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Phew! French restaurants spared tax hike Posted: 07 Nov 2012 04:56 PM PST PARIS, Nov 8 — French food lovers and the nation's restaurant owners breathed a collective sigh of relief yesterday after Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici ruled out a doubling of the tax on eating out. Under plans unveiled a day earlier, value added tax (VAT), on food served in bistros, cafes and restaurants would have been levied at 10 per cent from January 1, 2014, up from the current rate of seven percent. Officials caused further dismay in the food world by refusing to rule out a move to apply the standard rate, which is going up to 20 per cent, to restaurant food. But faced with an outcry from trade representatives who see VAT increases as destroying jobs, Moscovici yesterday insisted there were no such plans. "The restaurant rate will be 10 per cent," Mosovici said. "I stress 10 per cent and not 20 per cent. Nobody is looking at putting restaurant food back on the standard rate." — AFP-Relaxnews

Six salty foods to watch out for Posted: 07 Nov 2012 04:50 PM PST American experts warn consumers of six salty foods to watch out, which includes bread, pizza, and even chicken. — AFP-Relaxnews pic NEW YORK, Nov 8 — Salty snacks and the salt shaker aren't the only ways to add too much sodium to your diet. Yesterday, experts warned consumers of the "salty six" foods to look out for. A new report from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association warns that most Americans consume about 3,400 mg of sodium a day - more than twice the AHA recommended limit of 1,500 mg. "Excess sodium in our diets has less to do with what we're adding to our food and more to do with what's already in the food," said Linda Van Horn, PhD, RD, a research nutritionist at Northwestern University and an American Heart Association spokeswoman. If high blood pressure and heart disease aren't enough to keep your sodium levels in check, a salty diet can also affect your appearance, causing puffiness in your face and body, swelling to make your jeans too tight, and bags under your eyes, the researchers say.  Here are the "salty six" foods to watch out for, according to the report: 1. Bread and rolls - One piece of bread can have as much as 230 mg of sodium, which adds up quickly if you consume bread at every meal. 2. Cold cuts and cured meats - Cured meats are heavy in sodium, and a serving of deli or pre-packaged turkey can have as much as 1,050 mg of sodium. 3. Pizza - One slice can have up to 760 mg of sodium. Two slices and you've reached your limit for the day. 4. Poultry - Frozen breaded chicken nuggets contain around 600 mg of salt, while even packaged raw chicken often contains added sodium. Check your labels.  5. Soup - A hearty bowl of soup warms you up quickly, but can also contain heaps of sodium - around 940 mg for one cup of canned soup. Again, prepare it fresh or keep an eye on labels. 6. Sandwiches - Seems simple enough, but combining breads with cured meats and cheeses ups your sodium, especially if you add salt-heavy condiments, such as mustard and ketchup. Aim for adding more vegetables instead, or only eating half a sandwich. — AFP-Relaxnews

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Outplayed champions Chelsea steal last-gasp win Posted: 07 Nov 2012 03:26 PM PST Shakhtar's Tomas Hubschman (right) tackles Chelsea's Torres at Stamford Bridge in London November 7, 2012. — Reuters pic LONDON, Nov 8 — European champions Chelsea, largely outplayed by impressive Shakhtar Donetsk, scored an unlikely 3-2 Champions League victory when substitute Victor Moses scored with a thumping header deep into stoppage time yesterday. The Ukrainian champions, who had been unbeaten in 18 matches in all competitions this season including their stylish 2-1 win over Chelsea in Donetsk two weeks ago, seemed all set for a well-deserved point at Stamford Bridge when Moses rose unmarked at a corner to score. The goal immediately transformed Chelsea's chances of qualifying for the knockout round, moving the Londoners on to seven points in Group E — the same as Shakhtar. Juventus (six) follow with FC Nordsjaelland on one with two games remaining. Shakhtar had looked the better team for long periods with midfielder Willian, who is not currently in the Brazil squad, running the match with an inspired performance that has made him a target for several English Premier League clubs — including Chelsea. He scored both of Shakhtar's goals and left Chelsea's players trailing in his wake, trying to take the ball off him as he ran the game. Chelsea, who drew 2-2 with Juventus in their last home group match, started without the injured Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard and with John Terry on the bench because coach Roberto Di Matteo did not think he was match fit after his four-match domestic suspension. Despite that, they got off to a good start when Fernando Torres scored after six minutes. Spain striker Torres profited from the first of two costly mistakes by goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov. Pyatov, dithering with a clearance, kicked the ball straight at Torres who charged it down sending the ball into the net. Shakhtar were level three minutes later when Willian side-footed home from close range after Fernandinho made a powerful run through the fragile left side of Chelsea's defence where youngster Ryan Bertrand had a torrid time. Fernandinho tore into the open space and cut back for Willian who slotted in from close range off goalkeeper Petr Cech. Shakhtar, who last lost a match a year ago, then took control with Willian, Henrik Mkhitaryan and Alex Teixeira putting Chelsea under continual pressure and they almost went ahead with a superb move that ended in Teizeira firing narrowly wide. However, all their hard work was undone five minutes before halftime when Oscar took advantage of another Pyatov error to score into an unguarded net from long range. The goalkeeper, out of his penalty area, for some reason decided to head the ball upfield instead of kicking it. The header went straight to Oscar, who added to the two goals he scored against Juventus, by firing a perfectly struck 35-metre shot over Pyatov's head and into the net. Shakhtar levelled again two minutes after the break when Willian planted the ball home after another excellent build-up involving Ferrnandinho and Darijo Srna, the Shakhtar captain. His perfect pass found Willian who sidefooted past Cech again. Razvan Rat then hit the bar for Shakhtar but they escaped at the other end when John Obi Mikel had a header disallowed when he drifted offside for a free-kick. Chelsea coach Roberto Di Matteo sent on Moses for Oscar with 10 minutes to play and with the last action of the game, his gamble paid off. The Shakhtar defenders took their eye off him for a second at a corner, but that was enough for him to rise unmarked and thunder the ball in. — Reuters

