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One chef, one ingredient: Chef to the UN talks beef short ribs Posted: 18 Nov 2012 11:51 PM PST Chef to the United Nations in New York Daryl Schembeck chose beef short ribs as his favourite ingredient. — AFP-Relaxnews pic GENEVA, Nov 19 — If you are what you eat, then it could be said that chefs are what they cook. In an exclusive series from Relaxnews, some of the top chefs from around the world share their favourite food ingredient to prepare and eat, every week. Whether it be peas, apricots, or sea urchin, the answers are as varied as the chefs themselves. This week, chef to the United Nations Daryl Schembeck, shares why beef short ribs are his favourite ingredient to cook with. Relaxnews: Why did you choose this ingredient? Daryl Schembeck: They're very versatile. You can braise them, slice them thinly for Shabu-shabu, stuff them in ravioli or barbecue them. R: What's your favourite memory or anecdote associated with the produce? DS: The best short ribs dish I ever had was in New York at a Japanese barbecue restaurant where they sliced the meat really thinly and changed my opinion of what short ribs where. I always thought that you had to cook it for a long time but that's not true. R: What's the best way to prepare it? DS: My favourite way is to braise it, shred the meat, stuff them in ravioli and finish off the dish with grated cheese on top. R: What other ingredients does it pair best with? Daryl Schembeck chef of United Nations attending a "Chef des Chefs Club" (CCC) press conference at the Plaza Athenee Palace on July 23, 2012 in Paris. — AFP-Relaxnews pic DS: Cooking it with tomatoes. R: What are the most common mistakes people make when cooking or preparing this ingredient? DS: Not letting it cook off in a liquid. R: Best wine pairing option? DS: A Brunello — AFP-Relaxnews

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Dempsey wins US player of the year award Posted: 19 Nov 2012 03:03 PM PST Dempsey (left) shoots wide as Wigan Athletic's Ben Watson (centre) and Maynor Figueroa challenge during their English Premier League soccer match at White Hart Lane in London November 3, 2012. — Reuters pic LONDON, Nov 20 — Clint Dempsey, a regular starter in Juergen Klinsmann's US national team, scored 17 goals in the Premier League for Fulham last season and then moved to Tottenham Hotspur during the close season. The Texan, who scored five goals in this year's CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup, previously won the award in 2007 and last year. Under-17 team midfielder Rubio Rubin won the Young Male Athlete of the Year award. — Reuters

Daimler takes full control of Mercedes team Posted: 19 Nov 2012 07:35 AM PST LONDON, Nov 19 – German carmaker Daimler has taken full control of the Mercedes Formula One motor racing team by buying a 40 per cent stake from Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Aabar Investments for an undisclosed sum. Aabar, which has been cutting its ties with Daimler, last month said it sold its remaining three per cent stake in the company. Daimler and Aabar moved into motor racing in late 2009 when they bought out F1's then world champion, Brawn GP, and relaunched it the following season as Mercedes. Briton Lewis Hamilton, a former world champion and one of the sport's best-known racers, will drive for Mercedes next season. The deal is conditional on regulatory clearance. – Reuters

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Santas warm up for Christmas in Sweden’s far north Posted: 19 Nov 2012 07:03 AM PST Kicksled Sack Race during the Santa Claus Winter Games in Gallivare, above the polar circle in northern Sweden on November 17, 2012. – AFP pic GAELLIVARE, Nov 19 – Christmas cheer came early to Sweden's Arctic mining town of Gaellivare this weekend, where Santas from around the world gathered to compete in one of the world's most important but little known sporting events, the Santa Winter Games. "We're getting into shape before delivering all the Christmas presents and we want to make all the children happy today," said the only Mother Christmas taking part in the competition, who travelled from France and donned her red suit to compete for the second year in a row. The nine competitors and their elves paraded Saturday through the Lapland town of Gaellivare, located 100 kilometres (62 miles) inside the Arctic Circle, to the site of the competition in the town's centre. Japan's Santa Claus was accompanied by three human reindeer, who, in a gracious display of Christmas spirit, agreed to pull the sleigh of the local Santa also competing in the event. Along the route, curious onlookers joined the procession. Agnes, a toddler bundled up in a warm purple snowsuit, was fascinated. "A Santa! Oh! Another one! I have to kiss them! All of them! I've never seen so many," she exclaimed. Raissa, a Russian 53-year-old, came to watch the games for the fifth year in a row. "I like all these Santa Clauses. It's fun and nice. It's an event that makes me happy," she said with a wide grin. As spectators watched from the sidelines, elves and reindeer handed out flags, whistles and candy to supporters. The Father Christmas from Spain had a three-year-old helper named Marco who conscientiously completed his duties before diving face-first into the snow, as he discovered white fluffy snowflakes for the first time. The competition included a reindeer-riding event, porridge-eating, karaoke and sack races, before the jury crowned a winner. "Our local Laplander has to win. He rocks!" said Siri, 11, who watched the competition with her friends atop a snowy hill. "I promised the Dutch participant that I'd root for him. He's so nice," said Ina-Britt, 76, who has watched each Santa Winter Games since the start in 2003. France's Mother Christmas said she was having fun, even though there's a lot of effort involved. "It's not that easy," she admitted between two events. "Ho ho ho, I'm happy, Merry Christmas!" thundered in English the Chinese Father Christmas who came all the way from Hong Kong. In the end, the Santa from the Netherlands was declared the winner of the 2012 competition. "I'm thrilled: I'm the first to win two years in a row. I'm going to come back next year to defend my title," he vowed. After the competition, everyone had a smile on their lips as they drank mulled wine – or hot chocolate for the youngsters – at the town's picturesque Christmas market nearby. Some 400 people braved the cold in parkas and warm boots to watch this year's competition, a record, according to organisers. "Next year, we'll do things bigger," said Mathias Svalenstroem, who organises the annual event. – AFP/Relaxnews

