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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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Muhyiddin: Rakyat tiada pilihan kecuali pilih BN Posted: 30 Oct 2011 03:08 AM PDT KOTA KINABALU, 30 Okt – Rakyat tidak mempunyai pilihan kerajaan yang lebih baik selain daripada Barisan Nasional (BN), kata Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin hari ini. Timbalan Pengerusi BN itu berkata, rakyat di negara ini lebih terpelihara, malah bertuah berada di bawah pentadbiran perikatan itu berbanding kebanyakan negara lain. "Dalam tempoh 54 tahun kemerdekaan negara dan kemerdekaan di Sabah kurang sedikit daripada (usia) itu, kita telah menganjak pembangunan masyarakat kita ke satu kedudukan yang lebih baik. "Situasi negara kita yang aman, damai dan makmur terhasil atas kebijaksanaan pemimpin dan masyarakat yang mendukung prinsip kerjasama, perpaduan, saling membantu dan menghormati di antara satu sama lain," katanya ketika merasmikan Majlis Penerangan Perdana Peringkat Negeri di sini. Dipetik Bernama Online, kata beliau, bagi sebuah negara yang mempunyai rakyat majmuk, kepimpinan negara sejak dahulu telah mengiktiraf perbezaan budaya dan kepercayaan sebagai kekuatan untuk membangunkan negara. Muhyiddin berkata kejayaan kerajaan di bawah BN menyatupadukan serta membangunkan rakyat berbilang kaum dan agama turut diiktiraf oleh seluruh dunia. "Kita telah menolak teori cendekiawan luar bahawa sebuah negara majmuk seperti Malaysia selalu tidak aman, tidak tenteram dan mundur. "Kita telah menerima perbezaan antara kita sebagai sebahagian daripada kehidupan kita untuk membangun dengan lebih pesat," katanya. Muhyiddin berkata menerusi dasar-dasar yang dirangka dan dilaksanakan kerajaan BN, kadar kemiskinan juga berjaya diturunkan. Beliau menjelaskan keadaan di Malaysia selama ini jauh lebih baik daripada negara lain yang mana rakyatnya huru-hara akibat kemiskinan, biarpun negara berkenaan kaya dengan sumber asli. Muhyiddin berkata kerajaan memberikan subsidi untuk mengawal kenaikkan harga barangan bagi mengurangkan beban rakyat terhadap kos sara hidup yang semakin meningkat. Katanya Malaysia merupakan satu-satunya negara di dunia di mana kerajaannya memberi subsidi yang besar demi kebajikan rakyatnya. Muhyiddin turut meminta rakyat Sabah terus memberi sokongan padu dan mantap kepada Ketua Menteri Datuk Seri Musa Aman agar Sabah terus bergerak maju dan rakyatnya terus terbela. Beliau berkata sokongan berkenaan harus diterjemahkan kepada kerjasama secara berpasukan supaya rakyat terus memberi mandat dan kepercayaan kepada BN untuk mentadbir negeri. Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

PRU: Koh nafi maklum blog mahu cabar Guan Eng Posted: 30 Oct 2011 01:17 AM PDT KUALA LUMPUR, 30 Okt — Presiden Gerakan Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon hari ini menafikan bahawa beliau ada ditemu bual oleh blogger yang memuatkan artikel dalam sebuah laman blog yang menyebut bahawa beliau bersedia mencabar Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang Lim Guan Eng pada pilihan raya umum akan datang. Sambil menepis laporan itu Koh (gambar) menyifatkan penulis blog sebagai golongan yang suka menulis apa sahaja walaupun ia tidak benar. Beliau berkata penulis blog menulis apa sahaja yang dikehendaki dan ada juga blog-blog lain yang menulis pelbagai perkara mengenai dirinya. "Saya tidak akan memberikan komen berdasarkan hanya satu penulisan di blog, mereka boleh kata apa sahaja yang mereka mahu... ada juga beberapa blog yang menulis pelbagai perkara lain berkaitan diri saya. "Setiausaha akhbar saya sudah pun menafikannya, saya tidak pernah ditemu bual oleh mana-mana blogger ... jadi bagaimana mereka boleh menyebut saya yang bercakap," katanya dipetik Bernama Online. Koh yang juga Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri diminta mengulas tulisan dalam blog PapaGomo yang menyebut bahawa beliau bersedia mencabar Lim, yang juga Setiausaha Agung DAPdi mana-mana kawasan untuk bertanding pada pilihan raya umum ke-13. Dalam entri bertajuk 'Koh Tsu Koon Cabar Lim Guan Eng Satu Lawan Satu' itu, Koh dipetik sebagai berkata "Saya secara peribadi berhasrat bertanding menentang Lim Guan Eng tidak kira di mana kerusi yang beliau akan tandingi di Pulau Pinang. Menurut entri di blog itu lagi, Koh didakwa sudah pun menyampaikan hasratnya bertanding pada pilihan raya umum ke-13 kepada Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak yang juga Pengerusi Barisan Nasional (BN) dan juga kepada seluruh kepimpinan Gerakan. Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

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