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The Malaysian Insider :: Food

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Singapore businessman takes over St. John Hotel in London Posted: 07 Jan 2013 06:26 PM PST Singapore businessman takes over St. John Hotel in London LONDON, Jan 8 — News that a Singaporean hotelier has taken over popular London chef Fergus Henderson's latest venture, the St. John Hotel, has become the talk of the town in the British food world. "King of offal" Fergus Henderson. — AFP pic Henderson, known as the "king of offal" for pioneering the nose-to-tail concept of dining in London, opened the St. John Hotel in Leicester Square in April 2011 after the project suffered a series of setbacks that put the hotel in the red by millions of pounds, reports the London Evening Standard. The 15-room hotel is now under the ownership of Singaporean hotelier Loh Lik Peng. And while the restaurant's head chef Tom Harris will remain at the helm, Caterer and Hotelkeeper report that Henderson will no longer be involved in the hotel he founded, stripping the establishment of much of its star power and spurring at least one Twitterer to tweet, "Travesty". The restaurant earned its first Michelin star a year after opening and offers whole, roasted suckling pig and roast chicken dinners. The change at the helm is getting added attention with word that a roster of celebrity investors such as visual artists Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas, Peter Doig, gallery owner Sadie Coles, American painter Elizabeth Peyton and writer Guy Kennaway may be set to lose their investments. Other St. John outposts include locations near Smithfield Market, Spitalfields Market and a standalone bakery on Druid Street. — AFP/Relaxnews

A very Baba new year Posted: 07 Jan 2013 03:58 PM PST Mee siam (left); fried chicken with kunyit and sambal fish (right). – Pictures by CK Lim KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 — Joy to the world! The Mayan-prophesied apocalypse didn't take place, thank heavens, and it's a brand new year. This is always a reason to celebrate, and my friends and I have an annual New Year's Day brunch tradition. After all, what's better than good food and great company to welcome another 365 happy days? Finding a suitable place for our first meal of 2013 was proving to be quite a challenge though. After all the fancy and rich food over the year-end holidays, we craved something simple yet satisfying. No more foie gras or truffles, please. Nyonya laksa. A Baba brunch in Bangsar So it came as a pleasant surprise when our ringleader suggested an old standby — Baba Low's 486 Bangsar. Yes, it is located in the trendy and affluent neighbourhood of Bangsar but this homey kedai makan eschews the fashionable for honest fare that would bring a (possibly toothless) smile to any Ah Pek's face. Tucked away along the narrow Lorong Kurau (this old residential area is known for its eccentric "fishy" street names such as Bilis, Tenggiri and Sepat), Baba Low's may not really stand out with its concrete floor and worn wooden tables but that's part of its old-time charm. My partner-in-crime and I arrive early. Famished, we gleefully order from the menu scrawled in chalk on a blackboard that looks like it was borrowed from Malacca High, my alma mater. It has the same, not-quite-fully-dusted appearance. (The blackboard, not my school.) My theory might not be entirely off the mark as Baba Low's serves authentic Malaccan Peranakan dishes (which I find to be less spicy and rich than what usually passes off as Peranakan cuisine in Klang Valley). Being one-eighth Peranakan and 100 per cent Malaccan, this means I'm delighted by the open packet of mee siam; a tangy toss of vermicelli, fishcake slices, half hard-boiled egg, fried shallots, julienned omelette and cucumber, served with a dollop of spicy sambal. This is the perfect breakfast or at least a perfect prelude to the rest of brunch as we intend to eat well and make merry today. My partner loves the sambal fried fish and fried chicken with kunyit (turmeric), surprisingly light and not greasy. Traditional kopi and eggs (left); pai tee (right). Pai Tee of Five Soon the rest of our little band arrives and they are hungry too. Imagine a starving and raucous version of the '90s TV series Party of Five (five siblings plus a couple of hang-on boyfriends/girlfriends) and you'd have an idea of how we more or less took over the entire place with our mirth and chatter. While waiting for more food, one of our feline-friendly friends is much taken with one of the neighbourhood kittens. She asks her partner if she could take it home. "No!" he thunders in mock objection, and we all laugh at the sad face she makes. Steamed okra with sambal. She is soon placated by the dishes that come to the table: pai tee — "top hats" brimming with shredded turnip, crunchy cucumber, omelette threads, fried shallots; a plate of steamed okra simply adorned with a drizzle of sambal; and even half a dozen of addictive honey mustard chicken wings for finger-licking snacking. The pièce de résistance has to be Baba Low's trademark Nyonya laksa — noodles the way you like it (I prefer a mee/meehoon mix) covered with a light soup that's more broth than curry. The usual suspects are here — you can't go wrong with ingredients such as more julienned cucumber (its refreshing bite is a trait of Peranakan cuisine), prawns, hard-boiled egg, tau pok (beancurd skin) and fresh cockles. Every mouthful contains a little bit of Malacca and memories for me. A must have. A toast to toast (and half-boiled eggs) The proprietor Victor Low, a 36-year-old former bank executive and fellow Malaccan boy, walks over to our table, bemused by our merriment and gluttony. He asks if we are sure we had enough and whether we would like some half-boiled kampung eggs? Our reply: No, and definitely yes! After all, what's brunch without plenty of eggs, especially free-range ones? Their almost-orange yolks swirl in a sea of pristine white, waiting for a splash of soy sauce and a generous hit of pepper. Dunk in toasted roti for a taste of the kopitiam breakfasts of yore. Of course, just before we hit the road and discover what 2013 has to offer us, we can't resist ordering a bowl or two of cendol. Its magnificent shaved ice sculpture is liberally soaked with coconut milk and gula Melaka for a sweet ending (or a sweet beginning, as it were). How to enjoy half-boiled eggs, kopitiam-style. After moving to KL many a year ago, I haven't often had the chance to sample my state's fare. The food at Baba Low's reminds me of family and of my school friends. Here in fast-paced KL, everyone is out to try out the best and the newest dish or restaurant, which may not always deliver or satisfy. Worse, sometimes they disappoint terribly. We have learned to be very wary and weary of the chase for the newest and the first. So it's nice to have a little part of my hometown transferred here. This feels like home not because of the food and atmosphere alone, but also thanks to the new family we have managed to make for ourselves. What a blessed way to begin a brand new year! Baba Low's 486 Bangsar 1, Lorong Kurau, Off Jalan Maa'rof, 59100, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur Tel: 03-2284 8486 / 012-324 7200 Open daily 7:00am - 7:00pm Cendol (left); a neighbourhood kitten (right).

