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Botanical, where you won’t miss a meat! Posted: 02 Sep 2012 05:59 PM PDT Sit inside and it feels like you are in a cosy French bistro. – Picture by Choo Choy May KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 — It's got to be love. In the more than two months since Botanical opened at Bangsar Village II, I have eaten there more than a dozen times. And enjoyed every single meat-free meal. Yes, Botanical is a vegetarian restaurant. I know, it's the dreaded "v" word, but you will hardly notice it as the restaurant has a full-on menu of purpose-made vegetarian dishes. These are well thought-through flavourful dishes, not just the average fare minus the meat. My best friend has been a vegetarian — well, okay, more a pescatarian — for 15 years now and apart from the odd Chinese and Indian vegetarian restaurant (mostly greasy and/or mushy!), Santha makes do whenever she eats out with me and asks the waiter/waitress if they can just omit the meat from whatever dish she chooses. The entrance of the restaurant features a Vespa... a touch of European whimsy. – Picture by Choo Choy May But now... now we can celebrate because everything from the starters to the most delightful desserts are — to borrow a quote from another friend — "ons like a box of crayons" or, in normal peoplespeak, great! The restaurant — which was the former T Forty Two — is like two restaurants in one; sitting outside feels like you are in a lush greenhouse and though there is not a blade of grass in sight, the umbrellas and garden furniture speak of the "outdoors" while the inside of Botanical is like a French restaurant with its dark walls, mirrors and intimate lighting. The emphasis here is on fresh and flavourful food as can be tasted in dishes like the Botanical House Salad (a lovely mix of greens, Edamame pods, seaweed, shallots and glass noodles tossed with a sesame soy dressing... even the most rabid meat eater will love this), Portobello Mushroom Ragout (sauteed Portobello mushrooms sitting on a bed of creamy polenta and topped with a poached egg and shaved Parmagiano Reggiano... comfort food at its best) and Nasi Campur (brown rice, egg, eggplant sambal, ladies fingers, tempeh, tofu, emping and paku manis... so glorious you won't notice there is no meat). Portobello Mushroom Ragout... every mouthful speaks of comfort (left). Polenta fries make for a delightful munchie (right). – Pictures by CK Lim With Botanical, owner Benjamin Yong — as always — is just a little ahead of the curve. The man and creative visionary behind the BIG group of restaurants — which includes Ben's, Plan B, Ben's General Food Store and Ben's Independent Grocer, just to name a few — obviously thinks it is about time vegetarians and those of us who want to eat healthier deserve more than just an apology of a vegetarian section in a menu. The culinary cognoscenti will notice quite a few items on the menu which are inspired by Yotam Ottolenghi, the London-based chef and restaurant owner who also writes a food column in The Guardian. While he himself is not a vegetarian, Ottolenghi is known for his wonderful take on vegetarian food with recipes strong on flavours and fresh combinations. At Botanical, the obvious nods to Ottolenghi are the Chickpeas, Tomato & Bread Soup (let the bread soak up some of the liquid and you will get this thick rib-sticking soup reminiscent of a Tuscan ribbolata), Sweet Potato Cakes (soft, with a light crust... the yoghurt cucumber gives it a fresh lift), Portobello Mushroom Ragout and Very Full Tart (which features assorted roasted vegetables, Ricotta and Feta). Burnt Butter Wild Mushroom & Goat Cheese Salad... a must-try (left). Eggplant Dengaku... full-on flavours and contrasting textures (right). – Pictures by CK Lim With organic restaurants already popping up all over the city, Botanical has set the bar higher with its bold and innovate menu that will appeal to both vegetarians and flexitarians (that is what we, who are not averse to meat but prefer healthy food, like to call ourselves) alike. I love that the Asian dishes feature brown rice and the fact that mushrooms are done in many different ways here (Burnt Butter Wild Mushrooms & Goat Cheese Salad), Mushroom Carbonara (this one comes complete with a raw egg... like a real Carbonara should), Portobello Mushroom With Brown Rice, Portobello Mushroom Burger and so on. Raw Chocolate Cake... tastes like a decadent Christmas pudding. – Picture by CK Lim Yes, there are soups, salads, starters, pasta, pies, sandwiches and a pretty extensive Asian selection which features Malay, Korean and Japanese dishes. My favourite is the Eggplant Dengaku which features eggplant grilled with a miso paste served with brown rice, the Botanical house salad and a lovely mushroom broth. I am not the only fan of this particular dish. A friend, whose discerning palate makes her one of the best food writers I know, often craves the Eggplant Dengaku and has been known to drive all the way to Bangsar just to eat it! And then, there are the desserts: Early Grey Poached Pear (subtle and elegant), Strawberry Fruit Soup (it is what its name suggests, with an added surprise of pink peppercorn ice-cream and toasted butter cake croutons!), the Raw Chocolate Cake (with its dried fruits and nuts that reminds me of a Christmas pudding), Grilled Spiced Pineapple with Mascarpone (which is a melange of flavours with the thyme-infused honey, and black pepper) and finally, the most decadent of all, the Banana Split with chocolate, raspberry and roasted banana ice-cream, chocolate dipped bananas and biscuit stick. The service at Botanical is also another draw; the wait staff are warm and attentive. I was once there with a raucous group who wanted to take pictures of every dish and our waiter was totally unfazed. He helped to arrange the food on the already-overcrowded table and made sure everybody had everything they needed. Perfect. Lately, I have taken to observing my fellow diners and am happy to note a younger crowd seems to have grown to appreciate Botanical's offerings. Learning that vegetarian food does not have to be bland or artificial (no fake meats here!) may just set them on the path to a healthier way of eating. And that's the thing about love, isn't it? It's kind of infectious. The outside of Botanical feels like a greenhouse or garden. – Picture by Choo Choy May

