Jumaat, 14 September 2012

The Malaysian Insider :: Food

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The Malaysian Insider :: Food


Jun Ne: Fresh and inventive

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 06:12 PM PDT

The Gyu Tataki – lightly roasted beef in tangy citrusy sauce – is a must-try.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 — After the first time I ate at Ju Ne in Solaris Dutamas, I kept wanting to go back. Then it was just the two of us, and the Chanko Nabe, a seafood hotpot was a good choice. What did it for me were the plump oysters that had been put in last in the bubbling miso stock. Somehow their natural sweetness was enhanced by the soup.

After we had finished eating all the prawns, squid, salmon, crab and mussels, and vegetables like mushrooms, cabbage and lettuce, the pot was taken back to the kitchen, and to the soup was added rice (you could have udon too) and egg. The porridge tasted wonderful, having soaked in the essence of everything in the pot.

We had as appetizers the unforgettable Negitoro Yukka Garlic Zoe, and the Ebishinjyo No Renkon Hasamiage. The first is chopped tuna belly and anchovy with wasabi mayonnaise on garlic toast; the second is lotus root stuffed with shrimp paste, deepfried and served with green tea powder, red shiso and salt and black pepper.

The Negitoro Yukke Garlic Toast Zoe is a fabulous starter.

I heaped the very crispy and garlicky toast with the chopped, smooth tuna, and there was enough of wasabi in the mayonnaise to give it a lift. It tasted so good that I had it again on my second and third visit there.

The thin slices of lotus root sandwiched with shrimp paste, dipped in tempura batter and deep-fried, offer crunchy root with sweet prawny flavours. You could touch it with any of the dips provided. I thought the red shiso worked well with it.

On the third visit, on a Saturday afternoon, we were told that the place had been booked out, and to return at 1.30pm. But by 1pm, the crowd had cleared.

For teppanyaki fans, the Tori To Yasai No will satisfy.

This time we had a Ju Ne veteran in our midst, who proceeded to order the lotus root and garlic toast, Gyu Tataki, Prawn Tempura, Kampachi and Aori Ika (yellowtail and squid sashimi), Ochazuke Uma and Mentaiko, Zaru Soba, Tori To Yasai No (teppanyaki chicken and vegetables), Negitoro Maki and California Maki.

Ebishinyo No Renkon Hasamiage or Minced Prawn with Lotus Root... absolutely delightful.

It was a breathtaking list of dishes but they demonstrated the young Japanese chef's range. The sashimi impressed with its freshness. The prawn tempura was expectedly light.

The Ochazuke Uma and Ochazuke Mentaiko bowled me over. It was rice with soup — Japanese comfort food at its best. I couldn't decide which was better – the Uma one with the sour plum that was appetite stirring, or the one with mentaiko or spicy cod roe, that delivered a little heat to the delicious rice soup. I would still want both the next time I'm there.

The Gyu Tataki  had slices of beef still rare from the searing, dressed in a vinegary, citrusy sauce and topped with a cloud of finely sliced onions. The onions provided a contrast in texture with the beef, imbuing it with a fresh sweetness as well.

We had some tender, juicy chicken glistening with a sweet sauce from the teppan, accompanied by vegetables like cauliflower, cucumber and tomato.

The Prawn Tempura turned out well, crispy where it should be, with no oily traces. We liked the Negitoro Maki and the California Maki too.

Yellowtail and squid sashimi... very fresh.

Shared, the Zaru Soba was a pleasant interlude, dipping the chilled buckwheat noodles into a bowl of sauce with chopped spring onions and wasabi.  It's the right food to eat on a hot day.

On a previous outing I found the Garden Salad with an anchovy dip irresistible. Cauliflower, watercress, baby radishes and carrots, sweet corn and squash served on ice, were just lovely with the lightly sweet, mellow and creamy anchovy sauce.

