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Classic French at Ma Maison Posted: 31 Aug 2012 05:26 PM PDT The Escalope de Foie Gras Canard Miss Chan is named after a favourite diner at Ma Maison. KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 1 ― Few French chefs here cook the way Bertrand J. Langlet does, using the classic techniques that have stayed with him, unchanged for the 16 years he has had Ma Maison in Kuala Lumpur. There is no such thing as a platter prettily decorated with tiny blobs of food at his restaurant. If the Roast Lamb Rack with Mustard Crust calls for sauce, it's there, generously, for you to dip the meat in or slurp up if you like. If you started out ravenous, you would leave satiated. We had this excellent lamb at our latest visit to Ma Maison. The meat was juicy and flavourful, the crust moist and lovely touched with the sauce. And I also liked the way the plate is heated before the food is laid on it and served. It's an old-fashioned touch that's not often practised these days. Bertrand Langlet, the chef owner of Ma Maison. Half a dozen Fine de Claire oysters were a fine, fresh start to dinner, followed by a basket of garlic toast hot from the oven. It was really nice settling down to a truly French meal in the cosy "home" setting of this restaurant. The Escargots a la Bourgninonne or snails in Burgundy style were so good. The luscious escargots sat in a pool of melted garlic and herb butter, with stirring aromas. All the flavours clung to the escargots and even after we had eaten them we still wanted to dip our bread into the butter. I had ordered a French Onion Soup, my nose following its delicious aroma as it was brought in. The soup was thick with caramelised onions that had poured its sweetness into the beef broth, and baked with a piece of bread on top, with cheese melting on it. It was the best French onion soup I had tasted in years. After this one, you can disregard all others, which are usually bland and insipid, even if the chef has professed to have made it to his maman's recipe. Cod fish cooked in garlic stock with escargot is full of flavours. Baked Goat Cheese on Greens with Gizzard was unusual. There were crusty round pieces of tart goat cheese on a salad of cucumber, lettuce and tomato, and in the centre were mushrooms sautéed with chicken gizzard. You can't leave Ma Maison without having the Escalope de Foie Gras Canard "Miss Chan", named after Bertrand's favourite and long-time diner at the restaurant. The foie gras sits on a potato galette, with grapes on top, and more grapes on the plate together with lettuce and tomato in a sauce. The foie gras has a thin crispy crust. As you bite, it goes "puck", and you touch the rich, creamy centre of this duck liver. It's a deliciously sinful experience, but ah, there is the salad for a light, fruity and healthy balance. A lighter main course would be the Codfish Cooked in Garlic Stock with Escargot. There are leek, carrot, cabbage and potato, together with chunks of creamy cod in the tasty stock, with a little vinegar to cut the richness of the dish. I liked this, and the fact that the dish stayed hot throughout, even though we were sharing a lot of food. The cod came with a lovely potato gratin. The best French Onion Soup in the city. Duck is always a good choice at Ma Maison, and the Duck Leg with Orange Sauce is a French classic. None do it better than Bertrand; the crispy roasted skin of the duck leg breaks into tender meat at the bite, well complemented by the lightly sweet orange sauce. As for dessert, try the French Toast, Raspberry Coulis and Cinnamon, topped with ice-cream, and the Crème Caramel. Both are to die for. There are also the Crepes Ma Maison, which are apple pancakes with orange and vanilla ice-cream. The food portions are generous at Ma Maison, and you need to share them. The Lamb Rack is RM60, Baked Goat Cheese Salad RM28, Escargots RM24, Foie Gras RM54, Cod RM54, Crème Caramel RM10, the French Toast RM16. The restaurant is a charming one-man show, much like those you find in Europe. French cuisine is already being acknowledged as a dying art in France (as in the book "Au Revoir to All That" by Michael Steinberger). That we still have a French chef here steeped in the traditional ways of French cooking is remarkable. Ma Maison is pork-free. It is located at 32 Persiaran Ampang, 55000 Kuala Lumpur, Tel: 03-4256 5410. It's closed every Tuesday. Ma Maison feels like one of the cosy places you can still find in Europe.