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Lazio and Tottenham charged over Europa League match Posted: 07 Jan 2013 08:01 AM PST ZURICH, Jan 7 – Lazio and Tottenham Hotspur will face a disciplinary hearing over behaviour by their fans during their Europa League match in Rome in November, UEFA said in a statement today. UEFA said the Italian hosts had been charged over racist chanting by their fans, missile-throwing and also because their team arrived late at the Stadio Olimpico. The Group J match ended 0-0. "Charges relate to the alleged racist behaviour of Lazio supporters... Proceedings will also be instigated against Lazio for throwing of missiles and/or fireworks by their supporters, incidents of a non-sporting nature, late team arrival at the stadium, and late handling of the team sheet," said UEFA. "UEFA will also commence proceedings against Tottenham Hotspur FC, who face charges related to crowd disturbances." A group of Lazio supporters chanted "Juden Tottenham, Juden Tottenham" ("Jews Tottenham, Jews" in German) when the game got underway and unfurled a banner saying "Free Palestine". Tottenham have a large contingent of Jewish supporters while Lazio have long had fans with extreme right-wing sympathies. There was also trouble on the eve of the match. Ten Tottenham supporters were injured, one of them seriously, during an attack in Rome. The 10, nine British and one American, were attacked outside a pub near the centre of the city by dozens of masked men. UEFA fined Lazio US$51,300 for racist chanting directed at black players in the previous match against Tottenham in London in September. – Reuters

Suarez goal raises issue of sporting honesty Posted: 07 Jan 2013 06:37 AM PST LONDON, Jan 7 – Never far from controversy during his career, Liverpool striker Luis Suarez's winner in an FA Cup match yesterday re-ignited the morality debate in sport – should the honesty card be played in the heat of battle? Suarez's goal, aided by a clear handball, against plucky minor league opponents Mansfield Town in a third round tie brought accusations of cheating against the Uruguayan. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers staunchly backed his player and even Mansfield boss Paul Cox said it had been "instinctive" and Suarez had not done anything wrong in the 2-1 away win. The handball was judged accidental by referee Andre Marriner and his assistants but Suarez (picture), banned for eight matches last season for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra, was again greeted by unwanted headlines today. "Caught red-handed again", "cheated" and "Suarez 'stole our FA Cup glory'" were just some of the accusations laid at the striker's feet. Suarez was also pilloried for a handball on the goal-line that prevented Ghana's Dominic Adiyiah from scoring a winner in the last minute of a 2010 World Cup quarter-final. Suarez, then an Ajax player, was sent off but Asamoah Gyan missed the penalty – and Uruguay triumphed in the shootout after extra time to make the semis. Unabashed, Suarez said he had usurped Diego Maradona by pronouncing "the hand of god now belongs to me". Just how honest should sportsmen be on the field of play? Is it up to the match officials to spot incidents of cheating or must players own up when they clearly know they have gained an advantage from an infringement? Former Liverpool defender Alan Hansen, in his column in the UK's Daily Telegraph newspaper, said no footballer would ever ask a referee to disallow his goal, by whatever means it came by, and opined that the "outrage" was in part down to Suarez now being an "easy target". "What exactly was Suarez supposed to do? Run to the referee and tell him it hit his hand? His team mates would go berserk and his manager would not be too impressed either," Hansen wrote. He added: "From Suarez's reaction, he expected it to be disallowed and when it was not, he has decided to get on with the game. It is not like he ran off celebrating. He did exactly what anyone who has ever played professional football – and anyone who plays in the future – would do in the same situation." Suarez's goal revived memories of France's controversial World Cup playoff victory over Ireland in Paris in 2009 when Thierry Henry handled the ball before setting up William Gallas's winner that put the French through to the 2010 finals. PENALISE THEMSELVES The striker later acknowledged he had handled but absolved himself from blame when he said: "I'm not the ref. I played it, the ref allowed it." Some sports have a reputation for honesty more than others. Golfers routinely penalise themselves for rule infringements, as do snooker players, but there is no such thing as a perfect world. In other sports, a reputation for upholding the spirit of the game does not always make you popular. Former Australia cricketer Adam Gilchrist was renowned for his honesty at the crease, walking (back to the pavilion) when he thought he had made contact with the ball before being caught, even if the umpire had not given him out. His moral stance, once the norm in the game but now a rarity, was not always appreciated by team mates, though. Winning, at all costs and by whatever means, is the often watchword of professional sport. The UK Independent newspaper's chief sports writer James Lawton said "doing the right thing", and owning up to having infringed the rules, would not have occurred to Suarez. "He confirmed his status as arguably the most dazzling but troubling enigma ever to arrive in English football," Lawton wrote on Monday. "Once again, and after one of the most brilliant phases of his extraordinary career, he showed that for some men, however uncomplicated their gifts, doing the right thing, as opposed to simply gaining any kind of advantage, is the most difficult of challenges." Moments of honesty do win you friends and admirers. In 1997, Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler won plaudits when he asked referee Gerald Ashby to change a penalty awarded to his side in a Premier League match against Arsenal at Highbury. Fowler said he had not been fouled by Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman but Ashby did not reverse his decision. Fowler nevertheless took the subsequent penalty, which was saved, only for Jason McAteer to score from the rebound as Liverpool won the game 2-1. Afterwards, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said it had been a "great gesture" by Fowler who was handed a UEFA Fair Play award by European football's governing body. In 2001, Italian Paolo Di Canio was commended by FIFA after passing up the opportunity to score a winner for West Ham United at Everton in December 2000 by catching the ball because goalkeeper Paul Gerrard was lying injured. Another striking moment of honesty came earlier this season when Lazio's Miroslav Klose scored an early goal against Napoli but the referee changed his mind after initially awarding the goal after the Germany forward said he had used his hand. The spirit of fair play can badly backfire though – as seen in a Champions League game in November. Shakhtar Donetsk striker Luiz Adriano was banned for one game for unsporting behaviour after he scored as his team tried to play the ball back to Danish side Nordsjaelland's goalkeeper following an injury. Shakhtar backed UEFA's decision, saying they "believed fair play is a fundamental part of football". But just what constitutes fair play in sport remains open to debate. – Reuters

