an army of fans, while CBS lawyer show "The Good Wife" starring Julianna Margulies topped an Xfinity TV poll on Facebook as favourite drama. "Dexter" and "Friday Night Lights" make up the other drama contenders. Actors and actresses Margulies also is the front-runner for best dramatic actress, along with Elisabeth Moss, who plays the quiet but feisty young Peggy Olson of "Mad Men". "It is such a great showcase for Moss," said Tom O'Neil of awards website TheEnvelope.com. "It is quite a contest. I think Margulies will win, but it is very close." Jon Hamm, who plays suave but enigmatic Don Draper in "Mad Men", also is hoping to clinch his first Emmy this year. "Hamm is the lead star of this Emmy-anointed show who has never won,'" said O'Neil. "But he has got to watch out for Steve Buscemi on 'Boardwalk Empire'." The HBO miniseries "Mildred Pierce" has a leading 21 nominations and is expected to deliver an acting Emmy for its star, British actress Kate Winslet. But surprises could be in store for Emmy newcomer Melissa McCarthy of comedy "Mike & Molly", who also stole the show in the summer movie "Bridesmaids". "She is an outstanding comedic actress," said Todd Gold, managing editor of Xfinity TV. "She was also so funny and winning in 'Bridesmaids' and I think audiences got her and she won new fans." The popular reality competition slot is also a cliffhanger. Victory may finally be at hand for America's most-watched show "American Idol", but "Dancing with the Stars" or "So You Think You Can Dance" could waltz away with the Emmy. — Reuters

At Emmy time, the gift suites hit Hollywood Posted: 18 Sep 2011 04:09 AM PDT LOS ANGELES, Sept 18 — Adults can embrace their inner child with T-shirts by Lotty Dotty featuring the image of a paper doll who comes with her own detachable Velcro clothing to mix and match, changing the doll's outfit to fit the wearer's own personal fashion. The offbeat shirts are just one of the many items being handed to celebrities at gifting suites in Los Angeles this week in the lead-up to today's Emmy Awards, US television's top honours that bring out A-list Hollywood TV stars. A performer at a preview for the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards Governors Ball, September 14, 2011. — Reuters pic Gifting lounges have become important marketing tools for companies, and even in the recent gloomy economic climate, the suites open up as a way for established companies and upstarts to gain exposure for new products or reintroductions. In recent years, many have begun to give some proceeds to charities. By giving their products to celebrities as a "gift", marketers hope consumers will love it enough to use it, get photographed with it, or talk it up on Facebook or Twitter. While one can never guarantee who on Hollywood's celebrity list will show up, vendors travel from far away to hawk their wares in hopes of striking gold by getting their brand name in front of, and onto, Hollywood stars. Lotty Dotty's Paris-based co-founder Shevanne Helmer flew in from France to be a part of the Secret Room Events gifting suite on Thursday. With Lotty Dotty shirts selling all over Europe, Japan and Dubai, Helmer decided it was time to try the US market. "Everyone needs something to make them smile, and the shirts just crack everyone up," Helmer told Reuters. "These shirts let you express yourself and be an individual. And you'll never get tired of it because you can change the look to be as chic or as casual as you want." From workouts to vacations At Kari Feinstein's suite, held on Thursday and Friday, the yet-to-open Cycle House — a luxury indoor spinning studio — was inviting celebrities to try out the gym during September, before Cycle House's official opening in October. "(Being at a suite) is a great way to introduce our brand," owner Lara Gillman told Reuters. "We know there's a huge spinning community in Hollywood and we want them to know about us. If we can get them in the door and give them a free trial run, we know they'll love it." Other luxury items making their way to celebrities during the week