Eva Longoria to open ladies’ steakhouse Posted: 31 Aug 2012 04:28 PM PDT Longoria is interviewed at Variety's 3rd Annual Power of Women luncheon in Beverly Hills, California September 23, 2011. — Reuters pic LAS VEGAS, Sept 1 — Actress Eva Longoria has shuttered her Las Vegas restaurant Beso and Eve Nightclub with plans to re-open the space as an eatery for the ladies, complete with catwalk, 3D projection mapping, cryogenic fog and rain curtains. According to local website Vegas Seven, the new space called She is set to throw open its doors for a major New Year's Eve launch party and is pitching itself as a dining destination to see and be seen at. Design elements, for instance, include tiered seating around a central dance floor and an outdoor patio that will be twice as large as that of Beso. According to popular food blog Eater Vegas, the eatery will also be themed after the 1920s, while the former Eve Nightclub will include theatrical elements à la Crazy Horse Paris and Cirque du Soleil, with sexy female performers. The menu will be developed by chef Todd Mark Miller and will involve an assortment of "modern boutique steak house" dishes and small bites to appeal to the ladies, reports Vegas Seven. Interestingly, Miller is also the executive chef of STK Las Vegas Steakhouse at the Cosmopolitan which is also pitched as a dining destination for the ladies, described as offering a "flirty, feminine take on the American steakhouse."  The eatery, located at the Crystals area in CityCenter, a 46,452-square metre shopping and dining complex, will be co-run by restaurateur Landry's, which counts Morton's The Steakhouse and Rainforest Café among its 40 brands. — AFP/Relaxnews

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Study: Physical activity strongest predictor of survival in old age Posted: 31 Aug 2012 08:26 AM PDT STOCKHOLM, Aug 31 — In yet another study to underscore the importance of exercise in healthy aging, researchers have found that keeping physically fit can add up to six years to a person's lifespan, making physical exercise the strongest predictor of survival. For the study, researchers from the Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University kept track of 1,800 Swedes aged 75 and older for 18 years, between 1987 and 2005. In the follow-up period, 92 per cent of the participants died, while half of them lived longer than the age of 90. After analysing everything from their education, social network and lifestyle behaviour, the researchers concluded that of all the leisure activities, the level of physical activity was most strongly associated with survival. Results were published in the British Medical Journal yesterday. Overall, the average rate of survival among participants who regularly swam, walked or did aerobics and had a moderate to rich social life was 5.4 years longer than those who led sedentary, solitary lives. That figure rose to six years for men. Survivors were also more likely to be women, highly educated and non-smokers. Meanwhile, a study suggested that growing old gracefully starts in young adulthood, after US researchers found that maintaining a healthy lifestyle during a person's 20s can help lower the risk of heart disease in middle age. — AFP-Relaxnews

Midwives, nurses can safely perform abortions Posted: 31 Aug 2012 07:39 AM PDT Having trained nurses and midwives perform abortions could also allow some women to get care before they would be able to see a doctor. — Reuters pic NEW YORK, Aug 31 — Abortions are just as safe when performed by trained nurse practitioners, midwives and physician assistants as when doctors do them, a new review of the evidence suggests. Researchers analysed five studies that compared first-trimester abortion complications and side effects based on who performed the procedures in close to 9,000 women — and typically found no differences. "As access to abortion is increasingly restricted, the including of non-physicians in the pool of providers is really vital because fewer and fewer people will have access as there are more and more barriers," said Amy Levi, a professor of midwifery at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Having trained nurses and midwives perform abortions could also allow some women to get care before they would be able to see a doctor — and earlier access typically means fewer complications and better outcomes, Levi said. That's especially the case in developing countries, where doctors who perform abortions may