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Yummy treasures in Sungai Buloh Posted: 29 Nov 2013 06:12 PM PST BY EU HOOI KHAW November 30, 2013 The Hot and Sour Tongsat or Catfish that sends shivers down your palate.It's so pleasant driving away from the city into a new village that still has some rural charm. We were in Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh mid-week, and found the Huaw Kee Seafood Restaurant where we had planned to have lunch. Fried octopus with dried chillies.The friendly lady boss came to help us order after seeing us struggling with her Mandarin-speaking waitress. We took her recommendations: Hot and Sour Tongsat or Catfish Stew, Siu Yoke Har Kau or Roast Pork with Prawns in XO Sauce, Fried Octopus with Dried Chillies and a Teochew yam dessert, Oh Nee. The Hot and Sour Tongsat was absolutely marvellous. The dark stew with chunks of catfish in it was pungently sour and hot. The sourness hit me first – it was almost intolerable but it sent thrilling shivers down my palate. I tasted taucheo or fermented beanpaste and a host of other ingredients that gave the stew the different layers of flavours. There were dried chillies, of course, cili padi, asam keping, lemongrass, Indian curry leaves, ginger, onions and whole garlic in it. The curry leaves, lemongrass and ginger laced the stew with their fragrance, the asam keping gave it a zingy tartness while the taucheo tempered it a little. The tongsat was meaty enough and was not as bony as other catfish. We liked it so much we went back for it three days later. The Roast Pork with Prawns in XO Sauce was an unusual combination. They had an intense and rustic flavour – salty, hot and aromatic with dried shrimps, silver ikan bilis, dried chillies and lots of onions in it. It's a dish to make you eat a lot of rice. It's the Sekinchan style of cooking, said its chef/owner Chow Heng, who is from there. "We live near the sea and we like strong flavours." A popular dish is the Roast Pork and Prawns with XO Sauce.The seafood is from Sekinchan, of course, and its freshness was evident in the Fried Octopus with Dried Chilli. It was done in the same style as that of the roast pork with prawns, but with the addition of spring onions. We liked it for the sweet and crunchy octopus. We found a good Oh Nee here, the smooth yam paste simmered with lard and generously finished with pumpkin and ginkgo nuts. It was delicious. The Chicken Curry in a giant bun.On our next trip there, we ordered the Bread Chicken Curry, a dish made famous in Kampar. They do this so well at Huaw Kee. The huge "bread" encasing the chicken curry was like a giant mantou and tasted like it too. Breaking open the bread, and undoing the cellophane wrap of the chicken curry, we caught the aromas of spices like cinnamon, cloves and star anise, and curry leaves. I loved this Indian-style curry chicken which I used to cook. I broke off chunks of the fluffy bread to eat with it, and kept going back for more. For a vegetable dish, it's hard to beat the Kai Lan with Yam, which is a great combination. Chunks of soft, powdery yam cooked with garlic, ginger and dried shrimps hugged the kai lan. This time, we also tried the Pepper Soup with Pig's Stomach and La La.Yam with Kai Lan. Chow Heng, the chef and owner of Huaw Kee, who cooks the Sekinchan style of seafood.It's cheap eating at Huaw Kee. The Hot and Sour Catfish is RM20, Roast Pork with Prawns RM25, Bread Chicken Curry RM28, Oh Nee RM9, Fried Octopus RM15, Kai Lan with Yam RM12 and Pig's Stomach Soup with La La RM15. The soft, smooth dumplings, or Kau Chee, at a stall near Huaw Kee.We also nipped round the corner to buy some cheen loong pau or flat buns filled with coconut or red bean paste, and kau chee or dumplings at a stall in front of a shop selling Chinese prayer items. The soft, smooth dumplings filled with shredded yam bean and dried shimps are scrumptious and sell out fast. Oh Nee, the Teochew Yam Pudding with ginkgo nuts and pumpkin.The buns with coconut are very nice too. The shop is located along Jalan Besar. Just ask for directions from the friendliest people you meet here. - November 30, 2013. * Huaw Kee Seafood Restaurant, Lot 4129 + 4130 Jalan Perkhidmatan, Kampung Baru Sungai Buloh, tel: 012-356 2600, 012 2357 2600. Call up for directions or follow GPS coordinates: 3'11'51"N. 101'34'10"E.

Explore these hot sauce alternatives to Sriracha sauce Posted: 28 Nov 2013 05:44 PM PST November 29, 2013 Fans of Sriracha sauce are already stockpiling supplies or looking for alternatives. - Pic by Huy Fong Food, November 29, 2013. Hot sauce lovers: don't panic. News that a court has ordered the biggest maker of Sriracha sauce in the US to halt production has sent gourmands with spicy palates into a mild, nay, heated panic. Huy Fong Food, which produces the iconic "Rooster" red sauce — instantly recognizable by its green cap and clear plastic bottle —  was ordered to stop production until able to install better odor-filtering measures after area residents complained about breathing problems and watery eyes. While locals may be celebrating, the rest of North America is not. Reaction has been swift on the web, with hot sauce aficionados on the Twittersphere calling the event a "hot sauce apocalypse." And just a day after the judgment, two separate petitions have been launched on Change.org and Care2.com calling on the city to reverse the order. Recently, the spicy, vinegary and garlic-infused hot sauce also known as Thai ketchup has inspired one filmmaker to produce a whole documentary around the Asian condiment which has become a staple in many North American households, squeezing itself between ketchup and mustard bottles. But the potential shortfall also presents a good opportunity to explore other hot sauce alternatives — or even encourage serious fans to make your own. Here are a few alternatives to try: Sambal Olek Sriracha sauce lovers probably already know of Sambal Olek by virtue of association as it's the chunkier version of the saucy condiment, with seeds left intact. Garlic chili sauce Think Sambal Olek, with the added flavor infusion of garlic. Gochujang A traditional Korean hot bean paste, gochujang is made with fermented soybean powder, salt, and red pepper powder, with a slightly sweet finish. Pourable, vinegary versions of gochujang also exist. Piri piri sauce A Portuguese hot sauce, piri piri sauce is made from bird's eye chilies and is the main ingredient in the spicy churrasqueira chicken — aside from the bird itself. Harissa This hot chili paste commonly found in North Africa is made with roasted red peppers, serrano peppers, coriander, caraway seeds and garlic powder. Admittedly milder than other hot sauce alternatives, harissa is a fragrant and aromatic paste. For serious Sriracha sauce fans, however, sites like Seriouseats.com and Foodwishes offer DIY recipes that involve red Jalapeno peppers, garlic, sugar and vinegar. - AFP/Relaxnews, November 29, 2013.