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Welcome to Macca’s as McDonald’s goes Aussie Posted: 07 Jan 2013 05:53 AM PST A McDonald's signboard is seen in this file photo. Some McDonald's stores in Australia will change their signs to Macca's in celebration of Australia Day. Macca's is the affectionate Australian nickname for the chain. – Reuters pic SYDNEY, Jan 7 – Looking for a McDonald's in Australia this month? You may bump into a "Macca's" instead. The international fast food giant will temporarily change signs at selected stores across the country to "Macca's," the affectionate Australian nickname for the chain, in celebration of Australia Day, which falls on Jan. 26 – a move that is its first such globally. "We're incredibly proud to embrace our 'Australian-only' nickname," said Mark Lollback, the company's chief marketing officer in Australia, in a statement today. "What better way to show Aussies how proud we are to be a part of the Australian community than change our store signs to the name the community has given us?" Surveys have showed at least 50 per cent of Australians use the nickname. Thirteen stores will change their store signage this week, starting from the state of New South Wales tomorrow, the company said. The regular signage will return from Feb 4. Australian English has a number of unique turns of phrase. According to a national survey, "Macca's" is the second most recognised Australianism, just behind "footy" for Australian rules football. The popularity of the nickname has also prompted McDonald's to call on Macquarie Dictionary, the authority on the English language in Australia, to include "Macca's" in their online version, a proposal supported by one third of Australians, the company said. – Reuters

Church head urges followers to adopt children Posted: 06 Jan 2013 07:27 PM PST Believers place lit candles during an Orthodox Christmas eve service in a church in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don January 6, 2013. Orthodox Christians mark Christmas according to the Julian calendar on January 7. – Reuters pic MOSCOW, Jan 7 – The head of Russia's dominant church urged its citizens to adopt children, speaking in a Russian Orthodox Christmas address tiday after President Vladimir Putin signed a controversial law barring Americans from adopting Russian children. Patriarch Kirill paid particular attention to the issue in a Christmas message, lending support to Putin's promises - issued along with a law that outraged liberals and child rights activists - that Russia will take care of its own. "It is very important for our people to adopt orphans into their families, with joy and a special sense of gratitude to God, giving them not only shelter and an upbringing but also giving them their love," the Russian Orthodox Church head said. The ban on American adoptions is part of a law Putin signed on December 28 in retaliation for US legislation designed to punish Russian human rights violators, which the Kremlin chief said is poisoning relations. Critics of the Russian legislation say Putin has held the welfare of children trapped in a crowded and troubled orphanage system hostage to political maneuvering, reducing their chances of finding loving homes or adequate medical care. The numbers of adoptions by Russian families are modest, with some 7,400 adoptions in 2011 compared with 3,400 adoptions of Russian children by families abroad - nearly 1,000 of those by Americans. In signing the legislation, Putin echoed Russian lawmakers' arguments that American parents who have been accused of abusing their adopted Russian-born children have been treated too leniently by US courts and law enforcement. He also signed a decree ordering improvements in the care for orphaned Russian children and appealed to patriotism, suggesting that Russians have an obligation to care for the country's disadvantaged children. Kirill added a religious element to that message, saying that "the Lord tells His followers that if they want to reach the Kingdom of God they must ... share their opportunities with the needy - primarily invalids, the elderly, and children." "'Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them,' says the Lord. These words from Him should ... make us all realize how important children are in the eyes of God," he said. "And as we celebrate Christmas I would like to appeal to everyone with a request: If you can take this important step in life aimed at adopting children, supporting orphans, take this step," Kirill said. "There should be no orphans in our country." More than 650,000 children are considered orphans in Russia, including those rejected by their living parents or taken from dysfunctional homes. Of that total, 110,000 lived in state institutions in 2011, according to government figures. More than three-quarters of Russians consider themselves Russian Orthodox, but far fewer attend church regularly despite a resurgence of religion following the demise of the communist Soviet Union. The Russian Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar and celebrates Christmas on January 7. Kirill's midnight service at Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral was shown live on state television, which also showed Putin - a former KGB officer who has cultivated close ties with the church - attending a service in the southern city of Sochi. – Reuters

