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We only have ourselves to blame, says Chelsea manager Posted: 05 Dec 2011 03:49 PM PST LONDON, Dec 6 — Chelsea only have themselves to blame if they suffer an early Champions League exit today, manager Andre Villas-Boas said on the eve of their final Group E match against Valencia. Villas-Boas at the media conference at Stamford Bridge, December 5, 2011: Determined — initiative, as always. — Reuters pic The English club need to beat their Spanish visitors or play out a goalless draw to progress to the last 16, otherwise Valencia will go through to the knockout stage at their expense. "We just have ourselves to blame," Villas-Boas, whose team have three times given away points when they had led the game in this European campaign, told a news conference yesterday. "During this campaign of five games we have done pretty well in terms of performances but the small details have run away from us in the last few minutes ... and if that had not happened it would have been different." Valencia are one of the teams to have profited from Chelsea's carelessness, converting an 87th-minute penalty to snatch a 1-1 draw at the Mestalla in September. Bayer Leverkusen grabbed a 90th-minute winner in a 2-1 victory last month that put the German side through to the next stage, and the Premier League team also let Racing Genk equalise in Belgium. Villas-Boas said his team would be thinking only of a win at Stamford Bridge. "People have seen us play enough now to be sure we always take the initiative in games," he said. "We know that Valencia want to get something because a goal for them makes the game even more difficult for us, but we won't change our strategy just because it is an important game." The Portuguese manager's future has been the subject of much media speculation, with his side having lost three of their past four home matches, and it is only likely to pick up pace if Chelsea fail to book a ninth successive last-16 spot. "We cannot speak about going out. Tomorrow we just have to focus on the game," Villas-Boas said. "I have not thought about it and what it would mean to the club. Our focus is on tomorrow's game." He urged the Stamford Bridge crowd, who he says have been noticeably anxious of late, to recreate the atmosphere of previous big European occasions, such as the 2005 last-16 second-leg victory over Barcelona, to help out the players. "We face Valencia in one of their most impressive moments of the season, different from when we faced them last time," he said. "Our fans can have a massive impact and I have good memories of top European nights in this club. "I know the atmosphere can be raised and if the fans can replay the type of atmosphere they had in the 4-2 win over Barcelona then we have the right ambience to take on Valencia." — Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

Late Dempsey goal gives Fulham win over 10-man Liverpool Posted: 05 Dec 2011 03:31 PM PST LONDON, Dec 6 — Clint Dempsey pounced for an 85th-minute winner as Fulham beat Liverpool 1-0 in a dramatic Premier League match at Craven Cottage yesterday after a rare mistake from keeper Pepe Reina. Clint Dempsey (centre) celebrates his late winner after a rare Pepe Reina fumble. — Reuters pic The pulsating game, in which Liverpool were reduced to 10 men when Jay Spearing was sent off after 72 minutes, appeared to be heading for a draw when Reina spilled a shot from Danny Murphy and American international Dempsey scored from close range. Fulham, outplayed in the first half, came back strongly in the second but Liverpool were on the wrong end of three decisions that might have helped them win the game. Fulham defender Philippe Senderos was lucky not to concede a penalty after 59 minutes when he clattered into Charlie Adam inside the box. The officials also ruled that Luis Suarez was offside putting the ball in the Fulham net when he looked level with the last defender, and Spearing was shown a red card for a foul on Moussa Dembele when he caught the Fulham player with his trailing leg after playing the ball first. Liverpool, unbeaten in their previous 11 matches in all competitions, came to Craven Cottage seeking to equal a club record run of seven successive away wins, which included two at neighbouring Chelsea in the Premier League and League Cup. In contrast, Fulham were looking to improve on a poor home record in the league in which they had won just one of eight matches since Liverpool won 5-2 at Craven Cottage at the end of last season. Liverpool went closest to a goal after 28 minutes when a lofted shot from Jordan Henderson beat Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer before hitting the inside of the post and bouncing away. Substitute Stewart Downing also hit the post for Liverpool in the second half and Dempsey struck the crossbar before scoring. The win lifted Fulham to 13th in the table on 15 points from 14 games while Liverpool stayed seventh on 23 points, three behind Newcastle United. Manchester City lead the standings with 38 points. — Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