United through to last 16 with late win at Braga Posted: 07 Nov 2012 03:21 PM PST Manchester United players celebrate scoring against Braga at the Municipal stadium in Braga, November 7, 2012.—Reuters pic LISBON, Nov 8 — Late goals from substitute Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez earned Manchester United a place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a 3-1 comeback win at Braga yesterday. In a match interrupted for 10 minutes by floodlight failure, the hosts went ahead early in the second half through an Alan penalty kick. United struck back when Van Persie came off the bench and punished a blunder by Braga keeper Beto, who inexplicably rushed out of his goal and was caught in no man's land. Rooney put United ahead from the penalty spot soon after and, with Braga in disarray, Hernandez made it 3-1 in injury time after a goal-mouth muddle. "Those last 10 minutes went really badly for us. What a shame," Braga midfielder Ruben Micael told Portuguese television. Group H leaders United have 12 points from four games. Cluj and Galatasaray are on four points, with Braga on three. Midfielder Ryan Giggs said United had made up for last year's failure to progress from the group stage. "I think we were all disappointed (last year)," he told Sky Sports. "It was not good enough and we knew we had to do something about it and we have. Long may it continue. "We have really good strength in depth at the moment and it shows with Chris Smalling playing his first game in a long time tonight. It is good to have that strength when you have two games in a week and it is looking good for us." United coach Alex Ferguson made several changes to the side who beat Arsenal 2-1 in the Premier League over the weekend, bringing in Nani, Anderson and Giggs to the midfield and picking Danny Welbeck to spearhead the attack with Hernandez, leaving Van Persie on the bench to start with. Centre back Smalling played for the first time since injuring his metatarsal in the pre-season. The changes did not pay off and United were poor in the first half, coming to life only after Van Persie was sent on with 25 minutes on the clock. Braga suffered a near-repeat of their fortunes at Old Trafford two weeks ago, when they gave away a 2-0 lead and lost 3-2. "It's sad and we did not deserve it but we made mistakes and games are settled like that. Still, we played a really good match, even better than at Old Trafford," Braga coach Jose Peseiro said. — Reuters

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The Civil Wars cancel tour citing ‘internal discord’ Posted: 07 Nov 2012 05:25 AM PST "Barton Hollow", the Grammy-winning album of The Civil Wars.©All Rights Reserved LOS ANGELES, Nov 7 — Grammy Award-winning duo The Civil Wars announced yesterday that they were cancelling all of their forthcoming tour dates. The American duo of Joy Williams and John Paul White, who shot to fame in 2011 with their debut album "Barton Hollow", were due to complete a European tour and had planned dates for a 2013 tour of Australia and New Zealand. In an email sent to fans of the group, The Civil Wars stated: "We sincerely apologise for the cancelling of all of our tour dates. It is something we deeply regret. "However, due to internal discord and irreconcilable differences of ambition we are unable to continue as a touring entity at this time. "We thank each and every one of you for your amazing love & support. Our sincere hope is to have new music for you in 2013." The language used in the email has led many fans to speculate that the duo is splitting up despite the expressed wish to put out new music. The group also advised fans who had already incurred costs, such as travel reservations, for the now-canceled tour to email info@thecivilwars.com with scans of receipts. — AFP/Relaxnews

