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The Malaysian Insider :: Food

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China to get 700 more KFCs and Pizza Huts next year Posted: 02 Dec 2012 05:16 PM PST More than one new KFC outlet is opened in China every day. – AFP pic BEIJING, Dec 3 – Look out China, you think you've already got a lot of KFCs and Pizza Huts? You're about to be knocked over the head with more Yum! brands, as the fast food company announced plans to open another 700 new units in the country next year. In its annual full-year forecast for next year, Yum! revealed its ambitious and aggressive expansion plans for the country  – a country they call "the greatest restaurant opportunity of the 21st century." Currently, there are nearly 5,000 Yum! restaurants in more than 800 cities across China, 800 of which were newly opened this year, a record for the brand. The rate of expansion is staggering: more than one new KFC outlet is opened in China every day. Pizza Hut likewise has a strong presence in the country, with more than 700 restaurants in 120 cities. China isn't the only country being eyed for expansion. Last year, the company opened 100 more KFC and Pizza Hut outlets in India, with plans to increase that figure to 150 in 2013. Likewise, 330 dine-in Pizza Hut restaurants were opened in the UK this year. Meanwhile, it's not just Yum! which thinks that the Chinese market is ripe for the picking. Starbucks announced this week its plans to make China the second largest market outside the US by 2014 to reach 1,500 stores across 70 cities by 2015. Family-style American diner chain Denny's announced plans to enter the Asian market with 50 new restaurants next year. – AFP-Relaxnews

Sotheby’s releases list of El Bulli wines to be auctioned off Posted: 02 Dec 2012 06:35 AM PST LONDON, Dec 2 — Sotheby's will be auctioning off more than 8,800 bottles of wine from the now-shuttered El Bulli restaurant by Ferran Adrià in Hong Kong and New York next spring. The collection includes bottles from the classic wine regions such as Burgundy, Bordeaux, Sherry, Rioja, Cava and Champagne, some of which were labelled exclusively for the three-Michelin-starred restaurant. Overall, the auction is expected to fetch up to US$1.6 million (RM4.8 million). The highest value lot includes a trio of Domaine de la Romanée Conti, Romanée Conti 1990, which is estimated to bring in US$32,500 to US$47,500. A lot of six magnums labelled exclusively for El Bulli — Lucien Le Moine Hospices de Beaune Corton Vergennes Cuvée Paul Chanson 2005 — is also expected to be highly sought after, fetching between US$1,200 and US$1,600. Some of the El Bulli wines Sotheby's will be auctioning next spring.©Shutterstock.com More affordable lots include bottles priced as low as US$50 for a 1999 Cuvée Prestige de Caroline. Here are some other highlights: SPAIN - More than 2,000 bottles estimated at up to US$300,000 - Seven different vintages of Vega Sicilia Valbuena from 1995-2002 - Nine different vintages and 157 bottles of Pingus - Six different vintages of Clos Erasmus - Four different vintages of Clos Mogador RHONE - 415 bottles from Château de Beaucastel - Multiple vintages of Hermitage from JL. Chave, Hermitage, La Chapelle from Paul Jaboulet Aîné and Côte Rôtie, La Landonne, La Mouline and La Turque from Guigal BORDEAUX - Château Latour 2005 - Five vintages of Yquem from 1989-2001 featuring five different formats RED BURGUNDY - Over 1,400 bottles estimated to fetch between US$340,000 and US$486,000 - Over 124 Bottles of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Pommard, Hospices de Beaune, Cuvée Dames de la Charité Corton Clos du Roi, Hospices de Beaune, Cuvée Baronne du Bay. WHITE BURGUNDY - Over 1,000 bottles estimated at between US$166,000 and US$228,000 - 28 bottles of Montrachet from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti from 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004 Many additional offerings from other standout producers Domaine Leflaive, Maison Henri Boillot, and Domaine des Comtes Lafon. The first auction is to be held on April 3, 2013, in Hong Kong, and the second in New York, on April 26. — AFP/Relaxnews

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Bayern defender Badstuber to undergo surgery, says club Posted: 02 Dec 2012 07:55 AM PST BERLIN, Dec 2 —Bayern Munich central defender Holger Badstuber will undergo surgery on Monday after suffering a torn cruciate ligament in his right knee that will rule him out for five months, the Bundesliga leaders said on Sunday. The Germany defender, who had come back days ago from a three-week injury break, turned his right knee after a challenge with fellow Germany international Mario Goetze during the 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. He had to be carried off the pitch on a stretcher and underwent more tests on Sunday. "Badstuber will undergo surgery on Monday and after that will be out of action for about five months," Bayern said in a statement. Bayern, who lead the Bundesliga table by eight points, have also qualified for the knockout stage of the Champions League. They host Belarussian side BATE Borisov on Wednesday in their last Group F match as they try to finish top. — Reuters

