Isnin, 11 Mac 2013

The Malaysian Insider :: Food

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The Malaysian Insider :: Food

NYC large-soda ban blocked by judge, Mayor Bloomberg vows fight

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 05:25 PM PDT

Jimmy Choo you can eat in Hong Kong

HONG KONG, March 11 — Designer Jimmy Choo has teamed up with the luxurious Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong for a fashionably delicious offering.From April, tourists will be able to eat pastries created by ... Read More

Two for tea

By Lydia Koh

KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 ― When asked to suggest a place in KL for high tea outside of hotels, a friend was stumped. Sure, many places serve tea and cakes but a dedicated high tea is something else. If ... Read More

Mushroom omelette for brekkie

By Elaine Ho

KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 ― I cannot stress the importance of having a good nutritious breakfast before starting off your day. Eggs are a good source of natural, high quality protein so it helps keep you ... Read More

One chef, one ingredient: Richard Ekkebus on sea urchin

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 12:34 AM PDT

Jimmy Choo you can eat in Hong Kong

Two for tea

By Lydia Koh

Mushroom omelette for brekkie

By Elaine Ho

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The Malaysian Insider :: Features

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Mariah Carey launches 12th perfume

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 04:03 PM PDT

March 12, 2013

Ad for Mariah Carey's new Dreams fragrance. – AFP picSAN FRANCISCO, March 12 — Pop star Mariah Carey has unveiled her latest scent, Dreams.

With eighteen number one hits and over 200 million records sold around the world, Mariah Carey is one of the music world's most bankable stars.

Her latest scent is a floral fragrance that the Mariah Carey team say is "symbolic of Mariah's lifelong journey."

The scent opens with salted caramel apple and star anise, bergamot and almonds, followed by a heart composed of honeysuckle, freesia and lily of the valley, while the base is built up from patchouli, tonka bean and vanilla.

"The process of developing a fragrance is exhilarating and it takes me to another place within my creative self, which is why I enjoyed creating Mariah Carey Dreams.

"I humbly call myself a 'perfumer in training' because I love it so much—almost as much as I love making music.

"I have the utmost respect for the perfumers because they have the ability to combine a few simple scents into a classic and exciting fragrance," said Carey.

The curvaceous bottle, designed to bring to mind a champagne flute, is decorated with delicate butterflies on the cap. The eau de parfum is available in two sizes: 50 ml for US$49 (RM152) and 30 ml (US$39).

Mariah Carey Dreams retails exclusively online at Kohl's and will go on sale from next month in Kohl's stores.

Mariah's last fragrance, 2009's Forever, was developed with celebrated French perfumier Olivier Gillotin (the nose behind Z Zegna, 10 Corso Como and Beyoncé's Heat).

Carey isn't the only "American Idol" judge with a nose for scent. Last week fellow diva Nicki Minaj revealed new packaging designs for her Pink Friday fragrance featuring her unique style. – AFP-Relaxnews

EU bans sale of all comestics tested on animals

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 09:09 AM PDT

March 12, 2013

No cosmetics which uses animal testing can be sold in the European Union from March 11, 2013. – shutterstock.comBRUSSELS, March 11 – After years of trying, the EU finally put into effect today a complete ban on the sale of cosmetics developed through animal testing.

The EU has progressively clamped down on animal testing since the 1990s and banned most such products in 2009, but it left a few exemptions for several toxicity tests which will now cease.

The ban applies to all products, wherever in the world they come from.

The European Commission has "thoroughly assessed the impacts of the marketing ban and considers that there are overriding reasons to implement it," a statement said.

"This is in line with what many European citizens believe firmly: that the development of cosmetics does not warrant animal testing."

EU Health Commissioner Tonia Borg said Brussels would continue "supporting the development of alternative methods and to engage with third countries to follow our European approach".

Earlier this month, Japanese cosmetics giant Shiseido said it was dropping animal-tested products, with some exceptions where such tests were the only way of proving the safety of goods already on sale.