How to cook with wine Posted: 02 Sep 2012 05:17 PM PDT NEW YORK, Sept 3 — By now, most home cooks are familiar with the cardinal rule echoed by chefs and cookery books everywhere: never cook with a wine you wouldn't drink. But sometimes, there's more to it than just adding a splash of wine from any open bottle, depending on cooking times, preparation methods and the recipe itself. For instance, adding a splash of vino to pick up the caramelised bits of seared beef leftover in the pan is one thing.  Emptying the contents of an entire bottle of wine for a slow-braised stew is quite another. To help home cooks uncork the appropriate bottle for the right dish, Relaxnews provides a primer on how to cook with wine. Different dishes require different types of wine. For coq au vin, for instance, try Pinot Noir, Burgundy, Beaujolais or Chianti, but avoid heavily oaked reds like Cabernet. — Picture courtesy of ©Joe Gough/shutterstock.com Types of wines If a recipe calls for a dry white wine, choose wines with less than 4g/litre of residual sugar. A dry wine is more acidic than sweet. For example, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadet, Sancerre and dry German Rieslings are good bets. For recipes that call for fruity white wines, consider picking up a Gewurztraminer or Viognier. Light-bodied red wine: Beaujolais, Valpolicella, inexpensive Pinot Noir, Chianti Full-bodied red wine: Cabernets, Merlots, Zinfandels, Brunellos, Burgundy wines Sweet fortified wines like port, sherry, Madeira and Marsala lend depth, nuttiness and richness to dishes. Type of application Red meat, red meat dishes, red sauces: Use a young, full-bodied red wine like Rioja/tempranillo or Beaujolais nouveau Soup, or beef stock: Earthy, full-bodied red wine like a Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Brunello, Merlot, or Zinfandel Fish, shellfish, seafood, poultry, pork or veal dishes: Use a dry white wine like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pouilly-Fuissé, Rhone Valley or dry fortified wine like vermouth White cream sauces: Use a dry white wine like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pouilly-Fuissé, Rhone Valley or dry fortified wine like vermouth Seafood soups like bouillabaisse: Crisp, dry white wine like Muscadet, Sancerre, Chablis Consommé, poultry, vegetable soups: Dry, fortified wine like sherry. — AFP-Relaxnews

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Actors shine in Venice film based on Scientology Posted: 02 Sep 2012 03:27 AM PDT VENICE, Sept 2 — Philip Seymour Hoffman shines as a cult leader in "The Master", a compelling new film inspired by the life of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard about how power and faith can corrupt. The movie, from "There Will Be Blood" director Paul Thomas Anderson, has its world premiere at the Venice film festival on Saturday and with the Weinstein Company behind it as US distributor, Oscar nominations look like a decent bet. Joaquin Phoenix (left) and Philip Seymour Hoffman at a photocall for "The Master" in Venice, September 1, 2012. — Reuters pic It was labelled "controversial" months before release mainly because of parallels with Scientology, a self-described religion followed by some of Hollywood's biggest names that has a reputation for carefully guarding its image. Its detractors describe the movement as a cult, which they say harasses people who seek to quit, although the movement rejects the criticism. Anderson confirmed that Hoffman's character Lancaster Dodd, a charismatic, charming and controlling man who leads a faith named "The Cause", was based on Hubbard, who died in 1986. "It's a character that I created based on L. Ron Hubbard. There are a lot of similarities with the early days of Dianetics," Anderson told reporters after a press screening, referring to the self-help system that Hubbard developed into Scientology. "I don't really know a whole lot about Scientology, particularly now, but I do know a lot about the beginning of that movement and it inspired me to use it as a backdrop for these characters." He said he had shown the film to Tom Cruise, a follower of Scientology who starred in Anderson's 1999 drama "Magnolia". "We are still friends. Yes, I showed him the film and the rest is between us." 