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Panda-mania as furry friends arrive in Britain Posted: 05 Dec 2011 06:40 AM PST A giant panda called Tian Tian (Sweetie) is seen in a travel crate at the airport in Edinburgh. – AFP pic EDINBURGH, Dec 5 – An eagerly anticipated pair of giant pandas arrived in Edinburgh yesterday on a charter flight from China, to become the first of the endangered animals to live in Britain for 17 years. Yang Guang (Sunshine) and Tian Tian (Sweetie) were welcomed to Scotland to the sound of bagpipes as their "Panda Express" plane touched down at Edinburgh Airport. The bears will spend 10 years on loan in the Scottish capital, a deal agreed after five years of high-level political and diplomatic negotiations. Politicians are stressing their importance to relations between Britain and China, while Scotland is hoping for a tourism boost in austere times. It is hoped the pandas will take advantage of a specially-built "tunnel of love" between their enclosures and breed new cubs that will help preserve the endangered species. The bears were given an in-flight meal of bamboo, apples, carrots and a special "panda cake" on their journey from Chengdu in southwest China. The duo were accompanied by two Chinese researchers who will help look after them until they adapt to their new life at Edinburgh Zoo. On arrival at the airport, Tian Tian was the first to get a blast of the chilly Scottish weather, and could be seen checking out her new surroundings through her clear-sided box. As dignitaries stood by on the tarmac, the pair were loaded onto trucks for the short journey to Edinburgh Zoo, where another bagpipe band dressed in kilts played traditional Scottish tunes to welcome them. Locals waved Scottish flags, while some even dressed in panda outfits to cheer their arrival. "As panda-mania hits Scotland, and we extend a warm Scottish welcome to Tian Tian and Yang Guang, I am delighted to have the opportunity to personally thank the Chinese government," said Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, who is visiting China. "The great gift of these giant pandas symbolises the great and growing relationship between Scotland and China." The bears will spend a couple of weeks settling in before being put on public display, and Edinburgh Zoo has already reported a huge spike in ticket sales. The zoo is paying about US$1 million (RM3.14 million) a year to the Chinese authorities for the pandas. It has built two separate enclosures for the visitors, which are quite solitary, although they will be linked by the "tunnel of love" in anticipation of their hoped-for mating. Each area contains an indoor section and a large outdoor enclosure, comprising lots of plants, trees, a pond and somewhere for them to shelter from the sun, a spokeswoman for the zoo said. The pandas are expected to eat up to US$110,000 worth of bamboo a year, with the zoo growing 15 per cent and the rest imported from the Netherlands. As of December 16, visitors to the zoo will be able to look in on the outdoor enclosure, while Internet users can follow Yang Guang on hidden "panda-cams". Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the pandas' arrival was "a reflection of the strength of our relationship with China. "It shows that we can co-operate closely not only on commerce, but on a broad range of environmental and cultural issues as well." China is famed for its "panda diplomacy", using the endangered bears as diplomatic gifts to other countries. Just 1,600 remain in the wild in China, with some 300 others in captivity. The agreement to loan the creatures was announced in January following five years of negotiations, and experts from the China Wildlife Conservation Association gave the final go-ahead after a visit to Scotland in October. Animal welfare groups have condemned the agreement, saying that wild creatures suffer in captivity and serious efforts to help pandas would protect them in their native environment. – AFP Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

Hong Kong’s shark fin traders feel pressure to change Posted: 05 Dec 2011 01:53 AM PST Photo taken on November 22, 2011, shows a man inside a shark fin store in Hong Kong. The owner of Shark's Fin City, a dried fin wholesaler in Hong Kong's quarter for all things shrivelled, says there are only a few people who know the truth about sharks, and he's one of them. – AFP pic HONG KONG, Dec 5 – The owner of Shark's Fin City, a dried fin wholesaler in Hong Kong's quarter for all things shrivelled, says there are only a few people who know the truth about sharks, and he's one of them. Like many Hong Kong businessmen who trade in shark fins, Kwong Hung-kwan believes his industry is being targeted by an anti-Chinese conspiracy led by "Western" environmental