"Our business partners that supply material to us will not rely on animal testing while we will no longer outsource such testing to outside labs," Shiseido said.

Activists have for years pressured cosmetic firms and other companies that use animal testing to find alternatives to the practice, which they say is cruel and unnecessary.

Shiseido, which dropped animal testing at its own labs in 2011, said it could ensure the safety of its products through other means, including using data from past experiments, human volunteers and other kinds of testing. – AFP/Relaxnews

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The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

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Arsenal experience a lesson for Milan at Nou Camp

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 03:41 PM PDT

March 12, 2013

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri attends a news conference at Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona March 11, 2013. – Reuters pic

BARCELONA, March 12 — AC Milan need only look to last season's Champions League last 16 tie against Arsenal to understand how tough it will be when they visit Barcelona, captain Massimo Ambrosini warned yesterday.

Milan travel to the Nou Camp today with a 2-0 advantage from last month's first leg, when they successfully outmaneuvered Lionel Messi and company at the San Siro.

However, at the same stage last year Milan romped to a 4-0 victory at home to Arsenal only to suffer a nail-biting second leg as Arsene Wenger's team fought back to lead 3-0 by halftime in London, before the Italians held firm in the second half.

"We have a lot to lose," Milan captain Ambrosini told a news conference.

"We are in a good position, but that doesn't guarantee us anything in any game. Last year, after the 4-0 against Arsenal in the first leg they almost dumped us out into the street.

"We have to make the most of the result we have, and last year was an episode that should serve as experience."

Milan also hold the record for the biggest first-leg victory overturned in the Champions League era, losing 4-0 at Deportivo La Coruna in the 2002-2003 quarter-finals, having won 4-1 at home in the first leg.

Coach Massimiliano Allegri was not expecting a repeat performance, but still preferred to play his hand as the underdogs.

"It would not be a disaster to go out at this stage because no one expected us to arrive here with a two-goal advantage," Allegri said.

"Everyone thought it would be an easy ride for Barca. We should forget about the 2-0 in the first leg. Now, two out of three results are good for us."

Allegri predicted a similar game to last month's but said his side would need to play much better this time.

"They will put us under a lot of pressure, but we will need to be as serene as possible. We know we have to try and score a goal and, if possible two, to feel comfortable," he added.

"They are so good at generating chances that when you play against them you have to be very good in defence and much better in attack.

"Your percentage possession is so low that the chances to score are very few.

"With a little luck and playing the way we know how, we can make it through to the quarter-finals." – Reuters

Testing problems no worry for Raikkonen

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 08:44 AM PDT

March 11, 2013

MELBOURNE, March 11 – Kimi Raikkonen shrugged off Lotus's pre-season testing problems today and said his new car felt better than last year's going into Formula One's Australian season-opener.

The Finn, the 2007 world champion with Ferrari and third overall last year in his comeback season, was hopeful that Lotus could be strong right from the start despite a lack of laps in testing.

"We had some problems in testing but we still completed quite a few laps. Of course, you always want more laps, but it is what it is," Raikkonen (picture) said in a team preview for Sunday's race in Melbourne.

"I'm not really concerned about reliability or anything like that as it was the same problem which caused us the biggest problems in testing and we're on top of that now.

"You can never be 100 per cent certain of course, but if you look at last season we had problems before the start of the year then we were pretty good when we got to the races."

Statistics on the official formula1.com website showed Lotus were 11th out of the 11 teams in terms of test distance completed with 3,527 km compared to Sauber's 5,307 km.

Raikkonen, who was unwell for one of the days in Barcelona, was 20th in the individual list of test km covered – with only late signings Jules Bianchi and Adrian Sutil doing less among the race drivers.

The Finn was hampered by telemetry issues on his first day in Barcelona, which hosted the second and third tests after the first in Jerez, and was then sidelined for much of the second day by a gearbox problem.