Rare gene mutation offers clues to Alzheimer’s Posted: 18 Nov 2012 07:04 PM PST WASHINGTON, Nov 19 — Scientists have found a rare genetic mutation that appears to triple the risk for developing Alzheimer's disease and provides important clues into how the so-far incurable disease operates. Scientists from two independent teams stumbled on the same result, published in two studies in the New England Journal of Medicine: a mutation in the TREM2 gene, which helps govern immune system responses, is three to four times more common among elderly patients with Alzheimer's than those without the diagnosis. The hallmark of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of plaques and tangles in the brain tissue. In normal bodies, it seems the immune system's inflammatory molecules help clear that build-up before it becomes a problem. The TREM2 gene functions to keep that inflammatory response in check, to stop the inflammatory molecules from harming healthy tissue. But preliminary research indicates the mutation could send the TREM2 gene into overdrive, hindering the inflammatory molecules from doing their job at all. "While the genetic mutation we found is extremely rare, its effect on the immune system is a strong indicator that this system may be a key player in the disease," said University College London's Rita Guerreiro, lead author of one of the two studies. The mutation is found in fewer than one in 200 people, and in fewer than one in 50 Alzheimer's patients, which means the mutation alone is unlikely to be enough to cause the disease. A combination of environmental and hereditary factors are believed to contribute to developing Alzheimer's. However, researchers said identifying this gene and its possible role in Alzheimer's is a step in the right direction. "This is an important step towards unraveling the hidden causes of this disease, so that we can develop treatments and interventions to end one of the 21st century's most significant health challenges," said Peter St George-Hyslop, of the University of Toronto. Another of the lead researchers, Kevin Morgan of the University of Nottingham, said "the risk associated with this new variant is the largest seen to date and heralds the start of a new era in (Alzheimer's Disease) genetic research. "At long last we are beginning to witness major breakthroughs that will hopefully result in therapeutic developments to help alleviate this devastating condition." The scientists said that new drugs could potentially be developed to target the TREM2 gene and stop it from overly interfering in the inflammatory response. One of the studies was done by an international research team based in Britain, Canada and the US, using a data bank of 25,000 people. The other was done by researchers in Iceland, using data from 2,261 elderly Icelanders and then confirmed with population samples in the US, Norway, the Netherlands and Germany. — AFP/Relaxnews

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US home resales climb, housing recovery gains traction Posted: 19 Nov 2012 07:47 AM PST A worker building a townhouse sits on the framing in Colorado, US in this file photo. The National Association of Realtors said on Monday that existing home sales climbed 2.1 per cent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.79 million units, beating forecasts by Wall Street economists. – Reuters pic WASHINGTON, Nov 19 – US home resales rose in October and a gauge of homebuilder sentiment climbed to a six-year high in November, a sign slow improvements in the labour market are helping the housing sector recovery gain traction. The National Association of Realtors said today that existing home sales climbed 2.1 per cent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.79 million units, beating forecasts by Wall Street economists. The data suggests America's recovery from the 2007-09 recession in becoming increasingly self-sustaining, with job creation helping drive home sales, which in turn are supporting economic growth. "The housing market is continuing to improve. It's probably improving more than most economists were projecting earlier this year," said Patrick Newport, an economist at IHS Global Insight in Lexington, Massachusetts. However, the data also showed that superstorm Sandy, a mammoth storm that slammed in the US East Coast on Oct. 29, continues to distort economic data in the United States. The deadly storm had only a slight impact on home resales last month, with sales dropping in the Northeast. But NAR economist Lawrence Yun said the storm could temporarily hold back the pace of sales in November and December. The storm, which killed more than 130 people in the United States and left millions of homes and businesses without electricity, also lead US factories to cut production in October while consumers pulled back on automobile purchases. Economists, however, think Sandy's impact on the economy will only prove temporary. The US jobless rate fell four tenths of a point to 7.9 per cent in the three months through October, although it remains elevated by historical standards. Many Wall Street economists think economic growth picked up sharply in the third quarter, although growth is expected to moderate in the last three months of the year as businesses and consumers hold back on purchases due to uncertainty over US fiscal policy in 2013. In October, the median price for a home resale was US$178,600 (RM547,140), up 11.1 per cent from a year earlier as fewer people sold their homes under distressed conditions compared to the same period in 2011. Distressed sales include foreclosures. The nation's inventory of existing homes for sale fell 1.4 per cent during the month to 2.14 million, the lowest level since December 2002. At the current pace of sales, inventories would be exhausted in 5.4 months, the lowest rate since February 2006. The price increase last month was measured against October 2011, and since then distressed sales have fallen to 24 per cent of total sales from 28 per cent. The share of distressed sales, which also include those where the sales price was below the amount owed on the home, was flat from September. A separate report showed US homebuilder sentiment rose for a seventh consecutive month in November, hitting its highest level in over six years as demand for new homes increased due to a shrinking supply of distressed and foreclosed inventory. The National Association of Home Builders said the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market index rose to 46 from 41 the month before. Economists polled by Reuters had predicted the index would remain unchanged. The index was at its highest level since May 2006. However, the gauge remained below 50, showing that the housing market was still some way off full recovery. Readings below 50 mean more builders view market conditions as poor than favourable. The index has not been above 50 since April 2006. The measure has made strong progress over the last year, helping to cement optimism in the sector. In November last year it stood at just 19. Housing led the financial crisis of 2008-09 and has been one of the biggest overhangs in the economic recovery. "Builders are reporting increasing demand for new homes as inventories of foreclosed and distressed properties begin to shrink in markets across the country," said NAHB Chairman Barry Rutenberg in a statement. – Reuters