be few and far between. In studies conducted in clinics and hospitals in Asia, Africa and the United States, procedures supervised by nurses or midwives and doctors had similar rates of incomplete abortion, incorrect determination of the foetus' age and complications — such as bleeding and injuries to the uterus. For example, in one study of about 1,400 women getting an abortion in Vermont or New Hampshire, there were complications in 2.2 per cent of procedures with a physician assistant and 2.3 per cent with a doctor. Nathalie Kapp from the World Health Organisation in Geneva, Switzerland, and her colleagues said the findings don't apply to nurses and midwives who perform abortions without access to emergency care nearby, or to abortions done after the first trimester. They published their findings in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. According to the Guttmacher Institute, a sexual and reproductive health organisation, 39 states require abortions to be performed by a licensed physician. And Levi, who was not involved in the new study, said only a few allow non-physicians to perform abortions both surgically and medically (with drugs). But the findings are "really powerful" in other parts of the world, where unsafe abortion is one of the leading causes of maternal death and non-physician providers far outnumber doctors, said Levi, who wasn't involved in the new study. They are also consistent with her expectations after working for a California-based programme that trains nurse practitioners, midwives and physician assistants to perform abortions safely. "Access to safe abortion is imperative for reducing maternal mortality worldwide," Levi said. "We need to keep the conversation embedded in women's health care, which is where it belongs, and I think this kind of data will help." — Reuters

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Mother of US morning TV host Robin Roberts dies Posted: 31 Aug 2012 08:36 AM PDT ABC newswoman Robin Roberts with fellow cast member Josh Elliott on her final appearance on ABC's 'Good Morning America' yesterday before taking medical leave. — Reuters pic NEW YORK, Aug 31 — US morning television host Robin Roberts was mourning the death of her mother today, just a day after she left the "Good Morning America" show to prepare for a bone marrow transplant to treat a rare blood disorder. Roberts left the ABC news programme yesterday, a day earlier than scheduled, to see her ailing 88-year-old mother, Lucimarian Tolliver Roberts, in Mississippi. Jeffrey W. Schneider, senior vice-president of ABC News, said Lucimarian died last night. "Robin did make it to say goodbye," her co-host George Stephanopoulos told viewers on today's show. Lucimarian Roberts was the first African-American to head Mississippi's board of education, according to ABC. Roberts, who is expected to be off the air for several months, revealed in June that she had been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome — a disorder triggered by her treatment for breast cancer five years ago. Her older sister, Sally-Ann, will be the bone marrow donor. — Reuters

Spike Lee brings ‘Bad’ magic to big screen Posted: 31 Aug 2012 08:12 AM PDT Spike Lee poses during the photocall for the movie "Bad 25" at the 69th Venice Film Festival August 31, 2012. — Reuters pic VENICE, Aug 31 — Spike Lee's film about the making of Michael Jackson's 1987 album "Bad" may border on hagiography at times, but live footage and the singer's attention to detail when at the peak of his powers are a reminder of why he remains the "King of Pop". The two-hour documentary called "Bad 25", which has its world premiere at the Venice film festival today, is a familiar mix of talking heads — choreographers, producers and stars — and film of concerts, rehearsals and music videos. Released to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Jackson's acclaimed follow-up to "Thriller", Lee provides few surprises for Jackson aficionados, but paints a picture of a genius at work who cared about every step of the production process. "I think that it was too many years we've... concentrated on stuff about Michael Jackson that had nothing to do with the music," said Lee, 25 years to the day after Bad hit the shelves. The documentary, which Lee called his "love letter" to Jackson, has the backing both of the singer's estate and his record label, giving Lee access to many of the key players in the making of what is regarded as a milestone album. "It