Raikkonen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November last year and ended the season with seven podium finishes. He won at Melbourne's Albert Park in 2007 and scored the first points of his career there in 2001.

"Hopefully we're fast enough. I don't think there's any area where it feels worse than last year's car; so far everything is better," he said of the new E21.

"We had good speed last year, but not enough to win the championship. That means we need more speed this year. If we can get just a little more from the car and keep our consistency, with some better results at the beginning of the year, then we should have a much better chance."

While champions Red Bull and Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes have been making most of the headlines, Lotus have been burnishing their title credentials.

"They are a good team with quality people and Kimi, now he is back up to full speed, scored points at pretty much every race last year. He could well be a factor this year," Red Bull principal Christian Horner told reporters last week. – Reuters

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The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz

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Bieber cancels one of two Portugal dates

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 03:08 AM PDT

March 11, 2013

Canadian singer-song writer Justin Bieber performs live in concert in London on March 04, 2013. — Reuters picLISBON, March 11 — Canadian teen heartthrob Justin Bieber has cancelled one of two scheduled concerts in Portugal next week, just after completing what he admitted had been a rough week in London, promoters said Saturday.

Within a few days, the 19-year-old pop sensation angered some of his fans for being late on stage, then suffered a health scare and was involved in a foul-mouthed confrontation with a photographer.

Music promoters "Everything is new" said on their website that Bieber cancelled his Lisbon concert tomorrow "due to unforeseen circumstances", but insisted the teen idol was still keen to perform today.

A Portuguese newspaper had said that, while the first date was sold out, ticket sales had been suspended for the second night due to insufficient demand. — AFP/Relaxnews

SXSW film opener sees return of Jim Carrey

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 02:56 AM PDT

March 11, 2013

AUSTIN, March 11 — Rubber-faced comic Jim Carrey returned to the big screen in fan-pleasing form Friday by way of the opening feature of the South by Southwest (SXSW) film festival.

"The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" stars Steve Carrell as a washed-out Las Vegas magician. — AFP pic"The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" stars Steve Carrell as a washed-out Las Vegas magician in ghastly sequined suits whose refusal to change with the times nearly costs him his life-long friendship with stage partner Anton Marvelton, played by Steve Buscemi.

Olivia Wilde appears as the testy duo's trusty assistant, but the real box office draw is Carrey cast as Steve Gray, a long-haired and egotistical street magician whose repetoire of dubious crowd-pleasing tricks includes drilling a hole through his head and snoring obnoxiously on a bed of hot coals.

"The Incredible Burt Wonderstone," which goes on general release later this month, was the maiden big screen outing for director Don Scardino, a two-time Emmy winner whose television credits range from "30 Rock" to "Law and Order."

"It's got tremendous hearth and tremendous smarts," explained Janet Pierson, director of the SXSW film festival that runs in tandem with the 10-day event's interactive segment and prior to its indie music series.

Real-life magician David Copperfield makes a cameo appearance in the film — and also came up with a hangman trick which, according to Carrell, was not faked in a picture that otherwise made discreet use of computer generated imagery.

Fans of Carrey filled the vintage Paramount cinema with hoots of laughter at a movie that, unusally for contemporary male-oriented Hollywood adult comedies, kept tasteless humor to a reasonably bearable minimum.

Scardino missed Friday screening; Carrell — who starred in the US remake of the British sitcom "The Office" — candidly revealed the director was dealing with painful kidney stones.

But cast members were more than happy to stand in for him at a post-screening question period with youthful audience members, one of whom asked Carrey to identify which of his past films was his personal favourite.

"I can't choose between any of my movies," said the Canadian-born funnyman best known for the Ace Ventura pet detective capers, "The Truman Show" and his last film outing, "Mr Popper's Penguins" from two years ago.

"Every one that I do is a great experience at that moment. Right now, my world is on this stage with these guys (fellow cast and crew members) and I'm having a great experience here."