UN chief pushes for political dialogue in divided Yemen Posted: 19 Nov 2012 07:47 AM PST UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon stands during Yemen's national anthem at a ceremony in Sanaa November 19, 2012. — Reuters pic SANAA, Nov 19 — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon pledged today to help rescue stumbling efforts to implement a power transfer deal in Yemen that pulled the Arabian Peninsula country back from the brink of civil war last year. Restoring stability in Yemen, a US ally grappling with al Qaeda militants and southern separatists, is an international priority due to fears of disorder ripping apart a state that flanks top oil producer Saudi Arabia and major shipping lanes. "The United Nations is standing here to reconfirm its strong commitment that we stand side by side with the government and people of Yemen in your (pursuit of)... progress towards a better and prosperous future, characterised by reconciliation and democratic participation," Ban told a joint news conference with President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi in Sanaa. Ban was making his initial visit to the impoverished Arab country to mark the first anniversary of the US- and Gulf-sponsored power transfer accord that ended months of mass protests against veteran strongman President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The deal mandates Hadi to oversee major reforms during a two-year interim period to ensure a transition to democracy, including amending the constitution and restructuring the armed forces to break Saleh's family grip on them. The process is expected to lead to presidential and parliamentary election in 2014. But efforts to convene a national reconciliation dialogue central to reform has met resistance from south Yemen separatist leaders. Many have taken advantage of weakened central state authority in the south to return from exile and press for reviving the state that merged with north Yemen in 1990. Many southerners complain northerners based in the capital Sanaa have discriminated against them and usurped their resources. Most of Yemen's fast-declining oil reserves are in the south. The central government denies discriminatory policy. The UN envoy to Yemen, Jamal Benomar, has been meeting with southern separatist leaders to try to persuade them to join the national reconciliation conference, which had been due to start this month. Ban says to push donors on pledges International donors, including Saudi Arabia, have pledged around US$8 billion (RM25 billion) in aid to Yemen, which was driven to the verge of bankruptcy and plunged into factional anarchy by the year-long uprising against Saleh. Ban said the United Nations would work closely with donors to ensure they met their commitments "as soon as possible to enable President Hadi to bring political, security and financial stability" to Yemen. "You are now starting the process of national dialogue and this process should be open for everyone including (those) who demanded change in the street and representatives of all the areas in the country," Ban said in a speech. Western nations suspect that some southern leaders are less interested in the dialogue and more in breaking away, possibly with the backing of Iran, arch-foe of the Saudis and Americans and vying with them for regional power. Secessionists in the south, Houthi Islamist tribal rebels in the north and al Qaeda militants all benefited from the popular upheaval that ousted Saleh in February. A US-backed army offensive ousted al Qaeda from several southern towns it had seized during the anti-Saleh uprising. But jihadi militants, exploiting popular discontent over poverty, unemployment and graft, remain strong in the region and have continued deadly attacks on government and security targets. Today, Hadi promised to continue with the restructuring of the army and security forces, which split between Saleh's allies and adversaries during last year's turmoil. He urged all political parties to join the national dialogue and stressed that elections, set for 2014, would take place on time. "We confirm we are moving ahead to meet the commitments towards our nation and people ... in the framework of the Gulf initiative," he said. — Reuters

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Charlie Chaplin’s bowler hat and cane fetch over US$60,000 at auction Posted: 18 Nov 2012 11:39 PM PST A bowler hat and cane that belonged to silent film star Charlie Chaplin is shown in this publicity photo dated November 13, 2012. — Reuters pic NEW YORK, Nov 19 — One of Charlie Chaplin's bowler hats and a cane, the staple of Hollywood silent-era comedy, were auctioned for US$62,500 yesterday, said auction house Bonhams. Chaplin's hat and cane, which fetched more than the initial estimate of US$40,000-60,000 (RM120,000-RM180,000), are synonymous with his "Little Tramp" character in films such as "City Lights" and "Modern Times." Bonhams memorabilia specialist Lucy Carr said earlier it is unknown how many of Chaplin's bowlers and canes still exist. Those auctioned yesterday are from a private collection but have a direct link to Chaplin, Carr said. The waddling and bumbling "Little Tramp" character propelled Chaplin to global fame. The character, Hollywood legend says was created by accident on a rainy day at Keystone Studios, first appeared in 1914's "Kid Auto Races at Venice" and lastly in 1936's "Modern Times". Chaplin's hat and cane are the highlights of an auction of popular culture artefacts that is still in progress. Other items include a handwritten letter from John Lennon in which the Beatle sketched himself and wife Yoko Ono nude. There is also an archive of Marilyn Monroe photographs, an early Charles Schulz "Peanuts" comic strip, and a wicker chair from Rick's Cafe in "Casablanca". — Reuters