groups like Greenpeace. Talk of a dramatic decline in shark populations around the world is rubbish, he says, dismissing research showing an eight-fold jump in threatened shark species since 2000. Experts agree that much of that rise is linked to increases in consumption of shark meat, especially fins used in traditional Chinese shark fin soup, an expensive staple at weddings and banquets in this southern Chinese city. "Shark fins represent our Chinese tradition. It used to be served only to royalty and is, even now, a very luxurious cuisine from the deep sea," Kwong said at his store in Hong Kong's Des Voeux Road area. The western end of Des Voeux Road and nearby Queen's Road West, not far from the Central business district, are a hive of musty shops selling a vast array of dried food from mushrooms to seahorses. It is ground zero for the global shark fin trade, with about 10,000 tonnes of dried fins imported every year, according to environmental group WWF. That's around half the world's total fin harvest. "For some people in the older generation like me, we depend on selling shark fins as our source of income," Kwong said. His fins come mainly from Spain and South America, but he will happily buy from anywhere, he said. Businessmen like Kwong and his neighbours on Des Voeux Road were shocked recently when the luxury Peninsula Hotels chain, owned by Asia's oldest hotel company, announced it was dropping shark fin from its menu as of January. Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Ltd., Peninsula's parent, said the decision was made "in recognition of the threat facing the global shark population and in line with the company's sustainability vision". Conservationists applauded the move as a breakthrough in their long battle to get Asian consumers to "just say no" to shark fin soup. But some of those in the fin business were apoplectic. "It's not cruel at all killing sharks. There are so many sharks out there and if you don't kill them, they will kill you," said a Des Voeux Road fin seller who gave his name only as Chan. On the other hand, Wong Wai-man of Wing Hang Marine Products Ltd. acknowledged that times were changing and younger generations were more environmentally conscious about what they ate than older Hong Kong people. "Some people say shark fins are absolutely irreplaceable. But what happens when sharks one day become extinct or are illegal to catch? At the end of the day, we need alternatives," he said, suggesting birds' nests as a substitute. WWF-Hong Kong says the consumption of shark fins, which has grown as China's people have become more affluent, is a driving factor behind the threat to shark populations around the world. More than 180 species were considered threatened in 2010 compared with only 15 in 1996. About 73 million of the ancient predators, deemed essential to healthy marine ecosystems, are killed every year. An individual serving of shark fin soup includes about 30 grams (one ounce) of fin, and a 12-person bowl sells for HK$1,080 (about RM439.15). A kilogram (two pounds) of premium dried fin can fetch up to HK$10,000 in Hong Kong. On Des Voeux Road, giant dried shark fins are shop-window attractions, the bigger the better to draw in customers. Other major hotels in Hong Kong said they were reviewing their shark fin policies in the wake of the Peninsula's move, but few appeared ready to drop it from their menu entirely. Four Seasons Hotel spokeswoman Claire Blackshaw said that shark fin had been removed from the menu but was still available on request. "We are a popular venue for weddings so it gets requested quite a lot," she said. The Conrad, part of the Hilton group, the Nikko and Regal Hongkong hotels have similar policies, with some offering a choice of menus with and without shark fin dishes. The Peninsula's announcement coincided with a move from the European Commission to insist that all vessels fishing in EU waters, and EU vessels fishing elsewhere, land sharks with the fins still attached. "We want to eradicate the horrendous practice of shark finning and protect sharks much better," said Europe's fisheries commissioner Maria Damanaki, referring to the common practice of cutting the fins off living sharks. Activists said a ban on finning would reduce the shark catch because fishing vessels would not be able to store as many fins in their freezers. – AFP Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

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Belgians keen to share Hollywood’s Tintin with world Posted: 05 Dec 2011 06:55 AM PST [unable to retrieve full-text content]BRUSSELS, Dec 5 ― His adventures have taken him around the world, captured hearts across Europe and courted controversy, but can a computer animated 3D Hollywood blockbuster about a boy journalist from Belgium win over American audiences? Belgians have flocked to see “The Adventures of Tintin ― The Secret of the Unicorn”, a new film by US ...