'Love story' Adored and feared in equal measure, Dodd is surrounded by faithful followers, family and wealthy patrons who are intrigued by his theory of people's connection to billions of years of history and their ability to overcome the beast within. Dodd also claims to be able to cure illnesses, including forms of leukaemia, that go back "a trillion years", but when challenged by a sceptic at a party, he loses his cool and calls his questioner a "pig". Through a form of hypnosis called "processing", Dodd says he can cure humans of their demons and bring inner peace. But Freddie Quell, played by Joaquin Phoenix, a hard-drinking ex-sailor whose traumatic memories of war and troubled family history make him volatile, violent and full of self-loathing, proves to be his toughest challenge. Dodd's wife Mary Sue, played by Amy Adams, is suspicious of her husband's young protege, and tells Freddie: "This is something you do for a billion years or not at all. This isn't fashion." Anderson called the film a "love story" between the two male characters, and Hoffman said Dodd was "a reluctant prophet who actually wants to be wild like Freddie is". Critics showered praise on the central actors. The Hollywood Reporter called Phoenix's performance "career-defining" and said the movie was about much more than the parallels with Scientology. Phoenix was last at the Venice film festival in 2010, when his shambolic, bearded appearance on screen in the spoof documentary "I'm Still Here" was one of the main talking points and raised questions about his ability to carry on acting. In his first dramatic role since "Two Lovers" in 2008, the 37-year-old American is well cast as the explosive, unpredictable Freddie. Using paint thinner, chemicals and torpedo fuel to produce homemade liquor, he stumbles through life until he meets Dodd, who takes him under his wing and brings back a sense of self-worth to a man adrift and in need of love. True to his reputation, Phoenix briefly walked out of the press conference in Venice, came back in smoking a cigarette and, when asked about his acting in the film, said: "I don't know where it comes from and I don't care." He was later booed by photographers for failing to stop and pose for the cameras, although he did return to be pictured standing next to Harvey Weinstein. — Reuters

Michael Douglas in talks to play Ronald Reagan Posted: 01 Sep 2012 07:08 PM PDT Michael Douglas is in the process of shooting a Liberace biopic by Steven Soderbergh. — AFP pic NEW YORK, Sept 2 — Douglas is in negotiations to take on the role of former actor turned US president Ronald Reagan in a political drama called Reykjavik, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Michael Douglas, recently seen in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, would portray the Republican president, who led the country between 1981 and 1989. Reykjavik will relate what went on behind the scenes during the Icelandic summit in October 1986, between the US president and his Soviet counterpart Mikhail Gorbachev. This meeting was a landmark in the fight against the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Ridley Scott, once eyed as a possible director, will in fact produce the project. Production is set to start in Germany in March, with Mike Newell (Donnie Brasco) as possible director. — AFP-Relaxnews

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Work, mahjong and tea: Hong Kong’s secrets to longevity Posted: 02 Sep 2012 02:36 AM PDT Researchers say mahjong can help delay the onset of dementia. HONG KONG, Sept 2 — Covered in smog and cramped apartment towers, Hong Kong is not usually associated with a healthy lifestyle. But new figures show that Hong Kongers are the longest-living people in the world. Hong Kong men have held the title for more than a decade and recent data show women in the southern Chinese city overtaking their Japanese counterparts for the first time, according to the governments in Tokyo and Hong Kong. Hong Kong women's life expectancy rose from an average 86 years in 2010 to 86.7 years in 2011, while Japanese women's longevity was hit by last year's earthquake and tsunami, falling to 85.9 years, census figures reveal. So what is Hong Kong's secret to a long life? Experts say there is no single elixir, but contributing factors include easy access to modern health care, keeping busy, traditional Cantonese cuisine and even the centuries-old Chinese tile game of mahjong. Rolling stones gather no moss "I love travelling, I like to see new things and I meet my friends for 'yum cha' every day," Mak Yin, an 80-year-old grandmother of six says as she practises the slow-motion martial art of tai chi in a park on a Sunday morning. "Yum cha" is the Cantonese term to describe the tradition of drinking tea with bite-sized delicacies known as dim sum. The tea is free and served non-stop, delivering a healthy dose of antioxidants with the meal. "My friends are in their 60s — they think I'm around their age too, although I'm much older than them," Mak laughs. Mak's favourite food is steamed vegetables, rice and fruit. Cantonese food is famous for steamed fish and vegetables — dishes that use little or none of the cooking oils blamed for heart disease, obesity and high cholesterol. But before Mak enjoys her afternoon tea, she joins a group of elderly people for her morning exercise of tai chi, an ancient Chinese practice said to have benefits including improving balance and boosting cardiovascular strength. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in February found that tai chi reduces falls and "appears to reduce balance impairments" in people with mild-to-moderate Parkinson's disease. Another factor behind Hong Kongers' longevity, experts say, is work. While others long for the day they can retire and kick up their heels, many people in Hong Kong work well into their 70s and even 80s. Hong Kong does not have a statutory retirement age and it is common to see elderly people working in shops, markets and restaurants alongside younger staff. "Many old people in our city remain working, that contributes to better psychological and mental health," Hong Kong Association of Gerontology president Edward Leung says. "For older people, a lot of them are stressed because they have nothing to do and they develop 'emptiness syndrome'. This causes mental stress." Fishmonger Lee Woo-hing, 67, says he could not bear to sit at home and do nothing. His inspiration is local tycoon Li Ka-shing, Asia's richest man, who still runs his vast business empire in his 80s. "If Li Ka-shing continues working at the age of 84, why should I retire?" asks the father-of-four during a break from his 14-hour shift at a bustling market in central Hong Kong. "If I just sit at home and stare at the walls, I'm worried that my brain will degenerate faster. I'm happy to chat with different people here in the market." 