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Cech shows no ill-effects after banging head Posted: 22 Sep 2011 07:01 AM PDT Cech was forced off at halftime after a collision with Fulham's Orlando Sa yesterday. — Reuters pic LONDON, Sept 22 — Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has been given the all-clear to resume playing after being taken to hospital with a head injury suffered during yesterday's League Cup penalty shootout win over Fulham, Chelsea coach Andre Villas-Boas has said. The 29-year-old Czech Republic international, who now plays in protective headgear after fracturing his skull in a collision with Stephen Hunt of Reading five years ago, was forced off at halftime after a collision with Fulham debutant Orlando Sa. Chelsea were already without injured No.2 Hilario, meaning losing Cech left them with third choice Ross Turnbull as their only other recognised first-team goalkeeper. Turnbull had to face a penalty just after coming on but his goal survived intact as Fulham's Pajtim Kasami fired his spotkick against the bar. However after their 4-3 penalty shootout win Following a 0-0 draw, Villas-Boas said Cech had been given the all clear. "Petr went for a scan in the hospital and he's okay," he told reporters. "He felt a little bit dizzy from the early concussion at halftime. We decided, and he decided as well, it was better not to take risks." Cech should be fit to face Swansea City at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. — Reuters

Alonso gives up title but still wants race wins Posted: 22 Sep 2011 06:49 AM PDT SINGAPORE, Sept 22 — Fernando Alonso has a short answer to the question of whether he has given up all hope of winning this year's Formula One championship — "Yes". Although the double world champion is resigned to not catching runaway leader Sebastian Vettel this season, the Spaniard is still determined to win grand prix, especially in Singapore. "We know we cannot fight for the general classification," said the Ferrari driver, sporting large sunglasses, metres from the pit-lane. Alonso smiles as he reads a text message on his mobile phone today. He is currently second in the standings with 172 points. — Reuters pic "We cannot win the Tour de France, but we want to win individual stages," he added, leaning on a cycling analogy. "I will do the same as the last couple of races. I will try to attack, try to be aggressive, try to win races, use aggressive strategy." Alonso is second in the standings with 172 points, five points ahead of Britain's Jenson Button and Australian Mark Webber. The gap between Alonso and Vettel, who is at the top with 284 points, is such that the German can clinch the title at this weekend's race in Singapore with five races remaining. Vettel can achieve his goal if he leaves Singapore with a 125-point advantage over his nearest rival — currently Alonso. Youngest double-champion Alonso, though, can keep the title race alive for at least one more leg with an impressive showing in Singapore and he has the pedigree for it, having won two of the three night races staged in the city-state. "Here in Singapore it is one of our best opportunities in the remaining races. The circuit is similar to Monte Carlo and we were quite competitive there," he told reporters. "Here we have soft and supersoft tyres which are the combination that we like the most. "I hope it will be a good weekend for us, but the victory is never easy. It is going to be tough, but hopefully closer than some of the tests." Vettel will take Alonso's mantle of youngest double-champion assuming he clinches the title in the coming days or weeks, and Alonso was full of admiration for his German rival. "He is driving fantastically this year. He makes no mistakes, or very few mistakes, whereas last year we had a few more chances. "This year they improved all problems they had last year — their car is just as quick and they finish all the races. "When you have a dominant car its okay to win pole position or win a race but there have been some occasions this year that the conditions were very tricky, like Canada or Silverstone, and he managed to (get) pole position and (have) a perfect race from start to finish. "Generally (he) has been the best driver, the best team, the best package." Alonso, though, has proved he has what it takes to triumph on this tough circuit. "The humidity and conditions are extreme here. Probably this is the toughest race physically," he said. "One, because of the concentration needed because it is at night, and a street circuit, and second because of the conditions." — Reuters