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Kelantan sweep 2013 Astro Arena-FAM national football awards Posted: 30 Nov 2013 07:24 AM PST November 30, 2013 Malaysia Cup finalists Kelantan swept the 2013 100PLUS-Astro Arena-FAM National Football Awards by winning five of the 13 categories contested. Kelantan skipper Mohd Radzi Badhri was voted Best Midfielder and the Most Valuable Player while teammate Mohd Norfarhan Muhammad won for Best Striker. Khairul Fahmi Che Mat won the Best Goalkeeper award, the fourth since 2010 for the Harimau Malaya goalkeeper. Kelantan (The Red Warriors) also won the Best Supporters Club award. Sarawak midfielder Junior Edstal was voted Most Promising Player while Singapore Lions XII defender Baihakki Khaizan was voted the Best Defender. Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) striker Marlon Alex James won the Best Foreign Player award for the second consecutive year. Premier League runner-up Sime Darby FC won the Best Football Club award while Terengganu won for Best State Football Association. Dollah Salleh who helped Pahang to lift the Malaysia Cup after 21 years was voted Best Coach. Nagor Amir Noor Mohamed and Mohd Sabri Mat Daud won for Best Referee and Best Assistant Referee. At the event, FAM gave special awards to four former secretary-generals to recognise their efforts and contributions. They are Datuk Seri Paul Mony Samuel (1980-1999), Datuk Dell Akbar Khan (2000-2005), Datuk Seri Ibrahim Saad (2005-2007) and Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad (2007-May 2013). The results were based on a poll conducted by coaches and team managers of Super League and Premier League teams. Meanwhile, Mohd Badhri or Piya to his teammates told reporters that he did not expect to win the awards as there were more qualified candidates. "The two awards have given me extra zest to face the Malaysian League next season. I dedicate the awards to my parents, the players and the Kelantan team management." - Bernama, November 30, 2013.

Scott extends Australia Open lead over McIlroy Posted: 29 Nov 2013 10:47 PM PST November 30, 2013 Adam Scott (pic) heads to final round of the Australian Open four shots clear of his nearest rival as he also seeks to become only the second player to capture the Australian 'Triple Crown'. Scott holed a short birdie putt at the last in a round of 68 to move to 16-under par in bright but testy conditions on the Royal Sydney course. Double Major winning Rory McIlroy let slip the opportunity to match Scott's last hole birdie in a struggling round of 70 and a 12-under par total. "My short game is good at the moment and I have kind of got my eye in with the putter this week," said Scott. "But then tomorrow I would rather come out and be hitting it down the middle and take some of that pressure off myself." Scott won the first leg of the 'Triple Crown', the Australian PGA Championship, by four shots and then successfully defended the second leg, the Australian Masters, winning by two strokes. If successful in capturing the third leg it would be his second Australian Open triumph in four years and would match the effort of fellow Australian Robert Allenby who first won the 'Triple Crown' in 2005. If Scott does succeed he also will match Tiger Woods as the only player this season to savour five victories. "It will be huge for me to win not only a second Australian Open but the Triple Crown," said Scott. "I am excited at the moment as I have a great opportunity but in 18 holes we have already seen a lot of shots swing around. "I teed off in these situations before and won tournaments and I have teed off in these situations and lost tournaments, so all I can do is play as hard as I can. "I think the guy who wants it the most will end up winning." The World No. 2 ranked Scott went into day three leading McIlroy by just two shots but then soon found himself five shots clear of the Northern Irishman when McIlroy bogeyed the fourth and dropped two shots at the fifth. McIlroy was easily outdriving Scott but he failed to get the better of his Masters winning rival with plenty of indifferent second and third shot play. Scott continued to stamp his authority with three birdies in succession from the seventh and while the Australian dropped a shot at the 11th he then birdied 14 before finishing with four straight pars. "It was a tricky day with the wind and trying to keep up with Adam was tough," said McIlroy. "Adam is just playing so solid and it's just that I left a few out there and that means I am four back going into the last day. "So I am going to have to get off to a fast start and try and catch him." Scott and McIlroy will again play the final round together and with MmcIlroy seeking to win for a first time this year before heading to his final event of 2013, next Thursday's Woods hosted World Challenge. The Australian trio Matthew Jones (71), Richard Green (73) and Max McCardle (69) are in third place on eight under par. Australia's World Cup winning hero Jason Day birdied five of his six closing holes in an equal best round of six under par 66 to move a share of 10th place at six under par. - AFP, November 30, 2013.

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Thailand’s red-shirt heartland bides its time Posted: 29 Nov 2013 05:27 AM PST November 29, 2013 A Red Shirt supporter holding up an image of who he supports. - Reuters pic, November 2, 2013. Their faces drawn with exhaustion from harvesting rice, Chantee Sanwang and Nang Laor still had the energy to tussle over who loathes Thailand's anti-government protesters more. "I hate them," said Chantee, a rail-thin 65-year-old grandmother with teeth stained red by betel nut. Nang, also 65, refused to be outdone. "I want them dead," she countered, sending both into wheezy hysterics. As thousands of largely middle-class Thais flood Bangkok streets in protests aimed at overthrowing the government of the populist Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, one volatile factor has been absent from the streets: the red-shirted protesters who helped bring her to power. In the background, the red shirts remain a potent force, despite being hobbled by a bitterly divided leadership and the atrophy that comes with more than two years of their side being in power. In interviews with Reuters, red-shirt leaders and members said they are avoiding direct confrontation with anti-government protesters, which would likely provoke bloodshed, but they are marshalling their forces, just in case. Like the province it sits in, Udon Thani, the village of Hua Khua is part of the rural north and northeastern heartland that is the support base of Yingluck's Puea Thai Party and her self-exiled brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed as prime minister in a 2006 military coup. Hua Khua is one thousands of communities that movement leaders call "Red Shirt Villages". These days, this means little more than one tattered office bearing Thaksin's image, but support for the government runs high. Love for Thaksin stems from pro-poor policies during his time in power, including easy credit and near-free healthcare. More recently, his sister's government has maintained support with a rice subsidy scheme, which has been derided by the opposition. The economy in the northeast grew 40% between 2007 and 2011, nearly twice the national average. There are signs support may have slipped a little. A survey found Puea Thai's support in the northeast dropped from 80% after her election to about 64% in the third quarter of this year. Support for the opposition Democrats has stayed low. Residents bridle at what they see as the Bangkok elite's condescending belief that the Thaksin camp has been able to win every election since 2001 by buying votes. "This is about respect," said Thasadaporn, a rice farmer. "The law says that if you get elected, you get a four-year term." So far, Thaksin's supporters have stuck to a policy of showing their strength while avoiding the kind of violence that could trigger military intervention. Red shirts have been bussed in their thousands for regular rallies at Rajamangala Stadium, in a Bangkok suburb far from the government buildings targeted by their opponents. A major gathering is planned for Saturday evening. "We