Wilde, who acknowledged that Friday was International Women's Day, warmed to a question from an aspiring female magician on what it was like to work with a male-dominated cast.

"They made be feel very comfortable and happy," replied the Irish-American actress, who went on to praise the recent box office success of women filmmakers such as Kathryn Bigelow, the "Zero Dark Thirty" director.

"As in all industries, all it takes is a few great ladies to pave the way for the rest of us," she said.

This year's lineup of SXSW films includes a Fede Alvaraz remake of Sam Raimi's 1981 horror classic "The Evil Dead," the comedy crime drama "Spring Breakers" starring Vanessa Hudgens and Selena Gomaz as bikini-clad restaurant robbers, and a raft of independent documentaries. — AFP/Relaxnews

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The Malaysian Insider :: Breaking Views

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EU bans sale of all comestics tested on animals

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 09:09 AM PDT

March 12, 2013

The EU has progressively clamped down on animal testing since the 1990s and banned most such products in 2009, but it left a few exemptions for several toxicity tests which will now cease.

The ban applies to all products, wherever in the world they come from.

The European Commission has "thoroughly assessed the impacts of the marketing ban and considers that there are overriding reasons to implement it," a statement said.

"This is in line with what many European citizens believe firmly: that the development of cosmetics does not warrant animal testing."

EU Health Commissioner Tonia Borg said Brussels would continue "supporting the development of alternative methods and to engage with third countries to follow our European approach".

"Our business partners that supply material to us will not rely on animal testing while we will no longer outsource such testing to outside labs," Shiseido said.

Activists have for years pressured cosmetic firms and other companies that use animal testing to find alternatives to the practice, which they say is cruel and unnecessary.

Britain’s queen, convalescing, drops engagement

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 08:54 AM PDT

March 11, 2013

Britain's Queen Elizabeth reads out her Commonwealth Day message at Buckingham Palace in central London in this photograph taken in February and officially released on March 11, 2013. — Reuters picLONDON, March 11 — Britain's Queen Elizabeth cancelled an official engagement today due to illness following her recent hospitalisation with symptoms of gastroenteritis but there is no serious concern about her health, officials said.

"The queen will regrettably no longer attend the Commonwealth observance at Westminster Abbey today as she continues to recover following her recent illness," a Buckingham Palace spokesman said.

The queen, who was discharged from hospital a week ago, is otherwise in good health and was still expected to attend a reception in the evening, the spokesman said. She will also attend some of her official engagements planned later this week.

Last Monday, the 86-year-old British monarch left hospital after three days of treatment for a stomach bug, having been forced to cancel a planned visit to Italy.

It was the first time in 10 years that Elizabeth, who rarely cancels official engagements, had been hospitalised. Despite cutting back on a once hectic timetable of foreign visits, she is still renowned for her stamina in dealing with a busy schedule at home.

However, officials were quoted in British media as saying her current health problems were not serious and there was nothing to worry about.

The queen's popularity with ordinary Britons remains high, boosted in the last two years by celebrations to mark her 60th year on the throne and the wedding of her grandson Prince William to Kate Middleton.

The couple, now known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, are expecting a child in July which is likely to generate another bout of royal fervour across the country.

The queen's 91-year-old husband Prince Philip, who has required hospital treatment himself three times since Christmas 2011, will attend the Commonwealth Day service in place of his wife of 65 years. — Reuters

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The Malaysian Insider :: Books

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The Malaysian Insider :: Books

Bowled over again

Posted: 10 Mar 2013 06:16 PM PDT

World Book Day streaming live talks today

LONDON, March 7 — The UK and Ireland's celebration of World Book Day occurs today with an hour of livestreamed short talks from famous authors such as Liz Pichon ("The Brilliant World of Tom Gates"), ... Read More

A home is more

By Kenny Mah

KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 — "I refer of course to the soaring wonder of the age known as the Eiffel Tower. Never in history has a structure been more technologically advanced, materially obsolescent, and ... Read More

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The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion

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Menjual SJKT

Posted: 10 Mar 2013 06:42 PM PDT

March 11, 2013

Uthaya Sankar SB berkarya dalam Bahasa Malaysia. Beliau adalah presiden Kumpulan Sasterawan Kavyan (Kavyan) dan pemilik tunggal Perunding Media, Motivasi dan Penerbitan Uthaya. Selain menulis, membaca dan bercakap, beliau juga suka menonton filem.