Reggae legends bury rivalry for ‘peace’ tour Posted: 06 Nov 2012 04:23 PM PST Blondy performs during a concert in Abidjan November 4, 2012. ― Reuters pic ABIDJAN, Nov 7 ― As darkness falls over Ivory Coast's lagoon-side commercial capital a steady thumping cuts through the tropical night. But where once the thud of heavy weapons set the Abidjan's residents scrambling indoors for cover, tonight it is a reggae bass line that draws them out. Here, little over a year ago, supporters of then-president Laurent Gbagbo and his rival Alassane Ouattara were fighting a brief post-election civil war, the final deadly showdown of a decade-long political crisis. After years teetering precariously between war and peace, the flames of division, xenophopia and anger ― fanned in no small degree by some of the country's most famous musicians ― exploded into a conflict in which more than 3,000 people died. One of Ivory Coast's leading reggae artists, Serge Kassy, even rose to become a leader and organiser of Gbagbo's Young Patriots street militia ― a group accused of numerous atrocities during the war. Kassy is now in exile. "When I looked at the musical scene in Ivory Coast, I realised that we ourselves went too far," said Asalfo Traore of the zouglou band Magic System, one of the few groups that refused to take sides during the crisis years. "It was when everything was ruined that we wanted to glue the pieces back together. But it was too late." Now, long-divided musicians are once again coming together, hoping to use their influence, so destructive for so long, to help Ivory Coast heal its deep wounds, and the country's leading rival reggae artists are showing the way. Reggae rivalry The long feud between Alpha Blondy and Tiken Jah Fakoly is a thing of legend in the reggae world, though neither has been willing to say what was behind the bad blood. Both men come from Ivory Coast's arid north and share a musical genre. But the similarities stop there. Alpha, considered the father of Ivorian reggae, takes the stage in Abidjan clad in a shimmering pink suit, golden tie and Panama hat of an urban dandy. Tiken wears the traditional flowing robes of his northern Malinke tribe. During the crisis, Alpha remained in Ivory Coast, while Tiken, a vocal critic of Gbagbo's regime, went into exile in neighbouring Mali. They had so successfully avoided each other during their long parallel careers that before he picked up the phone to approach Alpha with the idea of uniting for a series of peace concerts, Tiken claimed they'd met only twice. "Before going to the Ivorians to ask them to move towards reconciliation, it was important for us to show a major sign. That's what we did," Tiken told Reuters. Out of a meeting in Paris was born a simple idea: six concerts in six towns across a country once split between a rebel north and government-held south, bringing together musicians from across the political spectrum to push for peace. "No one's died over the problems between Tiken and me," said Alpha. "There are things that are more serious than our little spats, our pride and our vanities." Uniting the Ivorian music scene proved relatively easy in the end. Uniting the country could prove a tougher task. Business as usual Some 18 months since the war ended, reconciliation in Ivory Coast is going nowhere. Though Ouattara is praised by international partners for quickly turning around the economy, critics complain he has done little to foster unity. He has so far refused to prosecute those among his supporters accused of atrocities during the war. Meanwhile, Gbagbo, who lost the run-off election but garnered 46 per cent of votes, is in The Hague on war crimes charges. The leaders of his FPI political party are either dead, in jail or living in exile, from where they are accused by United Nations investigators of organising deadly armed raids on Ivorian police, military and infrastructure targets. "People came here for Alpha, Tiken Jah and artists they only ever see on TV, not for reconciliation," said high school teacher Michel Loua in Gagnoa, the second stop on the tour in Gbagbo's home region. "The politicians have made a business of it. They talk up reconciliation when it suits them, otherwise they could care less," he said. Unity was never a problem, Alpha said, until politicians began to play the ethnic identity card in the struggle for power that followed the death of independence President Felix Houphouet-Boigny in 1993. And even after the violence and massacres, it is still not the problem today. "Ivorians are not divided. That's what I discovered," he said on the last night of the tour. "If there are people that need reconciliation, it's not the artists or the people. It's the politicians," he said. Minutes later he was on stage singing "Course au Pouvoir", a 16-year-old song that has found new relevance today with its lyrics: "There's blood on the road that leads to the tower of power. Innocent blood." Having wrapped up their tour, Tiken, Alpha and the rest of the musicians are due to meet with President Ouattara and plan to call for the release of all pro-Gbagbo prisoners not accused of involvement and killings as a sign of good will. The move has been called for by human rights groups as well as the FPI, who list it as one of their pre-conditions for dialogue. And though Ouattara has given no indication he is open to the possibility, many feel it is an unavoidable step towards lasting peace. ― Reuters

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Looking old linked to more heart risks Posted: 07 Nov 2012 04:45 AM PST WASHINGTON, Nov 7 — If you look old, you might be at higher risk of heart trouble. A study has found that people with several visible signs of aging have a higher risk of developing heart problems. — AFP pic People with several visible signs of aging such as hair loss and fatty deposits around the eyes have a higher risk of developing heart problems than those of the same age who look younger, according to a study presented Tuesday. "The visible signs of aging reflect physiologic or biological age, not chronological age, and are independent of chronological age," Anne Tybjaerg-Hansen, senior author of the study and professor at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, said in a statement. Tybjaerg-Hansen presented the results at an annual conference held by the American Heart Association in Los Angeles. The study, focused on almost 11,000 people aged 40 and older, found that those who had three to four aging signs had a 57 per cent increased risk of heart attack and a 39 per cent increased risk for heart disease. Among the aging signs cited were a receding hairline at the temples, baldness at the crown of the head, earlobe creases and yellow fatty deposits around the eyelids. Over the course of 35 years of follow-up, 3,401 of the participants developed heart disease and 1,708 had a heart attack. "Individually and combined, these signs predicted heart attack and heart disease independent of traditional risk factors," said the American Heart Association. "Fatty deposits around the eye were the strongest individual predictor of both heart attack and heart disease." The risk of having a heart attack and developing heart disease increased with each additional sign of aging among both men and women, who made up 45 per cent of survey participants. The strongest individual predictor of both were fatty deposits around the eyes. The highest risks were observed among those in their 70s and those with several signs of aging. "Checking these visible aging signs should be a routine part of every doctor's physical examination," Tybjaerg-Hansen said. — AFP/Relaxnews