Redknapp’s presence no guarantee of QPR avoiding the drop Posted: 02 Dec 2012 06:36 AM PST Queens Park Rangers coach Harry Redknapp reacts during their English Premier League soccer match against Sunderland in Sunderland, northern England November 27, 2012. — Reuters pic LONDON, Dec 2 — Harry Redknapp was the man the fans wanted, but after two matches in charge of struggling Queens Park Rangers it is clear his presence alone is not enough to guarantee a second great escape from relegation. Having drawn 0-0 at Sunderland in his first match in midweek, hopes were high among supporters that his opening home game at Loftus Road on Saturday would bring a first win of the season. Despite having the best of the opportunities it was not to be, with Jamie Mackie cancelling out Brett Holman's early opener for Aston Villa. The 1-1 draw meant the west London side equalled Swindon Town's record for the longest winless start to a Premier League season set back in 1993/94. Six draws in 15 matches is their meager return and puts them three points behind Reading at the foot of the table and seven off 17th-placed Sunderland. Having helped both Portsmouth and Tottenham Hotspur avoid the drop to the second tier, Redknapp was the only person the QPR board wanted once they put Mark Hughes out of his misery eight days ago. QPR narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of last season, but they are going to have to start winning soon if they are to have any chance of repeating that feat. The crowded fixture period in the coming month will be crucial to their future and could also shape how Redknapp approaches the January transfer window. While widely admired for his shrewd dealings in the transfer market, Redknapp said there was no point bringing in even more players to a bloated QPR squad if they remain firmly rooted to the bottom of the table come the New Year. "If you are still adrift in January what is the point?" he told reporters. "If that was the case I would advise the owners not to spend their money." Hughes brought in a dozen new players during the off-season, many of whom have failed to impress, and Redknapp is wary of adding further disruption to a squad full of potential but failing to live up to expectations. "What are you going to do - load yourself with more big wages?" he pondered. "If we are in touching distance then I'm sure we will have a go and get one or two in but they can't keep spending their money and upping the wage bill. "You've got to see where you are in January. If you are in touching distance then maybe you can go and get a couple in who can make the difference and get out of it that way. If we can do that then maybe we will have a go. "We are OK in some positions but desperately short in others. We are short of centre halves." QPR, owned by Malaysian tycoon Tony Fernandes, visit modest Wigan Athletic next Saturday. — Reuters

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India’s giggling guru says laugh yourself to good health Posted: 02 Dec 2012 07:13 AM PST Indian 'guru of giggling" Madan Kataria speaks during an interview after a session of a 'laughter club' in Greater Noida on the outskirts of New Delhi on August 25, 2012. — Reuters pic NEW DELHI, Dec 2 — India's "guru of giggling" Madan Kataria, who has got thousands of people guffawing globally in pursuit of better health, has an unexpected confession -- he hasn't got a very good sense of humour. "But you don't require one to laugh," chortles Kataria, founder of "Laughter Yoga", a movement that has attracted fans worldwide including celebrities Oprah Winfrey and Goldie Hawn. Kataria — who travels constantly spreading his "laugh with no reason" gospel — has been hired by multinationals from computer giant Hewlett-Packard to automaker Volvo to hold team-building laughter sessions. Now he is setting up a "Laughter University" in the southern city of Bangalore on land donated by a building contractor and US$250,000 (RM760,000) from an anonymous tycoon. "In three months we will start building and by the end of 2013 we will be up and running. We want to build a worldwide community headquarters of laughter yoga," he said. Kataria envisions holding laughter sessions and conferences at the centre and setting up an alternative medicine unit to expand medical knowledge about the beneficial health effects of laughter. Studies already suggest laughter releases feel-good endorphins, the brain chemicals that are linked with a sense of wellbeing. "Laughing is the healthiest thing you can do — it's the best medicine," said the towering, bald 58-year-old, whose movement has inspired thousands of "Laughter Clubs" in India and around the world from Beirut to Dublin. Kataria also holds laughter sessions in schools, prisons, hospitals and retirement homes, and a few years ago testified before a US Senate committee that laughter yoga could help the country cut healthcare costs. A qualified doctor, he hit upon medical literature advocating laughter as a stress-buster and remedy for other ailments. In 1995 he decided to "field-test" his findings before setting up the first of his clubs. Medical benefits Kataria started with four strangers in a Mumbai park. They stood in a circle and "laughed like hyenas," he recalled. Numbers soon swelled to around 50. They recounted jokes but realised they didn't have enough gags — then he found that the body was unable to distinguish between fake and genuine laughter with both producing the same "happy, healing chemistry". "Anyway, fake laughter turns into real laughter after a few moments. Try it," he said. He persuaded his group to laugh with him for one minute with no reason. It stretched into 10 minutes as the laughter turned infectious -- and the Laughter Yoga movement was born. "Laughter is more about social connection and bonding than something being funny," Amit Sood, a doctor at the Mayo Clinic in the United States, told AFP. "Studies show all kinds of benefits from laughter from better immunity and coping skills, lower stress, better relationships to improved digestion," he said. Many Indian parks now host sessions every morning with peals of laughter ringing out from people standing in groups. "It relaxes me. If I laugh in the morning, the rest of the day goes well," said Lisa Singh, 39, one regular "laugher" in New Delhi. Kataria, who runs his non-profit Laughter Yoga Institute with a dozen employees from his Mumbai home, says one needs a full 15-to-20 minutes of giggling daily to reap the full benefits. Researchers