Adele’s ‘21’ becomes top UK album of 21st century Posted: 05 Dec 2011 05:00 AM PST Singer Adele poses on arrival at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles in this August 28, 2011 file photo. ― Reuters pic LONDON, Dec 5 ― Singer Adele notched a new record today, when the Official Charts Company (OCC) confirmed that her second album "21" had become the biggest seller in Britain this century. The record, which looks set to be the world's most successful album of 2011, has passed sales of 3.4 million copies, eclipsing the late Amy Winehouse's 2006 LP "Back To Black" which has sold 3.3 million. According to the OCC, 21 has never left the British top 10 since its release in January, and yesterday clocked its 45th week in the upper end of the rankings, rising to No. 5 from ninth. This week's rise was attributed to the publicity surrounding Adele's six Grammy nominations, including album of the year for 21 as well as record of the year and song of the year for "Rolling in the Deep". Adele's success in her native Britain has been matched by that in the United States, the world's biggest music market, where 21 passed the four-million copy mark in October. The 23-year-old was forced to cancel a string of live dates and award show appearances when she underwent surgery in Boston last month to treat a benign polyp on her vocal cords. ― Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

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Siru Kambam dan asimilasi bahasa Posted: 04 Dec 2011 04:32 PM PST 5 DIS — Pada 1996, Allahyarham Dr Othman Puteh merangkumkan Siru Kambam yang menjadi latar bagi kebanyakan cerpen saya sebagai "suatu daerah berhampiran Taiping yang menggambarkan secara dominan kehidupan masyarakat India dan hubungannya dengan masyarakat majmuk". Saya tidak pasti sama ada arwah pernah berpeluang ke Taiping, Perak semasa hayatnya tetapi saya pasti arwah memahami keunikan penduduk majmuk di sekitar bandar berkenaan. Rata-rata penduduk pelbagai kaum di Taiping tidak menghadapi masalah untuk berkomunikasi menggunakan Bahasa Malaysia. Sebagai individu yang lahir, belajar dan membesar di Taiping, saya menyedari sepenuhnya keunikan ini. Apabila bercakap mengenai sejarah dan asal-usul Bahasa Malaysia, kita tidak dapat menafikan bagaimana istilah dan frasa daripada pelbagai bahasa lain meresap masuk dan berasimilasi sehingga melahirkan satu bentuk bahasa yang kini menjadi bahasa rasmi dan bahasa kebangsaan di negara bertuah ini. Seorang warga emas bersama cucu-cucunya di Aulong Lama, Taiping. Sejak zaman dahulu, bahasa yang dituturkan penduduk Melayu juga banyak menerima istilah Bahasa Cina dan Tamil. Misalnya, cawan, tauhu, tauke, cincai, tose, kedai, bumi dan ragam. Sekiranya mahu disenaraikan kesemua perkataan/istilah "pinjaman" dalam sejarah perkembangan Bahasa Malaysia, senarai itu akan bersifat infinitif. Malah, ada pandangan yang mengatakan bahawa perkataan-perkataan asli dalam Bahasa Malaysia adalah "kampung", "parang", "amuk" dan "babi". Namun, bukan itu topik yang mahu saya bincangkan pada kali ini. Sebaliknya, saya mahu menarik perhatian masyarakat pelbagai kaum terhadap hakikat bahawa dalam konteks di Malaysia, berlaku juga asimilasi Bahasa Malaysia ke dalam bahasa Tamil; khususnya selepas istilah "Bahasa Malaysia" diperkenalkan menerusi Dasar Pelajaran Kebangsaan pada 1970. Saya mendapat maklumat yang unik dan menarik ini hasil perbualan bersama beberapa individu kaum India daripada generasi baru dan lama di sekitar Taiping, baru-baru ini. Nama Siru Kambam sendiri membuktikan bagaimana istilah "kampung" diterima pakai secara meluas dalam kalangan masyarakat India semasa bercakap Bahasa Tamil. Istilah "kampung" disebut "gramam" dalam Bahasa Tamil, Telegu dan Malayalam. Namun, dalam kalangan penduduk kaum India di Taiping, istilah yang digunakan adalah "kampung" atau "kambam". (Nota: Agak menarik untuk diperhatikan bahawa rupa-rupanya terdapat juga sebuah tempat bernama "Kambam" di Tamil Nadu, India!) Sambil berbual-bual bersama jiran lama, penduduk dan kenalan lama di Aulong dan Aulong Lama, Taiping, saya sempat mencatatkan beberapa istilah yang membuktikan asimilasi Bahasa Malaysia ke