Russell Crowe to sell stake in South Sydney league club Posted: 18 Nov 2012 09:35 PM PST SYDNEY, Nov 19 — Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe is planning to sell his stake in Australian rugby league club South Sydney Rabbitohs in an effort to "simplify" his life after breaking up with his wife. In an e-mail to a local television reporter, the 48-year-old said the split had caused him to put on the market the 75 per cent holding in the club he has co-owned with businessman Peter Holmes a Court since 2006. "My family situation has changed," Crowe wrote. "I have to address personally how busy I have made my life outside of my actual job. "It doesn't change anything at the club level. I will always be a South Sydney supporter and member, as I have been, man and boy, South Sydney 'til I die. "If I have any chance of keeping my family together, I have to simplify my life where I can." The Rabbitohs, named for the cry of rabbit hawkers in early 20th century Sydney, are the most successful team in Australian rugby league with 20 premiership titles but had fallen on hard times before Crowe made his investment. Since then, they have enjoyed a revival and this year boasted 22,000 members and reached the semi-finals of the post-season playoffs. New Zealand-born Crowe won his Oscar in 2000 for his portrayal of Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius in the historical epic Gladiator. — Reuters

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Homer’s Iliad translated into South African Posted: 18 Nov 2012 03:12 PM PST The text will seem less archaic to today's audience than older translations. — AFP pic JOHANNESBURG, Nov 19 — As Homer noted, the Trojans love nothing better than a good braai after fending off Achilles and his horde of assegai-wielding Greek impi. Well, that is according to one retired classics professor who has spent more than 10 years putting Homer's epic poem about the Trojan war into a South African context. Richard Whitaker says he embarked on the odyssey after coming to the conclusion that existing Eurocentric translations did not resonate with South African students. "I came to feel that, on the one hand, 'kings', 'princes', 'palaces' and the like were remote from local experience," he said. "On the other hand, there were many elements of the Homeric world, such as payment of bride-price in cattle, and warriors' winning praises in combat, that might resonate with South Africans." And with that, Troy was transported to the Highveld, commanders become amakhosi, spears became assegai and glens became a kloof. But Whitaker does acknowledge his project's Achilles heel: Not every South African is familiar with the English, Afrikaans, Portuguese, Xhosa, Zulu, Sotho and Tswana words that colour South African speech. For that, Whitaker provides a glossary. Still, the text will seem less archaic to today's audience than older translations, making for a lekker (nice) read. — AFP-Relaxnews

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Mengapa Musa Hitam bersara? Posted: 18 Nov 2012 04:59 PM PST 19 NOV — Tun Musa Hitam membuat keputusan mengejut melepaskan jawatannya sebagai Pengerusi Sime Darby sedang sebelumnya dia dikatakan bersedia untuk dicalonkan semula apabila penggal perkhidmatannya itu tamat? Musa adalah seorang dari sedikit pemimpin politik Umno yang dikira bermaruah. Apabila dia memutuskan untuk bersara dari politik, maka dilihat benar-benar tidak mencampuri urusan semasa politik parti dan negara. Dia dirasakan berpuas hati dengan penghormatan sebagai pengerusi Sime Darby, sesbuah syarikat gergasi yang kerajaan ada kepentingan yang banyak. Mengapa dia tiba-tiba mahu bersara? Dari luar tidak nampak dia ada masalah di gedung itu dan dia juga tidak diketahui ada masalah dengan pemian-pemain politik domistik. Oleh kerana Musa dari mula mencebur diri dalam politik sudah dilihat betul-betul seorang yang "political animal", malah lebih licin dari Dr Mahathir Mohamad, maka apa jua tindakannya dirasakan tidak terlepas dari sebab-sebab politik. Mungkin dia menjadi masalah politik kepada perkembangan politik yang ada, tetapi mungkin juga dia mahu terlepas dari kesan sebarang gelombang politik. Tidakkah mungkin keenggannya menyambung khidmat di Sime Darby sama seperti tidak tidak mahu menyambung khidmatnya sebagai Pengerusi Suhakam dulu? Dia tidak berminat untuk menjadi Pengerusi Suhakam bila ia dibentuk dulu, tetapi Perdana Menteri Dr Mahathir melantiknya juga tanpa persetujuannya. Dia dikira seorang yang telah memberi khidmat yang baik. Walaupun ada Umno yang tidak senang dengan keadilan dan pendirian bebasnya menjalankan tugas, tetapi dia tetap dikira orang paling berwibawa dengan tugasnya itu dan eloklah lama dia di situ. Dia menolak dari diangkat semula apabila kontrak khidmatnya tamat. Mengapa? Dipercayai dia yang sudah bersara dari politik itu mahu mengelak dari politik penyokong-penyokong yang harap  ada percaya tidak atas kewujudan Suhakam itu. Suhakam itu ada kerana Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu mahukannya tetapi ia bukanlah suatu diingini kerajaan semasa. Kerana dia sudah bersara dari politik, maka dia tidak seronok dibabitkan dengan politik lagi. Ada justifikasinya dia bersara dari Suhakam. Tetapi bagaimana dengan Sime Darby? Tidakkah mungkin sikapnya itu ada kaitan dengan gelombang politik negara yang panas sekarang? Belum pernah kerajaan BN sejak tahun 1955 menghadapi cabaran seperti yang ada sekarang dan belum pernah BN menghadapi Pilihanraya Umum yang begitu getir seperti menghadapi PRU13 ini. Sime Darby tidak ada apa-apa peranan dalam PRU13. Ia bukanlah seperti SPR, SPRM, Jabatan Peguam Negara, Jabatan Pendaftaran dan lain-lain. Ia badan ekonomi dan perdagangan saja. Jika badan itu hendak digunakan untuk kepentingan politik parti kerajaan pun, tidaklah sesenang itu orang hendak mendekati Musa. Tidaklah boleh orang berbuat itu dan ini kepadanya seperti yang orang buat kepada Peguam Negara dan Pengerusi SPR misalnya. Bukan anak Pak Hitamlah untuk dibuat begitu. Tetapi Sime Darby itu adalah syarikat yang begitu dekat dengan kerajaan, mungkin dekat hampir macam dekatnya Allah dengan urat lihir setiap insan. Maka orang yang hendak jadi ketua di situ mestilah orang yang disenangi oleh kerajaan khususnya Perdana Menteri. Tidaklah Musa itu orang Najib tetapi dia tidak akan menyusahkan Najib. Dengan PRU13 ini begitu mencabar kerajaan, akan ada malu alahnya bagi peneraju Sime Darby itu jika Putrajaya berubah tangan. Tidaklah perubahan itu mengubah semuanya. Tetapi Musa tentu tidak mahu  ada apa-apa obligasi apabila ada Perdana Menteri baru nanti. Kalau kerajaan baru mahu menghormatnya bukan sebagai pemimpin Sime Darby, tetapi biarlah yang lain seperti Speaker Dewan Rakyat misalnya. Jika dia jadi Speaker lainlah dari yang ada itu. * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.