was a chance to really dig into his creative process," he added. "We all are blessed with the final work, but it's rare that you get to see how something is put together. We just see the final product. "We don't see the blood, sweat and tears, all the work that goes into how the masters work." Among the novelties is footage taken by Jackson himself, using a handheld camera, of Siedah Garrett singing "Man in the Mirror", the song she co-wrote for the star, a cappella save for an off-camera clicking of fingers laying down the beat. There are also small yet enlightening insights and hints as to Jackson's true character, be it his interest in women, competitive spirit, professional drive or obsession over the smallest riff and dance step. Garrett, for example, recalls how Jackson playfully threw popcorn at her as she tried to record "I Just Can't Stop Loving You", earning her, but not Jackson, a sharp rebuke from the onlooking producer Quincy Jones. Not of this world Sheryl Crow said she was often asked whether Jackson became aroused when they performed a raunchy rendition of the song on his record-breaking "Bad" tour. She did not provide an answer. Actress Tatiana Thumbtzen speculated that mint on the singer's breath suggested he may have been prepared for a kiss at the end of the "The Way You Make Me Feel" video, despite strict instructions only to embrace the singer. Lawyer John Branca, who administers Jackson's estate following his death aged 50 in 2009, recalled a meeting Jackson arranged with his arch-rival Prince. "It was not a happy meeting," he said, adding Prince had brought along a "voodoo box" which Jackson feared meant he was trying to cast a spell on him. That rivalry was part of a competitive streak in Jackson that drove him to try to top the sensational success of his 1982 album "Thriller", still the best-selling album of all time, with "Bad" five years later. He even scrawled "100,000,000" on his mirror to remind him of his target. While industry estimates vary widely, "Thriller" is estimated to have sold between 60-110 million copies worldwide, while "Bad" went on to sell 30-45 million. Nothing, it seemed, was too trivial. In one sequence, Jackson comically re-enacts exactly how he wants two animated characters who feature in a commercial to behave. On a more serious level, Lee explores how Jackson's Afro-American roots were important to him, despite his gradually transforming facial features that made him appear more Caucasian. Several interviewees could not contain their tears as they remembered when they heard of Jackson's passing, and several voiced their conviction at the time that it was not true. Crow was among those who struggled to explain Jackson's talent. "The molecules changed in the room. He changed the molecules," she said of his presence. Near the end of "Bad 25", there is a memorable live performance of "Man in the Mirror", after which Jackson holds his hands aloft to form the shape of a cross. "Michael's not here to answer that. I cannot say he's trying to be Jesus Christ," Lee said in answer to a reporter's question. "I'm not going to say that Michael was saying he was Jesus Christ, but you look at that performance — he's somewhere else. "That's one of the greatest performances ever. You see the way Michael's singing that song, he is not of this world." — Reuters

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Pentagon threatens legal action over bin Laden book Posted: 30 Aug 2012 07:50 PM PDT The cover of "No Easy Day", an account of the capture of Osama Bin Laden, is shown in this publicity image released to Reuters August 30, 2012. — Reuters pic WASHINGTON, Aug 31 — The Pentagon warned yesterday that it was considering legal action against a former US Navy SEAL for material breach of non-disclosure agreements with his first-hand account of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. In a letter obtained by Reuters, and subsequently released by the Pentagon, the Pentagon's top attorney said the Department of Defense was also considering legal action against anyone "acting in concert" with the author. It hinted that the book's royalties might be subject to government claims. The letter, addressed to "Mark Owen," the pseudonym under which the book was written, identified two separate non-disclosure agreements he signed with the Navy that legally committed him to never divulge classified information, which is a crime. "You are in material breach and violation of the non-disclosure