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Survey finds that China’s rich are young, single – and mostly male Posted: 21 Sep 2011 11:53 PM PDT A man walks past a luxury watch store in the Wangfujing shopping street of Beijing on August 9, 2011. — AFP pic HONG KONG, Sept 22 — They've become one of the world's most influential social groups and now a little more light has been shed on the makeup of China's rising band of rich. The HSBC corporation and international research company Nielsen have just released their findings into a survey that attempts to dissect the makeup of the richest 10 per cent of the population of eight countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The countries focused on were mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia. What they found was that in China, the average age of that group of wealthy was just 36 and that 20 per cent of them were single, equal with Australia as the highest per centage in the countries polled. In Hong Kong and Taiwan — the other places in the "Greater China" region polled — that per centage was just 12 per cent and eight per cent respectively. Also, 64 per cent of the Chinese respondents were male, leading a spokesman for HSBC to quip that it was good news for anyone looking to hitch a ride with a wealthy potential spouse in China. But it is also a further insight perhaps into why the country's wealthy have become such a potent spending force in the global tourism and luxury markets, traditionally the places young and well-to-do males spend their cash. China also had the highest proportion of DINKS — or "double income no kids" — at 18 per cent, as compared to Taiwan where the figure was only two per cent. The survey found that Indonesia had the second youngest collection of wealthy, with an average age of 38, in front of India where the age was 39. Hong Kong's average, meanwhile, was 48. The world's travel industry is increasingly targeting China's wealthy as estimations have the country sending 79 million tourists overseas by 2015, which will make China the world's largest outbound travel market. A massive 72 per cent of China's international travelers now opt for "high end" travel experiences rather than budget alternatives, according to travel industry reports. The impact on local communities when they do travel is significant too. A recent report from the China Travel Association revealed that when on holidays not only is shopping the preferred pastime for Chinese tourists, it took up more than a quarter (26.85 per cent) of their spending. Just what China's wealthy spend on when they do travel is also having a great impact on the economies of the world — Nielsen China Outbound Travel Monitor has found that three-quarters of China's travelers spend on luxury goods. — AFP-Relaxnews

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Fashion label Hugo Boss expresses regret at Nazi past Posted: 22 Sep 2011 08:55 AM PDT FRANKFURT, Sept 22 — German fashion house Hugo Boss has apologised to people mistreated at a factory making uniforms during World War Two after revelations in a new book financed by the company. In the new book financed by Hugo Boss, researcher Roman Koester explains how Hugo Ferdinand Boss's clothing factory in the southern German town of Metzingen employed forced labourers during the war. Boss joined the National Socialist Party in 1931, and orders for uniforms from the party saved his factory from bankruptcy. As workers became scarce during the war, the factory employed 140 forced labourers, most of whom were women. A further 40 French prisoners of war worked for the company from October 1940 to April 1941. Hugo Boss, which has in the past been referred to as "Hitler's Tailor", said it financed Koester's research in order to add "clarity and objectivity to the discussion". "It also wishes to express its profound regret to those who suffered harm or hardship at the factory run by Hugo Ferdinand Boss under National Socialist rule," it said on its website. The company started making the sharp suits for which it is now famous in the 1950s. "Hugo Boss, 1924-1945. A Clothing Factory During the Weimar Republic and Third Reich" is written by Roman Koester and is available now. — Reuters

Schwarzenegger to write ‘unbelievably true’ memoir Posted: 22 Sep 2011 08:50 AM PDT "Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story" will be Schwarzenegger's second autobiography. — Reuters file pic NEW YORK, Sept 22 — Arnold Schwarzenegger is writing a memoir about his unlikely life story from Austrian-born champion bodybuilder to Hollywood action star to California governor, his publisher said today. Schwarzenegger, 64, who in May announced his separation from wife Maria Shriver after admitting to fathering a child out of wedlock, is "chronicling his embodiment of the American Dream" in his second autobiography, publisher Simon & Schuster said. The memoir, titled "Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story," was