don't want to have any reaction between the two groups," said Tida Tawornseth, the chairwoman of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), the largest red shirt group. The red rallies have been limited in size by the fact that the rice harvest is now on, tying up much of the protest muscle in the fields, leaders and members say. If the crisis drags on and harvest time ends, that should no longer be a factor. "We don't want the anti-government protests to stop," said Paritporn Hongthanithorn, a leader of the Red Shirt Village Committee, which oversees Hua Khua. "Keep it going," she said, "We'll see you there." Another key factor holding back the red shirts is their own deep internal division. Splits have emerged over the willingness of some leaders to pursue political careers under the Puea Thai banner. The UDD suffered a rift with Yingluck after Puea Thai proposed a broad-ranging amnesty bill that would have quashed a two-year corruption sentence against Thaksin, paving the way for his return. Although the bill would have freed jailed UDD members, it would also have dropped murder charges against anti-Thaksin leaders accused of ordering a 2010 crackdown that killed scores of red shirts. Both sides opposed the bill, which has now been shelved amid the protests. Disillusionment with Puea Thai has led some red-shirt figures to meet over the last year to discuss establishing a new, non-Thaksin party for the movement. Nothing has come of it yet. Even in Hua Khua, the effect of division is visible. The Red Shirt Village movement, launched in 2011, has split into three factions, Paritporn said. Of the three groups, hers is the only one on speaking terms with the UDD leadership. Up the road in the provincial capital, Udon Thani, is one person Paritporn is not on speaking terms with: Kwanchai Praipana. He leads the biggest pro-Thaksin group, People Who Love Udon, which is separate to the UDD. Kwanchai styles himself as a true Thaksin loyalist and was a supporter of the amnesty bill. Contradictorily, he is also a critic of red shirts who have joined the Puea Thai government. "The people have seen so many red shirts take positions in the government. It makes them feel these people are not fighting for democracy, but fighting for themselves," he said. Combined with the rice harvest and the difficulty of organising protesters to support, rather than oppose, a government, Kwanchai estimated he is able to marshal about half as many protesters as he could in 2010. Kwanchai sent hundreds of his supporters to Bangkok earlier in the week, but was barred from going on stage by the UDD leader, Tida. She accuses him of being an opportunist who has attached himself to Thaksin for his own benefit. He reckons she wants to steer the movement down the dangerous path of opposing Thailand's revered monarchy. In spite of the division, Kwanchai is sending his people to the main rally in Bangkok. If the current protests trigger a coup, or the judiciary forces Yingluck from power, the trickle will turn into a flood. "It will be chaos," he said. - Reuters, November 29, 2013.

From village headman to deputy PM to protest leader: Suthep Thaugsuban Posted: 29 Nov 2013 01:11 AM PST November 29, 2013 To his followers he is Thailand's straight-talking saviour, but to his critics Suthep Thaugsuban (pic), former deputy premier turned firebrand protest leader, is a threat to the kingdom's fragile democracy. Each night for a month Suthep has delivered barnstorming speeches to rapt supporters around Bangkok, railing against what he sees as the scourge of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra and a graft-riddled government. In his distinctive baritone, he has accused Thaksin of pulling the strings of his younger sister Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's government from overseas. Tens of thousands of opposition protesters have followed Suthep's call to action, fired up by his rhetoric and a loathing for Thaksin, who was ousted by royalist generals in a coup in 2006 and now lives in self-imposed exile. It is a dramatic role reversal from three years ago when, as deputy premier under the previous government, Suthep oversaw a crackdown on pro-Thaksin "Red Shirts" that left scores dead in Bangkok's shopping district. He faces murder charges linked to the killings, and now has an arrest warrant outstanding for orchestrating the occupation of government buildings during the current protests. For a man under fire, he remains unrepentant. "Do I look worried?" the veteran politician told AFP during a break from whipping up the crowd, lowering his glasses for dramatic effect before erupting into laughter. "When you work for the people you have to forget everything. Whether you win or lose is not important. The people are important." Kamnan Suthep, as he is reverently known by supporters for his lineage as a village headman in Thailand's south, appears galvanised by the protests, stage-managing rallies and leading marches across the city. It is a renaissance for the wily 64-year-old who has emerged intact from three decades in the spin-dryer of Thai politics, rising from village headman to lawmaker and then deputy prime minister from 2008-2011 under a Democrat Party-led government. As the protests snowballed, he resigned as MP to lead the anti-government charge. Analysts say it is indicative of Thailand's often contorted and confusing political stage that many are willing to accept his anti-corruption pledges despite the fact that he has faced allegations of graft. Equally surprising are the renowned political bruiser's references to Gandhi and Nelson Mandela as influences on the current civil disobedience campaign. Surrounded by half a dozen minders from his native southern Surat Thani province where his family are prominent in the lucrative palm oil and shrimp farming businesses, he said his efforts are to free Thailand from Thaksin's grip. "I don't hate him. It's nothing personal, but Thaksin destroyed Thailand's democratic system, destroyed the virtues and ethics of the people," he said. His manifesto for change, which critics say is as bold as it is imprecise, focuses first on toppling the government, and then establishing an unelected "People's Council" of representatives from different sectors. The council would run the country during a "transition period" aimed at rebooting Thai politics before new, democratic elections. Analysts have expressed alarm at his loosely defined ideas for a new Thailand, more so in a coup-prone nation where victory at the polls has rarely guaranteed a full term of power. The kingdom has seen 18 actual or attempted coups since 1932, and has a judiciary with a record of dissolving political parties and banning their executives. Few doubt Suthep's political prowess. "He is intelligent, capable and knows every nook and cranny of Thai politics," said Voranai Vanijaka, a political commentator with the Bangkok Post daily. "I'm certain there's something he's not yet revealing, a strategy we are yet to see," he added. The rallies were triggered by a controversial amnesty bill introduced by the ruling party which could have allowed Thaksin to return to Thailand without going to jail for a graft conviction that he contends was politically motivated. The amnesty issue gave Suthep an opportunity to "regenerate his image" after the 2010 crackdown, says former Thai diplomat Pavin Chachavalpongpun, an associate professor at the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies at Japan's Kyoto University. "By making Thai politics seem like a dangerous place where Thaksin threatens the future of the nation, Suthep can then cast himself as the saviour. He's the man of the hour and he's sending a message of fight or die." More than three decades of political bobbing and weaving do not seem to have dimmed Suthep's appetite for battle. "You could call this his final stand," says his stepson and protest spokesman Akanat Promphan. Neither has his star lost its lustre among his most ardent supporters. "Suthep is motivated by working for the people," said Prasith Rungboonkong, who has left his rubber farm in the south for a month to join the Bangkok protest. "If his aims are not achieved, it'll be karma for the country." - AFP, November 29, 2013.