11 MAC — Sewaktu saya menemui Puan Parameswari untuk berbual-bual dengannya, saya tidak menyangka bahawa pelbagai rahsia hitam akan terbongkar.

Tujuan asal saya bertemu dengan wanita berumur 55 tahun itu di Siru Kambam adalah untuk mendapatkan maklumat mengenai Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan (Tamil) Ladang Siru Kambam. Maklumat berkenaan bagi menyiapkan suatu tugasan di kolej.

"SJKT Ladang Siru Kambam ini hampir pupus pada tahun 1996," kata wanita itu yang berpengalaman mengajar di beberapa sekolah Tamil sejak tahun 1985.

Tentu sahaja saya sedikit terkejut dan amat berminat untuk mengetahui apa yang dimaksudkan oleh guru berkenaan. Walaupun tugasan yang diberikan oleh pensyarah hanya membawa 10 markah, saya berminat untuk menimba lebih daripada sekadar markah itu.

"Boleh puan tolong huraikan lebih lanjut?" saya bertanya sambil bersiap-sedia mencatatkan maklumat yang bakal dikongsikannya.

"Kisah ini bermula pada tahun 1996," Parameswari memulakan cerita sambil tangannya menbelek-belek fail tebal berisi pelbagai maklumat berkaitan SJKT dan Bahasa Tamil sejak lebih dua puluh tahun dahulu.

Pertemuan untuk mendapatkan maklumat asas bertukar menjadi sesi pendedahan yang menggemparkan.Menurut cerita wanita yang berasal dari Ipoh itu, pelbagai usaha licik diatur secara penuh bijak dan strategik oleh beberapa pihak dalam usaha memastikan SJKT Ladang Siru Kambam ditutup.

"Mengapa? Bukankah macam-macam perkara sedang dilakukan oleh parti politik, pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) dan pihak sekolah sendiri untuk memastikan SJKT terus kekal di negara ini?" Demikian saya bertanya apabila menyedari wanita itu terdiam dan wajahnya sayu.

"Demikianlah andaian, harapan dan pemahaman masyarakat umum. Akan tetapi, apa yang berlaku dalam realiti adalah sebaliknya. Adik jangan terkejut dengan pendedahan yang bakal saya lakukan. Tapi saya bukan membuat tuduhan atau fitnah. Semua kenyataan saya adalah berdasarkan fakta dan dokumen bertulis," beliau menegaskan seketika kemudian selepas mengesat air mata.

Kisah yang disampaikan oleh guru itu sedikit memeranjatkan dan mungkin sukar dipercayai. Bagaimanapun, beliau menunjukkan pelbagai dokumen dan bukti-bukti berupa surat-surat bagi mengesahkan ceritanya.

Pada tahun 1996, terdapat hanya 36 murid di SJKT Ladang Siru Kambam, Taiping. Jumlah murid yang sedikit itu cuba dijadikan alasan untuk menutup sekolah berkenaan.

Beberapa ibu bapa yang prihatin cuba mengadu kepada Guru Besar tetapi individu terbabit pula tidak menunjukkan minat bagi memastikan sekolah berkenaan terus wujud.

"Tak perlulah kita semua risau. Sekolah Tamil memang tak ada masa depan di negara ini. Kalau sekolah ini ditutup dan anda semua masih mahu menghantar anak-anak ke sekolah Tamil, hantar saja ke SJKT lain. Janganlah cuba melawan arus pembangunan."