include free trips to Fiji at the Secret Room Events and ComforPedic memory foam mattresses at GBK's gifting lounge. Meanwhile, HP TouchPad PCs — one-pound laptops — are being gifted at the aptly named HP TouchPad Gift Lounge, backstage at the Nokia Theatre, where the Emmys Awards take place. Royce Ware jewellery designer Cynthia Mace, who hails from Oregon, came to LA as a vendor at the Endless Summer Emmy suite, held earlier in the week. For Mace, the trip was about "exposure" for her Divine Protection and All Saints line of sterling silver necklaces and bracelets. It's a line that's very dear to her, as Mace was inspired to create them when her sons served overseas with the Air Force. She and her eldest son, Royce, were on hand with an array of jewellery featuring rosary-inspired chains, saints medallions and dog tags with crosses, among other designs. "For us it wasn't about the celebrities — it was about those who were drawn to the line and wanted to know more about it," Mace said. But will it boost their business? "We got a lot of good response to it, but we won't really know until we see who ultimately calls us or goes to our website to place an order," she said. "You never know, but it's exposure, so we're hopeful and optimistic." For Helmer and her Lotty Dotty line, the suites were a resounding success. By the end of Thursday, she ran out of the 130 shirts she had brought with her and had the e-mail addresses of more than 50 suite visitors to whom she will be sending out the product. "The response has been overwhelming," Helmer said. "It's been worth every single cent coming here." — Reuters

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Chinese condoms too small for South Africans? Posted: 18 Sep 2011 02:16 AM PDT JOHANNESBURG, Sept 18 – A South African court has blocked the government from buying 11 million Chinese condoms, saying they are too small, a newspaper reported on Friday. The finance ministry had awarded a contract to a firm called Siqamba Medical, which planned to buy the Phoenurse condoms from China, the Beeld newspaper said. A rival firm, Sekunjalo Investments Corporation, turned to the High Court in Pretoria after losing the bid, arguing that their condoms were 20 per cent larger than the Chinese ones. Judge Sulet Potterill blocked the deal with Siqamba, ruling that the condoms were too small, made from the wrong material, and were not approved by the World Health Organisation, the paper said. South Africa has more HIV infections than any country in the world, with 5.38 million of its 50 million people carrying the virus. – AFP

Russia targets beer in fight against alcoholism Posted: 18 Sep 2011 01:58 AM PDT Members of an Internet community supporting Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev carry pails of beer as part of a performance to discourage Russian youngsters from drinking alcohol in public places, in central Moscow, on August 4, 2011. – AFP pic MOSCOW, Sept 18 – With a stroke of the presidential pen, beer was recently reclassified as an alcoholic drink in Russia, no longer a foodstuff, and its sales are to be restricted to cut alcohol abuse. "Up to now, beer has not been considered alcohol in Russia but as a simple soft drink, like lemonade" that could be sold "anywhere and at any time," said parliamentary deputy Viktor Zvagelsky of the ruling United Russia party. But starting January 2013 a new licensing law signed by President Dmitry Medvedev will ban beer sales from 11pm to 8am except in bars and cafes. The law will also prohibit selling beer in street kiosks and drinking it in public places. "Now beer will largely be regulated in the same way as other spirits," Zvagelsky said. Healthcare professionals have praised the crackdown. "Young people are introduced (to alcohol) through beer and ... switch to strong alcoholic drinks," said Evgenia Koshkina of the National Centre for Addictions Research. Alcohol abuse kills half a million Russians a year and lowers life expectancy, which currently stands at 60 for men, lower than in countries such as Bangladesh and Honduras, according