acquired by Simon & Schuster after Schwarzenegger began working on the book last year. It will be released in October 2012. Four months after he left office as California governor, Schwarzenegger said in May that he was halting discussions for a new "Terminator" movie and all other Hollywood projects in order to focus on personal matters after admitting he fathered a secret child 13 years ago with his family's housekeeper. He has been ridiculed in the media and Shriver filed for a divorce in July to end their 25-year marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple has four children together. He has since planned to shoot action roles in movies "Last Stand" and "The Expendables 2". A spokeswoman for Simon & Schuster would not comment on whether the book would discuss his divorce and sex scandal. The book will be published in the United States, Australia, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom. German rights have been sold to Hoffmann und Campe and Dutch rights to A.W. Bruna. "Nobody has a life story even close to his. To go from poor immigrant to world class athlete to the biggest movie star in the world to governor of California is an incredible journey," Jonathan Karp, publisher of Simon & Schuster, said in a statement. Schwarzenegger's first book, "The Education of a Bodybuilder, has never been out of print since its release in 1977, Simon & Schuster said. — Reuters

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Assange autobiography to hit shelves despite row, says publisher Posted: 22 Sep 2011 04:47 AM PDT Assange had second thoughts about the book and wanted to prevent its publication. — AFP/Relaxnews file pic EDINBURGH, Sept 22 — The autobiography of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is to be released today despite efforts by the Australian anti-secrecy campaigner to suppress the book, its British publisher said. The book, "Julian Assange: The Unauthorised Autobiography" reportedly includes his first direct comments on allegations of rape in Sweden that led to him fighting an extradition battle in Britain. Publisher Canongate said it was the first draft of Assange's autobiography as delivered to them in March 2011, and that they were going ahead with publication despite Assange's attempts to prevent them. "On 7 June 2011, with 38 publishing houses around the world committed to releasing the book, Julian told us he wanted to cancel his contract," said Canongate, based in Edinburgh, Scotland. "However, he had already signed his advance over to his lawyers to settle his legal bills. We have decided to honour that contract and to publish. "Once the advance has been earned out, we will continue to honour the contract and pay Julian royalties." There was no immediate comment from Assange or from WikiLeaks. The publisher said Assange had spent more than 50 hours sitting for interviews for the book at a friend's country house in eastern England where he is staying under strict bail conditions. "Julian became increasingly troubled by the thought of publishing an autobiography. After reading the first draft of the book that was delivered at the end of March, Julian declared, 'all memoir is prostitution,'" it said. "We disagree with Julians assessment of the book. We believe it explains both the man and his work, underlining his commitment to the truth." Extracts from the book will be serialised from today in British newspaper, The Independent, Canongate said. The paper said on its website that an entire chapter was dedicated to explaining his side of the allegations against him in Sweden, his first full account of the events in which he is accused of sexually assaulting two women. "I have kept my own counsel about the matter until now," it quotes him as saying in the book. "It will be difficult to keep anger out of this account, owing to the sheer level of malice and opportunism that have driven the case against me, but I want to make this argument as much as possible in a spirit of understanding." — AFP/Relaxnews

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Maximus Ongkili ketuai panel khas kaji pembaharuan pilihan raya Posted: 22 Sep 2011 03:31 AM PDT PUTRAJAYA, 22 Sept — Menteri Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili akan mengetuai jawatankuasa pilihan khas Parlimen yang ditubuhkan untuk mengkaji pembaharuan pilihan raya. Selain beliau (gambar), Barisan Nasional (BN) menamakan Datuk Alexander Linggi, Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheik Ahmad, Tan Sri Dr. Fong Chan Onn dan P Kamalanathan sebagai wakil perikatan itu. "Nama anggota (BN) telah dibincangkan dan dipersetujui oleh Perdana Menteri," kata Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin di sini hari ini. BN mengadakan mesyuarat khas semalam membincangkan perkara itu.