Menghadapi kematian (Bahagian 4) Posted: 18 Nov 2012 03:50 PM PST 19 NOV — Karmi akan melangkah masuk ke dalam laut atau sungai sambil diiringi warga emas atau pakar upacara agama. Periuk belanga berisi abu dan tulang dipegang dengan kedua-dua tapak tangan terbuka. Karmi akan berjalan ke dalam laut/sungai sehingga air sampai ke paras dada. Pada masa yang sama, periuk belanga berisi abu dan tulang jenazah dibiarkan tenggelam ke dalam air. Semasa melakukan upacara menenggelamkan periuk belanga ini, karmi perlu memandang ke arah matahari atau ke arah timur dan berdoa meminta Pencipta mengampunkan serta "menerima kembali" roh mendiang. Secara tradisi, semua yang hadir pada upacara berkenaan akan mandi di sungai/laut dan sama-sama berdoa sebelum pulang. Tapak yang digunakan sebagai tempat melakukan upacara tadi perlulah dibersihkan.  Pelbagai upacara khas diadakan bagi 'membantu' dan 'membimbing' roh kembali kepada Pencipta. Semua barangan yang digunakan perlu dimasukkan ke dalam beg plastik dan dibuang dengan cara yang betul. Biasanya, barang-barang dan perkakas yang digunakan bagi upacara menyempurnakan abu dan tulang jenazah tidak dibawa pulang ke rumah.  Dalam budaya India (khususnya yang beragama Hindu dan Buddha), adalah dipercayai bahawa roh tidak mati bersama-sama jasad. Maka upacara menyempurnakan jenazah perlu dilakukan dengan teliti supaya roh si mati boleh meneruskan perjalanan mencari Tuhan. Roh disebut "jiva", "atma" atau "prana". Apabila roh sudah meninggalkan jasad, nama yang diberikan adalah "preta". "Preta" dikatakan masih berada berdekatan dengan jasad selepas individu berkenaan meninggal dunia. Sebab itulah jenazah perlu dibakar dengan segera supaya "preta" boleh meneruskan perjalanan menemui Pencipta. Mantera dan upacara yang dimulakan sebaik sahaja seorang individu meninggal dunia adalah bertujuan membantu "preta" meneruskan perjalanan ke alam yang lain. Upacara sembahyang khas bagi "preta" akan diadakan sama ada pada hari ke-10, ke-12, ke-16 atau ke-31 selepas individu berkenaan meninggal dunia.  Upacara yang dinamakan "Sembahyang Shanti" atau "Sembahyang Moksha" ini ditetapkan dengan merujuk pada pakar agama atau atas nasihat warga emas yang berpengalaman.  Upacara sembahyang diadakan di rumah atau di kuil sebagai tanda "preta" akan meninggalkan alam ini (disebut bhuloka) dan memasuki alam roh (disebut pitruloka) yang dihuni "pithru" iaitu roh-roh yang menunggu untuk dilahirkan semua ke bhuloka mengikut konsep karma. Upacara ini juga digelar "Sembahyang Moksha" kerana didoakan supaya "preta" (roh atau "atma" mendiang) tidak akan memasuki pitruloka dan lahir semula ke dunia; sebaliknya akan mencapai moksha atau nirvana iaitu "bersatu" dengan Tuhan (iaitu "Paramatma" atau Roh Agung). Antara soalan yang sering dikemukakan adalah mengapa jenazah kaum India tidak dikebumikan. Dalam budaya India, Tuhan dikatakan mencipta manusia daripada lima unsur alam yang disebut "panca bootam" iaitu air, api, tanah, angin dan angkasa. Maka, apabila seseorang meninggal dunia, jasadnya wajar "dikembalikan" kepada kelima-lima unsur alam berkenaan. Begini: Apabila jenazah dibakar, api (nerupu) mendapat peluang untuk "mengambil" sebahagian jasad itu. Cecair badan pula akan mengalir masuk ke dalam tanah (nilam) manakala angin (kaatu) pula menerbangkan abu daripada jasad ke ruang angkasa (agayam). Akhirnya, abu dicairkan ke dalam laut atau sungai; maka jasad juga "dikembalikan" kepada unsur kelima iaitu air (neer). Sering juga ditanya mengapa Sungai Ganges menjadi pilihan. Sebenarnya, sungai berkenaan dianggap sebagai sungai suci dalam kalangan masyarakat India beragama Hindu. Kononnya, jika mandi dalam sungai berkenaan, segala dosa individu berkenaan akan terampun. Namun, sebenarnya, abu jenazah boleh dicairkan dalam mana-mana sungai dan laut kerana akhirnya akan sampai ke lautan. Rasionalnya di sini adalah bahawa abu jenazah sudah bercampur dengan air laut dan boleh pergi ke mana-mana penjuru dunia. Amalan ini sebagai simbolik bahawa roh mendiang boleh lahir semula di mana-mana penjuru dunia. Dalam budaya India, tidak semua jenazah dibakar. Ada juga jenazah yang perlu dikebumikan. Bagi golongan bayi, kanak-kanak, teruna dan dara, roh mereka dipercayai meninggalkan jasad melalui lubang pada tengkorak. Bagi individu yang sudah berkahwin, roh dipercayai keluar melalui