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Lazio and Tottenham charged over Europa League match Posted: 07 Jan 2013 08:01 AM PST ZURICH, Jan 7 – Lazio and Tottenham Hotspur will face a disciplinary hearing over behaviour by their fans during their Europa League match in Rome in November, UEFA said in a statement today. UEFA said the Italian hosts had been charged over racist chanting by their fans, missile-throwing and also because their team arrived late at the Stadio Olimpico. The Group J match ended 0-0. "Charges relate to the alleged racist behaviour of Lazio supporters... Proceedings will also be instigated against Lazio for throwing of missiles and/or fireworks by their supporters, incidents of a non-sporting nature, late team arrival at the stadium, and late handling of the team sheet," said UEFA. "UEFA will also commence proceedings against Tottenham Hotspur FC, who face charges related to crowd disturbances." A group of Lazio supporters chanted "Juden Tottenham, Juden Tottenham" ("Jews Tottenham, Jews" in German) when the game got underway and unfurled a banner saying "Free Palestine". Tottenham have a large contingent of Jewish supporters while Lazio have long had fans with extreme right-wing sympathies. There was also trouble on the eve of the match. Ten Tottenham supporters were injured, one of them seriously, during an attack in Rome. The 10, nine British and one American, were attacked outside a pub near the centre of the city by dozens of masked men. UEFA fined Lazio US$51,300 for racist chanting directed at black players in the previous match against Tottenham in London in September. – Reuters

Welcome to Macca’s as McDonald’s goes Aussie Posted: 07 Jan 2013 07:53 AM PST McDonald's in Australia will temporarily change signs at selected stores across the country to "Macca's" in celebration of Australia Day on January 26. — AFP pic SYDNEY, Jan 7 — Looking for a McDonald's in Australia this month? You may bump into a "Macca's" instead. The international fast food giant will temporarily change signs at selected stores across the country to "Macca's," the affectionate Australian nickname for the chain, in celebration of Australia Day, which falls on January 26 — a move that is its first such globally. "We're incredibly proud to embrace our 'Australian-only' nickname," said Mark Lollback, the company's chief marketing officer in Australia, in a statement tomorrow. "What better way to show Aussies how proud we are to be a part of the Australian community than change our store signs to the name the community has given us?" Surveys have showed at least 50 per cent of Australians use the nickname. Thirteen stores will change their store signage this week, starting from the state of New South Wales tomorrow, the company said. The regular signage will return from February 4. Australian English has a number of unique turns of phrase. According to a national survey, "Macca's" is the second most recognised Australianism, just behind "footy" for Australian rules football. The popularity of the nickname has also prompted McDonald's to call on Macquarie Dictionary, the authority on the English language in Australia, to include "Macca's" in their online version, a proposal supported by one third of Australians, the company said. — Reuters

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Universal to set up panel to probe Philippine payment reports Posted: 07 Jan 2013 06:15 AM PST TOKYO, Jan 7 — Japan's Universal Entertainment Corp said today it would set up a panel of independent experts to investigate media reports about millions of dollars in payments made in relation to its casino project on Manila Bay. The logo of the Universal Entertainment Corp. is seen at the company's headquarters in Tokyo November 30, 2012. — Reuters pic Universal, majority owned by founder Kazuo Okada and his son through a family trust, said in a statement the panel of lawyers and other experts would investigate issues raised in articles by Reuters, the Asahi newspaper and others about the payments. Universal said that while it has operated in a lawful and rational manner in pursuing the project, it believes an objective examination by a third-party panel would help put investors and other stakeholders at ease. In early December Universal announced that it had filed a libel suit against Reuters in Tokyo for its reporting on US$40 million (RM122 million) in payments by Universal to Rodolfo Soriano, a former consultant to the Philippine gaming authority, in 2010. Earlier today in a separate statement, Universal said it was considering legal action against the Asahi newspaper, which reported about issues with the Philippine casino project and the payments in late December. No one at the Asahi could be immediately reached for comment. Universal has sued three former employees claiming they made US$15 million of the payments without authorization. Two of those employees have filed rebuttals to the Tokyo District Court, both saying they were following orders in directing the payments. The payments are now the subject of investigations in the Philippines and the United States, where the company is licensed by the gaming regulator in Nevada. — Reuters

Netflix to carry ‘Revolution’, other Warner Bros shows Posted: 07 Jan 2013 05:23 AM PST LOS ANGELES, Jan 7 — Netflix Inc will carry previous seasons of some popular shows produced by Time Warner Inc's Warner Bros. Television as it braces for stiffer competition from new video-streaming rivals. Netflix is looking to bolster content by striking deals with Hollywood studios and launching its own shows as it competes with cable networks and a slew of new video-streaming rivals. — AFP pic Netflix said its US subscribers will be able to watch "Revolution," a drama set in a post-apocalyptic America, miniseries "Political Animals," starring Sigourney Weaver, and Western mystery series "Longmire," among other shows. The video-streaming site will also carry "The Following," a highly anticipated drama series starring Kevin Bacon as a former FBI agent on the trail of a serial killer, which premieres Jan. 21 on the Fox network. Netflix is looking to bolster content by striking deals with Hollywood studios and launching its own shows as it competes with cable networks and a slew of new video-streaming rivals. Coinstar Inc's Redbox launched an instant video- streaming service last month, while Amazon.com Inc's Prime, Hulu Plus and HBO Go are all in the race for more home entertainment dollars. HBO, another unit of Time Warner, has just extended its deal with Universal Pictures for rights to the studio's movies through 2022, allowing the cable network to keep them away from Netflix. Netflix, which started its streaming business with mostly older films, has been moving to add more original programming and produces TV shows such as "Lilyhammer" and the upcoming "House of Cards". Today's agreement covers a current slate of eight Warner Bros shows as well as potential future shows. Further details of the deal were not disclosed. —Reuters