'Mahjong delays dementia' Hong Kong's cramped living conditions are famously unhealthy, fuelling outbreaks of disease and viruses including bird flu and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) which have killed dozens of people. The city's reputation won it the dubious distinction of a starring role in director Steven Soderbergh's 2011 disaster thriller "Contagion", about a deadly virus that spreads from Hong Kong to the United States. But in the day-to-day habits of ordinary people, experts say Hong Kong is a great place to grow old. A popular local way of keeping busy and meeting friends is mahjong — a mentally stimulating tile game which can help delay dementia, according to aging expert Alfred Chan, of Hong Kong's Lingnan University. "It stimulates the parts that control memory and cognitive abilities. It helps old people with their retention of memory," he says. The complex rules and calculation of scores make mahjong, also known as the Chinese version of dominoes, mentally demanding. But the social aspects of the four-player game are just as important. "In mahjong you need to play with three other people. It is a very good social activity, you have to interact with each other constantly," says Chan, who has studied the game's effects on the well being of elderly people. "It is also a self-fulfilling game because if you win — whether you play with money or not — it gives you a sense of empowerment." Mahjong parlours are popular in Hong Kong, and mahjong tables are a must at Chinese wedding banquets. "I'm in semi-retirement. I work in the morning and hang out with my friends by playing mahjong in the afternoon," says 67-year-old tailor Yeung Fook, on the sidelines of a game in his modest garment shop. "I'm happier when I work. It's boring to just sit at home." — AFP/Relaxnews

Questioning Rio’s boom: A contrarian in Brazil Posted: 02 Sep 2012 12:09 AM PDT Rio de Janeiro might be booming but some officials are worried about a myriad of issues — Rio needs a reminder of all that is wrong — from uneven development to deep inequality to corruption and organized crime. — Reuters pic RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 2 — To many in this coastal metropolis, Rio de Janeiro has never had it so good. After decades of decay, crippling crime rates, and a loss of big business to rival São Paulo, Rio is on the rise. A recent boom in Brazil's economy, the discovery of massive offshore oilfields nearby, and Rio's planned hosting of the World Cup and Olympics in the next four years have restored some of the splendour to the tropical city of 6.5 million people. But one local official is tired of the exuberance. Marcelo Freixo, a 45-year-old state assemblyman, thinks Rio needs a reminder of all that is wrong — from uneven development to deep inequality to corruption and organized crime. Now, the schoolteacher turned human-rights activist turned politician hopes his call for a reality check can help him, in October elections, topple the popular mayor who presides over all the preening. "What good is all this progress if it's not addressing our core problems?" asks Freixo in his cluttered office behind the state assembly house. "We need better schools, better hospitals, safer neighbourhoods, not just spectacle." It's tempting to dismiss Freixo as a spoilsport. His slight build, heavy brow, and modest wardrobe give him a scholarly, almost clerical, air that runs counter to Rio's colourful cockiness. Were it not for the presence of bodyguards needed after a crackdown he waged on crooked cops, he would still pass for an academic. But Freixo's arguments matter to many in a city that symbolizes the frustrations of Brazil itself, a country that has long struggled to fulfill its enormous potential. After past glory as a colonial stronghold, the seat of the Portuguese crown and the capital of an independent Brazil, Rio went into decline when Brasilia became the capital in 1960. As industry grew in São Paulo, Rio lost its standing as Brazil's financial centre. Like the rest of the country, it succumbed to economic volatility for most of the past half-century and suffered poverty, ramshackle development, and crime. But as Brazil entered a period of sustained growth over the last decade, though, Rio's fortunes reversed. Recovering past glory Billions of dollars worth of investments poured in after new oil was discovered south of its famous beaches. Rio is one of 12 venues for the 2014 World Cup and it alone will host the 2016 Olympics, requiring investments of at least US$14 billion (RM44 billion). The changing tide has spawned a property boom. Drug lords have been chased out of some of Rio's notorious favelas, or slums. Its decrepit old port is being made over so cruise and luxury vessels can berth at docks until recently lined by crack dens. Still, the progress lacks balance, Freixo argues. It's all happening along a narrow strip of coastline that is home to the elite, beaches and tourist attractions, and the corridor where World Cup and Olympic activities will take place. The rest of the city, Freixo says, remains neglected — giving Rio some of the worst health, educational, and social statistics in Brazil. Murder rates in poor neighbourhoods are as much as 20 times higher than those of rich areas, approaching levels of countries at civil war. "There are millions of cariocas who don't benefit at all from the recent development," he argues, using the term for Rio natives. "The city focuses exclusively on tourism and big events — not the people who actually live here." Slim odds Eduardo Paes, the incumbent mayor, disagrees. New roads and bus lines, Paes argues, are already helping legions who flock daily from working-class neighbourhoods. The refurbished port and new Olympic facilities will further development in marginal areas nearby. Paes scoffs at Freixo's underdog candidacy and his recent advances in polls. He refuses to accept Freixo's charge that the city, obsessed with "spectacle," ignores everything else. "There is still a lot to do," Paes admits. "No one is saying this is paradise on earth." Paes heads a coalition of 20 centrist and centre-left parties, backed by big business, with a 30-fold advantage in financing. After early advertising — Paes grins from posters on hillsides, lamp posts, and bridges — he enjoys a towering poll lead over Freixo, the second-place candidate, and three others. Despite the odds, Freixo believes he could force a runoff. What he lacks in financing he makes up for in buzz — enjoying support from intellectuals and artists, including influential songwriter Caetano Veloso, author of his campaign jingle. He is also drawing growing numbers of young voters, so many of whom turned up for a recent speech that Freixo moved the event at the last minute from an auditorium to a nearby plaza. Freixo has surprised people before. He grew up across Guanabara bay in Rio's sister city of Niteroi. Neither of his parents, who worked as support staff at local schools, went past middle school themselves. A lifelong interest in human rights began when he played soccer, as a teen, in a local jail with convicts on recess. After studying economics and history at a Rio university, Freixo taught in area schools and gave remedial courses in prisons. As Brazil's military dictatorship gave way to democracy in the mid-1980s, he took part in local organizing for the leftist Workers' Party, now Brazil's dominant political group, and began researching police abuses and prison conditions. "He has an analytical mind that sees beyond individual incidents and abuses," says Tim Cahill, a London-based researcher for Amnesty International. "He understands the structural and policy problems behind them." Freixo also caught the eye of Chico Alencar, a state assemblyman, now in Congress, who hired him as an adviser. After the Workers' Party won Brazil's presidency in 2002, Freixo, Alencar and others grew disaffected by its move to the center. They formed the PSOL, a leftist party known for its focus on education, poverty, and human rights. In 2005, Renato, a younger brother, was fatally gunned down. Investigators believe the murder was vengeance from crooked police officers after Renato fired them from a moonlighting gig as guards at the building where he lived and acted as superintendent. The next year, colleagues persuaded Freixo to run for the state assembly. With just over 13,000 votes, the lowest of any Rio legislator that election, he scraped into office. Fighting the power On his first day in the legislature, Freixo called for the creation of a committee to go after corrupt cops and their infamous militias, which control crime and entire neighbourhoods in Rio's sprawling suburbs. Though most legislators resisted - some were on militia payrolls - they relented when a police torture scandal sparked cries for a clean-up. Ultimately, Freixo's efforts led to the expulsion of four fellow legislators and the indictment of 226 police officers. The clean-up brought a surge in support. Freixo was re-elected to the assembly in 2010 with nearly 180,000 votes, more than all but one other Rio legislator. The writers of "Tropa de Elite," a blockbuster film about Rio police, wrote a Freixo character into a sequel. He also earned new enemies. Death threats forced the state to equip him with a security detail and an armored car. Last August, a friend, a Niteroi judge hearing militia cases, was shot dead while she drove home. Weeks later, the state security service intercepted a series of credible threats against Freixo. He decamped to Spain until things calmed down. Political opponents called his brief exile a publicity stunt. The critique was common among some who find Freixo too earnest, even sanctimonious. He offers few apologies. "If someone doesn't like what I stand for, that's their problem," Freixo says. On a recent Thursday afternoon, bodyguards in tow, Freixo took to a pedestrian retail district in central Rio. At one busy corner, he stopped a middle-aged woman, handed her a leaflet, and made his pitch. "I know who you are," the woman said. "I might be willing to vote for you." — Reuters

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Author and aviator Richard Bach injured in plane crash Posted: 01 Sep 2012 08:31 PM PDT CAMANO ISLAND (Washington), Sept 2 — Richard Bach, a pilot and author of the 1970s bestselling book "Jonathan Livingston Seagull," was seriously injured when he flipped his small aircraft on landing at an island in north-western Washington state authorities said yesterday. Bach, 76, clipped power lines with the landing gear of his 2008 Easton Gilbert Searey as he tried to land on a grass airstrip on San Juan Island, said Michael McElrath, the dispatcher for the San Juan County Sheriff's Office. The crash left Bach suspended upside down and strapped to his harness in the single-engine plane, McElrath said. A group of tourists found Bach and cut him loose from the wreckage. He was bleeding and had a "dent" in his head, Lucy Williams, one of the tourists, told the San Juan Islander, a local publication. Bach was transported by helicopter to Harborview Medical Centre in Seattle. A nursing supervisor said yesterday that he was listed in serious condition. Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board were on San Juan Island yesterday to probe the cause of the crash, McElrath said, adding that Bach lived on nearby Orcas Island though it was unclear where he had taken off from. The plane was "heavily damaged" in the crash, McElrath said. Posts on Bach's official website indicated that he called his plane "Puff." Bach's novella "Jonathan Livingston Seagull," which was published in 1970 and topped the New York Times Best Sellers list two years later, tells the story of a daring seagull who pushes himself to become a phenomenal flyer and is expelled from his seagull clan. It was made into a movie in 1973. The author's other books include "Illusions" and "One." — Reuters