Liquor costs more at state-owned stores in US Posted: 07 Nov 2012 03:26 AM PST Among the water-logged debris in front of this home, bottles of liquor, some unopened, sit atop a dresser in Bay Head, New Jersey, November 6, 2012 as recovery efforts continue in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. — Reuters pic BOSTON, Nov 6 — US states that have a monopoly over their liquor sales seem to charge slightly more for alcohol than states without such control, the so-called "license states," according to a US study. As of February 2012, 18 control states in the United States set the price of liquor sold to their retail stores, and 13 of those also set the price for the general public. The other states sell liquor licenses to private business owners, who set their own prices. "We found that the average price of liquor is lower in license states. It was on average US$2 (RM6.10) lower per product, which is a 7 per cent difference," said lead author Michael Siegel, a researcher from the Boston University School of Public Health. Generally, in states and area that have considered putting control of liquor prices in the hands of private businesses, the public has supported privatization. But the researchers note that while control states tend to charge slightly more for liquor, they also make a lot more money from their liquor sales. "When legislators look at privatization, they just don't know how they're going to make up the money," said William Kerr, of the Public Health Institute's Alcohol Research Group in Emeryville, California, who was not involved with the research. The study, which appeared in the journal Addiction, compared the prices of 74 popular liquor brands in the 13 retail control states and 50 private stores in license states, finding that the prices varied by brand. But not all liquor prices were more expensive in control states. The researchers found that 21 brands were, on average, more expensive in license states. Siegel told Reuters Health that the average price difference between control and license states may be enough to influence how much people drink. "There is convincing evidence in the literature that control states have lower alcohol consumption than the license states," he said. He and his colleagues also wrote that control states have been found to have lower rates of heavy drinking and underage alcohol-related deaths. But that may be due to other reasons, such as access to alcohol and law enforcement. Past research has found that license states tend to have more liquor stores in one area, which the researchers say would be expected to drive down prices. Control states may also have higher prices because they have costs that aren't paid for by license fees or liquor sales taxes — both of which are collected by license states. — Reuters

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Coe formally elected BOA chairman Posted: 07 Nov 2012 07:51 AM PST Sebastian Coe, chairman of the organising committee for the London Olympics speaks at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, central England October 10, 2012. — Reuters pic LONDON, Nov 7 — Sebastian Coe, chief organiser for the 2012 London Games, was formally elected as chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA) today. The double Olympic 1,500 metres champion, who stood unopposed after British hockey chief Richard Leman stepped aside last month, will serve a four-year term. "Following the tremendous impact of the London 2012 Games, the BOA has an important role to play in ensuring the growth of the Olympic movement throughout the UK and the continued success and support of Team GB at future Olympic Games," Coe said in a statement. "I am committed to making sure the benefits of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games are maximised and this role gives me an excellent platform to continue to serve and promote British Olympic sport both in the UK and globally." — Reuters

Insentif untuk pelajar ambil aliran sains disambut baik Posted: 07 Nov 2012 07:47 AM PST KUALA LUMPUR, 7 Nov — Pelbagai pihak menyambut baik cadangan pemberian insentif kepada pelajar yang mengambil aliran sains seperti yang diumumkan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin semalam. Beliau yang juga Menteri Pelajaran berkata antara insentif itu ialah penimbangan pemberian cukai kepada ibu bapa dan biasiswa serta dermasiswa kepada pelajar. Menurut Muhyiddin (foto fail), langkah itu dibuat bagi maningkat jumlah pelajar sains yang masih rendah dan jauh daripada sasaran. Menyambut baik langkah itu, Presiden Majlis Permuafakatan Persatuan Ibu Bapa dan Guru (PIBG) Nasional, Datuk Dr Ali Hasan, berkata kerajaan bagaimanapun memerlukan perancangan yang teliti untuk mencapai sasarannya. "Pendekatan melalui kokurikulum perlu diberikan penekanan supaya ia menjadi lebih menarik dan mengubah persepsi pelajar bahawa sains ialah mata pelajaran yang susah dan membosankan. "Bukan itu sahaja, cara mengajar sains juga perlu diubah dari pembelajaran secara teori kepada amali bagi memberikan pelajar merasai sendiri pengalaman mengendalikan bahan sains secara lapangan," katanya. Selain itu menurut Ali, berkata bukan sahaja pelajar, malah guru juga perlu diberikan insentif istimewa seperti diberi peluang lawatan sambil belajar atau menjalani latihan di jabatan berkaitan sains bagi menimba pengalaman. "Pengalaman yang mereka dapat ketika mengikuti latihan di jabatan tersebut akan memberikan lebih pengetahuan berguna kepada mereka untuk berhadapan dengan para pelajar, memandangkan mereka memainkan peranan penting dalam sesi pembelanjaran pelajar," katanya. Di samping itu, beliau berkata para guru juga perlu dihargai dengan menawarkan mereka dengan gaji yang lebih lumayan lebih-lebih lagi kepada guru mata pelajaran sains. Dengan nada yang sama, Presiden Kesatuan Perkhidmatan Perguruan Kebangsaan (NUTP) Hashim Adnan berkata usaha mewujudkan kesedaran di kalangan pelajar mengenai aliran sains perlu dipertingkatkan. Ini adalah kerana kesedaran pelajar untuk mengikuti aliran sains masih rendah, katanya. "Di samping menggalakkan mereka dengan pemberian insentif seperti buku percuma dan biasiswa, makmal sains yang lengkap dengan kelengkapan canggih juga penting supaya dapat memberi semangat kepada mereka untuk belajar," katanya. Hashim berkata beliau mendapati buku mata pelajaran sains kebanyakannya dijual dengan harga yang tinggi dan ini sama sekali membebankan ibu bapa terutama yang berpendapatan rendah. "Dengan pemberian buku sains secara percuma, ia sedikit sebanyak dapat mengurangkan bebanan mereka," tambahnya. Walau bagaimanapun, Pengerusi Persatuan Ibu Bapa Untuk Pendidikan Malaysia (PAGE) Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim mencadangkan agar insentif lebih lumayan diberikan kepada pelajar daripada insentif pengecualian cukai kepada ibu bapa mereka. Katanya ini kerana tidak semua ibu bapa perlu membayar cukai, jadi insentif tersebut tidak memberi manfaat kepada mereka secara menyeluruh. "Selain itu, insentif menghantar pelajar yang cemerlang dalam bidang sains ke universiti luar negara adalah lebih bermakna dan memberi semangat kepada mereka untuk menyelami bidang sains dengan mendalam. "Dengan insentif yang lumayan sebegini, mereka akan lebih berusaha kerana tidak ramai ibu bapa di negara ini yang mampu menghantar anak mereka melanjutkan pelajaran ke luar negara ekoran yuran pengajian yang tinggi," katanya. — Bernama