believe it may be the use of abdominal muscles in laughing that triggers the release of endorphins — a phenomenon also associated with exercise, such as running. "It's not enough to just watch a funny movie because you just laugh a few seconds at a funny line — you need to laugh for a stretch to get the rewards," Kataria said. Big ambitions Kataria was the youngest of 14 children from a poor farming family in the state of Punjab. Six siblings died as medical help was too far away and his mother set her heart on him becoming a doctor. She sold her gold bangles so he could go to medical school. He qualified as a physician but was more drawn to acting and admits he was a "bit of a showman". "My family was rather disappointed — but now they have seen how big Laughter Yoga has become, they're proud," he said. His talent to engage people came across at a recent financial analysts' team-building session in New Delhi. He stretched his arms out and led off with his signature "tee-hee, ho, ho" that finally gave way to unrestrained bellows. There were a few nervous titters, then within minutes the room was engulfed by laughter and some people were wiping away tears. "Laughter is contagious — like yawning," said Kataria who intersperses the merriment with deep breathing yoga exercises and stretching. "We need to laugh to help us deal with life, which can be very difficult," he said, briefly sounding serious. "When you laugh you're joyful — you're living in the moment." — AFP-Relaxnews

Luxury villa or nuclear silo? The best bunkers for riding out the Mayan ‘apocalypse’ Posted: 02 Dec 2012 12:58 AM PST Luxury villa or nuclear silo? The best bunkers for riding out the Mayan 'apocalypse' A man walks inside the Pionen high-security computer storage facility of Swedish Bahnhof , one of the companies to host WikiLeaks servers on December 9, 2010 in Stockholm, Sweden. — AFP pic NEW YORK, Dec 2 — According to some people's interpretation of the Maya calendar and beliefs about Mayan spirituality the world is due to end on December 21, 2012. For those who don't feel like taking their chances this December, a selection of some of the coolest, most comfortable, "apocalypse proof" bunkers selected from around the world can be found below. Villa Vals - Vals, Switzerland This luxurious villa is buried deep in the Swiss mountainside and comes complete with all the mod cons one would need for riding out the Mayan apocalypse. The underground villa has enough room for ten people and boasts luxuries and distractions such as king-sized beds, a fully equipped library and a TV room. The bunker runs on hydroelectric power generated by the Zerveila reservoir. The bunker was selected by Flavorwire as one of the best places to be should the world actually come to an end on December 21. http://www.villavals.ch/ The Adirondack Missile Silo - upstate New York Hidden beneath a cozy log cabin in the Adirondacks, this former Cold War missile silo could provide those seeking a safe place for the end of the world with everything needed to survive past December 21. The underground former missile silo boasts a 2,000 pound steel blast door, a re-furbished multi-storey living space and enormously thick concrete walls and a recently fitted bathroom, should things get a little hairy there is even an escape hatch. The bunker was chosen by The Daily Mail as one of the best bunkers for surviving doomsday. Pionen high-security computer storage - Stockholm, Sweden This former Cold War bunker turned computer storage facility and home of Wikileaks servers is buried under 100 feet of solid Swiss granite and includes designer furniture, solar lighting and even a waterfall. Though gaining access to the highly secure nuclear shelter could prove rather difficult, it is perhaps the perfect place to put your feet up while the world comes to an end. The facility was named on the abovetopsecret forum as one of the top places to ride out a doomsday scenario. The Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler bunker - Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany This vast bunker complex in Germany was designed to protect the country's government in the event of a nuclear war and could support up to 3,000 people for around 30 days. The bunker was recently partially restored to some of its former glory and has dedicated areas for hospitals and radiation decontamination rooms. The former Cold War bolthole was named as one of the best bunkers for December 21 by Viola.bz. Greenbrier bunker, West Virginia, USA This Eisenhower-era bunker was only declassified in 1992 and has since been renovated and used for data storage. Currently visitors can tour only a small part of the nuclear hideout, though in the event of an apocalypse touring restrictions are unlikely to take priority. The shelter is designed to hold over 1,100 people, features decontamination chambers and space for a clinic. In its heyday it even boasted a cafeteria, a laboratory and its own power supply. The bunker was chosen as one of the best places to survive the apocalypse by apocalypse-centric site doomsdayjesters.com. http://www.greenbrier.com Beijing Underground City, Beijing, China Also known as Dixia Cheng, this complex network of tunnels stretches beneath the Chinese capital and was built during the 1970s in anticipation of a nuclear war. In total the tunnels that form Beijing's underground city cover around 85km and at one point were accessible via over 90 entrances hidden in shops around the city. At the height of tensions, the complex boasted restaurants, clinics, schools, theaters and even an ice skating rink. The enormous scale of the development makes it ideal for waiting out the end of the world in what could essentially be an underground functioning city. The site was chosen by survivalist website Urbanprepping.com as one of the best places for waiting out the end of the world.