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Politiking, oh politiking… Posted: 01 Sep 2012 04:58 PM PDT 2 SEPT — Politiking merupakan sesuatu yang lumrah dalam kehidupan seharian. Ia boleh berlaku di tempat kerja, di rumah, sekolah mahupun dalam kalangan anggota keluarga sendiri.  Hampir semua daripada kita pasti akan mengharungi pengalaman tersebut.  Banyak ketikanya, perasaan yang dialami adalah bercampur-campur. Ada yang enak dan tidak kurang juga yang kurang enak.  Pastinya, politiking bukan sesuatu yang indah, lebih-lebih lagi di tempat kerja. Jika di rumah mahupun sekolah, seseorang itu hanya perlu berhadapan dengan sekumpulan manusia yang kecil, di tempat kerja pula…situasinya agak berlainan.  Di tempat kerja, mereka perlu berhadapan dengan lautan manusia yang ramai, masing-masing dengan ego tersendiri. Sejauhmana seseorang itu berhadapan dengan politiking di tempat kerja banyak bergantung kepada beberapa faktor seperti jenis jawatan yang disandang, sejauhmana dirinya menyesuaikan diri dengan keadaan persekitaran dan kesanggupan rakan sejawat di tempat kerja baru menerima kehadirannya.  Mereka mungkin merasa marah dan ingin melakukan sesuatu untuk memperbetulkan keadaan. Kadangkala, usaha itu berjaya dan adakalanya juga gagal.  Mahu tidak mahu, inilah alam pekerjaan yang penuh dengan pelbagai watak manusia. Jujur, hipokrit, berterus-terangnya — semuanya kelihatan!  Selagi ada individu yang bernama manusia dan selagi ada kuasa di hadapannya, maka jangan harap ia akan terhenti di pertengahan jalan. Sememangnya, situasi sedemikian sesuatu yang membingungkan tetapi sedia maklum bahawa setiap orang perlu berbuat demikian semata-mata untuk menjaga periuk nasi mereka.  Bayangkan, siapakah yang mahu periuk nasinya terjejas? Semuanya memang pentingkan diri sendiri. Daripada dirinya mati, lebih baik orang lain mati terlebih dahulu…inilah mentaliti sekarang di mana-mana.  Pendek kata, dalam alam pekerjaan…siapa yang tahan lasak, dialah yang akan kekal.  Perkara ini adalah benar lebih-lebih lagi bagi mereka yang bekerja di sebuah organisasi yang besar.  Ramai beranggapan politik itu kotor. Namun hakikatnya, yang mengotorkan politik itu adalah manusia atau si pelaku itu sendiri. Tuhan telah mencipta kita kepada beberapa ras dan keturunan dengan harapan mereka dapat berinteraksi dan berkenal-kenalan. Namun ada ketikanya, harapan itu tinggal harapan semata-mata.  Politiking di tempat kerja sememangnya bukan sesuatu yang mudah diatasi. Bagi yang lemah ketahanan, sudah tentu mereka akan hanyut dengan pelbagai gosip dan halangan yang meloyakan.  Tetapi bagi mereka yang kuat dan sanggup menahan asakan demi asakan, segala kesukaran dapat diharungi dengan mudah. Inilah sebenarnya sikap yang perlu ada pada seseorang untuk menangani politiking di tempat kerja.  Mereka diupah untuk bekerja dan memberikan yang terbaik kepada syarikat yang dinaungi, bukannya bergosip mahupun berpolitik. Jika beria-ia untuk berpolitik, nasihat kepada individu terbabit…ceburilah arena politik yang penuh dengan kepura-puraan.  Apa tidaknya, dalam arena politik…mereka ini lebih bebas untuk menterjemahkan apa yang ingin disampaikan. Temberang sedikit orang lain masih ada orang akan mempercayai mereka.  Tidak dinafikan politiking di tempat kerja adalah sesuatu yang biasa. Apapun, ia tidak boleh dibiarkan merebak ke satu tahap yang mana ia boleh memberi kesan serius kepada perjalanan operasi syarikat. Yang pasti, reputasi syarikat yang dinaungi itu akan menerima tempiasnya jika masalah politiking tidak ditangani dengan bijak.  Tidak salah untuk "berpolitiking" di tempat kerja. Ia boleh dianggap sebagai sesuatu yang positif jika ia membantu pekerja memperbaiki prestasinya. Malangnya, ia hanya dapat diatasi jika semua pelaku memilih untuk meletakkan kepentingan syarikat sebagai keutamaan berbanding kepentingan agenda peribadi.  Untuk itu, adalah penting bagi mereka yang terkesan dengan politiking keterlaluan di tempat kerja agar banyakkan bersabar dan tabah. Tidak rugi untuk seseorang itu bersabar. Kesabaran mengajar kita untuk sentiasa tenang dan tidak melakukan sesuatu secara terburu-buru.  Apa gunanya untuk seseorang individu itu merasa marah terhadap situasi yang berada di luar kawalannya? Apakah mereka harus marah setiap kali ada pihak yang cuba menguji kesabarannya? Bagaimana jika ada 100 orang yang mempunyai sikap sebegitu? Perlukah kerenah pihak sebegini turut dilayan?  Selain bersabar, seseorang pekerja itu harus bijak bermain perang psikologi dengan pihak yang satu lagi. Gosip ataupun hasutan yang cuba dicetuskan merupakan sebahagian daripada perang psikologi untuk membuatkan seseorang itu marah.  Maka, sebagai seorang manusia yang telah dikurniakan akal fikiran, mereka perlu bijak menilai dan memerhati tindak-tanduk pihak yang satu lagi agar tidak terperangkap dalam permainan musuh.  Bukankah kesabaran sebahagian daripada iman?  Kepada pemimpin-pemimpin politik yang akan bertanding dalam Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 nanti, nasihat ini juga sesuai untuk anda semua.  * Pandangan di atas hanyalah komentar peribadi penulis.