Hudud: Umno OK tapi Malaysia tak sedia, kata Muhyiddin Posted: 22 Sep 2011 02:57 AM PDT PUTRAJAYA, 22 Sept — Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata Umno bersetuju dengan hukum hudud pada dasarnya kerana ia sebahagian daripada Islam, tetapi Malaysia belum bersedia untuk melaksanakan undang-undang sedemikian buat masa sekarang. Katanya, ada keperluan untuk mengembangkan maklumat mengenai undang-undang hudud agar orang ramai memahami sebelum parti yang memerintah boleh berfikir untuk melaksanakannya. "Ini adalah pendirian kami sejak dari dahulu lagi," kata beliau (gambar) kepada pemberita selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat jawatankuasa Kabinet mengenai harga barang dan bekalan di sini. "Lebih-lebih lagi, dalam konteks masyarakat pelbagai kaum dan agama, kita harus mengembangkan pengetahuan secara meluas sebelum kita boleh sampai ke satu tahap di mana kita merasakan bahawa sudah sesuai masanya (untuk melaksanakan), tetapi saya tidak fikir kita sudah sampai (di situ)," kata Timbalan Presiden Umno. Muhyiddin menjelaskan bahawa Muslim tidak boleh menolak realiti bahawa undang-undang hudud adalah sebahagian daripada prinsip Islam tetapi pihaknya tidak bersetuju dengan PAS dan PKR bahawa kini adalah masa yang sesuai untuk melaksanakannya. "Isu di sini bukan soal hukum, tetapi persoalannya mengenai pelaksanaan hudud," kata Timbalan Pengerusi Barisan Nasional (BN) ini. Kata Muhyiddin, jika Menteri Besar Kelantan Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat merasakan bahawa sekarang adalah masa yang sesuai bagi melaksanakan undang-undang hudud di negeri itu, terserah kepada beliau. Dalam ulasannya pagi tadi, Nik Aziz menyifatkan kenyataan bekas perdana menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad semalam sebagai sesuatu yang melucukan apabila meminta Menteri Besar Kelantan itu merujuk hasrat mahu melaksanakan hukum hudud kepada pentadbiran Najib. Nik Aziz berkata mengikut protokol pentadbiran negara mana-mana surat rasmi yang dihantar kepada perdana menteri tidak akan tamat tempoh kuat kuasa apabila penyandang semasa meletakkan jawatan. "Saya tidak pernah mendengar dasar bahawa mana-mana surat yang dihantar oleh perdana menteri akan tamat tempoh kuat kuasa apabila perdana menteri tersebut meletakkan jawatan. "Adakah semua perkara akan tamat tempoh dan perlu diperbaharui apabila berlaku peralihan perdana menteri? Lucu sekali cabaran Tun Mahathir...," kata Nik Aziz dalam mesej dikeluarkan menerusi laman sosial Facebook beliau pagi ini. Sehubungan itu, kata Nik Aziz, beliau juga memohon Datuk Seri Najib Razak agar menarik balik surat, yang dikeluarkan ketika pentadbiran Dr Mahathir menghalang pelaksanaan hukuman hudud, membenarkan Kelantan melaksanakan undang-undang itu jika benar-benar Umno ikhlas berjuang untuk agama. "Saya juga memohon Datuk Seri Najib dapat menarik balik surat tersebut," kata Mursyidul Am PAS ini mengulas kenyaatan Dr Mahathir yang dikeluarkan di Tanjong Malim semalam. Dr Mahathir meminta Nik Aziz memperkenalkan hukum hudud di negeri itu sekarang memandangkan beliau tidak lagi menjadi perdana menteri yang dahulunya dianggap menghalang hasrat kerajaan negeri itu melaksanaannya. "Saya bukan perdana menteri dah, pasal apa tak laksanakan (hudud). Pi la tanya Najib kot dia nak bagi ... ni dia (Nik Aziz) dok salahkan saya kononnya pasai saya, (PAS) tak dapat laksana hukum hudud," katanya.