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Perimau buat laporan polis berhubung akaun Facebook hina Islam Posted: 07 Jan 2013 12:41 AM PST JOHOR BAHARU, 7 Jan — Persatuan Pemuda Puteri Malaya Bersatu (Perimau) hari ini membuat laporan polis menggesa pihak berkuasa bertindak terhadap pemilik sebuah akaun Facebook yang didakwa menghina agama Islam. Presidennya Mohd Ridhwan Othman berkata laporan dibuat di Balai Polis Tampoi, di sini, bagi membolehkan polis dan Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) menyiasat pemilik akaun itu yang menggunakan nama Adlin binti Abd Jalil. "Kami dapati Facebook yang menghina Rukun Iman dan aktif sejak bulan Mac lalu mendapat sokongan (like) daripada ramai yang menggunakan nama Islam dan Melayu," katanya kepada pemberita selepas membuat laporan berkenaan. "Kita bimbang tindakan ini seakan mengajak umat Islam memusuhi agama sendiri dan boleh mencetuskan perpecahan dalam Islam." Mohd Ridhwan mendakwa kenyataan yang dikeluarkan menerusi akaun itu juga tidak rasional dan seakan sengaja mahu mencetuskan perbalahan agama di negara ini. "Kita terpanggil kerana sebelum ini tidak ada pihak yang membuat laporan berhubung tindakan pemilik akaun ini," katanya. — Bernama

Felda saman presiden persatuan Anak peneroka dan enam lagi kerana fitnah Posted: 07 Jan 2013 12:29 AM PST KUALA LUMPUR, 7 Jan — Lembaga Kemajuan Tanah Persekutuan (Felda) hari ini memfailkan saman fitnah terhadap Presiden Persatuan Anak Peneroka Felda Kebangsaan (Anak) Mazlan Aliman, Setiausaha Agung PAS Datuk Mustafa Ali dan lima lagi berhubung kenyataan penjualan minyak sawit mentah ke Israel. Felda memfailkan writ saman itu menerusi Tetuan Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak di pejabat pendaftar Mahkamah Tinggi di sini. Felda (plaintif) menamakan Mazlan dan Mustafa sebagai defendan pertama dan kedua manakala Ketua Pengarang Harakah Ahmad Lutfi Othman, Pengarang Harakah Taufek Yahya, penulis artikel Mohd Arif Atan, pencetak Harakah Angkatan Edaran Ent Sdn Bhd serta Setiausaha Agung Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, masing-masing sebagai defendan ketiga hingga ketujuh. Menerusi pernyataan tuntutan, Felda mendakwa bahawa Mazlan telah memuat naik kata-kata fitnah di laman sosial facebook miliknya pada 19 Nov tahun lepas dan empat hari selepas itu (23 Nov), Mazlan mengeluarkan kata-kata fitnah dalam satu perhimpunan yang dilakukan di hadapan pejabat Felda. Dakwanya, kenyataan fitnah yang dikeluarkan Mazlan telah diterbitkan semula oleh defendan kedua hingga keenam menerusi beberapa artikel di akhbar Harakah pada 26 hingga 29 Nov tahun lepas. Felda mendakwa kenyataan fitnah itu telah menjejaskan reputasi Felda dan mendakwa kesemua defendan sengaja berbuat demikian untuk menghancurkan kepercayaan dan keyakinan rakyat demi meneruskan agenda tersendiri dan kepentingan peribadi. Felda menuntut gantirugi am, khas, teruk, teladan, faedah dan kos ke atas semua defendan. Felda juga menuntut satu arahan injunksi untuk menahan Mazlan dan ejen-ejennya berbicara atau menerbitkan kata-kata fitnah tersebut di internet atau media cetak. Selain itu Felda turut menuntut supaya Mazlan menerbitkan permohonan maaf secara bertulis di akhbar dan majalah. Sementara itu peguam Wan Azmir Wan Majib yang mewakili Felda memberitahu pemberita bahawa pihaknya akan menghantar writ saman kepada defendan-defendan dalam minggu ini. — Bernama