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Corsican epic wins France’s top book prize Posted: 07 Nov 2012 05:55 AM PST PARIS, Nov 7 — France's top literary prize, the Goncourt, today went to Jerome Ferrari for a Corsican epic, set in a bar on the violence-wracked Mediterranean island. French writer Jerome Ferrari. — AFP pic "Le Sermon de la Chute de Rome" ("The Sermon of the Fall of Rome") tells of a young man who packs in his philosophy studies to open a bar with an old friend, with the aim of turning it into a haven of peace and friendship. But things take a radically different turn as drink, sex, corruption — and the violence for which Corsica has become known — cast their shadow over the young idealists' plans. Himself a philosophy teacher, currently at the French lycee in Abu Dhabi, the French novelist previously taught in the Corsican capital Ajaccio. The novel's win comes with Corsica making headlines over an increase in violence, with 38 murders and 117 attempted murders since the start of 2011 on an island with a population of just over 300,000 — the highest homicide rate in Europe. Most of the slayings, police believe, have been linked to feuds over control of protection rackets targeting tourist businesses and lucrative property development on an island that remains relatively unspoiled. — AFP/Relaxnews

LVMH releases coffee table book on its wines and bubbly Posted: 06 Nov 2012 07:55 PM PST PARIS, Nov 7 — Luxury brand Louis Vuitton Moët & Chandon, whose portfolio of wine and spirit brands includes names like Hennessy, Dom Pérignon, Veuve Clicquot and Krug, has released a coffee table book that gives readers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the estates that produce its world famous wines and bubbly. Penned by travel writer Alain Stella and photographed by Francis Hammond, the 280-page hard cover "French Wine Chateaux" traces the history, wine and spirit-making traditions of some of the most luxurious and historic estates in the world. The wines are also accompanied by tasting notes from cellar masters, as well as recipes from some of France's top, Michelin-starred chefs including Yannick Alléno, head chef of luxury hotel Le Meurice in Paris, and Dom Pérignon chef Pascal Tingaud. Published by Flammarion, "French Wine Châteaux: Distinctive Vintages and Their Estates" was released this week in the UK and retails for £55 (RM270). The US release is scheduled for February 5, 2013 and will retail for US$85. Similar titles that explore old winery estates in France include "Great Family Wine Estates of France: Style, Tradition, Home," by Solvi dos Santos and Florence Brutton, and "Larousse Wine: The World's Greatest Vines, Estates and Regions." — AFP/Relaxnews