Menurut Parameswari, beliau turut terkejut apabila mendengar pandangan yang dikemukakan Guru Besar dalam pertemuan bersama-sama sekumpulan ibu bapa terbabit. Bayangkan apabila seorang Guru Besar SJKT sendiri tidak menunjukkan minat dan kesungguhan mempertahankan sekolah Tamil.

"Saya cuba juga berbincang dengan guru-guru lain. Akan tetapi, mereka turut bersikap pasif. Bagi mereka, tidak menjadi masalah jika SJKT Ladang Siru Kambam ditutup kerana mereka akan dipindahkan ke sekolah lain," Parameswari bercerita sambil saya berusaha membuat catatan.

Tugasan asal saya adalah untuk menulis esei mengenai sejarah sebuah sekolah. Akan tetapi, nampak gayanya, maklumat yang saya peroleh adalah lebih daripada sekadar maklumat biasa. Tambahan, wanita yang saya wawancara mempunyai puluhan fail dan ratusan buku catatan berisi maklumat lengkap berkaitan Bahasa Tamil dan 524 SJKT di seluruh negara.

"Tidak adakah sesiapa yang menghubungi parti politik?" Saya bertanya kerana sering membaca di akhbar Tamil mengenai usaha parti-parti politik tertentu yang khabarnya memperjuangkan Bahasa Tamil, budaya Tamil, sekolah Tamil dan segala yang "Tamil".

Parameswari ketawa lepas sebaik mendengar soalan saya. Kemudian segera membelek-belek sebuah fail dan menunjukkan beberapa foto serta keratan akhbar dan salinan memo bertulis tangan.

Agak memeranjatkan bahawa Pertubuhan Politik India (PPI) cawangan Siru Kambam yang kononnya memperjuangkan nasib sekolah Tamil — dan segala yang "Tamil" — turut terlibat dalam konspirasi licik ini!

"Adik jangan lupa bahawa SJKT Ladang Siru Kambam terletak di lokasi strategik dan nilai tanah itu naik secara mendadak sejak pertengahan 1990-an. Maka, jika sekolah itu berjaya ditutup dan tanah berkenaan dijual, banyak pihak yang akan untung," katanya sambil jari menjentik senarai nama yang dimaksudkan.

Akan tetapi, setahu saya, SJKT Ladang Siru Kambam terletak di bawah tabung amanah Kuil Sivaperuman. Masakan PPI boleh masuk campur dan jawatankuasa kuil yang merupakan kelompok "Tamil/Hindu tegar" akan membiarkan sahaja.

"Lihat foto ini. Adik mungkin tidak kenal wanita yang berdiri penuh mesra dengan Presiden PPI. Dia bukan isteri beliau tetapi kini memiliki harta yang cukup banyak di beberapa lokasi terpilih di Taiping. Dan ini pula pengerusi jawatankuasa kuil yang diamanahkan menjaga SJKT Ladang Siru Kambam."

Saya meneliti foto yang ditunjukkan. Saya lihat juga beberapa dokumen lain yang ditunjukkan sebagai bukti wang bertukar tangan antara pihak terbabit.

Ternyata segala bahan bukti yang berada di depan saya adalah lebih daripada apa yang mampu saya cerna. Agak sukar untuk saya mempercayai bahawa pelbagai pihak sanggup melakukan apa sahaja — termasuk menawarkan wang dan habuan seks — semata-mata untuk memastikan sebuah sekolah Tamil ditutup.

"Puan tidak mengemukakan segala bahan bukti ini kepada sesiapa?" saya bertanya dengan perasaan yang berbaur antara marah, sedih, kecewa dan hairan.

Parameswari memandang saya dengan mata yang tidak berkelip. Mungkin sedang mengenangkan pengalamannya menangani dan memperjuangkan isu ini sejak 1996.