dalam Bahasa Tamil sejak dahulu. Penduduk kaum India generasi baru dan lama yang sempat saya temui semasa berada di Taiping baru-baru ini berbual menggunakan Bahasa Tamil yang diselitkan beberapa perkataan Bahasa Malaysia yang sudah sebati dalam jiwa mereka dan tidak lagi dianggap sebagai istilah yang dipinjam daripada bahasa pertuturan masyarakat Melayu di sekeliling mereka. Perkataan 'kambam' berasal daripada 'kampung'. Berikut contoh ayat-ayat yang sempat saya catatkan bagi tujuan menunjukkan asimilasi bahasa yang dimaksudkan. Ayat-ayat ini sudah diterjemahkan daripada Bahasa Tamil untuk membantu pemahaman. Perkataan-perkataan HURUF BESAR adalah perkataan yang kekal dalam Bahasa Malaysia walaupun penutur menggunakan Bahasa Tamil dalam perbualan. 1. Jambatan itu tidak berapa KUAT. 2. Kenapa sudah lama tidak BALIK KAMPUNG? 3. Bila encik akan BALIK ke Kuala Lumpur? 4. Di rumah sebelah juga ada pokok BUNGA RAYA. 5. Saya betul-betul SAKIT (sakit hati) apabila dapat tahu hal itu. 6. Kami memang sangat SEDIH sebab dia tidak datang. 7. Budak-budak itu memang BISING sampai ke larut malam. 8. Tempat ini sudah lama tidak BANJIR. 9. MURID itu ditangkap sebab menCONTENG di dalam TANDAS. 10. GURU BESAR sekolah itu tinggal di KAMPUNG sebelah. 11. Pemuda itu memang PANDAI menipu. 12. Mereka SESAT semasa mendaki BUKIT itu. 13. KASUT dia memang sangat BUSUK. 14. BUMBUNG ini sudah lama BOCOR. 15. TIANG itu sangat LICIN. 16. Kami TUMPANG sahaja di rumah ini sehingga rumah kami SIAP. 17. TAKUT juga nak pijak TANGGA itu. 18. Kalau mahu masak UBI KAYU ini memang SENANG. 19. CIKGU suruh kami bawa KAMUS esok. 20. Kedai MAMAK itu tentu sudah TUTUP/BUKA. 21. Kamu tidak pergi berJALAN-JALAN di bandar? 22. Janganlah PERLI. 23. Anak bongsunya CACAT sejak lahir. 24. Hujan sudah menjadi LEBAT. 25. Di SIMPANG itu, belok KANAN, bukan KIRI. Kemudian pergi TERUS. 26. Kata orang, dialah KETUA kumpulan itu. Ayat-ayat di atas hanyalah beberapa contoh yang sempat saya catatkan sepanjang perbualan secara santai dan spontan bersama penduduk kaum India yang mewakili generasi baru dan lama dari latar pendidikan dan sosioekonomi yang juga berbeza di Aulong Lama dan Aulong, Taiping. Penggunaan istilah Bahasa Malaysia dalam perbualan mereka mungkin juga dilihat sebagai satu bentuk pencemaran Bahasa Tamil yang melahirkan bahasa rojak. Saya sebagai pencinta bahasa memang tidak menyokong pencemaran seperti itu. Istilah 'agarathi' jarang digunakan apabila merujuk pada kamus. Walau bagaimanapun, pemerhatian saya di atas adalah lebih kepada aspek asimilasi Bahasa Malaysia ke dalam Bahasa Tamil dalam kalangan penutur Bahasa Tamil; bukan aspek bahasa rojak. Saya lebih tertarik untuk memperhatikan bagaimana istilah-istilah Bahasa Malaysia sudah mula meresap masuk ke dalam Bahasa Tamil dan menjadi sebahagian kosa kata sejak tahun 1970; iaitu sejak istilah "Bahasa Malaysia" diperkenalkan secara rasmi. Sekiranya perkataan "kampung" dalam budaya Melayu sudah diterima pakai dalam Bahasa Tamil sebagai "kampung" dan "kambam", tidak mustahil contoh sejumlah perkataan yang saya petik di atas juga sudah/akan menjadi sebahagian daripada kosa kata lazim dalam kalangan penutur asli Bahasa Tamil di Malaysia. Rata-rata individu yang menuturkan ayat-ayat seperti di atas langsung tidak menyedari bahawa mereka menggunakan beberapa istilah Bahasa Malaysia semasa berbual menggunakan Bahasa Tamil. Malah, ada juga beberapa individu (generasi tua) yang saya temui itu tidak bersekolah dan ada juga yang merupakan murid sekolah Tamil. Hanya apabila saya menjelaskan kepada mereka, barulah mereka sedar bahawa beberapa istilah yang mereka gunakan secara spontan sebenarnya adalah istilah Bahasa Malaysia. Mereka juga mengakui bahawa mereka tidak berniat mahu mencemarkan bahasa atau mengamalkan bahasa rojak dalam perbualan. Sebaliknya, rata-rata individu yang saya temui mengatakan bahawa asimilasi Bahasa Malaysia ke dalam Bahasa Tamil seperti yang diperhatikan itu adalah suatu proses semula jadi sejak kecil. "Walaupun bahasa ibunda kami adalah Bahasa Tamil, kami juga berbangga dengan Bahasa Malaysia sebagai bahasa kebangsaan. Jadi, apa yang berlaku (asimilasi bahasa) tidaklah pelik bagi kami di sini," kata seorang suri rumah. * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist. Tulisan Tamil pada nama restoran ini mengekalkan istilah 'kampung'. Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