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Kennedy scion is star of Paris debutantes ball Posted: 30 Nov 2013 12:17 AM PST November 30, 2013 Kyra Kennedy at her final dress fitting before the debutantes ball.At Christian Dior in Paris, Kyra Kennedy, great niece of the late US president John F. Kennedy, carefully descends a grand staircase in a powder blue couture dress and towering heels. The 18-year-old has just finished her final dress fitting before today's Debutantes Ball, one of the social events of the year at which high society meets haute couture. The glittering event will see 20 hand-picked "debutantes" dance, dine and network the night away in dresses loaned by some of Paris's most famous couture houses. Lord George Porchester whose family owns Highclere Castle, the setting for the hit television series "Downton Abbey", has also been invited along with Kennedy's father Robert Kennedy Jr – the son of the slain president's brother Robert, who was also assassinated. "It's my first time wearing haute couture so that's really exciting, and I'm obsessed by the colour," said Kennedy, an aspiring fashion designer. Others taking part include British royal Lady Amelia Windsor, the granddaughter of one of Queen Elizabeth II's cousins, Francesca Packer Barham, granddaughter of Australian media tycoon Kerry Packer and Romy David, daughter of Seinfeld creator Larry David. From Asia, there will be Akshita Bhanjdeo of India's Bhanja dynasty, Filipino "It girl" Monica Urquijo Zobel, and Rebecca Eu, the Canberra-based daughter of a Chinese healthcare company chief. Now in her 21st year organising the ball, Frenchwoman Ophelie Renouard makes no secret of her quest to track down as many big names as possible. In another publicity coup this year, she has secured the presence of London taxi driver's daughter Lauren Marbe. The 17-year-old made headlines recently when she notched up an IQ test score of 161, one point higher than Einstein. "I read about her in the newspapers and so I phoned her up and she said 'it is not my world but if you invite me I will come'," Renouard said. Modern debs want dresses not husbands The event at the Automobile Club of France in Paris is based on the debutantes balls that were once an established part of the British upper class's social calendar. These launched well-born young women into society and – with luck – also introduced them to a potential husband. But the balls started to fall out of favour in the late 1950s after Queen Elizabeth abolished the practice of the debutantes also being presented at court. In recent decades, they have been reinvented as glittering fundraisers with the emphasis on philanthropy and contact building rather than finding a husband. Among the new generation of balls, Renouard's alone offers participants the chance to borrow a haute couture dress for the night. "They are not interested in finding a husband, they are too young," she said. "What they prefer is the dress, because even if they are privileged they have never been to a haute couture house." In previous years "Le Bal" has attracted the daughters of European aristocracy as well as Hollywood A-listers such as Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, Andie MacDowell, Clint Eastwood and Sylvester Stallone. Donations are made direct by the debutantes' families to the Children of Asia charity which funds underprivileged girls through school in the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam. In the past decade Renouard has also been able to tap into the newfound wealth of countries such as China and India. The ball now has a strong showing from Asia but Renouard says she still has to crack Russia. "I'm not good on Russia. It's all about networks...," she said. As for next year and beyond, she has plenty more names in her sights. "Every year in January we sit down and go through the files to see who we want. David Bowie's daughter, I'm waiting for her to grow up," she said. "I also want Bill Gates's daughter and I want more daughters of artists like Anish Kapoor," she added. – AFP Relaxnews, November 30, 2013.

Victoria Beckham guest-edits “Paris Vogue” Posted: 29 Nov 2013 08:39 PM PST November 30, 2013 Former Spice Girl turned fashion designer Victoria Beckham (pic) has guest-edited the Christmas edition of Paris Vogue magazine, the publication said on Friday. Beckham, 39, appears in a seductive pose on the front cover of the magazine's December issue with her retired footballer husband David Beckham, who is photographed sporting a beard and dinner jacket. Editor-in-chief Emmanuelle Alt said Victoria Beckham had "revealed herself to be the opposite of her image" during her editing stint. In comments on the magazine's website, she described her as "spontaneous, full of humour... modest but at the same time equipped with a healthy ambition". The issue which goes on sale next week would also offer revealing insights into the Beckhams' life together, she added. "David and I have been through lots of things together. There have been highs and lows. But we are very proud of each other," Beckham said in a long interview which appears in French. She also discussed her Victoria Beckham clothing label which won designer brand of the year at the 2011 British Fashion Awards. "I love fashion, I love this craft... I have big dreams, great hopes and I want this label to still be relevant in 20, 30, 40... 50 years." David Beckham played his final match for French team Paris Saint-Germain in May. The couple, who have four children, last week sparked queues around a London charity shop after they donated 20 boxes of clothes and shoes to raise money for victims of Typhoon Hainan. – AFP, November 30, 2013.

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Three unpublished JD Salinger stories leaked online Posted: 28 Nov 2013 05:26 PM PST November 29, 2013 One of the unpublished stories is seen as a prequel to 'Catcher'. - File pic, November 29, 2013. Three unpublished stories from reclusive US author JD Salinger have been leaked online, with the source apparently an unauthorized book that sold on eBay, Internet news source BuzzFeed reported yesterday. It was difficult to trace the origin of the collection called "Three Stories," with the only known copies of the stories existing in research libraries at the University of Texas and Princeton University, it said. The stories are "The Ocean Full of Bowling Balls," "Paula," and "Birthday Boy." The book appears to be one of those in a 25-copy compilation of the stories privately printed without Salinger's permission in London in 1999. The stories leaked on the Internet appeared as a "pdf" scan of that book, the New York Times said in its online edition. BuzzFeed quoted Salinger scholar Kenneth Slawenski as saying the works posted online in a collection called "Three Stories" are from the author, best known for his 1951 novel "Catcher in the Rye." Social media site Reddit said scans of the stories taken from the unauthorized book first appeared on an invitation-only file-sharing site. But they later were available on a handful of sites. The story "The Ocean Full of Bowling Balls" is seen as a prequel to "Catcher." It is about Kenneth Caulfield, the younger brother of "Catcher" protagonist Holden Caulfield and the model for the character Allie in the book. The story is only available at the Princeton library to scholars who are supervised by library staff. Under terms of the arrangement, it cannot be published until 2060, Salinger scholars have said. David Ulin, book critic for the Los Angeles Times, vouched for the authenticity of two of the stories. He has not read "The Ocean Full of Bowling Balls." "I have read the other two stories, however, at the University of Texas' Ransom Center, and the versions of them in 'Three Stories' are the real deal," he wrote on the paper's website. Salinger died in 2010 of natural causes at 91. "Catcher" has been translated into the world's major languages and sold more than 65 million copies. It is routinely listed among the best novels of the 20th century. Alarmed by his sudden fame, Salinger had been a recluse since 1953, ferociously protecting his privacy in Cornish, a small town in northwest New Hampshire. Besides "Catcher" he published only a few books and collections of short stories, including "9 Stories," "Franny and Zooey," "Raise High the Roofbeam, Carpenters" and "Seymour: An Introduction." He published nothing after 1965. Salinger often turned to the courts to help him guard his privacy. In 1982 he sued to halt the publication of a fictitious interview with a major magazine. In 2009, he sued to stop the US publication of a novel by Swedish writer Fredrik Colting that presents Holden Caulfield as an old man. - Reuters, November 29, 2013.