What's more, eating at Ju Ne is not expensive. The Chanko Nabe is RM64, Gyu Tataki RM28, Negitoro Yukke Garlic RM25, sashimi platter RM60, Ochazuke RM12 (of each flavour), Prawn tempura RM28, chicken and vegetable teppanyaki RM22, Minced Prawn with Lotus Root RM19.

Ju Ne is located at Block A4, Level G2, Unit 4A-G2-3A, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-6207 9923.


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The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

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Benfica’s Luisao suspended for pushing referee

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 08:08 AM PDT

Luisao (left) and Chelsea's Salomon Kalou battle for the ball during their Champions League quarter-final first leg match at the Luz stadium in Lisbon March 27, 2012. — Reuters pic

LISBON, Sept 14 — Benfica captain Luisao has been suspended for two months for physical aggression against a referee in a pre-season friendly in Germany, the Portugal Football Federation (FPF) said today.

Centre back Luisao pushed over referee Christian Fisher during a friendly in Germany against Fortuna Duesseldorf in August.

The referee fell backwards to the ground, apparently losing his senses for a few minutes.

After getting back up, he suspended the match and left the pitch. He later pressed charges against the Brazil international.

"The FPF applied a two-month suspension and a €2,550 (RM10,170) fine to Anderson Luis da Silva (Luisao)," the FPF said in a statement on its website (www.fpf.pt).

The FPF said it would inform FIFA of its decision, making it likely that Luisao's suspension could be applied in the Champions League as well as Portuguese competition.

If that happened, the 31-year-old Luisao would miss Benfica's first four games of the Champions League group phase.

The team are drawn with Barcelona, Celtic and Spartak Moscow. — Reuters

FIFA extends Conte’s ban worldwide

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 07:56 AM PDT

FIFA has now invoked part of its disciplinary code to enforce Conte's ban worldwide. — Reuters pic

ROME, Sept 14 — Juventus coach Antonio Conte's 10-month Italian ban for not reporting match-fixing has been extended globally, FIFA said today, meaning he will not be on the bench for Wednesday's Champions League opener at holders Chelsea.

Conte, who has strenuously denied the allegations from his time in charge of Siena, is set to miss the entire Serie A season after being banned by the Italian football federation on August 10 and FIFA has now invoked part of its disciplinary code to enforce the ban worldwide.

"This suspension covers all types of matches, including domestic, international, friendly and official fixtures," FIFA said in a statement.

Assistant coach Massimo Carrera is standing in for Conte while Juventus pursue various appeals.

A row has broken out in Italy over what the ban actually means and whether he can train the squad in private. — Reuters

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The Malaysian Insider :: Features

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Survey names Oslo the world’s priciest city

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 07:00 AM PDT

Oslo has the world's highest average wages and the biggest purchasing power. — Reuters pic

ZURICH, Sept 14 — Oslo is the most expensive city in the world, ahead of Zurich and Tokyo, but the well-paid residents of the Swiss financial hub enjoy the greatest purchasing power, according to a study released today.

The annual survey of 72 cities by Swiss bank UBS found its own hometown had the world's highest average wages and the biggest purchasing power.

The study examined the price of a basket of 122 goods and services, adjusted for currency fluctuations.

The cost of living index was calculated by dividing the price of goods by the weighted net hourly wage in 15 sectors.

"In Tokyo, it takes nine minutes of work to earn enough to buy a Big Mac, while in Nairobi, it takes 84 minutes," it said.

Zurich residents must work 13 minutes for the hamburger, but other goods were relatively cheaper than in Tokyo, putting the Swiss city top of the purchasing power index.

"Workers in Zurich can buy an iPhone after 22 hours work; in Manila, by contrast, it takes around 20 times longer," UBS said.

Workers had to toil 42 minutes in Istanbul and 29 minutes in Shanghai for a Big Mac, while in New York and Hong Kong just 10 minutes were required.

The cheapest places to live were Delhi and Mumbai.