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Producer Katzenberg picks up honorary Oscar for charity work Posted: 02 Dec 2012 12:51 AM PST Honorary Oscar recipients (from left) George Stevens Jr., D.A. Pennebaker, Hal Needham and Jeffrey Katzenberg. — Reuters pics LOS ANGELES, Dec 2 — Hollywood producer Jeffrey Katzenberg yesterday received an honorary Oscar for his charitable work at a star-studded gala that kicked off the movie awards season and bestowed film industry gold on three other industry veterans. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences annually hands out its Governors Awards to people who have made an impact on Hollywood. This year, the honorary Oscars went to Katzenberg, stuntman Hal Needham, documentary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker and arts advocate George Stevens Jr. They were recognised at a black-tie affair that brought out stars such as Annette Bening, Kirk Douglas and Steven Spielberg. Katzenberg speaks of the film industry's imaginary and real worlds, as he shares the award with "the extraordinary generosity of our industry towards improving the real world". Katzenberg, a former chairman of Walt Disney Co's movie division and the founder and chief executive of Dreamworks Animation, was given a Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his fundraising efforts for a range of charitable causes. "Jeffrey has no problem asking you for like, way too much money," actor Will Smith joked in a speech during the ceremony. Katzenberg, who has helped raise funds for the Motion Picture & Television Fund and the University of Southern California's Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education, said he owed his award to the generosity of those in Hollywood who gave alongside him. "You might say that all of us who work in the film industry live in two worlds," Katzenberg said as he accepted the award. "There is the imaginary world that we project on the screen and then there is the real world that we live in every day. This award is a recognition of the extraordinary generosity of our industry towards improving the real world that we all share." Needham, a sharecropper's son and former Army paratrooper, said he broke 56 bones and punctured a lung during his stunt career. He received an honorary Oscar for his work as one of Hollywood's top stuntmen of the 1960s and '70s. Needham also went on to direct several films starring Burt Reynolds, including "Smokey and the Bandit" and "The Cannonball Run". "I have ripped off many shots from you," director Quentin Tarantino said in a speech honouring Needham. D.A. Pennebaker claimed an award for his work as a pioneer of cinema verite. Pennebaker primarily shot his films, including the landmark "Don't Look Back" about Bob Dylan's 1965 tour of the United Kingdom, with a hand-held camera without narration or interviews. Pennebaker, who is 87, called his award "amazing", then looked around the ballroom and remarked that "everybody here probably has one of these already". The fourth honorary Oscar went to George Stevens Jr., a director, producer and writer who is best known as the founder of the non-profit American Film Institute, which was created to support filmmaking in the United States. The Oscars, or Academy Awards, for the films of 2012 will be given out in a ceremony in Los Angeles on February 24. Nominations will be announced on January 10. — Reuters

London mayor says city can be a Bollywood star Posted: 01 Dec 2012 06:05 PM PST The Mayor of London Boris Johnson (centre) poses with Bollywood film directors and producers Vikram Bhatt (left) and Sajid Nadiadwala (right) during a meeting in Mumbai. — Afp pic LONDON, Dec 2 — London Mayor Boris Johnson called for more big-budget Bollywood movies to be shot in the British capital as he met Indian film executives during a tour of Mumbai to drum up investment.  "Film-making is massively important to both our cities and we need to build on the momentum that already exists," Johnson said, promoting London as the perfect location for India's song-and-dance spectaculars.  "I want to make it as easy as possible to film in the city, whether you want to feature an iconic landmark as a backdrop (or) take advantage of our second to none post-production facilities," he said.  Johnson announced that two Indian films would be shot in London next year, "Housefull 3" starring Akshay Kumar and "Kick" starring Salman Khan, with post-production also being done in the capital's Soho district.  Many Bollywood plotlines feature Indians living abroad, and the city played a leading role in the 2007 hit "Namastey London" starring half-British pin-up Katrina Kaif.  Late director Yash Chopra's use of Swiss mountain backdrops in his Bollywood films made Switzerland a holiday destination of choice for well-heeled Indians. Much of Chopra's final film, "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" starring Shah Rukh Khan, is also set in London. — Reuters