to the World Health Organisation. But Koshkina doubts the effectiveness of the new law given the high rate of alcoholism in the country, saying that "people are not accustomed to respect laws." Kirill Bolmatov, a manager at Russia's fifth-largest brewery, SABMiller, critised the decision to focus on beer instead of spirits. "(Easy) access to strong spirits contributes to (high) alcoholism. One litre of vodka costs about €4 (RM17.62) in Russia, a very low price" unimaginable in Europe. The new law has struck fear into local brewers and foreign importers in Russia, the world's fourth largest beer market that has seen steady growth. According to a survey by the Public Opinion Group, beer is the favourite drink of 39 per cent of Russians, while 32 per cent said they preferred vodka. "In street kiosks, beer sales make up nearly half of the overall profits," said Bolmatov. The law will be "a heavy blow to small businesses and jobs," he predicted, while it will have little effect on big brewers. "They may not see more growth, but at least they will maintain a stable volume of sales." – AFP

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ISA: BN jangan ‘syok sendiri’ ambil kredit, kata Mipas Posted: 18 Sep 2011 03:39 AM PDT KUALA LUMPUR, 18 Sept — Persatuan Progresif Kaum India Malaysia (Mipas) mengingatkan Barisan Nasional (BN) jangan sama sekali menafikan peranan Pakatan Rakyat dan rakyat jelata yang mengenakan tekanan secara berterusan sehingga membawa kepada inisiatif pemansuhan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA). Sehubungan itu Setiausaha Agungnya S Barathidasan berkata, Umno-BN bertindak seolah-olah "syok sendiri" dengan pengumuman mahu memansuhkan ISA manakala Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak mahu kredit berhubung inisiatif itu diberikan kepada BN semata-mata. Semalam, Najib menegaskan bahawa keputusan untuk memansuhkan ISA adalah keputusan dibuat kerajaan BN dan bukan perjuangan pihak lain. Kata Najib, jangan ada pihak atau individu yang mahu mendapat nama bahawa pengumuman beliau untuk memansuhkan ISA itu adalah hasil perjuangan mereka. "Mipas menggesa agar kredit diberikan kepada pertubuhan-pertubuhan bukan kerajaan, Pakatan Rakyat dan rakyat jelata yang memberi tekanan ke atas kerajaan agar memansuhkan ISA," kata beliau dalam satu kenyataan hari ini. Kata beliau, BN tidak akan berubah walaupun selepas lima dekad sekiranya pertubuhan-pertubuhan bukan kerajaan tidak mengetengahkan suara mereka manakala Pakatan Rakyat pula tidak meletakkan tekanan menerusi Buku Jingganya. "Sekarang BN-Umno mendakwa mereka mendengar suara rakyat... lembu punya susu sapi dapat nama," sindir beliau. "Kami tahu jika kerajaan BN tidak memansuhkan ISA,  Pakatan akan memansuhkannya jika mengambil alih Putrajaya. Terima kasih kepada rakyat, pertubuhan-pertubuhan bukan kerajaan dan Pakatan Rakyat yang memainkan peranan mengenakan tekanan (ke atas kerajaan)," kata beliau lagi. Sehubungan itu, Mipas percaya bahawa rakyat akan memberi sokongan penuh dan mandat mereka kepada Pakatan Rakyat untuk membawa pembaharuan ke atas kerajaan. "Mengapa tidak memberi hanya satu penggal kepada Pakatan untuk mengambil alih kerajaan persekutuan. "Tidak salah untuk memberi satu penggal memandangkan kerajaan BN sudah memerintah lebih 50 tahun... jika Pakatan Rakyat gagal, rakyat boleh memilih kerajaan  baru," katanya. Dalam perutusan Hari Malaysia Khamis lalu, Najib mengumumkan bahawa ISA akan dimansuhkan dan dua undang-undang baru yang sesuai akan digubal bagi memelihara keamanan negara. Najib menjelaskan bahawa keputusan yang dibuat itu adalah selaras dengan hasratnya untuk mengkaji ISA ketika mengambil alih jawatan Perdana Menteri dua tahun lepas. Kata Najib, perubahan itu akan meletakkan Malaysia di landasan yang lebih kukuh kerana ia akan membentuk sebuah demokrasi yang lebih progresif dan lebih terbuka di samping itu dapat memelihara keharmonian dan ketenteraman awam. "Kita inginkan keseimbangan di antara keterbukaan dan hak asasi individu di samping menjaga ketenteraman awam dan kepentingan rakyat jelata," katanya.