lubang mata, mulut, hidung atau telinga. Bagi individu (bayi, kanak-kanak, teruna dan dara) yang roh keluar melalui lubang pada tengkorak, hidupnya dikatakan belum "sempurna". Dalam budaya India, hidup dikatakan "sempurna" hanya selepas berkahwin; dan sebaik-baiknya sudah ada anak. Istilah bagi individu yang belum berkahwin adalah "sanyasi". Maka, jenazah sanyasi tidak dibakar, sebaliknya dikebumikan. Dengan itu, jasad berkenaan hanya "dikembalikan" kepada satu unsur alam iaitu tanah (nilam). Individu berkenaan dianggap meninggal dunia sebelum hidupnya "sempurna" iaitu sebelum berkahwin dan mendapat anak. Perlu dinyatakan bahawa masyarakat India percaya bahawa hidup seorang individu hanya "bermula" selepas berkeluarga. Selepas jenazah dikebumikan, upacara sembahyang dan membaca mantera diadakan. Namun, makam atau sebarang tanda tidak boleh diletakkan pada kubur. Kaum-keluarga tidak digalakkan mengunjungi kubur kerana roh mendiang dipercayai tidak boleh meneruskan perjalanan ke alam roh sekiranya sering "dikunjungi" di kubur. Hal ini tentunya berbeza dengan budaya masyarakat Melayu-Islam dan Cina serta penganut agama Kristian. Bagaimanapun, kini ramai juga masyarakat India yang meletakkan batu nesan serta membina makam kecil di tempat sanyasi dikebumikan. Kunjungan juga dilakukan pada hari-hari tertentu.  Upacara menyempurnakan jenazah bagi sanyasi adalah sama seperti yang diterangkan sebelum ini. Namun, sebelum jenazah dibawa keluar dari rumah menuju ke tanah perkuburan, upacara "perkahwinan" diadakan bagi mendiang.  Amalan ini dibuat kerana kehidupan sanyasi dianggap belum sempurna. Sekurang-kurangnya "perkahwinan" ini diharapkan akan menjadikan mendiang sedikit "sempurna" dan lebih cepat mencapai moksha. Jika individu yang meninggal dunia adalah seorang teruna, pohon pisang yang kecil akan ditanam di dalam pasu dan diletakkan di sisi jenazah. Taali iaitu tali kuning yang diikat seulas kunyit akan diletakkan pada tapak tangan jenazah.  Kemudian, seorang lelaki warga emas akan diminta mengambil taali berkenaan dan mengikatnya pada batang pokok pisang. Maka teruna berkenaan dianggap sudah berkahwin. Seterusnya, kanak-kanak dan wanita yang hadir akan diminta menutup mata atau memalingkan muka.  Parang diambil dan pokok pisang yang diikatkan taali tadi ditebang. Makna simbolik adalah bahawa "isteri" sudah meninggal dunia. Dengan itu, kononnya, jenazah yang akan dikebumikan bukan lagi jenazah seorang sanyasi tetapi jenazah seorang lelaki yang sudah kematian isteri. Jika individu yang meninggal dunia adalah seorang gadis, sebatang pohon pisang yang kecil ditanam di dalam pasu dan diletakkan di sisi jenazah. Taali diletakkan pada pokok pisang yang mewakili pengantin lelaki. Kemudian, seorang lelaki warga emas akan mengambil taali dan meletakkannya pada leher jenazah tanpa diikat dengan sempurna. Seterusnya, pohon pisang ditebang sebagai simbol "suami" meninggal dunia. Maka, taali pada leher jenazah ditanggalkan. Makna simbolik adalah bahawa "suami" sudah meninggal dunia. Dengan itu, kononnya, jenazah yang akan dikebumikan bukan lagi jenazah seorang sanyasi tetapi jenazah seorang balu. Bagi kanak-kanak dan bayi, jenazah perlu dikebumikan. Roh mereka dipercayai akan pergi semula kepada Pencipta dengan kadar segera sebelum dilahirkan semula ke dunia. Semua ini adalah amalan tradisi dalam kalangan masyarakat India-Hindu. Apa yang pasti, dalam budaya India, kematian bukan titik akhir kehidupan. Sebaliknya adalah permulaan bagi kehidupan seterusnya. Itulah sebabnya upacara menyempurnakan jenazah dilakukan dengan penuh adat dan teratur.  Kaum keluarga yang masih hidup akan cuba melakukan apa yang terbaik bagi memastikan roh si mati selamat kembali menemui Pencipta. Mengikut konsep karma dalam budaya India, roh berkenaan dipercayai akan lahir semua dalam bentuk yang lain serta melalui beberapa siri kehidupan dan kematian sebelum akhirnya bersatu dengan "Roh Agung" iaitu Tuhan. Penerangan serba ringkas ini juga boleh menjadi sebuah permulaan untuk memahami budaya kaum India-Hindu secara lebih mendalam kerana pemahaman ini penting dalam kalangan masyarakat pelbagai kaum, etnik, agama dan budaya di Malaysia. Usah kita lupa bahawa Tuhan menciptakan kita berbeza-beza untuk kita saling mengenali dan saling menghormati. * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.