Register to vote Posted: 01 Sep 2012 04:51 PM PDT SEPT 2 — The deadline for registering to vote for the last quarter of the year is September 15, 2012. Elections must be held before April 28, 2013, after the five year mandate is up.  While 2008 was the year of the political tsunami, 2013 could well be the year of change. (For better or worse is another story)  The Opposition is confident of wresting Putrajaya from the ruling coalition through the people's vote. However, there have been many concerns about the transparency and validity of the elections itself.  The large turnout at the BERSIH rally — founded with the objective of a clean and fair elections — shows that a substantial number of people believe the electoral machinery can be improved. Furthermore, numerous reports have emerged about phantom voters and "bought" votes.  The big question on many of the rakyat's minds  now is whether the ruling coalition will sabotage any potential win by the Opposition through bogus votes, vote buying and vote coercion (as in the case of uniformed personnel who are made to vote the ruling coalition as reported by some online media).  There are also enough concerns about vote counts on Election Day that Tindak Malaysia is urging citizens to volunteer to be polling agents to ensure accurate vote counts. (www.tindakmalaysia.com).  I whole heartedly support Tindak Malaysia's move to involve citizens in ensuring a clean and fair election and call on all Malaysians keen to be a part of nation making to volunteer.  The fact that members of the Election Commission are members of a political party has also called the integrity of the commission into question.  All this leads to fears that the elections may be rigged.  However, the government is making efforts to ensure a clean and fair election to the best of their ability. They have introduced the use of indelible ink and shown they have listened to the concerns of the BERSIH movement.  Furthermore, while some may construe the handing out of cash assistance to the poor as blatant vote buying, it can't be denied that it is part of a government's duty to help the poor. It's a fine line between vote buying and helping the poor.  In Malaysia, we have 27 million people of which  up to 15,683,808 (by Februaury 2012) are eligible to vote. That's about half our population. Unfortunately, not everyone who is eligible has registered to vote.  I believe that despite all the accusations of vote tampering, it would be difficult to overturn the people's will if large enough numbers turn out to vote (whoever it is they want to vote for).  Meanwhile the prime minister has painstakingly reached out to the public. Datuk Seri Najib Razak is one of the most popular political leaders on Twitter, garnering a large number of followers. He has tweeted constantly, speaking directly to the people and hearing their concerns.  He has made it clear that there will be transformational programmes in place according to the changes desired by the public. Obviously, the ruling coalition is trying very hard to win public approval as it does not have a mechanism in place to seal a win like how an authoritarian or dictatorial government would.  So while we may have doubts over the legitamacy of the elections, let's be fair to the ruling coalition too.  It should be a fair fight — where the people emerge as the true winners by being able to have a say about what kind of government they want.  As such, it boils down to us, the rakyat, to step up to the plate. It is the responsibility of all Malaysians to register to vote and to eventually make your voices heard at the polling booth.  There is little point in complaining about a political party if one does not vote and decide who should govern. It makes more sense to vote than to sit at the mamak all day making demands.  Whether you trust the government is experienced enough to handle the needs of the nation or you want change and are willing to chance the country's future with a new management team, is your perogative. But if you didn't register to vote, and your political party loses, don't cry injustice or unfair politicking.  Pos Malaysia handles voter registeration and is easily accessible in every state. All you need to do is bring your MyKad and yourself. This Merdeka, let all eligible voters be registered to vote! * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.