agreements you signed," said the letter by Jeh Johnson, the Pentagon's General Counsel. "The Department of Defense is considering pursuing against you, and all those acting in concert with you, all remedies legally available to us in light of this situation." The author may have hoped to publish the book anonymously but his identity as Matt Bissonnette was quickly revealed and confirmed independently by Reuters. It was unclear how many others the Pentagon may consider legally culpable, given the broad language in Johnson's letter. A spokeswoman at publisher Dutton, which is an imprint of Penguin Group (USA), did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Not vetted US officials have said they were surprised by his book, "No Easy Day," which was not vetted by government agencies before its publication to ensure that no secrets were revealed. The letter noted that, under the terms of the non-disclosure agreements, the author had agreed to submit any manuscript for pre-publication security review and to obtain permission before publishing it. The Pentagon pointed out that the disclosure of classified information was a crime and suggested that, under the terms of the non-disclosure agreement he signed, the US government could be entitled to all "royalties, remunerations, and emoluments" from such a disclosure. The letter did not say what classified information the book revealed but the book says an unarmed bin Laden was looking out from his bedroom door when he was shot in the head during the May 2011 raid on his hide-out in Pakistan. The book has received widespread media coverage and the Pentagon letter noted that some copies have already been released, ahead of the book's formal release next week. "Further public dissemination of your book will aggravate your breach and violation of your agreements," the letter warned. Earlier this week, the author said in a statement from his publisher that the book was written "with respect for my fellow service members while adhering to my strict desire not to disclose confidential or sensitive information that would compromise national security in any way." But many in the special operations community have privately expressed disappointment in recent days over the book and the publicity it has received. The author now faces threats against his life. An official al Qaeda website last week posted a photograph and the real name of the former Navy commando, calling him "the dog who murdered the martyr Sheikh Osama bin Laden." — Reuters

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53 bayi merdeka lahir di Lembah Kelang sehingga tengah hari ini Posted: 31 Aug 2012 02:32 AM PDT KUALA LUMPUR, 31 Ogos — Seramai 53 bayi merdeka — 24 perempuan dan 29 lelaki — dilahirkan di lapan hospital kerajaan dan swasta di sekitar Lembah Klang bermula selepas detik 12 tengah malam tadi hingga tengah hari ini. Bayi merdeka pertama ialah bayi lelaki yang dilahirkan sebaik selepas detik 12 tengah malam tadi. Bayi lelaki seberat 3.2 kilogram itu dilahirkan di Hospital Kajang dan bayi itu adalah antara enam kelahiran yang direkod di hospital berkenaan, termasuk sepasang bayi kembar perempuan, kata jurucakap hospital itu. Hospital Sungai Buloh pula mencatat kelahiran paling tinggi iaitu 13 bayi dengan kelahiran pertama, seorang bayi lelaki pada 12.14 pagi, kata jurucakap hospital itu. Di Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaya (PPUM) pula, seramai lapan bayi dilahirkan sehingga 9.02 pagi ini dengan bayi pertama seberat 2.73 kg dilahirkan pada 12.20 pagi. Hospital Serdang dan Pusat Perubatan Subang Jaya (SJMC) masing-masing mencatat tujuh kelahiran dengan bayi pertama masing-masing dilahirkan pada 1.02 pagi dan 12.55 pagi. Hospital Kuala Lumpur mencatat kelahiran lima bayi dengan seorang daripadanya rakyat Indonesia seberat 4.25 kg yang dilahir pada 4.11 pagi, manakala Hospital Tawakal merekodkan kelahiran dua bayi lelaki. Di Hospital Pantai Kuala Lumpur pula, lima kelahiran direkod termasuk seorang bayi lelaki rakyat Perancis, kata jurucakap hospital itu. Daripada 53 bayi yang dilahirkan itu, 18 kelahiran adalah melalui pembedahan iaitu masing-masing satu di PPUM dan HKL, Hospital Tawakal Kuala Lumpur (dua), Hospital Sungai Buloh dan Hospital Pantai Kuala Lumpur (tiga) dan masing-masing empat di Hospital Serdang dan SJMC. Di KUALA TERENGGANU, 28 bayi dilahirkan di beberapa hospital di negeri itu sehingga 12 tengah hari iaitu 12 bayi dilahirkan di Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah (HSNZ) dengan kelahiran pertama ialah pada 12.14 pagi. Di GEORGE TOWN, seramai tiga bayi dilahirkan di Hospital Pulau Pinang termasuk dua bayi rakyat Indonesia. Di SEREMBAN, seramai 17 bayi merdeka dilahirkan di hospital kerajaan di negeri ini bermula tengah malam sehingga 12 tengah hari, kata Pengarah Jabatan Kesihatan negeri Datuk Dr Zailan Adnan. — Bernama