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Mat Sabu didakwa lagi! Posted: 21 Sep 2011 04:53 PM PDT 22 SEPT — Semasa dalam perjalanan ke Langkap, Perak semalam, saya terdengar dari suara radio dalam kereta saya berita bahawa Mat Sabu akan didakwa di Mahkamah Sesyen Butterworth esok (21 September). Saya terus tersentak dan secara spontan memberitahu sahabat saya Man: "Jom kita pi esok!" Man yang memang terkenal orang yang setia dengan perjuangan parti terus respon pantas dengan hanya satu perkataan "mesti!" dengan jaminan itu saya tahu saya ada teman esok nak ke mahkamah memberi sokongan moral kepada Timbalan Presiden saya yang didakwa di atas pengkhianatan awam yang membawa maksimum penjara dua tahun. Pagi tadi mahkamah Sesyen Butterworth tidak seperti biasa, ada banyak polis dan orang ramai sedang menunggu secara berkelompok di sana sini sehingga ke pintu masuk utama. Setelah bersalaman dengan ramai yang berhimpun di luar dan dalam perkarangan parkir bangunan mahkamah saya bersapa dengan para wartawan di pintu masuk utama. Saya mengambil keputusan untuk naik atas di bilik perbicaraan dengan harapan dapatlah saya bertemu dengan Timbalan Presiden PAS itu dan terus memberi sokongan moral kepadanya. Baru sahaja tiga hari sudah, pegawai khas saya abang Hamdan menunjukkan gambar saya, Mat Sabu dan Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man yang dipakaikan dengan topi bintang tiga (komunis) sambil ditulis di bawahnya "mujahid kata balai polis bukit kepong yang diserang adalah sasaran penjajah" Agak besar juga gambar yang bersaiz poster itu ditampal semasa program Raya di Sungai Aceh Nibong Tebal yang dihadiri oleh TPM. Semasa saya sedang melayan pemikiran saya yang melayang ke poster nakal tempoh hari tiba-tiba saya terserempak dengan peguam Mat Sabu yang juga rakan baik saya iaitu Sdr Aminudin, YDP PAS Tanjung Malim. Dia terus bercakap dalam BI "what an insult, they asked us a bail of 15k, earlier they asked for 60k! The charge actually does not amount to that figure!" dia pun menerangkan pada saya bahawa tempoh hari kumpulan PSM pun hanya dikenakan jaminan 8k sahaja, kalau dibanding pendakwaan ke atas geng PSM lagi berat kata dia. "Ini memang betul-betul insulting!" Ya saya setuju, ia sesuatu yang cukup menghinakan, malah saya menganggap kenyataan Mat Sabu hanyalah satu opini yang seharusnya didebatkan di pentas akademik samada untuk menafikan atau menyokong dengan hujah- hujah yang ilmiyah. Lagipun sejarah bukan maksom sehingga tak boleh dipersoalkan! Disiplin sejarah sendiri memperuntukkan ruang untuk menilai semula penulisan sumber sejarah itu sendiri, bukankah ini semua akademik? Saya tidak boleh bayang nanti bagaimana perbicaraan akan jadi bilik kelas untuk subjek sejarah di mana peguam akan membawa buku dan bahan sejarah manakala hakim akan menentukan fakta sejarah mana yang betul, bukankah itu melucukan? Sepatutnya kontraversi Mat Sabu dibahaskan oleh ahli akademik untuk dijadikan alasan menilai semula bagaimana sejarah kita ditulis dan apakah faktor kepengaruhannya sehinga beberapa fakta dilihat bercelaru? Dan sepatutnya yang menilai hujah ilmiyah ini semua ialah pakar sejarah yang neutral (pastinya bukan dari Majlis Profesor Negara) yang akan membuat rumusan untuk dibaiki fakta sejarah kita. Tapi apakan daya, kehendak orang politik sempit di negara kita ini terlalu bacul untuk mendebatkannya secara terbuka kerana nanti kelak akan terbongkarlah banyak perkara lagi tentang fakta sejarah yang cuba dimanupulasikan. Lagipun saya penuh yakin isu Mat Sabu yang menginterpretasikan sejarah demikian rupa dibalas oleh Umno dengan niat jahat untuk "membelasah" PAS melalui Mat Sabu. Mereka