Why fear a Malaysian Spring Posted: 04 Dec 2011 04:08 PM PST DEC 5 — In his speech at the 2011 Umno general assembly, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir claimed that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat are trying to topple the federal government through a form of democracy that is alien to Malaysia. This desperate statement illustrates how out of touch the Umno-BN government has become.  Mukhriz justified his claim by referring to Anwar's interview with Bloomberg recently when the latter predicted that a "Malaysian Spring" would emerge to bring political change in the country.  Mukhriz probably missed the part when Anwar told Bloomberg, "When will the Malaysian Spring be? The next elections." While opposition parties in Malaysia have faced an uneven playing field for decades, most — including Pakatan Rakyat — have faithfully participated in the various elections. Disgruntled opposition parties sometimes resort to extra-parliamentary measures when they get disillusioned with unfair elections, but this has not and will never be the case in Malaysia. That is why Pakatan and Malaysia civil society are pushing passionately for the electoral reforms that the Bersih movement champions. Elections are the best and most legitimate way to bring change in a society. As John F. Kennedy once said: "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable."  Indeed, we believe that free and fair elections are crucial for any state to be legitimate. Unfortunately, Umno-BN has thus far resisted the most substantive measures advocated by the electoral reform movement. It is mind-boggling how a party that claims it is democratic can be so opposed to any effort to improve the electoral process.  This came to a head during Bersih 2.0 when Malaysians from various backgrounds witnessed the crude and confused response of Datuk Seri Najib Razak's administration. How can a demand for clean and fair elections be controversial unless one does not subscribe to democracy, a principle that is enshrined in our Federal Constitution? The Bersih 2.0 committee was even willing to compromise by shifting the peaceful assembly to the stadium as first offered by Najib and then advised by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong when they were granted an audience with him.  But as the record will show, Najib reneged on his promise and forced tens of thousands of Malaysians from all races and background to take to the streets. Thousands of Malaysians abroad also gathered across the world in solidarity with Bersih, an act that, banana republic-like, was deemed "illegal" in Malaysia.  Thanks to the backlash from his indecisive handling of Bersih 2.0, Najib relented and formed a Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Reforms — an admission that Bersih, Pakatan Rakyat and the civil society were right all along: that there are deep and serious problems with our electoral system. The rationale of the PSC was supposedly to ensure the credibility of the upcoming elections.  Two days later, however, the government appeared to dither, saying that Parliament can be dissolved any time and would not be subject to the result of the parliamentary select committee.  Similarly, on Malaysia Day 2011, Najib announced plans to revoke the country's archaic Emergency laws, repeal the Internal Security Act and amend the Printing Presses and Publications Act as well as the Police Act, among other things.  Interestingly, Najib's own Cabinet was not informed of the sweeping announcement, underlining the fact that at best our prime minister seems to be the only man in his Cabinet who believes in the need for reform — assuming of course he actually does so. Of course, the Cabinet publicly had to appear to be enthusiastic about the announcements. But the cynics were unfortunately proven right with the latest developments. Recently, 13 alleged militants were arrested in Tawau under the ISA a few months before the Act is supposed to be repealed. The Peaceful Assembly Bill, which Najib has described as "revolutionary", has been proven to be more restrictive than the Police Act, and even Myanmar — yes Myanmar — now appears to have better freedom of assembly legislation than we do.  