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Putrajaya sedia dialog dengan Hindraf isu libatkan kaum India Posted: 07 Nov 2012 02:37 AM PST KUALA LUMPUR, 7 Nov — Putrajaya hari ini membuat jemputan terbuka kepada badan bukan kerajaan dan pertubuhan-pertubuhan yang mewakili masyarakat India bagi membincangkan masalah-masalah yang melanda mereka. Jemputan berkenaan yang turut diajukan kepada pertubuhan haram masyarakat India daripada Barisan Bertindak Hak-Hak Hindu (Hindraf) untuk berdialog bagi menyelesaikan masalah kumpulan itu. Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz (foto fail) berkata, kerajaan memandang berat isu berkaitan masyarakat India dan tidak mahu kumpulan itu berasa dipinggirkan. "Walaupun ada kumpulan yang bergerak secara ekstrem dalam memperjuangkan permintaan mereka, tapi kerajaan sedia duduk berbincang dengan semua kumpulan yang mewakili masyarakat India termasuk Hindraf. "Saya memberi jaminan bahawa Perdana Menteri (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) bersedia untuk berbincang bagi menyelesaikan masalah yang dibangkitkan kumpulan berkenaan," katanya pada sidang media di pejabatnya di Parlimen di sini. Ahli Parlimen Padang Rengas itu turut berkata, kerajaan menyedari bahawa terdapat segelintir masyarakat India di negara yang masih merasa terpinggirkan walaupun kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN) jelasnya telah memberikan pelbagai inisiatif dan bantuan kepada mereka. "Bukan sebab mereka marah kepada kerajaan ... tapi mereka rasa seolah-olah dipinggirkan dan tidak diberi layanan yang adil oleh kerajaan. "Jadi kerajaan fikir lebih baik duduk berbincang dan dengar luahan mereka. Kalau mereka tak gembira, ini bermakna ada sebab-sebab tertentu...jadi kita perlu ambil tahu," kata menteri yang memegang portfolio undang-undang itu lagi. Ditanya adakah peranan MIC bagi membela komuniti itu gagal, Nazri menjelaskan, parti komponen yang mewakili masyarakat India dalam BN itu telah menjalankan peranan mereka dengan baik, namun kerajaan perlu mendengar keluhan komuniti India di luar MIC. "MIC sudah buat yang terbaik tapi kerajaan mahu mendekati kumpulan lain," katanya kepada pemberita. "Kita sedar ada kumpulan lain di luar daripada MIC yang perlu kita dengar luahan mereka." Nazri turut menegaskan, keperluan untuk masyarakat India dirasakan lebih kritikal. "Kerajaan memberi layanan yang sama kepada semua kaum ... tapi buat masa ini masyarakat India dirasakan lebih kritikal. "Kalau kita sekat Hindraf dan hanya bincang dengan segelintir kumpulan India tertentu sahaja bermakna ia tidak menyeluruh. Walau kita sedar Hindraf lebih vokal, tapi Perdana Menteri sedia untuk mendengar."

Najib ucap tahniah pada Obama dipilih semula sebagai Presiden Amerika Posted: 07 Nov 2012 01:42 AM PST Presiden Obama dengan isteri Michelle dan anak-anak perempuan Malia (kanan) dan Sasha pada perhimpunan kemenangan pilihan raya Presiden di Chicago, 7 Nov 2012. — Foto Reuters KUALA LUMPUR, 7 Nov — Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak hari ini mengucapkan tahniah kepada Barack Obama kerana dipilih semula sebagai Presiden Amerika Syarikat. "Dengan kemenangannya dalam pilihan raya bersejarah ini, Presiden itu mempunyai peluang yang unik untuk merealisasikan visinya untuk Amerika Syarikat," katanya dalam satu kenyataan yang dikeluarkan di sini, hari ini. Najib berharap Obama akan meneruskan usahanya memupuk persefahaman dan hormat menghormati antara Amerika dan umat Islam di seluruh dunia. "Ramai rakyat Malaysia mengikuti dengan penuh minat kempen pilihan raya Presiden — dan sebagai sebuah negara Islam sederhana, Malaysia sentiasa bersedia membantu Amerika, kerana ia mahu lebih melibatkan diri dengan mereka yang beragama Islam," katanya. Najib juga berkata beliau berasa bangga berjumpa dengan Presiden itu semasa penggal pertamanya dan "kami berikrar untuk membangunkan perkongsian yang semakin meningkat antara kedua buah negara". "Hubungan ini semakin kukuh dan saya berharap ia akan berterusan pada masa depan agar kami dapat mengekalkan keamanan, kestabilan dan kemakmuran serantau kepada rakyat," katanya. — Bernama