New York was the sixth most expensive, Moscow came in at number 40 and Shanghai at 49.

The survey also looked at working hours and found the shortest were in Paris, Lyon and Copenhagen.

Workers in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America toil the longest, at over 2,000 hours per year, it found. — Reuters

Acupuncture may help with chronic pain

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 02:44 AM PDT

Researchers find acupuncture is an effective treatment for chronic pain. — Picture courtesy of ©Bork/shutterstock.com

NEW YORK, Sept 14 — New research published on Monday finds that acupuncture can take the sting out of chronic pain, at least a little bit.

In a study released online in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New York looked at more than two dozen studies involving 17,922 patients with back, neck and shoulder pain, osteoarthritis or chronic headaches.

Results found that both acupuncture and "sham" acupuncture treatments, in which the needles weren't placed properly, worked to lessen pain compared to no acupuncture.

The study's findings, according to TakePart health blog, mean in real terms that on a scale of 0 to 100, the average pain score at the start of a study might be 60.

At the end of the study, the no-acupuncture group average score might be 43, while the sham group would be 35 and the true acupuncture would be 30.

"Many clinicians consider acupuncture to be merely a potent placebo and feel uncomfortable referring their patients to an acupuncturist," researcher Andrew Vickers said.

"But our findings suggest that the effects of acupuncture go over and above the placebo effect."

The study follows another from 2009 that found that the pain-relieving effects of acupuncture compared with placebo are small and seem to lack clinical relevance.

The findings were published in the British Medical Journal. — AFP-Relaxnews

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The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz

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Rihanna’s seventh album out in November

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 08:45 AM PDT

Fans of pop and R&B singer Rihanna can expect the launch of a new album from her in November. — Reuters pic

LOS ANGELES, Sept 14 — Pop and R&B singer Rihanna is set to launch a new album in November on Def Jam.

Though few details have been revealed, many well known artists will collaborate with the young star, such as French DJ David Guetta — who has already worked with her for the 2010 song "Who's That Chick?"

After "Talk That Talk" (2011), the Barbadian singer will promote her seventh effort with the Diamonds World Tour, starting in spring 2013 in the US. — AFP/Relaxnews

Christian Slater joins cast of Lars von Trier’s ‘Nymphomaniac’

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 08:29 AM PDT

LOS ANGELES, Sept 14 — Christian Slater will join the cast of Lars von Trier's upcoming erotic drama "Nymphomaniac", according to Variety.

Actor Christian Slater will be joining the cast of Lars von Trier's upcoming erotic drama "Nymphomaniac". — Reuters pic

Christian Slater, now 43, will portray the father of the main character in a film that will document the latter's sex life from her first kiss to her fifties. Charlotte Gainsbourg will get the lead role, with English model Stacy Martin stepping in to play her younger self.

Shia LaBeouf, Jamie Bell, Stellan Skarsgaard and Charlotte Rampling will also have roles in the movie. Lars von Trier will released two versions, one that features soft-core scenes and another with hardcore pornographic content. The director will resort to body doubles and other visual tricks for the lovemaking scenes. — AFP/Relaxnews

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The Malaysian Insider :: Books

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New ‘Guinness Book of World Records’ names tallest dog

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 02:07 AM PDT

Zeus the Great Dane has been named the tallest dog ever recorded. — Picture courtesy of ©Kevin Scott Ramos/Guinness World Records

LONDON, Sept 14 — A Great Dane who towers 2.2-metres on his hind legs is named the tallest dog ever recorded in the latest Guinness Book of World Records launched yesterday.

The giant canine from Michigan in the United States eats an entire 14kg bag of food every day and weighs in at 70.3kg, the 57th edition of the global records book says.

Measuring 1.12m from paw to withers — the point between the shoulder blades at which the official height of a four-legged mammal is judged — he is officially the tallest dog ever recorded, the volume claims.