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Muzik folk, Ebiet dan Franky Sahilatua Posted: 06 Jan 2013 04:14 PM PST 7 JAN — Jika ada persamaan di antara Ebiet dan Franky Sahilatua, selain di bawah syarikat rakaman yang sama, Jackson Record, konsep muzik mereka juga sama iatu muzik folk balada/nusantara yang penuh dengan pelbagai elemen dan rentak di dalamnya seperti country, blues, rock n roll, pop dan sebagainya. Cuma secara jujurnya nama dan populariti Ebiet lebih menyerlah di rantau Asia Tenggara khusunya berbanding Franky walaupun Franky terlebih dahulu merakamkan album pertama tahun 1975 yang berjudul "Senja Indah di Pantai" bersama adik perempuannya Jane. Bersama adiknya Jane, mereka sempat merakamkan 15 album berentak folk balada dan country sejak tahun 1975 sehingga awal tahun 90an. Selepas itu Franky meneruskan kariernya sebagai penyanyi solo. Dari segi perbezaan karya-karya mereka, walaupun suara Franky lemak dan merdu, mesej lagu-lagunya keras dan kritis seperti lagu Perahu Retak yang diciptanya bersama Emha Ainun Najib pada tahun 1996. Berbanding Ebiet yang mana banyak lagu-lagu dan liriknya menceritakan tentang alam dan manusia, jika ada pun nada kritis di dalamnya , masih berkias dan tertib dengan bahasa puisinya yang indah seperti lagu hitnya Berita kepada Kawan. Ebiet G.Ade atau nama sebenarnya Abid Ghoffar Aboe Dja'far adalah antara penyanyi folk singer/songwriter yang berkonsepkan muzik balada/nusantara yang paling menonjol dan punya ramai peminat di Malaysia, Singapura dan Brunei khususnya terutamanya di era awal 80an dulu. Beliau yang lahir pada 21hb April 1954 sangat popular terutama melalui empat album awalnya yang berjudul "Camellia" dalam tempoh 2 tahun iaitu melalui "Camellia 1" (1979), "Camellia 2" (1979), "Camellia 3" (1980) dan "Camellia 4" (1980). Album "Camellia 1" berjaya dijual sebanyak 2 juta unit dan itu adalah suatu yang hebat bagi seorang penyanyi folk yang dari segi penampilannya agak biasa-biasa saja. Saya pertama kali mendengar muzik Ebiet pada tahun 1980 . Saya yang waktu itu masih mencari watak dan hero yang sederhana dan unik sangat teruja apabila pertama kali mendengar lagu-lagu beliau. Album-album Ebiet yang dibeli abang saya sewaktu beliau ke Indonesia 4 judul kesemuanya, iaitu "Camellia 1", "2", "3" dan "4". Muzik Ebiet dan personalitinya adalah satu fenomena . Sebelumnya kita telah dibiasakan dengan imej glamour para artis popular, jadi bila Ebiet tiba, muziknya yang unik dan misteri itu melekat ke jiwa saya. Sebelumnya saya telah didedahkan dengan artis-artis folk/country barat seperti Bob Dylan, Cat Steven, Simon & Garfunkel antaranya. Pun di waktu itu maklumlah masih tinggal di kampung , jadi seperti kebanyakan anak muda kampung yang lain, penguasaan bahasa inggeris saya agak kurang baik jadi di waktu itu muzik Ebiet lebih dekat dengan personaliti dan jiwa kerana saya faham apa yang mahu disampaikannya melalui lagu. Bicara alam Ebiet dalam lagu-lagunya sangat berkesan, jujur dan berterus-terang. Melodinya sangat unik dan misteri. Lagu-lagu yang diciptanya memang sesuai dengan suara, penghayatan dan intonasinya. Tidak hairanlah ramai pendengar tidak kira tua dan muda meminati lagu-lagu hit beliau seperti "Berita Kepada Kawan", "Camellia", "Lagu Untuk Sebuah Nama". Secara keseluruhannya jika saya melihat dan mendengar muzik Ebiet dan konsepnya, rasa hormat yang tinggi saya tujukan kepada penerbit album-albumnya terutama untuk siri "Camellia 1", "2", "3" dan "4" iaitu Jackson Arief dan penggubah lagu-lagunya, Billy J. Budiardjo. Bayangkan jika dinilai dari segi rupa dan imej, Ebiet tidak punya semua pakej itu melainkan bakat yang hebat. Keberanian dan keyakinan Jackson Arief yang tinggi terhadap hasil kerjanya dengan kualiti rakaman gred A, berjaya menghasilkan kejayaan demi kejayaan sehingga nama Ebiet naik mendadak di arus muzik perdana sehingga ke rantau Asia Tenggara. Selepas album "Camellia 4", saya agak kecewa pada awalnya dengan album-album seterusnya seperti "Langkah Berikutnya" (1982) namun saya suka album "Tokoh-Tokoh" (1982), "1984" (1984) dan "Zaman" (1985). Album selepas itu bagi saya kurang menyengat, pun saya beli juga seperti album "Isyu!" (1986), "Menjaring Matahari" (1987), "Sketsa Rembulan Emas" (1988) dan "Seraut Wajah" (1990). Saya mula mendengar lagu Franky & Jane pada tahun 1986 setelah membeli kasetnya di Chow Kit dengan judul "Musim Bunga" yang diterbitkan pada tahun 1978. Menariknya tentang Franky Sahilatua (lahir di Surabaya pada 16hb Ogos 1953 dan meninggal pada 20hb April 2011 ), beliau pernah menganggotai kumpulan Lemon Trees pada tahun 1969 bersama Leo Kristi yang diketuai oleh Gombloh waktu itu. Setelah membeli dan membaca majalah Tempo terbitan awal 90an, yang membicarakan tentang album "Swami" yang dikepalai oleh Fals dan Jabo, dengan lagu hit mereka "Bento". Ada beberapa pendapat artis-artis dan pemuzik seperti Ian Antono juga Franky tentang Iwan Fals. Saya agak tertarik tentang pendapat Franky tentang Iwan Fals yang baginya muzik Fals itu biasa saja, sama seperti dia mendengar muzik Gombloh, Ebiet antaranya. Berbeza bila dia mendengar muzik Leo Kristi. Pendapatnya itu membuatkan saya mencari-cari album Leo Kristi, malangnya sangat sukar untuk mendapatkannya di Malaysia waktu itu. Kebetulan kawan saya, Zunar kartunis waktu itu ke Indonesia, saya pun kirimkan album Leo Kristi dan album Ebiet ("1984") dan akhirnya saya dapat memilikinya. Zunar adalah peminat tegar muzik Franky & Jane, Iwan Fals, Ebiet juga Gombloh. Selalulah kami bertukar-tukar pendapat tentang cerita-cerita yang berkait dengan hal muzik terutamanya kerana beliau faham apa itu muzik "folk". Saya sangat terkesan apabila membaca tentang keakraban Ebiet dan sahabatnya Franky di satu laman blog. Walau berbeza agama, sifat saling menghormati antara sesama itu mendatangkan rasa hormat yang tinggi bagi saya. Franky meninggal dunia pada 20hb April, 2011 di usia 58 tahun kerana menderita penyakit kanser tulang belakang yang dideritanya selama 2 tahun. Saya masih mendengar lagu-lagu Fals, Jabo, Ebiet, Doel Sumbang, Gombloh, Leo Kristi, God Bless juga Franky Sahilatua sehingga hari ini tanpa pernah jemu kerana sejak mula berkarya, dengan lagu-lagu merekalah saya membesar. Mereka mengajar saya tentang Tuhan, manusia dan alam dalam konteks yang lebih menyeluruh dan jujur. * Ini adalah pandangan peribadi penulis.