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Javanese adventure Posted: 06 Nov 2012 03:29 PM PST NOV 7 ― To survive among Indonesians, you must understand the social structure of its people. All that talk about human rights, anti-corruption, women's empowerment, democracy, itu semua wayang, sayang. Indonesia is not dissimilar to other Asian countries when it comes to power and status. But you must remember, they were once ruled by the Dutch, and say what you will of our colonisers, the Dutch were crueller than the English. Add warring warlords and royals, the distrust the tribes have for each other, and yes the poverty. Poverty. Don't ever think for once that poverty is equivalent to godliness. It can be the sole driving force for an Indonesian in his pursuit for a better life. They live by their wits, and they die by them too. As an Indonesian-Malaysian friend counselled me over a four-hour dinner ("I have no illusions about my people and heritage. Every time I go back, I'm looking over my shoulder all the time."), who you are matters. Imagine a Venn diagram. Is the family renowned in the country or community? If so, in and among which communities is the family influential? Who is the patriarch and matriarch that can be depended on? Now, how are their relations with the local governing bodies, or at least society? Even the humble beca man may exert some form of influence if he comes from the "right side" of the family, my friend said. Your family friend is a Senator? She sniffed. Now, which side of the family is he from and is he a Batavian? Madurese or Javanese? Each tribe has its own social structure and language. What's the use of being powerful if in a certain community, nobody knows you from diddly squat? And so what if you're corrupt or you're known to have raped a few women along the way ― the Indonesians respect power. I blinked. Many times. "When I go back to Bandung, Jakarta, mbak," my friend told me, "I go with my family, straight to where we need or want to go, and socialise with the family members who can be trusted and wield some power within the family. "The rest either want to fleece my family, or will not help. Imagine, my own brother was in trouble when he studied here and our father had to fly over with the patriarch! The rest didn't do anything. My brother was not important enough for them." She shuddered. "Shopping is cheap though." I mentioned that Jogja is a city of travellers. Many of its original inhabitants and descendants have moved on to Jakarta or elsewhere, to eke a living. True blue Jogjans are not as many as the outsiders who have come to make the city home. "It is no longer the centre of the Javanese," a friend's driver said. He too left Jogja many years ago, and when he visits, he is disheartened. The new Javanese have adopted the ways of the outsiders who have settled in the city. You see, he told me, as we crawled through the Jakarta traffic, once upon a time, Java was a Hindu empire. It had always been very spiritual. The arrival of Islam only served to create an even more spiritual city. The marriage of tradition and faith gave birth to a lively syncretic practise. Sunan Kalijaga, one of the famed Muslim saints of Java, used the arts and culture to spread the teachings of Islam. Sheikh Siti Jenar, the much maligned Sufi saint of Java too, was an influential and colourful character, whose influence spread right up to Melaka. "And now, we have outsiders who come with habits and traditions that are alien to our culture. People no longer pray to God, for the sole sake of honouring Him. It's all about their needs and desires. I want this, I want that. I agree it is good for outsiders to get to know our ways, but sacred sites and places of worship must remain off-limits. Now we have tourists!" Spiritual tourism. Jogja now offers the curious and spiritual traveller a chance at divinity: spiritual tours around the many candis in the city and outskirts educate the tourist about its religious heritage. Prambanan temple is the largest Hindu temple in the country, and throngs visit it. Its more famed sister is the Borobudur temple in Magelang, though there are many sacred Hindu, Javanese and Muslim sites in Java. And this was how I met with Patrick Vanhoebrouck of Javanese Wisdom and Healing. I had about given up trying to find leads on the famed Songo saints ― Wali Songo ― when I came across his advertisement in Jogja Ad, a local version of our TimeOut, and found his page on Facebook. Patrick, a handsome anthropologist who has spent years in Java, is passionate about his work. Setting up the company was just one step towards his love: the Javanese religion. He's also a walking encyclopaedia of Java, and generous with knowledge. In the weeks I was in Jogja, he emailed me link after link, essay after essay and loaned me a book on the Javanese religion. It was a pity we could not meet up as often; I had to visit sites relevant to my Holy Men study, and he had his hands full with spiritual tourists and shamans who had come to Java to visit, detox and be ignited by the energies of sacred candis. "There are French shamans?" I was gobsmacked. As far as I was concerned, the French were immaculately dressed, intellectual sophisticates a la Bernard-Henri Levy and toted Chanels. The nearest French shaman I could think of were witches and wizards. "Yes," he said. But even he, and Pak Moko, Patrick's guru and friend, a powerful dukun, were perplexed. The energies in Jogja and the rest of Java have changed over the last six months. Divorces, fights, disagreements, unhappiness ― Java needs a major cleansing. Pak Moko looked up from his coffee. "Iya, mbak. Java… is rather strange these days." * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.