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Hak kerahsiaan hilang jika individu melakukan jenayah, kata peguam Rafizi Posted: 19 Nov 2012 01:33 AM PST SHAH ALAM, 19 Nov — R Sivarasa, peguam mewakili pengarah strategi PKR, Rafizi Ramli (gambar) dalam hujahnya menegaskan hak kerahsiaan seseorang individu dalam maklumat perbankan hilang serta-merta jika didapati terlibat dalam jenayah. Hujah tersebut diberikan oleh Sivarasa semasa sesi pendengaran permohonan membatalkan pertuduhan dibawah Akta Perbankan dan Institusi Kewangan 1989 (BAFIA) ke atas Rafizi hari ini di Mahkamah Tinggi Shah Alam. "Ia diakui maklumat perbankan seseorang individu itu adalah rahsia. "Tetapi jika seseorang itu menghadapi pertuduhan pecah amanah dan jenayah, secara serta-merta hak kerahsiaan itu terbatal," kata Sivarasa dihadapan hakim, Datuk Ghazali Cha. Dalam hujahnya lagi, Sivarasa juga mempertahankan pendedahan maklumat perbankan Pusat Fidlot Nasional (NFC) oleh Rafizi memandangkan perkara tersebut bertujuan untuk kepentingan awam. "Apa yang Rafizi lakukan ini adalah atas tanggungjawabnya kepada orang awam. "Lagipun aduan BAFIA ini bukan dibuat sendiri oleh Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) mahupun Public Bank tetapi ia dilakukan oleh individu (pengerusi NFC Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail) yang kini menghadapi tuduhan jenayah di mahkamah," kata Sivarasa lagi. Selain hujah tersebut, Sivarasa juga mengesyorkan dihadapan hakim supaya mengiktiraf tindakan pendedahan Rafizi ini dengan satu penghargaan dan bukan mendakwanya di bawah BAFIA. "Beliau telah mendedahkan salah laku menggunakan dana kerajaan untuk kepentingan diri sendiri. "Jika negara luar, Rafizi akan diiktiraf dan dianggap sebagai wira kerana pendedahannya telah mengheret Datuk Salleh ke muka pengadilan. "Tapi sebaliknya beliau pula didakwa. Jika ia diteruskan, apa pula persepsi orang ramai nanti," tambah Sivarasa lagi. Rafizi pada 24 Oktober lalu telah melakukan permohonan menggugurkan tuduhan tersebut kerana bukti-bukti pertuduhan terhadapnya berniat jahat dan terpilih bertujuan menutup pendedahan butiran perbankan skandal NFC. Dalam hujahnya lagi, Sivarasa juga mendedahkan dalam semakannya dengan BNM mendapati sejak BAFIA dikuatkuasakan tidak pernah ada individu yang didakwa di mahkamah kerana mendedahkan maklumat perbankan sekaligus mengukuhkan lagi bahawa pertuduhan ke atas Rafizi bersifat memilih. "Semakan saya dengan BNM mendapati tidak pernah ada seorang pun yang didakwa dibawah BAFIA. Kenapa sekarang baru mahu menguatkuasakannya?" soal Sivarasa. Rafizi berhadapan pertuduhan di bawah Seksyen 97 (1) kerana telah mendedahkan empat akaun profil pelanggan NFC —  National Meat and Livestock Sdn Bhd, Agroscience and Industries Sdn Bhd dan pengerusi NFC, Mohamad Salleh — kepada dua  individu yang dikenal pasti sebagai Encik Yusuf Abdul Alim dan Encik Erle Martin Cavalho. Di bawah Seksyen 103(1)(a) akta yang sama, Rafizi boleh dikenakan denda maksimum sehingga RM3 juta dan dipenjara sehingga  tiga tahun jika didapati bersalah. Turut dibicara adalah bekas kerani Public Bank cawangan Jinjang Johari Mohamad, yang dituduh membantu Rafizi mendedahkan  transaksi akaun terbabit. Kedua-dua Rafizi dan Johari mengaku tidak bersalah bagi pertuduhan tersebut. Rafizi adalah antara yang pertama mendedahkan skandal NFC dan menyifatkan pertuduhan BAFIA ke atas beliau menunjukkan "pihak berkuasa tidak mengalu-alukan pemberi maklumat". Wang ikat jamin berjumlah RM15,000 dikenakan setiap seorang dengan Adun Seri Setia Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad yang juga Pengarah  Komunikasi PKR sebagai penjamin. Dalam pada itu, ekoran pendedahan Rafizi tersebut telah membawa kepada pendakwaan ke atas Mohamad Salleh atas jenayah pecah  amanah dan melanggar Akta Syarikat melibatkan RM49 juta dana persekutuan yang diberi kepada NFC pada 12 Mac. Mohamad Salleh didakwa atas kanun keseksaan kerana menyalahgunakan RM9,758,140 dari wang NFCorp untuk membeli dua kondominium  mewah di One Menerung di Bangsar untuk Perbadanan Daging dan Ternakan Nasional (NMLC) pada 1 Disember dan 4 Disember 2009. Dia juga didakwa memindahkan RM40 juta wang NFCorp kepada NMLC antara 6 Mei hingga 16 November 2009. Beliau didakwa dalam dua kes tersebut kerana mennggunakan dana tanpa mesyuarat tahunan syarikat, iaitu kesalahan dalam Akta  Syarikat. Jika didapati bersalah beliau akan menghadapi penjara antara dua hingga 20 tahun penjara, sebatan dan denda kerana kesalahan  di bawah kanun keseksaan. Sesi pendengaran kes Rafizi pada hari ini ditangguhkan dan akan bersambung Jumaat ini, jam 9 pagi.