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‘Star Trek’s future is history in new book Posted: 01 Dec 2012 05:02 PM PST The new book by television writer David A. Goodman titled 'Star Trek Federation - The First 150 Years' is pictured in this undated handout photograph released to Reuters November 29, 2012. – Reuters pic LOS ANGELES, Dec 2 – For a fan base obsessed with a fictional future, the past sure seems to matter. More than 45 years after "Star Trek" took fans boldly into the 23rd century, television writer David A. Goodman has written the first detailed narrative in history-book form of events depicted in the iconic science-fiction TV and movie franchise. "This is the history of the galaxy as it's already been painted by the writers of the original 'Star Trek' series, the sequel series, and the movies up to but not including the (2009 "Star Trek") J.J. Abrams movie," Goodman, whose work includes writing for the most recent TV series "Star Trek: Enterprise," told Reuters. Star Trek Federation – The First 150 Years details the history of the founding and early years of "the United Federation of Planets" – the interplanetary alliance that has explored the galaxy and kept members safe from Klingons, Romulans, and other villains. The 167-page book, to be published on Tuesday, connects the dots and fills in many of the black holes of "Star Trek" history as seen in the live action TV series, animated series and movies since 1966. Like a precious collection of memories, the timeline of events is important to Trekkies – and they are watching. "If I'm going to buy an official Trek History, I expect it to be true to that history," wrote fan KingDaniel on fan website Trekbbs.com. Website Trekcore.com has already made its judgment, referring to Goodman's book as a "Historical Trek Masterpiece". The book comes packed with original illustrations depicting epochal moments and iconic characters like Captain Kirk, Mr Spock, Kh a n , Zefram Cochrane, Richard Daystrom and Solkar of Vulcan. Inside the back cover is a pocket containing "documents from the Federation Archives", including a handwritten letter by a young Jim Kirk to his mother. US history as inspiration From the beginning of "Star Trek", its late creator, Gene Roddenberry, often used US history and current world events as inspiration for his stories. Some of those themes are reflected in Goodman's work. His "Articles of Federation" strike an especially familiar note. "Our worlds hold these truths to be self-evident that all species are created equal," with the stated goal "to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic and intergalactic tranquility, provide for the common defense, and promote the general welfare," Goodman writes. The pivotal event of Goodman's history is "The Romulan War" which, he said, has echoes of World War Two. The relationship between Star Trek's Romulan emperor and his admiral was inspired by Japan's wartime admiral, Isoroku Yamamoto, Goodman added. The class of spaceships that included Captain Kirk's Enterprise, and the way their construction was farmed out across the Federation, was inspired by the B-52 bomber program, which spread over several U.S. states to gain wide political support. And the character of Captain Jonathan Archer from the 2001-2005 TV series "Star Trek: Enterprise" is "the George Washington of the founding of the Federation," Goodman said. The book comes housed in a plastic pedestal display which lights up with the push of a button to the familiar voice of actor George Takei as Admiral Hikaru Sulu introducing the history. "A deluxe history book" was the idea behind the book's design, said design manager Rosanna Brockley. "We really wanted it to look elegant." Star Trek Federation – The First 150 Years is published by 47NORTH and produced by becker&mayer! and has a list price of US$99.99 (RM304). But if #1SheGeek's comment from StarTrek.com – "I HAVE to have this. I will die without it" - and Alexander's comment from blastr.com – "Shut up and take my money!" – are any indications, Goodman's book may be poised to explore sales numbers that boldly go where few "Star Trek" books have gone before.  – Reuters