tak mungkin belasah PAS atas pentas ceramah atau forum, maka cara terbaik ialah heret ke mahkamah atas alasan ada 27 laporan polis terhadap Mat Sabu. Umno juga mahu apabila kes dalam perbicaraan tidak ada sesiapa yang boleh bercakap soal ini lagi, noktah! Depan pintu bilik perbicaraan penuh dengan orang ramai dan wartawan, saya melalui celah orang ramai untuk masuk ke dalam dan lega apabila pintu dibuka, Mat Sabu betul- betul di hadapan saya sambil tersenyum menyambut saya. Beliau yang berjaket hitam dan memakai T shirt kolar bulat berwarna hijau bersalaman dengan saya cara komrade seraya berkata: "Terimakasihlah mai, depa la ni dok haru, dalam dok serang saya, Prof mana pulak bawak mai kata kita tak dijajah!" Mat Sabu sempat berseloroh dengan saya:"SPM dan PMR tahun ni kena tangguh dulu pasai nanti budak keliru nak jawab periksa! Kena jajah ka atau kena naung?" dia juga ucap terimakasih kat saya kerana antara yang awal menyokong kenyataan dia tentang sejarah kerana saya ada membuat satu artikel dan dihujung artikel saya mengatakan "Tahniah Mat Sabu kerana memaksa ahli akademik memunggah buku-buku yang selama ini tertimbus dalam perpustakaan tentang sejarah Malaysia!" Saya mengenali Mat Sabu sejak beliau baru mula nak naik ketika saya belajar di pondok Pak Man Kedah. Kalau ada ceramah Mat Sabu kami akan keluar pergi dengar dan sebagai pelajar waktu itu saya harus akur agak tertarik dengan gayanya dan "loklaknya" ketika berceramah. Mat Sabu juga sering menyebut tentang ayah saya yang dianggapnya sebagai idola kerana ketegasan prinsip Pak Yusof Rawa. Atas alasan itu semua, saya mengenali Mat Sabu, apatah lagi apabila berkecimpung dalam PAS semasa Dewan Pemuda dan kini AJK PAS Pusat hubungan dengan Mat Sabu agak rapat. Khusus tentang Dewan Penyokong PAS yang saya terajui, terdiri dari bukan Islam dalam PAS, Mat Sabu banyak membantu dan menggalakkan perkembangan Dewan ini. Pagi tadi sehingga tengahari, seluruh negara menanti apakah episode seterusnya? Pada 27hb Oktober beliau akan dibicarakan dan pastinya ia sesuatu yang menarik kerana bilik perbicaraan akan jadi kelas sejarah! Semasa Mat Sabu dan kumpulan lawyernya melangkah keluar dari pintu bicara, berpusu-pusulah wartawan mengerumuni Mat Sabu, saya terpaksa ketinggalan di belakang kerana orang ramai tolak menolak untuk mendapatkan "hero" mereka yang akan membuat PC di pintu utama bangunan. Semasa PC saya ada di sebelah Mat Sabu dengan kilauan lampu kamera dan lensa video wartawan, Timbaan Presiden PAS itu dengan tenang berucap: "Mereka memilih untuk debat di mahkamah dan tidak di pentas politik, saya dikenakan ikatjamin RM15k, ini cukup memeranjatkan sedangkan saya dalam semua perbicaraan saya sebelum ini tidak pernah tidak hadir perbicaraan kecuali dimaklumkan awal atas sebab yang tidak dapat dielakkan......" Demikian antara lain isi PC yang dibuat, sejurus kemudian kereta Camry putih meluncur di hadapan orang ramai dan Mat Sabu di bawa oleh unit amal masuk ke dalam kereta. Ada seorang lelaki agak berumur sebelum Mat Sabu beredar dengan penuh semangat berkata: "Mat Sabu! Kuatkan semangat!" Sejurus kemudian orang ramai pun bersurai dengan berlalunya kereta Camry putih. Saya yakin ramai yang kalau boleh mahu mengatakan kata semangat yang sama seperti lelaki akhir tadi, apatah lagi Timbalan Presiden PAS itu menjadi mangsa politik regim BN yang ada. Biarlah saya tegaskan lagi, isu Mat Sabu isu yang dipolitikkan untuk melengkapkan usaha membina imej Najib yang baru dan BN yang baru, ia bukan soal siapa bersalah dan siapa tidak, ia hanya keperluan BN dan Najib untuk terus berkuasa! Moga Mat Sabu tabah! * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.