PDRM tingkat kolaborasi dan komunikasi antara agensi polis bantuan Posted: 19 Nov 2012 01:19 AM PST KOTA KINABALU, 19 Nov — Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) di peringkat kontinjen dan daerah perlu tingkatkan kolaborasi dan komunikasi berterusan antara agensi polis bantuan bagi memanfaatkan sepenuhnya khidmat mereka mencegah jenayah menjelang tahap kedua Program Transformasi Kerajaan (GTP) tahun depan sehingga 2015. Ketua Polis Negara Tan Sri Ismail Omar berkata polis bantuan merupakan sebahagian entiti PDRM yang mencakupi hampir satu pertiga daripada kekuatan PDRM dengan jumlah perjawatan yang diluluskan sehingga kini adalah 34,572 orang. "Polis bantuan dan PDRM perlu mengukuhkan lagi kerjasama strategik dan kolaborasi dalam usaha mencegah jenayah yang dijalankan di kawasan orang ramai, tanpa mengganggu tugas asas polis bantuan dan kolaborasi mereka untuk menjaga keselamatan di organisasi yang dilantik," katanya. Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Persidangan Ketua-Ketua Agensi Polis Bantuan bersama Pegawai Kanan PDRM ke-24 di Wisma Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) di sini hari ini. Turut hadir, Pesuruhjaya Polis Sabah Datuk Hamza Taib, Pengarah Urusan SESB, Abd Razak Sallim dan Presiden Persatuan Agensi Polis Bantuan Malaysia, Bakri Sanusi. Ismail berkata usaha menggunakan khidmat polis bantuan merupakan selaras dengan ketetapan yang telah digariskan di bawah Perintah Tetap Ketua Polis Negara (PTKPN) A501 yang menjelaskan peranan dan tugas-tugas hakiki polis bantuan. "Peranan dan tugas hakiki polis bantuan termasuk menjalankan rondaan, bit dan kawalan statik, melakukan tugas kawalan orang ramai, memeriksa orang dan kenderaan, melindungi dan mengiringi harta majikan, mencegah kesalahan jenayah dan mengesan serta menangkap pesalah," katanya. Walaubagaimanapun, katanya bidang kuasa anggota polis bantuan dalam melaksanakan tugas adalah berkuatkuasa dan terhad kepada tanggungjawab melaksanakan tugas di sekitar kawasan yang telah ditentukan sahaja. Menurutnya terdapat kekangan bagi polis bantuan terlibat secara langsung dalam 'aktiviti pencegahan jenayah' di bawah inisiatif Bidang Keberhasilan Utama Negara (NKRA) disebabkan oleh faktor teknikaliti perundangan. "Namun, kita semua tahu bahawa dari sudut legitimasi, polis bantuan adalah satu cabang daripada PDRM yang perlu diberi perhatian dan dorongan sewajarnya. Maka, di sinilah perlunya konsep 3C iaitu 'Communication', 'Collaboration', dan 'Creativity' yang pernah diwar-warkan oleh Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak diimplementasi sepenuhnya," katanya. Ismail berkata pada masa kini, terdapat 123 agensi yang mentadbir urus operasi polis bantuan iaitu 25 agensi kerajaan, 21 badan berkanun, 32 Syarikat Berkaitan Kerajaan (GLC) dan 45 syarikat malah sehingga 31 Okt lepas sebanyak 16 agensi diberi kelulusan untuk menubuhkan pasukan polis bantuan. Mengenai persidangan dua hari bermula hari ini yang dihadiri 200 peserta itu, Ismail berharap satu pendekatan terbaru dapat dihasilkan sejajar dengan perkembangan arus global semasa bagi mencapai Petunjuk Prestasi Utama (KPI) yang ditetapkan. "Seperti contoh tahap keselamatan di Sabah dalam keadaan baik dan indeks jenayah selama tiga tahun mencapai PI yang ditetapkan dan usaha ini harus berterusan kerana kita harus mencari benda baru sesuai keadaan lebih mencabar yang memerlukan inovasi baru dan tidak berada ditakuk lama," katanya. — Bernama

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