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Najib: Dr M masih memantau saya Posted: 02 Dec 2012 01:57 AM PST Dr Mahathir diatas pentas dengan Najib dan Kayveas. — Gambar oleh Choo Choy May KUALA LUMPUR, 2 Dis — Datuk Seri Najib Razak mengakui bahawa Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad masih mempunyai pengaruh yang kuat dalam pentadbiran Barisan Nasional (BN), mengatakan bahawa perdana menteri keempat itu masih "memantaunya". Sementara melancarkan perhimpunan agung tahunan (AGM) Parti Progresif Rakyat (PPP) hari ini, Najib mengucapkan tahniah kepada Dr Mahathir kerana wawasannya menuju Wawasan 2020, pelan untuk Malaysia mencapai negara maju yang dilancarkan pada tahun 1991. "Dia ada tugas yang mudah, tapi tugas saya susah," kata Najib dalam nada bergurau. "Dia umumkan wawasan tersebut, tetapi saya perlu mengisi wawasannya. Sebab dia masih memantau saya." Dr Mahathir juga disebut oleh presiden PPP Datuk Seri M Kayveas dalam ucapannya, dengan berterima kasih kepada bekas perdana menteri tersebut kerana sumbangannya kepada negara. Kayveas menggambarkan Dr Mahathir sebagai "mutiara yang tidak ternilai harganya" dan arkitek moden Malaysia, yang beliau katakan punca pengaruh PPP untuk terus relevan. "Tidak salah untuk saya katakan, PPP telah diberi sokongan penuh ketika zaman Tun sehingga menjadi parti yang stabil selepas sekian lama di zaman gelap," kata Kayveas dalam ucapannya di hadapan 4,000 ahli PPP hari ini. Dr Mahathir hadir dalam acara hari ini dan berkata BN boleh mendapat majoriti dua pertiga majoriti parlimen dalam pilihan raya nanti. "Saya rasa hari ini kita boleh nampak, PPP contohnya, mempunyai semangat yang cukup baik," kata Dr Mahathir selepas perhimpunan PPP hari ini. "Anda boleh lihat, anda boleh merasainya. Saya percaya kita boleh lakukan dengan lebih baik dari pilihan raya yang lalu, dan mungkin boleh mendapat dua pertiga majoriti." Bekas perdana menteri itu masih aktif sejak meletak jawatan dari pemimpin tertinggi Umno pada Oktober 2003, tetapi menjadi semakin penting setiap kali BN menghadapi pilihan raya. Pemimpin pembangkang sering mengkritik Umno dan Najib kerana takut dengan pengaruh Dr Mahathir dan enggan untuk mendiamkan beliau, dan memberi amaran bahawa kenyataan radikal bekas perdana menteri itu mungkin menggoyangkan sokongan golongan pertengahan Najib. Najib, tidak mengkritik Dr Mahathir, seperti presiden sebelum ini, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Abdullah, yang dipilih oleh Dr Mahathir sebagai perdana menteri selepas meletak jawatan, telah menjadi ahli politik yang sangat berkuasa dengan menggunakan polisinya sendiri dan enggan merujuk nasihat Dr Mahathir dalam pentadbiran. Dalam pilihan raya 2008, BN mengalami kekalahan paling teruk menyaksikan Umno dalam keadaan paling lemah apabila tidak berjaya mendapatkan dua pertiga majoriti dan tewas empat negeri kepada pembangkang. Najib semalam memuji bekas perdana menteri itu kerana secara "sukarela" berkempen untuk Umno. Dr Mahathir, yang duduk di kerusinya di Dewan Merdeka, kelihatan terkejut apabila menyebut namanya. Apabila orang ramai di dewan memberi tepukan gemuruh kepada bekas perdana menteri itu, Dr Mahathir tersenyum dan melambai tangan tanda menerima penghargaan kepada beliau.

Kayveas: Bimbang dengan diskrimikasi, prejudis punca rakyat mengundi Pakatan Posted: 02 Dec 2012 01:22 AM PST Dewan dipenuhi dengan penyokong PPP. — Gambar oleh Choo Choy May KUALA LUMPUR, 2 Dis — Ramai pengundi mengundi Pakatan Rakyat (PR) kerana mereka bimbang dengan dakwaan diskrimikasi dan prejudis di bawah pemerintahan Barisan Nasional (BN), kata Datuk Seri M Kayveas hari ini. Presiden Parti Progresif Rakyat (PPP) berkata, kebimbangan mengenai sesetengah isu menyebabkan sokongan terhadap BN goyang. "Terdapat kerisauan dan kebimbangan, yang menyebabkan keyakinan mereka terhadap Barisan Nasional hilang," kata Kayveas ketika memberi ucapan dalam mesyuarat agung tahunan (AGM) parti hari ini. "Orang Melayu  risau undi Umno tidak akan adil dalam pembahagian kekayaan. "Pengundi Cina merasakan mereka disisihkan dari peluang perniagaan dan pendidikan. "Pengundi India merasakan mereka disisihkan dalam semua aspek, mereka merasakan mereka sendiri miskin walaupun di dalam negara sendiri," katanya lagi. Kayveas berucap dengan penuh bersemangat. Kayveas berkata status bumiputera, agama dan tanah rizab Melayu adalah isu yang menyebabkan kemarahan pengundi kerana merasakan diskrimikasi dan prajudis di kalangan rakyat Malaysia. "Dalam perhimpunan kita akan ada doa, ini untuk orang Islam, bagaimana pula dengan bukan Islam, bagi mereka untuk duduk dan dengar kepada bacaan doa, mereka