Merdeka Othman harap generasi muda hargai nikmat kebebasan Posted: 31 Aug 2012 02:04 AM PDT Anak-anak muda bersemangat menyanyikan lagu patriotik semasa sambutan sempena Hari Kebangsaan ke-55 di Dataran Merdeka pagi tadi. — Gambar Reuters KANGAR, 31 Ogos — Dilahirkan 15 minit selepas bendera Union Jack diturunkan 55 tahun lalu tidak 'membutakan' mata Merdeka Othman terhadap kesengsaraan yang dilalui generasi yang hidup pada zaman penjajahan. Sebaliknya kata lelaki itu, beliau diingatkan mengenai perkara tersebut setiap kali namanya dipanggil. Justeru, saya berharap generasi muda sentiasa menghargai nikmat kemerdekaan dan tidak mengambil risiko sehingga mengundang semula penjajah ke negara ini, katanya ketika ditemui bernama, di Beseri dekat sini hari ini. Merdeka yang berbangga meraikan ulang tahun kelahirannya bersama sambutan Hari Kemerdekaan negara, berkata nama beliau itu menyebabkannya diejek ketika zaman kanak-kanak. Memang masa kanak-kanak dahulu cukup janggal kerana diejek, namun kini saya berbangga, katanya yang sering diundang ke majlis sambutan hari kemerdekaan baik peringkat negeri mahupun kebangsaaan setiap kali tiba tanggal 31 Ogos. Merdeka yang bertugas sebagai pembantu perawat pergigian di Klinik Kesihatan Beseri berkata jika negara tidak aman, beliau sudah pasti tidak berpeluang untuk menghadiri majlis yang berkaitan dengan kemerdekaan negara. Sehubungan itu, beliau berharap setiap rakyat Malaysia menanam semangat jati diri terhadap negara dan berjihad ke arah memastikan negara terus merdeka daripada sebarang bentuk penjajahan yang merugikan. Merdeka berkata pemimpin terdahulu telah meletakkan asas perpaduan yang kukuh untuk membawa negara mencapai kemerdekaan dan asas itu tidak boleh dirobekkan dengan mainan politik sempit. "Saya bersyukur dengan kemakmuran dan keamanan negara sebagaimana saya bersyukur memiliki nama Merdeka," katanya. Katanya, beliau sentiasa berdoa kemamuran dan keamanan terus berkekalan dan rakyat tidak terhimpit dengan perbuatan yang boleh merosakkan negara. — Bernama

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‘Merdeka’ from fear Posted: 30 Aug 2012 05:52 PM PDT AUG 31 — Reading the news — especially the recent court ruling on the two statutory rape cases where the rapists were freed — I couldn't help but feel worried for my students. In this day and age where it is not as easy to monitor their social connections, you never know whether your children are safe or not, be in or out of your home.   Not only that, the recent child kidnapping cases have also been worrying. Despite telling children how they should be careful and always be vigilant of their surroundings, we cannot assume that this is enough and that they will be okay. Their innocence and naiveté mean anyone with ill-intentions can just take advantage of them and do whatever they like with the children.   Things used to be a lot different. My childhood was pretty carefree. I remember spending a lot of time outside, playing with my friends without any supervision from my parents. My friends and I would go to the padi fields and play for hours, despite being told not to because "nanti kena patuk ular!"  We would ride our bicycles all over town and never had to worry about being kidnapped. I used to cycle to school, leaving home as early as 6.30am to make sure I got there on time and not be fined by the stern prefects in their blue "tudung".   The only thing I had to worry about was getting home before Maghrib prayers so my father wouldn't cane me, and, of course, keeping my grades up.   Those were the days.   Now my nephews play in their gated homes, often under the watchful eyes of their parents or at least an adult. Kids can no longer go anywhere without fearing they would be snatched away from the familiarity and comfort of their homes.  Parents worry incessantly about their children's safety, day and night. Even a trip out with the family can turn into a nightmare when they end up being victims of car-jackings or snatch thefts. What is happening to our country? Are we becoming so lawless with such incidents happening in broad daylight in the view of many people and yet no one can stop them from happening?   