Demi murid-murid terpinggir Posted: 06 Jan 2013 03:23 PM PST 7 JAN — Penggal persekolahan bagi tahun 2013 sudah bermula dan pasti akan kedengaran pelbagai rungutan daripada pihak ibu bapa dan sekolah mengenai prestasi murid/pelajar dalam kurikulum. Bagaimanapun, tentu sahaja kelompok yang tampil membantu menyelesaikan masalah adalah lebih mulia berbanding kelompok yang hanya tahu mengungkitkan isu. Tambahan pula, cukuplah golongan politikus terus mengeluarkan kenyataan berupa retorik yang tidak akan menyelesaikan sebarang masalah yang timbul dalam sistem pendidikan negara. Zul Fikri komited dalam usaha membela golongan marginal; khususnya murid-murid yang terpinggir. Dalam hal seperti inilah saya sangat kagum dengan usaha yang dilakukan kumpulan Teach for the Needs (TFTN) sejak diasaskan pada 1 Mac 2012. Kumpulan yang bergerak secara bebas dan sukarela itu menyediakan platform, rundingan, bahan mengajar, buku dan sistem sokongan yang diperlukan bagi mengatasi masalah pembelajaran. Saya sempat berbual-bual dengan pengerusi TFTN, Zul Fikri Zamir Mohamad Munir yang mengasaskan kumpulan itu bersama-sama Asmidar Alias (presiden). "TFTN mempunyai objektif menyediakan kelas tambahan (tuisyen) percuma untuk murid-murid kelas corot, anak-anak yatim dan anak-anak daripada keluarga miskin. Kami juga berusaha membantu guru dan sukarelawan meningkatkan kemahiran diri melalui kerja sukarela dan mendepani masalah masyarakat secara 'hands on'," kata pemuda kelahiran Jerantut, Pahang itu. Pada umumnya, walaupun belum sampai setahun diasaskan, TFTN memang berpegang pada satu lagi objektif penubuhan iaitu menggerakkan sebuah gerakan berasaskan pendidikan untuk masyarakat. Tentulah usaha murni ini bukan suatu kerja mudah; apatah lagi apabila dilaksanakan secara "apolitikal" dan tanpa mengharapkan naungan mana-mana politikus. Saya sangat memahami keadaan ini kerana Kumpulan Sasterawan Kavyan (Kavyan) yang diasaskan pada Ogos 1999 juga berpegang pada konsep memartabatkan Bahasa Malaysia menerusi aktiviti bahasa, sastera, seni dan budaya tanpa bernaung pada mana-mana politikus dan parti politik. Sekurang-kurangnya kami boleh membuat kebaikan tanpa menanggung dosa orang lain. Sumbangan dan aktiviti TFTN pula semakin dikenali umum dan berita-berita mengenainya semakin banyak disiarkan di media konvensional dan alternatif. Perkembangan ini amatlah membanggakan dan diharap boleh menarik perhatian anggota masyarakat untuk tampil membantu sekadar termampu. Berani bersuara demi golongan marginal Zul Fikri yang bekerja sebagai guru Pendidikan Jasmani dan Bahasa Malaysia sejak 2010 berkata, terdapat 19 duta TFTN daripada kalangan guru di seluruh negara. Selain itu, sukarelawan berdaftar pula terdiri daripada 300 orang, di mana sekitar 50 daripadanya terlibat secara aktif melalui kerja-kerja pentadbiran, projek rumah anak yatim dan kerja-kerja mengumpul dana. Pemuda berkenaan yang kini tinggal di Kuala Lumpur memang lantang bersuara di forum, dialog dan melalui tulisan apabila bercakap mengenai soal pendidikan dan kelompok marginal yang sering terpinggir dan dipinggirkan dalam arus pendidikan negara.  Golongan guru dan orang awam menjadi sukarelawan. Hasil pemerhatian saya, beliau dan rakan-rakannya dalam TFTN ikhlas dalam perjuangan; sekali gus tidak tunduk pada tekanan dan pujukan "puak arus perdana" yang tidak mahu sebarang kepincangan sistem pendidikan negara didedahkan. "Di bawah program TFTN, ada sekitar 230 murid berumur 11 dan 12 tahun yang kami bimbing selepas tamat waktu pelajaran di sekolah. Sebagai tambahan, ada sekitar 70 murid yang dibimbing secara berterusan menerusi projek Rumah Anak Yatim," kata guru berumur 27 tahun itu. Mengulas lanjut, Zul Fikri menceritakan bahawa program tambahan (expansion programme) dikendalikan bagi memastikan penghuni rumah anak yatim turut mendapat manfaat dan peluang menimba ilmu secara adil dan saksama. "Program pertama bermula pada 7 April 2012 melibatkan 52 penghuni Asrama Anak Yatim dan Miskin Darul Hikmah di Gopeng, Perak. Program itu kendalian Anas Hakimie. Yuni Roslan pula menangani program sama di Asrama Baitul Husna, Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan, Pahang melibatkan 15 murid bermula awal Jun 2012," katanya dengan penuh semangat. Satu aktiviti tambahan yang dinamakan "Parenting Programme" turut dilaksanakan sebagai sebahagian projek "I Luv My Kids" dengan bantuan Profesor Dr Saedah Siraj, tokoh pendidik dari Universiti Malaya. Pelbagai program berskala kecil, sederhana dan besar diadakan dari semasa ke semasa sebagai bukti kesungguhan dan keikhlasan TFTN membantu kanak-kanak yang memerlukan bantuan dalam pembelajaran dan pendidikan. Konvensyen Pendidikan TFTN di Universiti Malaya pada 8 Disember 2012 menjadi salah satu bukti komitmen mereka. Pelbagai