mungkin merasakan ini satu prejudis," kata Kayveas kepada pemberita. Tetapi Kayveas juga menyerang pakatan pembangkang dalam ucapannya, dengan berkata "bagai berjalan di atas jambatan yang rapuh". "DAP dahulu adalah musuh PAS satu ketika dulu, kini mereka teman sebantal. "PKR pula orang tengah, yang memastikan mereka tidak bercerai talak tiga," kata bekas ahli parlimen Taiping itu. Menurut Kayveas, parti PR tidak mampu memahami isu diskrimikasi dan prejudis apabila mereka prejudis sesama sendiri. "Pakatan tidak faham dengan isu sebenar negara ini, mereka cuma mahu kuasa. "Pakatan Rakyat semuanya parti ahli keluarga, tidak ada siapa yang dapat mempunyai peluang untuk menyertainya," kata Kayveas kepada wartawan. "DAP adalah parti perkauman, anda boleh nampak itu. Sementara PAS lebih teruk, diskrimikasi di kalangan gender," katanya merujuk kepada kontroversi salon gunting rambut di negeri yang diperintah PAS. "Jika BN boleh menangani isu diskrimikasi dan prejudis ini, semua orang akan kembali menyokong BN." Dalam respon kepada ucapan Kayveas, Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak mahu BN berubah dalam ucapan pelancarannya, dengan berkata pengundi mengundi PR kerana mereka mahu parti pemerintah itu berubah. "Ini adalah mesej untuk kita untuk berubah sebagai parti," kata pengerusi BN itu. "Mereka mahu BN menjadi parti yang lebih adil secara menyeluruh, agar rakyat Malaysia merasakan dapat layanan yang sama dari BN." Lebih 4,000 ahli PPP menghadiri AGM yang berlangsung di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC), sehari selepas Umno, parti komponen utama BN, mengadakan perhimpunan agungnya.

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Get out of the hair salons Posted: 01 Dec 2012 04:48 PM PST DEC 2 ― I wonder if PAS has anything more than meets the eye. As the inevitable 13th general election approaches, and political parties scramble to put their best foot forward, PAS is grappling at issues that are colloquial at best. The saga involving segregation of patrons in hair salons is a case in point. One would think that with all the problems we have to deal with as a nation, we should be able to walk into a hair salon for a haircut, from any stylist we like without getting the risk of getting a summons. PAS should take a step back and consider this: Will they do the same for every service-oriented business in Malaysia if they win the next GE? Before answering, the party should realise that this policy will not only involve hair salons, but cafes and pubs that dot Jalan Bukit Bintang, and every other shopping mall in Bangsar, Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur? PAS needs to look at the big picture and address real issues affecting Muslims and Malaysians generally. Spending time discussing, debating about hair salons, or the word "unisex" and Elton John concert is a good way to becoming irrelevant in our politics. On a similar note, why did they ban the word unisex in Alor Setar? Please do not say because it has the word "sex" in it. It does not drive people to walk in asking for the "full service" surely. At most their curiosity will guide them to the nearest dictionary to find out what it means. In fact, PAS would get better results by banning certain daily tabloids and Malay ghost movies than spending their resources enforcing such a ridiculous rule. This is my humble suggestion ― instead of banning the word, why don't you educate yourself, and your constituents on what it means? Otherwise where will this lead to ― banning of dictionaries, books and theatres next? Banning words, works of art, showcases ignorance which is an unacceptable trait for any politician since such foolishness knows no bounds. I mean if they ban the word unisex now, who are we to say they will not ban the word sexagenarian, sextuple, sexton when they stumble upon them later? They all contain the word "sex" even though are not related in any way to intercourse. PAS must realise that what they are doing is not Islamic, and will only serve to give the universal religion a bad name. Just like how Muslim women are free to avoid shops that do not practise segregation of the sexes, business owners too should have the freedom to decide whether they want to practise the separation. The last time I checked, we were not held at gunpoint to enter a unisex hair salon. PAS's policy to separate women from men in every conceivable way, and the propensity to ban things that do not make sense to them, as a means to curb indecent behaviour and the assumed social ills that follow is wrong and does not seem to yield the results