Guinness World Records 2013 says the humongous hound breaks the record of Giant George, another Great Dane who is one inch shorter.

"The most common thing people ask is: 'Is that a dog or a horse?'" says the three-year-old's owner Denise.

"We had to get a van to be able to transport him, oh, and if he steps on your foot he leaves bruises!"

The book — the latest edition of the world's best-selling copyrighted series — also names Oklahoma Sam, a four-year-old American Mammoth Jackstock, as the tallest living donkey on the planet.

Measuring 1.55m from hoof to withers, she dwarfs the average common donkey (80cm) and the average for her own larger breed (1.22m).

The four-year-old record-breaker lives in Watsonville, California, where she shares her one acre of land with a macaw, duck, goose and four cats.

The new book, which claims to reveal "the latest and greatest records in the universe", recognises the world's shortest woman as 18-year-old Joyti Amge from the central Indian city of Nagpur.

The book bestows the title of the world's oldest gymnast to 86-year-old Johanna Quaas, born on Nov 20, 1925 and a regular competitor in the amateur Landes-Seniorenspiele competition in Saxony, Germany.

"I do think I could be seen as a role model," Quaas said.

"Especially for older people, like myself, it's important that they start easy and they build up the foundation and they build up the physique."

Wouter van den Bosch, creator of the Guinness World Records heaviest rideable bicycle at 750kg said: "Once I got this tyre, I started thinking about what I could make with it.

"I was already planning on making something I could move myself, so I went and saw some pictures of the old Penny Farthing, and well, the idea was born."

The Guinness Book of World Records, first published in 1955, has sold more than 120 million copies to date in 22 languages and in over 100 countries. — AFP-Relaxnews


Bret Easton Ellis pens fantasy series for CW

Posted: 13 Sep 2012 09:46 PM PDT

LOS ANGELES, Sept 14 — What do you get when acclaimed author Bret Easton Ellis teams up with the creators of "Gossip Girl" and the director of the first "Twilight" movie? A new fantasy series named "Copeland Prep".

Headed to the CW network, "Copeland Prep" will follow the everyday lives of teenagers at an elitist prep school where competition is so rife that students literally turn into monsters.

Bret Easton Ellis, who took on scriptwriting duties, will likely use a more risqué tone than CW's usual fare. Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage ("Gossip Girl", "The Carrie Diaries") are to serve as producers and Catherine Hardwicke, who directed the first "Twilight" movie, has been hired as a consultant.

"Copeland Prep" is the fourth new series announced for CW's 2013/2014 season, after a reboot of "Wonder Woman" and the TV adaptations of movies "Sleepy Hollow" and "Battle Royale", a Japanese survival film à la "Hunger Games". — AFP/Relaxnews


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The Malaysian Insider :: Bahasa

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Pegawai khas Azmin dihalang masuk Sabah

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 02:20 AM PDT

Muhammad Hilman Idham, pegawai khas kepada Timbalan Presiden PKR Mohamad Azmin Ali, ditahan dan dihalang dari memasuki Sabah hari ini. — Gambar oleh Ismail Kamal

KUALA LUMPUR, 14 Sept — Pegawai Khas kepada Timbalan Presiden PKR, Mohamad Azmin Ali ditahan di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kota Kinabalu sejurus tiba dari Kuala Lumpur.

Muhammad Hilman Idham dihalang memasuki Sabah atas arahan Ketua Menteri mengikut Seksyen 56(1)(A) Akta Imigresen 1995/63.

Notis penolakan masuk yang dikeluarkan itu mengandungi perintah yang menyatakan pihak berkuasa negeri telah mengarahkan supaya tiada pas dikeluarkan kepada beliau memasuki negeri tersebut.

"Saya tiba di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kota Kinabalu, Sabah pada jam 3.20 petang tadi bersama delegasi seramai 14 orang diketuai oleh Timbalan Presiden PKR, Mohamed Azmin Ali.