Mitch Albom revisits heavenly theme in new book Posted: 28 Nov 2013 02:59 AM PST November 28, 2013 Best-selling novelist and popular sports journalist Mitch Albom returns to a familiar theme in his new book The First Phone Call from Heaven, exploring what people find most meaningful in life when confronted with mortality. His latest book of fiction follows the reaction of people from a small Michigan town claiming to receive phone calls from loved ones in heaven. Sully Harding, a town resident, is skeptical and conducts his own investigation. Albom speaks about the significance of the human voice, Alexander Graham Bell and religion. Q: How did you come up with the plot? A: About the time that I was considering starting the book, my mother suffered two very bad strokes and lost the ability to speak. She is still alive and I can go sit with her, although I am not sure whether she realises it is me. Not hearing her voice any more is striking because the first voice you hear is that of your mother. I began to realise the preciousness of the actual sound of a person's voice. I noticed how many people, after someone dies, will not erase phone messages because they just want to hear the voice. That became the basis for my wanting to do something with the human voice. What if you got to hear it again? What kind of comfort would just the voice be? That led me to phones. What if someone or a bunch of people get a phone call from heaven but in a limited environment? Would anyone believe that? How would the world react? I sprang off from there. Q: How does religion influence your fiction writing? A: I am certainly not a religious writer and do not espouse any religious beliefs. Whenever I do write stories that nudge in the area of faith or belief I try to do so in a way that is not dogmatic or particular to any one religion. Most religions have some concept of afterlife and what happens next. Those are elements in my stories. I often get way too much credit. I am just a storyteller. The only difference is that maybe my books have a little more hope, but I am still trying to write an entertaining story without hitting anybody over the head with a message. If I don't have good characters and interesting things happening, no one is going to finish the book. Q: Can you discuss your research behind Alexander Graham Bell and how his story weaves into the plot? A: I had already started writing when I began to wonder how the telephone was invented and maybe there was a paragraph I could use somewhere. As I read more about the subject, I became consumed. The background behind the telephone is incredibly emotional and almost inspirational, and I saw enormous parallels with the story I was writing. The phone was invented out of love to find a way for Bell's deaf wife to speak. When I read about the first phone call, it contains the sentence, 'Come here I want to see you.' The original idea behind the phone was not simply talking but bringing people together, which is one of the book's underpinnings. Q: What would you like readers to take away from the book? A: Human voice and contact should not be taken for granted. Make sure if given a choice, be present and with somebody. Second, if something is a miracle to you, it still is a miracle. It does not matter whether science disproves it or the whole world believes otherwise. I think little miracles happen all the time. – Reuters, November 28, 2013.

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Kesinambungan perjuangan PAS Posted: 29 Nov 2013 06:58 PM PST November 30, 2013 Mujahid Yusof Rawa is MP for Parit Buntar and PAS National Unity Committee chairman. Hakikat Perjuangan memakan masa yang lama, ia tidak dinamakan perjuangan tanpa perjalanan yang panjang dan sebuah pengorbanan yang mahal harganya. Perjalanan  PAS untuk kekal di persada perjuangan menyaksikan ramai pemimpin PAS yang datang dan pergi, tidak ketinggalan yang pergi 'meninggalkan' perjuangan atau yang istiqamah hingga di titik akhir nafasnya. Patah tumbuh, hilang berganti, begitulah pewaris PAS meneruskan galas-ganti amanah menetapkan garis perjuangan supaya tetap di paksinya. PAS tidak pernah kemarau dengan pelapis yang sentiasa memenuhi ruang legar kepimpinan yang cukup untuk semua kerana setiap individu dalam parti dalam setiap posisinya ada peranan masing-masing, yang utama ialah mencurahkan kebaktian untuk parti. Walau apa pun yang diperkatakan orang tentang PAS dan sejarah panjangnya, mukadimah ini adalah hakikat yang perlu difahami dan dihayati oleh semua pihak khususnya pejuang PAS. Nama yang terukir Walaupun dalam PAS senarai nama yang tidak diukir lebih ramai daripada yang diukir, pun demikian nama yang terukir bukan atas permintaanya tetapi di atas penghargaan dan amanah yang dipikulnya sebagai pengemudi bahtera perjuangan lantas diberikan penghormatan. Kepimpinan PAS terbentuk melalui daya juang yang tinggi dilatari suasana tekanan pesaingnya Umno yang selalunya memiliki kelebihan kelicikan dan kuasa. Keupayaan pimpinan PAS menongkah arus dalam suasana demokrasi yang terhimpit wajib mendapat satu tabik spring. Tokoh-tokoh PAS boleh dibahagi kepada mereka yang memimpin pada zaman sebelum kepimpinan ulama dan selepas kepimpinan ulama. Kepimpinan ulama adalah kemunculan PAS pasca Datuk Asri yang memimpin PAS dari 1971-1982.  