pihak tampil membantu Dalam usianya yang relatif muda — belum sampai setahun — tentulah masih terlalu awal untuk menilai kejayaan TFTN dalam misi membantu murid-murid yang lemah dalam pelajaran. Namun, jika keputusan UPSR 2012 diambil kira, rata-rata anak didik TFTN menunjukkan peningkatan dalam prestasi. "Melalui penglibatan kami secara langsung sejak Mac tahun lalu, ada beberapa perkara yang dikenal pasti. Kami dapati bahawa anak-anak yatim dan anak-anak daripada keluarga miskin kurang diberi perhatian oleh sekolah dan masyarakat," Zul Fikri memberitahu saya. Pendedahan yang dilakukan ini tentu sahaja (mungkin) akan membuatkan pihak sekolah dan lebih-lebih lagi Kementerian Pelajaran naik angin serta tampil menafikan apa-apa yang dikatakan. Mana mungkin jabatan dan kementerian menerima kritikan pedas seperti ini; bahawa ada murid yang sengaja dibiarkan terpinggir dalam sistem pendidian negara. Di pihak TFTN, mereka tidak sekadar mengkritik atau menyalahkan pihak lain. Sebaliknya, mereka berusaha membantu sekadar termampu berdasarkan kemahiran yang dimiliki para sukarelawan. Bagi hampir 70 murid di bawah program tambahan di Gopeng dan Kuantan, masing-masing diberikan kamus sebagai langkah awal untuk cemerlang dalam pelajaran. "Melalui sumbangan buku daripada penerbit seperti PTS dan Institut Terjemahan dan Buku Malaysia (ITBM), kami berusaha menanam minat membaca dalam kalangan lebih daripada 170 kanak-kanak yang menyertai projek TFTN," pemuda yang gemar membaca dan mengembara itu menghuraikan. Bagi menjayakan segala projek yang dilaksanakan secara sukarela dan tanpa bantuan politikus, tentulah melibatkan pelbagai cabaran. Zul Fikri mengakui bahawa komitmen serta kekurangan sukarelawan daripada kalangan guru menjadi cabaran utama. Selain daripada itu, tentulah soal kewangan perlu diambil kira. Buat masa ini, TFTN bergantung sepenuhnya pada hasil jualan butang/lencana dan kemeja-T serta sumbangan kecil-kecilan daripada anggota masyarakat yang prihatin terhadap nasib kanak-kanak yang terpinggir dan dipinggirkan dalam sistem pendidikan negara. "Sesungguhnya TFTN amat memerlukan lebih ramai guru muda untuk menyertai program ini dan menyediakan kelas-kelas TFTN di sekolah masing-masing. Kami juga mengharapkan kerjasama syarikat-syarikat korporat untuk menyediakan sumbangan kewangan bagi memastikan gerakan yang dimulakan oleh TFTN boleh dikekalkan dan diberi penambah baikan demi masa depan kanak-kanak," katanya dengan penuh harapan. Nafi mitos anak-anak kelas corot Bercakap mengenai perancangan bagi tahun ini, Zul Fikri berkata, selain memberi tumpuan kepada program dan duta sedia ada, TFTN turut merancang Futsal Guru Muda pada 27 Januari, makan malam amal pada Mac dan larian amal pada Jun ini. "Advanced Research Projects for Education (ARPE) di bawah seliaan Anas Alam Faizli pula akan memberi fokus terhadap penyediaan modul pembelajaran anak-anak berkeperluan dalam TFTN; kajian rintis terhadap duta/sukarelawan/guru di seluruh negara; serta kajian akademik berkaitan isu pendidikan masa depan," katanya. Harus ditekankan bahawa TFTN ditubuhkan untuk menyediakan platform sukarela kepada guru dan bukan guru bagi menggerakkan program berasaskan pendidikan. TFTN secara terus-menerus memperjuangkan golongan marginal tertindas seperti murid kelas corot, anak miskin, anak yatim dan anak-anak di pedalaman. Sukarelawan daripada kalangan guru dan bukan guru memang diharapkan dan dialu-alukan untuk sama-sama terlibat dalam menjayakan misi yang sangat murni ini. Malah, itulah juga sebabnya saya tampil memperkatakan mengenai TFTN menerusi makalah ini. "Ruang untuk orang ramai menyumbang memang terbuka; daripada menjadi sumber tenaga pengajar kepada menjadi sebahagian rangkaian dan pentadbir TFTN di seluruh negara. Melalui TFTN, rakyat Malaysia boleh membuktikan bahawa isu pendidikan boleh ditangani melalui kerjasama kolektif, berbanding hanya mengharap kepada kerajaan semata-mata," Zul Fikri menyatakan dengan penuh optimis. Menurut guru itu lagi, salah satu objektif penubuhan TFTN adalah untuk membuktikan betapa tidak benar suatu mitos yang sudah berakar-umbi dalam kalangan masyarakat. Mitos yang dimaksudkan adalah tanggapan bahawa anak-anak kelas corot, anak miskin, anak yatim dan anak-anak pedalaman tidak berhak mendapat peluang pendidikan yang sama rata dengan rakan mereka yang lain. Dengan semangat, kesungguhan dan sikap tegas yang ditunjukkan, saya juga optimis bahawa TFTN akan berjaya dalam misi murni yang diperjuangkan demi golongan minoriti, marginal dan tertindas. * Maklumat lanjut mengenai aktiviti TFTN boleh dibaca di  www.teachfortheneeds.org * Ini adalah pandangan peribadi penulis. Jualan amal dibuat untuk mengutip dana bagi aktiviti TFTN.

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