"Dalam pada negara bakal meraikan sambutan ulangtahun penubuhan Malaysia yang ke-49, amalan politik menekan dan menindas sebegini masih lagi menjadi budaya khususnya di kalangan pimpinan UMNO-Barisan Nasional.

"Saya menyifatkan tindakan ini sebagai zalim serta menafikan hak asasi saya sebagai warganegara Malaysia. Tujuan saya ke Sabah adalah atas urusan kerja dan adalah tidak adil bagi pihak imigresen negeri Sabah melakukan tindakan yang tidak profesional sebegini," kata Muhammad Hilman dalam kenyataan yang dihantar kepada The Malaysian Insider hari ini.

Azmin yang juga turut berada di lapangan terbang menjelaskan ini merupakan satu tindakan yang tidak sewajarnya berlaku apatah lagi tiada alasan diberikan terhadap penahanan dan halangan tersebut.

"Satu tindakan yang diwajar dilakukan, kenapa perlu beri halangan sedemikian sedangan beliau merupakan warganegara Malaysia," jelasnya.

Tambahnya lagi, rakyat perlu membuat perubahan pemerintah terutamanya di Sabah pada pilihanraya kali ini bagi memastikan tindakan sedemikian tidak berulang lagi.

"Ketua Menteri, Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman melakukan apa saja mengikut kehendak beliau, warganegara sendiri ditahan tetapi rakyat asing mendapat keistimewaan," jelasnya.

Notis penahanan tersebut ditandatangi oleh Timbalan Penolong Pengarah Imigresen, Fenny Fiona J Jeplin.

Pemuda MIC: Pilihanraya berasingan tunjuk Selangor tidak yakin

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 02:01 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR, 14 Sept — Keengganan Selangor mengadakan pilihan raya Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) serentak dengan pilihan raya umum hanya menunjukkan kerajaan negeri di bawah pimpinan Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) tidak yakin dan memerlukan lebih banyak masa untuk menutup kelemahan mereka.

Ketua Pemuda MIC T Mohan berkata rancangan itu juga membingungkan memandangkan sebelum ini mereka membayangkan akan membubarkan DUN jika pilihan raya umum dipanggil selepas Jun tahun ini.

"Kami tertanya-tanya sama ada ia usaha mengalihkan tumpuan kerana mereka tahu bahawa sokongan rakyat terhadap Barisan Nasional (BN) telah meningkat dan mengadakan pilihan raya tidak lama lagi akan menjejaskan impian mereka untuk menawan Putrajaya," katanya dalam kenyataan di sini hari ini.

Mohan mengulas laporan baru-baru ini bahawa kerajaan Selangor memutuskan untuk mengadakan pilihan raya DUN berasingan dengan pilihan raya umum ekoran dakwaan bahawa Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) gagal membersihkan daftar nama pemilih yang diragui di Selangor.

Beliau berkata pembangkang tidak perlu bertanding pada pilihan raya umum jika mereka tidak yakin dengan daftar pemilih semasa di Selangor. — Bernama

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The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion

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Mengingati mangsa feri karam Sungai Kerian

Posted: 13 Sep 2012 05:08 PM PDT

14 SEPT — 13 September mungkin seperti hari-hari lain yang berlalu, tetapi pada tahun 1972, hari ini adalah satu tragedi yang telah melumpuhkan seluruh Parit Buntar kerana peristiwa feri karam yang membawa pada kematian 27 orang di mana 25 daripadanya adalah pelajar sekolah. Sungai Kerian menjadi saksi kejadian tersebut dan lebih menyedihkan kedengaran tagisan dan jeritan budak sekolah yang terperangkap dalam van sedikit demi sedikit hilang ditelan arus deras dalam peristiwa feri karam 40 tahun yang lalu seolah-olah baru berlaku.