The debate in the Umno general assembly this year — which has more of the same racial and authoritarian rhetoric that we've come to expect — is undeniable proof that all the talk of transformation by Najib is empty. Led by a flip-flopping PM, Umno-BN is on the wrong side of history, backwards-looking while the rakyat are trying to forge ahead to a more inclusive and open future.  There is nothing "alien" or Western about this — India's multiparty democracy has long been robust and resilient, while Taiwan, Korea and Japan's one-party dominance have given way to competitive mode. Turkey and Indonesia have progressed significantly to show that Islam and democracy is compatible and the Arab Spring has spread change further.  It is those who are so violently opposed to political change who are out of step with Malaysia and her people. * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist. Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

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Dua bekas pegawai kanan PUNB dipenjara palsukan cagaran bon RM18b Posted: 05 Dec 2011 02:12 AM PST KUALA LUMPUR, 5 Dis – Dua bekas pegawai kanan Permodalan Usahawan Nasional Berhad (PUNB) didapati bersalah berhubung tuduhan memalsukan dokumen berupa satu cagaran sijil bon bernilai RM18 bilion (AS$5 bilion) syarikat itu lebih satu dekad lalu dengan niat mahu membuat kontrak yang nyata. Bekas Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif PUNB Ahmadi @ Ahmad Zukni Johari, 70, dikenakan hukuman penjara lima tahun manakala bekas Setiausaha Mohamad Aminuddin Mohamed Zain, 55, dijatuhi hukuman penjara empat tahun. Hukuman dikenakan oleh Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur yang membenarkan rayuan pihak pendakwa sekali gus mengetepikan keputusan Mahkamah Sesyen tahun lalu. Hakim Mahkamah Tinggi, Datuk Su Geok Yiam menjatuhkan hukuman setelah mendapati tindakan mereka dalam mengeluarkan bon tanpa kebenaran lembaga. Ahmad Zukni dan Mohamad Aminuddin dituduh bersama memalsukan dokumen pada 13 Oktober 2000 di Wisma UOA II, Jalan Pinang di sini. Mahkamah Sesyen Kuala Lumpur telah melepaskan dan membebaskan kedua-dua tertuduh pada 27 Januari 2010. Ahmad diwakili peguam Goik Kenzin manakala Mohamad Aminuddin pula Datuk Mohd Taqiyuddin Yahya. Timbalan Pendakwa Raya Datuk' Abdul Razak Musa yang merupakan Pengarah Bahagian Perundangan dan Pendakwaaan SPRM mewakili mengendalikan pendakwaan. Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

Nik Aziz tanding PRU-13 Posted: 05 Dec 2011 01:37 AM PST KOTA BARU, 5 Dis – Menteri Besar Kelantan Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat berkata beliau akan bertanding pada pilihan raya umum akan datang. Nik Abdul Aziz, 80, berkata tidak ada sebab untuk beliau berundur seperti desakan beberapa perwakilan semasa Perhimpunan Agung Umno baru-baru ini. "Insya-Allah saya akan bertanding lawan Umno. Saya tak kisahpun orang sebut nama saya pada perhimpunan itu," katanya (gambar) kepada pemberita di sini hari ini. Beliau menjadi Menteri Besar Kelantan selepas pilihan raya umum 1990. Pada pilihan raya umum 2008, beliau mempertahankan kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri Kelantan kawasan Chempaka mengalahkan calon Barisan Nasional Datuk Dr Nik Mohd Zain Omar dengan majoriti 4,249 undi. Menurut laporan Bernama Online, Nik Aziz enggan menjawab kenyataan seorang penceramah PAS menyamakannya sebagai nabi. Menurut Menteri Besar itu beliau tidak dapat memberi jawapan kerana tidak tahu "hujung pangkal" perkara tersebut. Bagaimanapun, katanya, jika ada pihak yang menuduh penceramah itu sebagai kufur kerana menyamakan beliau sebagai nabi, umat Islam yang menolak agama Islam juga sebenarnya kufur. "Cuma satu saya nak jawab kalau orang samakan saya sebagai nabi itu adalah kufur," kata beliau. Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

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