Sebelum beliau, Dr Burhanudin al Helmy membawa PAS ke pesada kerana namanya yang besar itu sehingga PAS berjaya menguasai Terengganu dan kemudian Kelantan, seterusnya melebarkan sayapnya ke utara dan tengah tanah air. Kepimpinan ulama Keluar daripada konflik bukanlah satu usaha yang mudah apabila Allah menguji bahtera perjuangan PAS dengan kocakan dalaman. Hikmahnya ialah Allah mengkehendaki PAS terus maju dan ini terbukti dengan gagasan baru kepimpinan PAS yang menggelarkan dirinya sebagai Kepimpinan Ulama. Tokoh pertama yang menggalas tanggungjawab ini sebagai Presiden ialah Yusof Rawa. Namanya tidak tertonjol pada awalnya dan dia yang lebih mesra dikenali sebagai Pak Yusof Rawa setia dengan jawatannya sebagai Ahli Jawatankuasa Pusat dari 1959. Namanya muncul untuk jawatan Timbalan Presiden pada 1981 dan semasa Datuk Asri meletakkan jawatan, Pak Yusof Rawa memangku dan kemudian diamanahkan sebagai Yang diPertua Pas Pusat tahun berikutnya. Gelaran itu kemudiannya ditukar kepada Presiden dan itulah yang diamanahkan kepadanya sehingga 1987. Pak Yusof Rawa turut mencatit sejarah dalam PAS apabila menjadi Mursyidul Am yang pertama pada 1987. Jawatan Mursyidul Am diwujudkan selaras dengan terbentuknya Majlis Syura Ulama dalam perlembagaan baru parti. Jawatan tertinggi dalam PAS itu diamanahkan kepada Pak Yusof Rawa sehingga 1989 dan kemudiannya beliau meletakkan jawatan kerana keuzuran beliau untuk memimpin parti. PAS bangkit semula Kepimpinan Ulama menandai kesungguhan kepimpinan parti untuk membentuk platform baru kepada parti. Apabila idea kepimpinan ulama diketengahkan pada awal 80-an, permasalahan umat Islam pada waktu itu menjadi fenomena dunia. Kejatuhan Soviet dan kekalahan yang memalukan kuasa komunis terbesar itu di tangan para Mujahidin di Afghanistan mengisyaratkan kebangkitan kuasa Islam yang tidak boleh dipandang ringan. PAS mendefinisikan dirinya semula dalam suasana tersebut dan kerana itu kelantangan suaranya kepada jatidiri umat pada pesada alamiyah turut menyuntik semangat kebangkitan Islam di Malaysia. PAS juga harus membina kekuatan dari arah dalam dengan membentuk program perkaderannya yang kini dikenali sebagai Tarbiyah. Ahli disuntik dengan kekuatan dalaman dan mereka mesti melahirkan ciri-ciri muslim yang memilik shakhsiah Islamiyah lewat usrah, tamrin, mukhayaam dan ceramah. Pada waktu yang sama PAS perlu mendapat semula sokongan rakyat setelah jatuh Kelantan yang merupakan kubu tradisinya. Ini bermakna PAS perlu mengekalkan pengundi tegarnya dan sambil menggamit pengundi baru melalui sikap politik yang diambilnya menentang Barisan Nasional (BN) melalui pendedahan salah laku pentadbiran kerajaan diselitkan dengan ketegasannya terhadap ideal Islam dalam pentadbiran. Semasa PAS mendefinasikan semula kewujudannya, Pak Yusof Rawa menggalas tugas selaku arkiteknya, malah seorang jurnalis terkenal M J Pilayy menggelar Pak Yusof Rawa sebagai 'arkitek' yang bertanggungjawab membina semula PAS dalam era kepimpinan ulama. Pak Yusof Rawa banyak tertumpu membina kekuatan baru PAS daripada kalangan profesional muda yang baru kembali ke tanah air dari United Kingdom, Amerika Syarikat dan universiti tempatan manakala figuranya yang berlatarbelakangkan pengajian Islam amat disenangi oleh para ustaz yang mendapat pendidikan formal Islam dari dalam dan luar negara khususnya Al-Azhar. Mempromosi PAS Tidak mudah kerja perhubungan awam dilakukan dalam suasana politik baru yang dilalui oleh PAS dalam era kebangkitannya. Tembok penghalang utama ialah tanggapan sinikal yang tersemat dalam persepsi masyarakat khususnya bukan Melayu yang menganggap PAS sebagai untuk orang Melayu sahaja. Kesedaran yang tinggi di kalangan kepimpinan waktu itu terhadap fahaman bahawa Islam sebagai agama merahmati semua kaum mendorong kepimpinan PAS waktu itu menggapai sokongan masyarakat cina khususnya melalui dialog dan ceramah untuk kelompok bukan melayu. Kesungguhan usaha ini memungkinkan terbentuknya CCC atau Chinese Consultative Council, malah calon-calon bukan melayu turut bertanding atas tiket PAS dalam persefahaman lewat CCC. Sememangnya dilema antara mengekalkan pengundi Melayu sebagai asas dan mempromosi PAS kepada segmen pengundi bukan Melayu adalah umpama melakukan aksi berjalan atas tali yang halus. Keseimbangan mengekalkan momentum untuk berjalan adalah keunikan kepimpinan dalam suasana Malaysia yang multi kaum dan kepimpinan ulamak yang awal telah mengambil risiko tersebut. Namun hasilnya berbaloi dalam bentuk jangka panjang apabila suasana politik hari ini menyediakan platform yang selesa untuk menerima kelompok bukan Melayu sebagai sebahagian dari identiti PAS dengan terasasnya Dewan Himpunan Penyokong PAS (DHPP). Kepimpinan di bawah Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang hari ini tidak mungkin melakarkan sejarah penting ini jika tidak diterokai lebih awal lagi oleh dua pemimpin awal kepimpinan ulamak iaitu Pak Yusof Rawa dan Datok Fadzil Mohd Nor. PAS hari ini dan seterusnya Generasi PAS hari ini tidak mungkin menuai hasil tanpa penat jerih yang dirintis oleh generasi awal PAS.  Daripada Ahmad Fuad kepada Dr Abbas Alias kemudian dikemudi oleh Dr Burhanudin dan diambil alih oleh Datuk Asri Muda adalah bintang gemerlapan PAS. Pada waktu orang melihat PAS akan berakhir setelah era Datuk Asri, muncul pula Yusof Rawa lalu Datuk Fadzil Nor memikul amanah dan kini PAS terus kukuh di bawak kepimpinan Abdul Hadi. Pada setiap era gandingan mantap pasukan kepimpinan sentiasa memastikan PAS terus mara ke hadapan.  Hari ini PAS menyambut tahun ke-59 Muktamar Agung dalam suasana yang semakin mencabar, seperti semalam, ia berjaya melalui ombak dan badai laut politik yang bergelora dan seperti kata-kata semalam juga oleh pemimpin kita yang bijaksana bahawa pemimpin datang dan pergi namun perjuangan akan tetap diteruskan dengan kepimpinan yang akan melakar masa depan parti yang gilang gemilang, di atas nama Islam, insyaalah parti ini akan terus mekar mengharum membimbing umat ke medan siayasah. Betapa generasi hari ini harus mengambil pesanan dari lagu PAS yang dikarang oleh Datuk Asri:  "Bergeraklah ke medan jasa, kalah menang bukan alasannya, sucikanlah niat di hati, hingga nyata benarnya janji Rabbi...." – 30 November, 2013. * Ini adalah pendapat peribadi penulis dan tidak semestinya mewakili pandangan The Malaysian Insider.