Hari ini Bandar Bharu (Kedah) dan Parit Buntar (Perak) dipisahkan dengan Sungai Kerian, bezanya 40 tahun yang lalu perhubungan antara dua pekan kecil ini ialah melalui feri tarik yang diikat dengan sistem pulley dan ditunda oleh bot kecil dari belakang. Kesibukan feri ini selalunya ialah pada waktu anak-anak ke sekolah kerana itu sahaja yang menghubungkan antara Bandar Bharu dan Pekan Parit Buntar. Semasa peristiwa itu berlaku hari ini, hujan dikatakan lebat dan arus sungainya deras sehingga salah satu tali yang memastikan keselamatan supaya feri tidak dipukul arus putus. Semasa itulah muncung feri mula tercuram sedikit demi sedikit sehingga bas yang berada di atas feri secara perlahan-perlahan menjunam ditelan arus deras. Kisah van yang terkunci dan tidak dapat dikeluarkan mereka yang berada di dalam sedangkan orang lain yang berada di kedua belah sungai hanya dapat melihat dari jauh menambahkan kepiluan kisah ini.

Kisah keperwiraan

Pagi tadi saya menghadiri majlis memperingati 40 tahun peristiwa tersebut dan menandatangani kehadiran tanda sokongan dan simpati. Seorang anak muda yang berpakaian segak duduk di belakang saya. Seorang wartawan India membisikkan kepada saya "tu lah cucu Anamalay, pengendali feri yang telah mengorbankan dirinya untuk menyelamatkan mangsa-mangsa karam" Selesai majlis saya bersalaman dengan anak muda ini dengan memulakan kata-kata semangat "I'm proud of your grandfather". Kisah lelaki India ini menjadi lagenda di kalangan mereka di Parit Buntar. Sebenarnya kisah ini dimaklumkan kepada saya oleh Siva (orang kuat Hindraf semasa PRU 12) sejak 2008 lagi, tetapi oleh kerana kesibukan urusan lain inisiatif mengenangkan peristiwa ini tertangguh. Sehinggalah 2012 apabila saya diwawancara oleh akhbar The Malay Mail beberapa hari lalu yang membuat liputan peristiwa ini dalam muka tengahnya hari ini, tragedi tersebut menjadi agenda saya yang tertangguh. Saya hadir dalam majlis peringatan 40 tahun pagi tadi untuk menyatakan sokongan saya kepada usaha mengumpul sejarah ini bagi pengajaran generasi hari ini. Saya juga difahamkan beberapa orang yang bertungkus lumus menyelamatkan mangsa turut dianugerahkan oleh YDPA ketika itu pingat Hang Tuah atas keberanian mereka. Bagi saya kisah ini menakjubkan di sebalik kesedihan tragedi yang menimpa rakyat di Parit Buntar ketika itu.

Peluang berucap

Walaupun kehadiran saya tidaklah secara resmi dijemput tetapi sambutan kedatangan saya disambut oleh jawatankuasa dengan penuh mesra malah saya diberi ruang untuk berucap. Berlatarbelakangkan Sungai Kerian di sebelah kiri saya, ucapan ringkas saya cuba mencungkil nilai keperwiraan di sebalik kesedihan tragedi untuk dijadikan semangat kepada hadirin yang mendengar. Saya juga menegaskan supaya pihak Majlis Daerah Kerian memberikan tapak untuk dijadikan memorial supaya peristiwa ini kekal sebagai memori kepada penduduk di sini. Majlis bertafakur sejenak dengan iringan pancaragam sekolah untuk mengingati mangsa terkorban. Selesai majlis saya bertemu dengan persatuan masyarakat sivil Parit Buntar yang mengambil inisiatif mengumpul bahan-bahan cerita malah mereka mahu mendirikan replika feri karam sebagai menghidupkan suasana tragedi itu. Saya menyatakan sokongan dan menghulurkan tangan untuk membantu demi rakyat Parit Buntar.