Sisi positif pusat membeli belah Posted: 06 Nov 2012 03:26 PM PST 7 NOV ― Baru-baru ini Kuala Lumpur atau lebih tepat, Lembah Klang telah dinobatkan sebagai kota membeli belah kedua terbaik di wilayah Asia Pasifik. Dalam laporan kaji selidik "Globe Shopper Index", Kuala Lumpur hanya kalah kepada Hong Kong dan amat mengejutkan jiran kita Singapura yang terkenal dengan Orchard Road hanya menempati posisi kelima. Laporan penuh "Globe Shopper Index:Asia Pacific" yang dipelopori Economist Intelligence Unit dan didanai Global Blue boleh dibaca di sini. Kajian dibuat berdasarkan lima kategori: kemudahan hotel dan pengangkutan, keselesaan, tarikan kebudayaan seperti makanan, tempat pelancongan dan cuaca, jenis produk yang ditawarkan serta harga dan kos untuk barangan umum dan keseluruhan trip. Laporan itu menyebut, "Kuala Lumpur's main strength as a shopping location is its low total cost combined with an ability to deliver a shopping experience of a relatively high quality. It finishes third in the Index for affordability, including being tied for the lowest cost for the Index shopping basket and the second-lowest dining and hotel costs of any city. Unlike other low-cost cities, however, which tend to perform poorly in several other categories, Kuala Lumpur delivers consistently in almost every area of the Index. It is the only city to finish among the top half in every category". Meskipun laporan ini ditujukan khas untuk pelancong antarabangsa, relevannya terhadap penghuni kota-kota yang diselidiki tetap ada terutamanya di wilayah yang saya diami, Lembah Klang. Dengan jumlah pusat membeli belah berjumlah 330, muncul banyak suara yang mengkritik kewujudan gedung yang memuja konsumerisme ini. Kritik paling popular adalah perbanyakkan taman rekreasi dan perpustakaan. Maraknya pusat membeli belah seiring dengan pembangunan ekonomi Malaysia pada awal 90an dan terus berlangsung hingga kini walau kadar pertumbuhannya mulai sederhana. Saya salah seorang yang menikmati kehadiran pusat membeli belah pada waktu itu kerana sedang bergelumang dengan zaman remaja yang memerlukannya untuk bermain game di SEGA City dan sebagainya. Dari keperluan berhibur, saya beranjak dengan membuat buku skrap khas untuk pusat-pusat membeli belah yang ada dan bakal dibina berdasarkan negeri dan kemudian senarai semak untuk dikunjungi. Banyak juga yang saya berjaya sampai dan dua aspek yang saya nilai ketika itu adalah pertama, akses pengangkutan awam dan kedua, nilai hiburan. Terakhir, saya mulai melakar secara amatur pelan pusat membeli belah idaman saya yang pada ketika itu tidak banyak dimasukkan di dalam pembangunan projek mereka seperti pusat sukan dan rekreasi, perpustakaan atau kedai buku mega, pejabat kerajaan dan pusat kesenian dan budaya. Syukur kini banyak pusat membeli belah telah memasukkan unsur-unsur ini untuk memuaskan hati pengunjung yang semakin sopistikated seperti 1Utama dengan gelanggang futsal dan panjat tembok, Suria KLCC dengan Taman KLCC, Lot 10 dengan The Actors Studio, Sunway Pyramid dengan ice skating, Mid Valley dengan kedai buku MPH dan banyak lagi. Pusat membeli belah kini mengalami evolusi menjadi pusat sehenti secara perlahan-lahan kerana jika tidak mereka akan sepi pengunjung. Menyamakan Malaysia yang bercuaca panas dengan Eropah dan Amerika Syarikat dalam membuat perbandingan budaya berbelanja adalah sesuatu yang kurang cerdik kerana konsep high street yang terkenal di United Kingdom tidak praktikal sama sekali dengan cuaca di Malaysia. Malah dalam laporan itu menyebut, "These air-conditioned venues help to overcome Kuala Lumpur's big weakness: it finishes 23rd of 25 for agreeability of climate". Kunci di sini keselesaan dan penghawa dingin adalah faktor, jika tidak masakan pejabat atau tempat kerja yang tidak berbudaya konsumerisme secara langsung turut memakainya. Kuala Lumpur seperti kota lain menghadapi masalah ruang yang semakin terbatas, maka keperluan untuk memaksimakan penggunaan ruang mahu tidak mahu harus dilakukan. Mudah untuk menjadi cool dengan menolak pusat membeli belah dan pro kepada taman rekreasi dan sebagainya. Namun dalam menanggapi ini persoalan utama bukanlah pro atau anti sebaliknya harus dicari jalan bagaimana mencari keseimbangan di antara keperluan rekreasi dan keperluan ekonomi. Di sisi lain berbagai fakta menyedihkan terjadi di lapangan rekreasi baik yang terbuka atau tertutup seperti di pusat komuniti DBKL dan taman-taman tasik yang sepi pengunjung di waktu kerja dan hanya dipadati (masih sedikit dibanding pengunjung pusat membeli belah) pada waktu petang. Jalan tengah yang mungkin boleh disepakati adalah dengan meminta pihak berkaitan membuat polisi mewajibkan pembinaan baru dan renovasi pusat membeli belah memasukkan elemen-elemen sukan rekreasi dan seni budaya di samping terus mempertahan dan memaksimakan penggunaan ruang-ruang rekreasi yang ada supaya lebih hidup. Apa yang pasti membaca buku di perpustakaan/kedai buku, makan tengah hari, mesyuarat, bersukan, berdiskusi, menonton wayang dan sebagainya di pusat membeli belah kini bukan khayalan lagi. Kelompok anti-konsumerisme baik garis keras atau garis lembut sepanjang masa akan meneriakkan slogan anti-pusat membeli belah, anti-konsumerisme dan sebagainya. Namun adalah kurang cerdik bersikap keras melihat fakta lebih setengah juta rakyat Malaysia bekerja di sektor peruncitan dan jutaan lagi yang bekerja di sektor pembuatan. Tanpa konsumerisme kelas-kelas pekerja ini akan bergelut mencari wang untuk penghidupan mereka. Barangkali "Ethical consumerism" boleh menjadi alternatif, "(alternatively called ethical consumption, ethical purchasing, moral purchasing, ethical sourcing, ethical shopping or green consumerism) is a type of consumer activism practiced through "positive buying" in that ethical products are favoured, or "moral boycott", that is negative purchasing and company-based purchasing". Namun persoalannya adakah ia mampu mengubah struktur atau sekadar menjadi eksklusif? Semuanya terpulang kepada kita pengguna dan aktivis untuk mencorakkan seperti mana berubahnya fungsi pusat membeli belah yang semakin demokratis dalam erti kata tidak perlu berbelanja banyak wang untuk menikmatinya. * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.

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