Umno Kelantan: Kami tidak peralat SPR Posted: 18 Sep 2011 03:32 AM PDT KOTA BARU, 18 Sept — Umno Kelantan hari ini menafikan dakwaan bahawa parti itu memperalatkan nama Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) menerusi pilihan raya olok-olok yang diadakan bermula Jumaat lepas hingga akhir bulan ini. Pengerusinya Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed (gambar) berkata, simulasi itu tidak ada kaitan dengan SPR, sebaliknya bertujuan menguji persediaan Umno bagi menghadapi pilihan raya sebenar yang mungkin diadakan bila-bila masa. "Ia tiada kaitan dengan SPR sebagai sebuah badan bebas yang mengendalikan urusan pilihan raya sebenar bagi menentukan pembentukan sesebuah kerajaan dan pemerintah," katanya kepada pemberita selepas Majlis Mesra Aidilfitri bersama warga pendidik negeri Kelantan di sini. Mustapa yang juga Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri diminta mengulas kenyataan Penolong Setiausaha Agung PAS Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan yang mendakwa Umno menyalahgunakan nama SPR dalam mengadakan simulasi pilihan raya itu. Mengulas lanjut, Mustapa yang dipetik Bernama Online berkata,  dakwaan PAS itu tidak berasas dan sekadar bertujuan memburuk-burukkan Umno serta SPR di mata rakyat. Mengenai simulasi itu, beliau berkata pilihan raya percubaan di enam daripada 14 bahagian di Kelantan tersebut berkesan bagi menguji kecekapan Umno dalam menghadapi pilihan raya sebenar walaupun dalam masa terdekat ini. Malah katanya, jumlah yang keluar mengundi juga melebihi sasaran 10 peratus iaitu sekitar lapan hingga 15 peratus. "Apa yang kurang memuaskan kami ialah peratusan pengundi muda yang terlibat dalam gerakan itu agak kecil kerana kebanyakan mereka berada di luar kawasan pilihan raya masing-masing," katanya. Bagaimanapun, kata Mustapa pihaknya akan mencari pendekatan lain untuk menarik lebih ramai generasi muda keluar mengundi, terutama pada pilihan raya umum nanti.

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Revamping Wong Chuk Hang Posted: 17 Sep 2011 05:34 PM PDT SEPT 18 — When people think of shopping districts in Hong Kong, Mongkok and Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon and Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island spring to mind. Somehow Wong Chuk Hang doesn't sound as sexy. It doesn't scream: "Spend here!" Most of us here travel past Wong Chuk Hang without even giving it a second glance. Rundown buildings flanking Wong Chuk Hang Road appear abandoned. When manufacturers moved to the mainland in the 1990s, many of these buildings were left vacant. Wong Chuk Hang's derelict industrial buildings are witnessing a resurrection. — Picture by Anita Anandarajah Lately though there has been a life force surging into this former industrial area. Curious signs have started popping up on stained windows. What is drawing new businesses away from known shopping havens to these flatted factories (small factories in high-rise buildings)? Why Wong Chuk Hang, the forgotten factory zone? Rent. Space. Accessibility. The attraction for one store owner was the industrial feel which reminded her of New York's Meatpacking District. \When Australian Kylie Platt and her partner first began their children's clothes lines, they chose the 10th floor of BT Tower along Wong Chuk Hang as their warehouse while they participated in trunk shows. Eventually they decided to set up Mirth in November 2010 to sell a happy mish-mash of things they loved. The comparitively lower rent in the area meant they could sell their products at much lower prices. The competitive rent also attracted Donna Shepherd, owner of Wicka, the latest business to take up residence in BT Tower. Shepherd was forced to take her business elsewhere when her landlord in Sai Kung raised the rent for her then 3500 sq ft shop by 300 per cent. Now her outdoor furniture business occupies 8,500 sq ft for just a little more than what she would have had to pay at her former premises. Wooden wall decals at Attic Lifestyle. — Picture by Anita Anandarajah Still, one would have expected Shepherd to look for space at the nearby Horizon Plaza on Ap Lei Chau, which is a 28-storey warehouse building. Horizon Plaza attracts a fair number of tourists and locals for its furniture shops and discounted designer outlets. Shepherd had tried applying for a lot for three years but her application was not accepted. She then set her sights on Wong Chuk Hang. She is clearly happy with the move."We now enjoy a good sized space situated along the main road, which attracts visual traffic. There is also a big car park next door for our customers and a loading bay downstairs." Situated only five minutes from the Aberdeen Tunnel (Central is 15 minutes away via the tunnel) and 10 minutes to Pok Fu Lam, the Wong Chuk Hang drag is well-served by public buses unlike Horizon Plaza which also suffers from achingly slow lifts. The abundance of natural light streaming through large windows in her 2,200 sq ft lot was what attracted luxury bedlinen Burnt Oringe store owner Tarynn Hatton-Jones to BT Tower two years ago. That and her frustration with outrageous rents in Central. With Ocean Park just down the road, Hatton-Jones envisioned parents dropping by to browse while their children played. Like the other owners, she sees the potential jump in traffic to the south side of Hong Kong Island when the upcoming MTR South Island Line is due for completion in 2015. Industrial spaces are becoming the rage for creative businesses. — Picture by Anita Anandarajah Hatton-Jones also believes Wong Chuk Hang has the potential to be the next Soho, which in its early days was a close, artsy community. Businesswoman Felix Henchman of Made of Paper bought her office space on the 15th floor of Sungib Industrial Centre two years ago as an investment. "I feel there is good value in Wong Chuk Hang and for my husband and I it was a matter of getting ahead of the curve." Henchman has seen the value of her property rise five per cent since January. Seeking floor space as her creative outlet, banker Simone Daly identified Wong Chuk Hang as a hotspot with many buildings undergoing refurbishment and big companies like Lane Crawford moving backroom operations into the neighbourhood. South African Daly's homeware business Attic Lifestyle sits in a space that is just under 2,000 sq ft which she rents for $7,700 a month. The store is open only once a week on Saturday but there are plans to open another two days. How does she attract new customers? "Wong Chuk Hang is off the beaten track so web presence has been helpful. We were initially going to be web-driven but shopping is such a big thing in Hong Kong. Our warehouse acts as a shop window." The new breed of businesses here seem to share a focus on sustainability and fair trade. A green-certified company, Burnt Oringe plants a tree on their client's behalf in Thailand for every sale they make. The company also recycles old bedlinen brought in by clients to help offset their carbon emission. Attic Lifestyle's home wares are primarily from South Africa and their blankets, crocheted cushions and lampshades are handmade by an Aids community outside of Cape Town. Each piece features the story of how the local artist and how the product came to be. Attic Lifestyle has transformed a small factory space within an industrial building into a whimsical affair. — Picture by Anita Anandarajah The retail scene is slowly coming together with what looks like a lifestyle concept taking shape – homeware, wine, art, indoor golfing, fitness and furniture sit alongside meat wholesalers and car workshops. For now, these owners have formed a comfortable alliance, joining efforts to attract new customers mostly by word of mouth. What they really need though is a stationery shop, coffee house and more food options. I'll bet nasi lemak, roti canai and char kwey teow will go down really well here. A pub wouldn't hurt. Any takers? Some of the new kids on the block: Attic Lifestyle www.attic-lifestyle.com Homeware store featuring a colourful palette of precious handmade products from South Africa and Denmark. Bestsellers include crocheted cushions and lampshades made by women from an Aids community outside Cape Town, fair trade ceramics from Denmark and wooden wall decals made from the Jacaranda tree. Note: Open on Saturday only. Blindspot Gallery http://www.blindspotgallery.com Aims to bring contemporary photography out of the blind spot in Hong Kong's art market. Features mainly artists from the region. Candy-coloured little people furniture at Mirth. — Picture by Anita Anandarajah Burnt Oringe www.burntoringe.com Luxury bedlinen company specialising in fair trade and sustainable cotton and tencel. Flex Studio http://flexhk.com Pilates studio offering pilates, ballet, taekwondo, yoga and jazz hip hop classes for children as well. Popular with parents of school-going children in the nearby international schools. Mirth www.mirthhome.com Everywhere I looked there was a picture-perfect corner: brightly painted metal chairs for children paired with wooden desks; a low floor lamp with a curvacious base and cheerful printed fabric shades blend beautifully with cotton throws, cookbooks for children, Japanese masking tape and decorative tissue paper pom poms. Wicka www.wickadesigns.com Affordable European-style outdoor furniture crafted in Indonesia. Home accessories to follow soon.