The people who are committing these crimes, I don't know for sure whether they are locals or foreigners. Whoever it is, I just hope they will be caught and punished for the heinous crimes they've committed, and for robbing us of our sense of security.   I am of course not happy with how the authorities are responding to these worrying situations.  Saying that crime statistics are exaggerated by social media is not going to build the public's confidence in them! The public is already scared, so why add onto that fear? Worse still, it sounded like the authorities are pooh-poohing the public's fear, as if we are being so silly for being worried about such crimes.   A friend once shared how while she was driving, two men on a motorcycle smashed her car window and grabbed her handbag which was on the front seat. Upon reporting the incident, she had one unsympathetic policeman telling her that she "brought it on herself by not hiding the handbag." Really?!  Yes, I understand, we should take precautions and not take our safety for granted but I do not want to live feeling like this is Gotham, never knowing when trouble will strike and I could end up hurt or, worse, dead. At least Gotham is lucky — they have a multi-billionaire who would fight to protect the city and its people. But us, who do we have? Most of our politicians (bar a few) are more interested in keeping and accumulating more wealth and only care for themselves. Where does that leave us, the everyday Malaysians?  There are so many incidents which mar my belief in the ability of the government to keep us safe. For example, that poor woman in Kelantan who was just getting out of her car to go to a '"tudung" shop but ended up having her arm almost severed in a snatch theft last Wednesday. Surely you're not going to say she brought it on herself too? How? For wanting to buy a "tudung"?  As a Malaysian, I don't think I am asking too much when I say I want to be able to safely walk the streets without worrying that my arm will be chopped off should some crazy, desperate guy decide to swing a machete at me so he can get hold of my handbag. So for Merdeka, all I want is to be "merdeka" from these fears, of feeling like I cannot go anywhere without worrying that I might get harmed or, worse, killed. I want the police to be "merdeka" from having to worry about whose foot they will step on when they take certain actions. I want our government to be "merdeka" of corruption. I want our children to have a better Malaysia and "merdeka" from all the hang-ups that we currently have.   May our country be "merdeka" of such heinous crimes and may we live and prosper in peace for many years to come.   Selamat Hari Merdeka daripada Cikgu Tasneem! * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.

My top 10 reasons for celebrating National Day Posted: 30 Aug 2012 05:45 PM PDT AUG 31 — I haven't come up with a top 10 list in a long time. And seeing that it's National Day, I thought it would be apt to do just that this week! (It could also mean that I'm already in the long weekend mode and am just too lazy to write something lengthy!) So here's my top 10 for why I am happy to celebrate this National Day: 1. Aside from a bloody lip from having my camera pushed into my face by a policeman, I escaped physically unscathed from Bersih 3.0. But I can't say much for my mental state after the event. 2. I now have full confidence in the strength of our police force. They are a really tough group and know how to fight! 3. After being eligible 13 years ago and witnessing three general elections in the country, I have finally registered to vote. 4. Malaysia looks set to join some of the best countries in Asia… as a destination for paedophile sex tourism. Malaysia Truly Asia! 5. Crime doesn't exist in Malaysia. This must be due to the toughness of our police force. 6. If he sounds like a Malay, thinks like a Malay, and converts to Islam, he is Malay… even if he is Chinese. 7. Janji Dicapati 8. Everyone is guilty until proven innocent (as far as the Internet is concerned). 9. Sarawak women are awesome world-class divers! 10. All sorts of Malaysians gathered at Dataran Merdeka on the eve of National Day to demonstrate for democracy and clean elections without any untoward incidents. Everyone dispersed peacefully afterwards. Happy National Day, everyone! * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.

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