they want anyway. The number of rape crises increased from 13 per cent to 18 per cent in 2011, and most victims comprised of children as young as 12-years old. Bernama (March 9, 2012) reported that rape cases have been climbing every year. In 2007, 228 cases were filed, 563 in 2008, and 656 in 2010. Not to mention the state has the highest number of HIV cases, compared to every other state that does not practise their segregation formula. PAS needs to evaluate their policies, and address them if they are serious about being a contender in Malaysian politics. Every policy that does not serve their purpose should be scrapped and replaced with a better, result oriented one. Refusing to believe that a policy has run its course is akin to taking the ostrich approach, and is a good way to becoming irrelevant in our society. While you read up on dictionaries and understand English better, leave the hair salons alone. And yes, Sir Elton John, too. No political parties who aspire to lead Malaysia should behave this way. Malaysians certainly deserve better. * This is the personal opinion of the columnist

Siapa yang lebih lemah? Posted: 01 Dec 2012 04:24 PM PST 2 DIS ― Pakatan Rakyat, kata kajian Prof Datuk Shamsul Amri, jika pilihan raya umum ke-13 diadakan sekarang hampir pasti beroleh 70 kerusi sekalipun dengan majoriti yang nipis. Barisan Nasional tetap berkuasa tetapi kerusi yang pasti setakat ini hanya 120 saja. Ia menang tetapi kerusinya belum lagi dapat menyamai pencapaiannya dalam PRU12 iaitu 140. 24 kerusi lagi kelabu. Setakat kajian sehingga bulan September itulah yang BN dapat capai sekalipun ia melakukan segala-galanya. Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak hampir setiap hari menjelajah semua pelusuk negara, mencurahkan duit seperti hujan lebat, dengan semua sokongan media dan kaki tangan kerajaan pimpinannya belum terjamin meraih pencapaian Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi pada PRU 2008 dulu. Mungkin ia dapat tawan baki 24 kerusi yang dikatakan kelabu itu, tetapi setakat September, dia belum dapat mengatasi prestasi buruk Abdullah sekalipun dia mendapat sokongan terbuka dari Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Abdullah tidak mendapat sokongan Dr Mahathir. Hari-hari dia dicerca oleh Dr Mahathir. Tentangan Dr Mahathir itu dikatakan antara yang memburukkan pentadbiran Abullah. Najib diberi sokongan penuh oleh orng tua itu, namun pencapaian Najib mengikut kajian Ulung itu belum sampai apa yang Pak Lah dapat. Atas prestasi buruk Pak Lah, lalu Najib dan Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin gulingkan dia dengan cara yang hina. Dengan retorik transformasi menggantikan retorik Islam Hadhari, Najib belum lagi dapat sokongan yang lebih baik dari Pak Lah. Apa yang Najib dapat setakat ini bukanlah hasil transformasi dalam semua perkara, tetapi ia bertahan setakat ini justeru mencurahkan duit yang sebanyak-banyak kepada rakyat yang laparkan duit tanpa perlu berusaha. Apa yang Najib buat itu jauh lebih lemah dari apa yang Kapten Sir Francis Light buat ketika dia membuka Pulau Pinang kira-kira 300 tahun. Kaptan Light setibanya ke Pulau Pinang menembak dengan meriam duit syiling ke belukar. Orang Melayu Pulau Pinang yang mahukan duit itu terpaksa menebang pokok besar dan menebas rumput liar bagi mendapatkan duit itu. Light itu adalah penindas orang Melayu, tetapi dia mengajar orang Melayu, siapa mahu duit dan mahu makan mest berusaha membersihkan belukar dan hutan. Rezeki tidak mungkin datang menggolek tetapi mestilah dicari. Seburuk-buruk Kapten Light, dia ajar orang Melayu bekerja. Dia tidak galakkan orang Melayu minta sedekah, menadah tangan meminta-minta seperti yang Najib cuba jadikan kepada rakyat jelata semua lapisan. Prof Datuk Syamsul Amri mengagak, prestasi Najib mungkin meningkat dalam bukan Oktober dan November membandangkan pelulusan Bajet 2013 dan janji curahan BR1M 2.0. Ini bererti kebarangkalian meningkat itu bukan kerana kejayaan program transformasi, tetapi gara-gara menabur duit yang sebanyak-banyak. Rakyat yang digula-gula oleh kerajaan Najib itu bukan sekadar orang awam yang berpendapatan rendah, bahkan pegawai awam yang dikira cerdik dan bernasib baik dibandingkan rakyat kais pagi makan pagi itu, juga diumpan dengan bonus dan macam-macam lagi. mri tidak mengatakan BN sudah kalah dan akan kalah, tetapi telah mendedahkan bahawa sekalipun BN akan mempertahankan kuasanya, dengan segala gahnya Najib lebih uzur dari Pak Lah. Dia mungkin kekal dan dia mungkin tumbang. * Ini adalah pandangan peribadi penulis.

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