Defer everything Posted: 17 Sep 2011 05:04 PM PDT SEPT 18 — Transparency and integrity in government decision-making seems more distant an objective than ever before. Individual businesses or categories of businesses in favour with the powers that be seem to get tremendous concessions while the not so fortunate are at a competitive disadvantage. The jury is still out on the Khazanah-Air Asia deal on MAS and as to whether it will actually benefit either the airline or the exchequer. Already there is a whiff of conflict of interest when mere weeks after the deal, MAS is forced to engage in a sponsorship deal worth RM18 million with a football club owned by its erstwhile rival, Tony Fernandes. Bailouts of certain corporations are approved at a huge cost to the exchequer. After a RM200 million bailout of Indah Water in 2000, there are talks of another proposed deal for the entity with 1 MDB. The much talked about PKFZ scandal involves an alleged government bailout to the tune of a whopping RM4.6 billion. On the other hand, the government flouts its own rules to meddle in the pricing policies of certain sectors at its whim and additional cost to the exchequer. Every time a toll operator is asked to defer a scheduled toll hike, it is compensated by the government. Every time MAHB has to defer a hike in airport taxes, it is compensated by the government. Now there is talk that in exchange for telcos deferring passing on service taxes to its prepaid customers, they will be given incentives by the government in exchange. Complicating the scenario is the fact that in many instances, the beneficiaries of this ad hoc largesse are government linked companies (GLC's). Patently mismanaged companies can rest secure in the knowledge that even if worst comes to worst they will be bailed out as the government cannot afford to let the market take its own course in the case of GLCs like MAS, for fear of a popular backlash. So either through bailouts or through compensation, the government loses revenue. When the government forgoes tax revenue from one or multiple sectors, how does it balance its budget? Either by raising other taxes or by borrowing more. The net impact on the consumer who saves RM10 on his next international flight is likely to be more than offset by higher income taxes or higher interest rates on loans. Therefore the argument that as a caring government, it does not want to burden the common man holds no water. In addition, it projects the government as fickle and inconsistent. If certain lobbies can extract tax waivers or compensation while others cannot, it creates the perception of an uneven playing field. This lack of transparency and consistency can give rise to an impression of Malaysian fiscal and economic policy being dominated by prescriptions based on who you know rather than what you know. The role of government is to prescribe, implement and monitor macroeconomic policy, not meddle in individual business decisions. The more exceptions that are made, the lower the international standing of the government. If disproportionate profits are the issue, especially in the case of utilities such as water, telecommunications and electricity, price controls by regulating authorities are a more practical solution than tax deferments that distort competitive mechanics. In the ultimate analysis if there is a likelihood of the government negatively impacting individual corporate strategies, either to help companies owned by it or ostensibly to lessen the burden of the common man, Malaysia will continue to slide in its attractiveness as an investment destination. And if deferments are here to stay, why not defer the service tax on everything?

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