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MB Kedah hadir majlis sambutan Aidilfitri negeri Posted: 02 Sep 2012 12:43 AM PDT KUALA LUMPUR, 2 Sept  — Menteri Besar Kedah Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak muncul semalam di majlis sambutan Aidilfitri PAS negeri semalam walaupun diarah berada di hospital, lapor akhbar Cina Sin Chew Daily. Akhbar itu memetik kenyataan Naib Presiden PAS, Datuk Mahfuz Omar berkata Azizan telah meminta kebenaran doktor untuk menghadiri majlis tersebut. Azizan (gambar), yang kini berusia 72 dilaporkan telah pulang ke Pusat Perubatan Kedah di Alor Setar selepas menghabiskan kira-kira setengah jam di rumah terbuka tersebut. Pada 31 Ogos, Setiausaha Agung PAS Datuk Mustafa Ali berkata Azizan telah dimasukkan ke hospital selepas pitam ketika musin Ramadhan. Azizan juga diarahkan berada di hospital untuk pemerhatian lanjut, Mustafa berkata mesyuarat exco negeri turut diadakan di hospital sekiranya perlu. Penghujung Ogos lalu, Azizan telah dirujuk ke Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) selepas mengalami sakit dada. Menteri Besar Kedah itu turut mempunyai sejarah darah tinggi dan arteri yang tersumbat. Keadaan kesihatan Azizan itu telah menimbulkan spekulasi beliau akan dipaksa berundur atas faktor kesihatannya, namun beliau menafikan spekulasi terbabit dan akan meneruskan tugasnya. Pilihan raya umum yang harus dilakukan menjelang April 2013 apabila mandat Barisan Nasional (BN) akan tamat. Kedah adalah salah satu daripada lima negeri yang BN tewas pada 2008, termasuk Selangor, Pulau Pinang, Perak, dan Kelantan. Negeri itu kemudiannya menjadi fokus untuk ditawan semula oleh BN dalam pilihan raya akan datang. Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak minggu lalu telah mengadakan lawatan ke negeri berkenaan dan menggesa ahli Umno untuk bersedia menghadapi pilihan raya umum.

Dr Mahathir penerima ijazah Doktor Kehormat Kepimpinan dan Pemberdayaan Bangsa Melayu Posted: 02 Sep 2012 12:27 AM PDT Dr Mahathir penerima ijazah Doktor Kehormat Kepimpinan dan Pemberdayaan Bangsa Melayu SURAKARTA(Indonesia) , 2 Sept — Bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dijadual menerima anugerah ijazah Doktor Kehormat Ilmu Sosial dan Budaya Dalam Bidang Kepimpinan dan Pemberdayaan Bangsa Melayu oleh Universiti Sebelas Maret Indonesia (UNS-Solo) Jawa Tengah pada upacara khas di kampus induk universiti itu di sini, pada Isnin.. Anugerah itu bagi mengiktiraf sumbangan dan jasa Dr Mahathir dalam usaha meningkatkan  martabat bangsa Melayu di peringkat dunia. "Jasa Dr Mahathir sangat besar kepada pembangkitan keyakinan diri bangsa Melayu untuk  tampil setaraf dengan bangsa-bangsa lain di dunia. "Selama ini mungkin bangsa Melayu masih dianggap rendah daripada bangsa-bangsa lain di  dunia, tetapi dalam tempoh kepimpinan Dr Mahathir sebagai Perdana Menteri Malaysia, orang  Melayu terasa terangkat," kata Rektor UNS-Solo Prof Dr Ravik Karsidi pada sidang akhbar di sini pada Ahad. Dr Mahathir akan menjadi tokoh kedua menerima ijazah doktor kehormat daripada universiti itu, selepas seorang tokoh dari Indonesia kira-kira tiga tahun lalu. Tokoh pertama penerima ijazah doktor kehormat daripada universiti itu ialah bekas Ketua  Setiausaha Kementerian Pertanian Indonesia Dr Mas'ud Wisnu Wardana, yang menerima ijazah doktor kehormat dalam bidang pertanian. UNS-Solo adalah sebuah daripada universiti awam ternama di Indonesia dan ia berada di ranking ketujuh di antara 72 universiti awam di seluruh Indonesia. UNS-Solo juga merupakan sebuah universiti yang melatih penuntut Malaysia dalam bidang perubatan. Bersempena penganugerahan ijazah kehormat itu, Dr Mahathir akan menyampaikan syarahan umum bertajuk "Kriminalisasi Perang" di universiti itu pada Isnin. Bekas Perdana Menteri Malaysia itu, yang akan diiringi isterinya Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, dijadual menziarahi makam bekas Presiden Indonesia Soeharto di Giribangun, Solo, selepas  upacara penganugerahan itu. Allahyarham Soeharto semasa hayatnya adalah antara sahabat karib Dr Mahathir. Sebagai rangkaian kepada majlis penganugerahan ijazah doktor kehormat itu, UNS-Solo dan Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) pada hari ini menganjurkan Seminar Antarabangsa bertajuk "Masa  Depan Bangsa-bangsa Melayu Di Tengah Krisis dan Perubahan Politik Global". Dr Mahathir yang dalam rangka lawatan tiga hari ke Indonesia, akan turut menyampaikan syarahan umum bertajuk "War Is Crime" anjuran Yayasan Keamanan Global Perdana, di Universiti Muhammadiyah, Yogyakarta pada Selasa. — Bernama

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