A good week in Europe, a better weekend in England Posted: 28 Nov 2013 08:39 PM PST November 29, 2013 As a player, Shebby Singh won everything there was to win in Malaysia football, and represented the country on the international stage. With the English clubs involved in mid-week action, we cannot but look at how they performed in Europe before moving on to the weekend preview of English Premier League (EPL) action. Firstly, Kudos to Wayne Rooney and Shinji Kagawa, whose movement on and off the ball left the Bayer Leverkusen defence in shambles. David Moyes has made far easier work of the Champions League (CL) than the EPL campaign so far, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that seeing how inconsistency plagues almost every legitimate title contender in England this season. However, Manchester United's 5-0 away performance was against a, quite frankly, listless Bayer Leverkusen. The German side are second in the Bundesliga, four points behind Bayern Munich and, to be fair, similarities with Borussia Dortmund 2011-12 in their first CL campaign under Jurgen Klopp are quite apt, both teams underperforming in groups you would otherwise expect them to excel in. Down to 10 men and without Cristiano Ronaldo in the team, Real Madrid showed that they were far more than the one-man show certain sections of the media are making them out to be. With the favourite for the Ballon D'Or award out with a minor thigh injury, the goals came from defenders, midfielders and Gareth Bale. Scoring four after going down to 10 men is no easy feat, and a stunning free kick by Bale showed that the options available at lining up for set-pieces does not begin and end with the Portuguese superstar. Scoring goals seems effortless for Manchester City, yet the defence is charitable enough to ensure that Pellegrini's boys need a large cushion to truly feel comfortable when seeing out games. Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo both getting on the scoresheet once again; the "Death of the strike partnership" hype that drifted along for a handful of seasons now can safely be put to rest. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani at PSG, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge at Liverpool, and Diego Costa alongside David Villa at Atletico Madrid show that the strike partnership is merely evolving, not dying out as an art.   Another classy performance by Kaka helped AC Milan ease some pressure off the players and manager Masimiliano Allegri, but they would require at least a draw in their final group match against Ajax Amsterdam to ensure progress to the round of 16. Frank De Boer's men are coming off four straights wins for a perfect November. The San Siro will be buzzing for this match-up, with the first meeting between both sides this season ending in a 1-1 tie. EPL action on more level footing Moving on to the EPL action this weekend… forget "glamour" ties as this weekend of fixtures in the Premier League are intriguing as teams come head-to-head on level footing or perceived advantaged positions. Dare we say the Gunners at Cardiff or Chelsea hosting Southampton is a shoo-in for the big teams? The Bluebirds pegged back Manchester United and while Arsenal can pass the ball better than anyone in England at the moment, there is no guarantee it will all be smooth sailing. Hard fought it will be with perhaps the more experienced Gunners sneaking in the winner. The Blues of Chelsea will be hoping Blunder Boruc continues with his arrogance and hands another gift, but Jose Mourinho knows that this team from the south are capable of at least a draw at Stamford Bridge. There are similarities in the playing styles. Both teams pass the ball with precision and intent but Chelsea has the advantage of having better individuals. Coming off a shock defeat to Basel in the midweek Champions League clash, there is all to play for at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea look to close the gap between them and London rivals Arsenal. Two other ties which could be termed "six-pointers" – Norwich City at home to Crystal Palace and West Ham United hosting Fulham – will set sparks flying as all four desperately need to "stay in touch". However, are these matches bigger than Tottenham Hotspur versus Manchester United? Yes, the match of the weekend certainly has bigger names and tradition, but bigger still are the stakes. Andre Villas-Boas wins our inaugural weekly "Manager Under the Most Pressure" award with that thumping defeat at the Etihad doing no favors to a side which seems unable to function smoothly as an attacking unit. After the "Etihad Embarrassment", the situation has turned into a "can't afford to lose" tightrope. Jump or be pushed if defeat happens, but certainly AVB has played himself into a corner. He has to keep in mind that Manchester United are coming off that confidence-boosting mid-week away thrashing of Leverkusen. Though not as significant a result in Europe, it does not hurt that Spurs did well to win 2-0 against Tromso under almost freezing conditions in Norway on Thursday night. AVB will be hoping his boys redeem themselves (and Villas-Boas himself) while David Moyes is looking to continue creeping up the standings through consistent results. Biggest worry of the weekend goes to Liverpool as they visit Hull. It looks like a routine win in the cards for Liverpool, sit back and counter-attack should be the game plan but Hull City will raise their game as they need to convince themselves of their own ability. Tricky is the word and Brendan Rogers will do well to inform his team to not let their guard down. The weekend English Premier League fixtures Saturday - Aston Villa vs Sunderland (11pm), Cardiff City vs Arsenal (11pm), Everton vs Stoke City (11pm), Norwich City vs Crystal Palace (11pm), West Ham United vs Fulham (11pm). Sunday - Newcastle United vs West Bromwich Albion (1.30am), Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United (8pm), Hull City vs Liverpool (10pm), Chelsea vs Southampton (midnight), Manchester City vs Swansea (midnight). – November 29, 2013. * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

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Tony Pua: DAP bantah DEB kerana mahu Melayu lebih kaya Posted: 30 Nov 2013 02:30 AM PST OLEH HASBULLAH AWANG CHIK November 30, 2013 Rafizi Ramli (kiri) dan Tony Pua bercakap di forum Setiausaha Publisiti Kebangsaan DAP, Tony Pua, berkata parti itu berkeras menentang Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) bukan kerana membenci kaum Melayu dan Bumiputera sebaliknya mahu melihat golongan tersebut menjadi lebih kaya yang sekali gus mengukuhkan ekonomi kaum Cina. Katanya, Dasar DEB hanya mengukuhkan ekonomi kumpulan tertentu dan Malaysia perlu berubah daripada melihat kepentingan ekonomi berasaskan kaum kepada fokus membasmi kemiskinan tanpa mengira kaum. "Kita bantah DEB kerana kita mahu orang Melayu menjadi semakin pandai dan kaya kerana apabila mereka menjadi semakin kaya, ekonomi ahli perniagaan Cina juga semakin meningkat apabila orang Melayu ada kuasa membeli. "Kenapa mesti keruhkan pemikiran kita mengikut konsep bangsa? Kita perlukan satu dasar yang tidak mengikut bangsa dan pendapatan. Ini bukan kerana saya bantah atau benci orang Melayu tetapi dasar yang lebih baik perlu dikhususkan mengikut pendapatan," katanya dalam sebuah forum di Petaling Jaya malam tadi. Ahli Parlimen Petaling Jaya Utara itu turut kesal dengan kenyataan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib semasa mengumumkan program pemerkasaan ekonomi Bumiputera September lalu dengan mudah melabelkan kaum asing untuk dikategorikan sebagai Melayu. Katanya, kaum bukan Bumiputera bertungkus-lumus membangunkan negara dan sebahagian pendapatan mereka disalurkan kepada negara melalui cukai pendapatan. "Najib semasa membentangkan program pemerkasaan ekonomi Bumiputera di Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) ada menyebut Jawa itu Melayu, Jakun dan Sakai Asli adalah Melayu, Arab dan Pakistan semua dikira Melayu walaupun Mamak dan Malabari juga disebut Melayu. "Saya berketurunan Cina tetapi jika dibandingkan dengan seseorang dari Pakistan yang mungkin akan menjadi warganegara dalam tempoh dua tahun dan anak mereka mendapat kewarganegaraan secara langsung serta berstatus Bumiputera yang mempunyai hak tertentu disebut dalam Perlembagaan. "Di mana letaknya konsep keadilan dalam perkara ini? Sebagai bukan Melayu Bumiputera, kami menyumbang dengan membayar cukai bersama rakan lain. Tetapi kami tidak dilihat sebagai rakyat penuh negara ini," katanya. Pua berkata, kuota pendidikan dikhususkan kepada Bumiputera yang pada asalnya untuk mencerdikkan anak Melayu tetapi akibat daripada tenaga pengajar kurang berpengalaman pelajar Melayu terpaksa menerima akibatnya. Katanya, sebagai ahli Parlimen, ramai pengundi dari kawasannya mahukan surat sokongan agar dapat ditempatkan di kolej matrikulasi tetapi beliau menyarankan mereka menduduki Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) kerana ia mampu memberi peluang lebih cerah. "Masuk matrikulasi lebih mudah masuk universiti tetapi mendapat kursus pengajian yang tidak sukar. Apa yang akan terjadi adalah ilmu tidak meningkat. STPM lebih susah dan jauh lebih baik daripada matrikulasi. "Lebih baik mengambil STPM. Mangsa secara tidak langsung adalah orang Melayu dan Bumiputera tetapi golongan inilah yang mahu kita bantu," katanya. Sementara itu, Pengarah Strategi PKR, Rafizi Ramli yang juga ahli panel dalam forum itu meramalkan 2014 adalah tahun kenaikan harga barang dan perkhidmatan kerana kerajaan persekutuan hanya mempunyai masa kira-kira satu setengah tahun untuk berbuat demikian. Katanya, rakyat perlu menghadiri setiap perhimpunan bantahan yang dilakukan pembangkang supaya kerajaan tidak lagi berani menaikkan harga barang sesuka hati. "Tahun depan saya menjangkakan diingati sebagai tahun barang naik. Barisan Nasional (BN) perlu menaikkan harga barang sebelum Cukai Barangan dan Perkhidmatan (GST) dilaksanakan kerana jika dilaksanakan selepas pelaksanaan cukai itu, ia akan lebih mengundang kemarahan rakyat untuk menggulingkan BN. "Kita perlu tentang kenaikan harga barang dan tarif. Jika dipanggil membantah kenaikan cukai, saya minta seramai mungkin yang turun kerana jika ia tidak ditentang akan menjadi amalan dari tahun ke tahun. "GST akan bermula dengan 6% dan seterusnya dinaikkan kepada 10% secara berperingkat," katanya yang turut membangkitkan masyarakat perlu dilengkapkan ilmu secukupnya agar dapar berfikiran rasional untuk menolak segala dakyah kerajaan. Ahli Palimen Pandan itu turut membangkitkan akibat pelbagai tekanan kewangan yang diberikan kepada rakyat, hutang isi rumah kini meningkat kepada RM820 bilion setelah rakyat dibebankan dengan pelbagai hutang bulanan yang terlalu tinggi. Katanya, kadar hutang isi rumah di Malaysia merupakan kedua tertinggi di Asia dan melebihi hutang semasa kerajaan iaitu RM541 bilion. "Hutang kerajaan RM541 bilion dan ia memberi kesan kepada kerajaan untuk berbelanja hari ini. Tetapi yang kita tidak tahu adalah soal hutang rakyat lebih tinggi berbanding hutang kerajaan. "Hutang rakyat hari ini kedua tertinggi di Asia selepas Sri Lanka. Rumah dan kereta perlu dibayar. Keluar dari universiti, Pinjaman PTPTN juga perlu dibayar. Jika gaji sekadar RM3,000 sebulan maka tidak mampu membayar hutang dan perbelanjaan bulanan," katanya. Seorang peserta bertanya soalan kepada ahli panel.Ketika ditanya adakah Selangor wajar dijadikan contoh pelan pendidikan percuma, Rafizi berkata, tanggungjawab pendidikan adalah di bawah kerajaan pusat dan kerajaan negeri perlu berlaku adil kepada semua rakyat Selangor. Bagaimanapun, katanya, pendidikan kepada anak negeri Selangor tidak perlu diabaikan dengan memberi bantuan sewajarnya supaya dapat memberi contoh kepada kerajaan pusat. "Pendapatan rezab kerajaan negeri Selangor lebih kecil daripada RM3 bilion. Punca kewangan negeri terlalu sedikit iaitu hanya daripada premium tanah. Saya berasa tidak wajar jika mana-mana negeri mengambil tanggungjawab kerajaan pusat. "Jika meminta kerajaan Selangor melaksanakannya maka menghukum rakyat Selangor kerana terpaksa kurangkan peruntukan lain di bawah peruntukan kerajaan negeri. "Walaupun Selangor tidak boleh melaksanakan pendidikan percuma sepenuhnya tetapi kita boleh tunjukkan dengan pendapatan yang terhad ini, peratusan yang disumbangkan untuk memudahkan pendidikan anak Selangor jauh lebih tinggi berbanding kerajaan pusat," katanya. – 30 November, 2013.

KPN beri amaran kepada kolumnis Mariam Mokhtar Posted: 30 Nov 2013 02:08 AM PST November 30, 2013 Ketua Polis Negara Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar (gambar) memberi amaran kepada kolumnis freemalaysiatoday.com Mariam Mokhtar supaya tidak menulis artikel yang boleh disifatkan sebagai berbaur hasutan. Beliau tidak senang dengan artikel tulisan Mariam bertajuk 'One Ideology, Two Reactions', dalam portal berita itu semalam yang mempertikai layanan berbeza kerajaan berhubung kepulangan dua anggota radikal komunis kelahiran Malaysia – abu mayat pemimpin Parti Komunis Malaya Chin Peng dari Bangkok, Thailand dan Siti Aishah Abdul Wahab, yang terpengaruh dengan ideologi politik komunis serta didakwa dijadikan hamba di London selama 30 tahun. "Lebih baik dia (Mariam) berhati-hati, jika tidak kami akan mengambil tindakan terhadapnya. "(Artikel) Ini amat berbaur hasutan. Jangan siarkan semata-mata kerana hendak menarik orang melawat laman web kamu. "Ia juga boleh mengundang kami (polis) untuk datang menangkap kamu," katanya kepada pemberita selepas majlis perasmian Seminar Keselamatan dan Ketenteraman Awam hari ini. Seminar itu dirasmikan Ketua Menteri Sabah Datuk Seri Musa Aman. Khalid kecewa kerana kolumnis itu tidak dapat membezakan tahap kesalahan yang dilakukan Siti Aishah dan Chin Peng. "Orang yang tak ada pelajaran pun faham kenapa kerajaan membenarkan Siti Aishah pulang ke tanah air dan menghalang abu mayat Chin Peng dibawa balik. "Ini bukan kerana seorang Melayu dan seorang lagi, Cina. "Chin Peng terlibat dengan perjuangan bersenjata, manakala Siti Aishah hanya menganut ideologi berhaluan kiri. Beritahu saya berapa ramai orang yang telah dibunuhnya (Siti Aishah)?" tanya beliau. Khalid berkata tindakan tidak akan diambil terhadap Siti Aishah sekiranya dia pulang ke Malaysia atas alasan wanita itu sudah berusia 69 tahun dan dia melakukan kesalahan berkenaan berpuluh tahun lalu. Mengenai kerakyatan Siti Aishah, beliau berkata polis masih menunggu laporan daripada United Kingdom sama ada wanita berkenaan telah melepaskan taraf kerakyatan Malaysia dalam tempoh 45 tahun dia berada di negara Eropah itu. Siti Aishah, yang berasal dari Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan, meninggalkan negara ini pada 1968 untuk melanjutkan pelajaran di London School of Economics di United Kingdom, tetapi mengabaikan pelajarannya setelah terpengaruh dengan ideologi berhaluan kiri. – Bernama, 30 November, 2013.

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