We can be heroes, just for one day Posted: 21 Sep 2011 04:34 PM PDT SEPT 22 — Every human day is a trip into the unknown, and the only thing we have to be thankful is that we make it home by the end of it. Having someone waiting for us is a bonus bordering a plainer heaven. Two things we keep in our sack in this arduous undertaking, which is in no way, shape or form our own construction. That we may speak about our predilection, and count on the fact others have done it before — our heroes. In Malaysia, even these autonomies are constantly re-examined by those with the power to determine, which makes me wonder, when will it end? More so, what will remain when they are done? Speak up son, they want to hear So let me express the need to express. The Mat Sabu trial is a watershed moment for us, far more than what Prime Minister Najib Razak ironically promised a week ago. One is a trial determining the liberty of a citizen, and the other is a legislative agenda from a man who consistently softens grand agendas to meet the public relations bar, but not the reality bar. I've not spent a day in jail, the same goes for most of my countrymen. It fascinates me how lightheartedly these discussions are made in some circles. That everyone passes the buck on who actually is responsible for the prosecution long enough that eventually — through enough news cycles — no one knows anymore which stab killed Julius Caesar. The whole Najib reform agenda is on a slippery-slope with this trial. Malaysians are to see first-hand what is the prime minister's image of democracy evolving from the straitjacketed system currently seen here. Freedom of speech is not about expression which is readily accepted by all, if anything the measure of free speech is always going to be the vituperative, leading, interpretative and testing. A free society is one which deals better with what is intrinsically difficult to swallow.  As John Stuart Mill states unequivocally, "If mankind minus one were of one opinion, then mankind is no more justified in silencing the one than the one — if he had the power — would be justified in silencing mankind." However the Mat Sabu statements do not even reach the nadir of tolerance. His have met the fringe of political opportunism. Take his words for the worse of what they could possibly mean, and then ask, how does it impact adversely the everyday Malaysian and his aspirations for a better nation? How does any interpretation of colonial history's conflict combatants defame us today? Though there will be well-thought of responses, they will be no more than that. Academic arguments — on both sides of the matter — with very few comprehensive conclusions. It is twisted when the government of the day wants to prosecute people based on its need to secure a monopoly over the past. Heroes will emerge, when all hell breaks loose The human experience has many mini-paralysis episodes. To gather the gumption when lying down would do, man turns to heroes to go on. To inspire or to aspire to. Which is why it is just plain good manners to let people have their heroes and not quibble. Thankfully, growing up in Malaysia all state agencies are ever so ready to present and tattoo on you at every given opportunity "state-sanctioned" heroes. But heroes always reflect the times. Public schools in Malaya in 1950, when the Bukit Kepong Malayan police station was attacked by communist forces, would not have mentioned kindly about anyone opposed to British Malaya. The same would have persisted in Borneo as the new British administrators find their footing after replacing the Brooke family in Sarawak and the North Borneo Company in Sabah. Libraries would have records of how Hugh Clifford put down the local revolt in Pahang and then later the restive Kelantanese were put in their places with the prompt quelling of natives upset with British taxation. That we have restored Dato' Bahaman, Tok Janggut, Mat Salleh, Mat Kilau and the rest to their proper spot in the development of Malaysia does underline this country does not cherish having been under British rule. So the mixed feelings to the rest who have also opposed British rule, like the communists, is only expected. As Mat Indera was involved in action which resulted in deaths to Malayan policemen in a British outpost, how considerably different was that situation to, say, British policeman Sergeant Sulaiman (Ceh Wan) who was mortally stabbed by Kelantan folk hero Tok Janggut? I'll leave that as that. It helps to identify the hero, as in what attributes maketh the hero. A wide enough spectrum would be someone who exhibits belief in extreme conditions, shows great defiance, willing to intercede for others at considerable personal cost or dies dramatically. Not all in order to be hero, but any one of it would do. Whether it is Thomas More refusing to yield his faith to his King's loins, or bank robbing Victorian Ned Kelly in Australian lore, or Martin Luther King Jr inside a Birmingham jail or just Brandon Lee's unfortunate death, heroes thrive in their followers' minds. The truer test would not be historical impact or present fan base, it always is longevity. That more resounding realisation would probably upset the strategic thinkers in Putrajaya, that the real heroes will outlive them and their notion of heroism. * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.

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