Terimakasih Malay Mail

Suratkhabar Malay Mail telah mengambil inisiatif dua muka surat tengah memaparkan gambar-gambar yang menyayat hati dalam tragedi tersebut bagi memperingati 40 tahun sejak peristiwa itu berlaku, syabas saya ucapkan malah cucu Anamalay memberitahu tahu program Astro "My Hometown" telah memaparkan tiga siri peristiwa tersebut. Walaupun ia tragedi tetapi mengingati semula 40 tahun itu adalah sebagai mengingati detik pilu dan kesedihan yang diratapi oleh seluruh rakyat di negara ini, khususnya warga Parit Buntar dan Bandar Bharu. Pagi tadi adalah imbauan silam, walaupun semasa itu saya masih kecil tetapi hari ini sebagai Ahli Parlimen saya merasakan seolah saya berada dalam detik-detik itu. Semoga roh mereka berada dalam ketenangan.

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.

Stop spamming my phone, Raja Nong Chik!

Posted: 13 Sep 2012 04:30 PM PDT

SEPT 14 — If there is one thing that I hate to death, it is spam. Getting spam email is one of the most annoying things ever.

Even more annoying are spam SMSes... you know, the ones that tell you about cheap beer at various nightclubs or discounts at popular restaurants.

But recently, the most annoying spam SMSes I have received are from a certain politician and Cabinet minister who goes by the name of Raja Nong Chik.

It started when I decided to register to vote slightly less than a year ago. Registration went fine with no glitches (i.e. suddenly finding out I'm registered to vote in Sabah!)

My constituency, according to my IC address, is Lembah Pantai. As we know, the current MP in that area is PKR's Nurul Izzah Anwar.

Since I didn't vote in the last general election, I can't claim to have played a role in getting her into office.

And now that the 13th general election is coming up, rumour has it that Umno will be fielding Raja Nong Chik in Lembah Pantai.

Now right after I had registered to vote (at the Election Commission office in Shah Alam), I started receiving the SMSes.

The first one wished me Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha, signed off with "RAJA NONG CHIK."

I was quite shocked! I had only just registered a couple of weeks ago and now this Cabinet minister already had my mobile phone number.

I was about to cry "personal data theft!", but quickly restrained myself. Good thing I did because, apparently, there is no such law against that in Malaysia.

After that, it just went on and on. I started receiving New Year greetings, advice on how to spend my Ramadan and even an invitation for Lailatul Qadar prayers.

Last month, I even received an SMS that had the hash tags #MERDEKA55 and #JANJIDITEPATI! He could be using the same bot service as #YORAIS!

The last straw came last Tuesday. My iPhone blew out the fog-horn ring tone, indicating that an SMS had come in so I quickly checked my phone.

When I noticed it was from Raja Nong Chik, I just got annoyed. But what pushed me to the edge was the content of the SMS itself.

"SLMT HARI LAHIR. Moga terus berjaya. Sama2 kita berdoa di hari lahir anda, agar agama, bangsa & tanahair terus terpelihara. Ikhlas: Raja Nong Chik, Menteri WPKB." (Happy birthday. May you have continuous success. Let us pray on your birthday that our religion, race and homeland are protected. Sincerely: Raja Nong Chik, FTUW.)

I couldn't take it anymore and although I knew it was useless, I immediately typed and sent a response to the bot mobile phone number.

"You got it wrong. My birthday is in June."

Now, every time I'm in Bangsar or its surrounding vicinity, and I see a poster, banner or bunting with Raja Nong Chik's face on it, I get turned off.

I literally feel sick and this is without even listening to him speak about his policies and promises. So much so that I'm inclined to vote for the other candidate.

I guess his plan to garner votes (that is if he really is going to contest in the Lembah Pantai constituency) is back-firing.

What he needs is someone with a decent enough level of intelligence to advise him on his A&P campaign. It's really simple actually and I think I'll SMS him my advice: "Don't irritate your voters."

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.

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