"Terlalu ramai pihak yang terlibat. Masing-masing ada kepentingan dan cuba menutup kes. Termasuk beberapa pensyarah di kolej kamu yang kononnya pejuang Bahasa Tamil. Tetapi merekalah yang mengetuai gerakan memansuhkan SJKT di seluruh negara."

Serta-merta saya berhenti menulis. Pensyarah di Kolej Siru Kambam turut terlibat?

"Siapa?"

Parameswari menunjukkan foto dua pensyarah yang amat saya kenali dan kagumi. – Bersambung

* Uthaya Sankar SB menulis faksyen ini hasil perbualan bersama seorang pengkaji dan penyelidik yang berwibawa.

* Ini adalah pandangan peribadi penulis.

Food for thought

Posted: 10 Mar 2013 04:42 PM PDT

March 11, 2013

Kapil is an advertising strategist based in KL, who likes nothing better than to figure out why people behave the way they do. Naturally this forces him to spend most of his time lounging in coffeeshops and bars. He can be reached at kapilanski@yahoo.com

MARCH 11 — The last few weeks have seen the upping of the political ante with the approach of the general election. But apart from the usual rhetoric from both sides over securing a resounding victory, it has been hard for analysts and laymen alike to predict the outcome. A few events though may give better clues as to which way the wind is blowing.

First, it was the resurrection of the Altantuya episode with Deepak Jaikishan asking for immunity from arrest from a future Pakatan government in exchange for information on the episode. This was followed by the return of the private investigator P. Balasubramaniam from exile in India, also looking to reveal the truth behind the Mongolian episode.

At the same time the RCI hearings into Project IC showed that indeed there was an organised programme to subvert the arduous process of giving citizenship to foreigners into an instant procedure, allegedly in exchange for votes. A number of witnesses came forward to testify to the truth of actions suspected by many for decades.

Additionally the Lahad Datu incursion shone a spotlight into the implications, real and potential, of the unfettered entry of illegals into the country. People who saw them as nothing more than cheap labour or a source of electoral success realised that things were not quite as they seemed. Words like treason and war entered the vocabulary of the news.

The final salvo was fired by the father of the alleged victim of Sodomy II, Saiful Bukhari, who while apologising to Anwar Ibrahim, alleged that the whole case was a conspiracy hatched in the prime minister's department to finish off the opposition leader's career.

In time-honoured tradition, BN chose its usual response of silence over the allegations followed by even more partisan mudslinging in the mainstream media. But what is really interesting is the timing of all these events.

Did the government really believe that witnesses called by the RCI in Sabah, largely BN sympathisers and beneficiaries, would expose the existence of Project IC? Or that Deepak and Bala, silenced for so long, would find their voices again? Or that a father who had believed in his son's story through the intense media spotlight just came to the conclusion that the story was fabricated as part of a political conspiracy?

Why are these people emboldened to the point of incurring the wrath of the powers-that-be or the judicial system now, when they didn't earlier? Perhaps for the first time ever after doing the maths, there is a sense that this might be the year that a new broom is swept into power.

From the infamous Bank Islam economist's prediction to Nomura Economic Research's March 6 prediction of 120-124 seats for BN as a baseline scenario, BN's numbers seem to be dropping as the election comes nearer.

Anwar Ibrahim's recent promises of a smooth transition of power and no retribution if Pakatan comes to power need to be looked at in this light.

People with something to gain or lose with a change of federal government are making up their minds now, and it does not augur well for BN. For the rest of the voters committed to one coalition or the other, these events are unlikely to change their minds.

But for the stereotypical fence sitter burdened with the task of deciding who comes into power, there is suddenly a lot of food for thought. As might be the case for Raja Petra Kamarudin.

* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

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Polis rekod keterangan Tian Chua berhubung insiden Lahad Datu

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 02:31 AM PDT

March 11, 2013

JOHOR BAHRU, 11 Mac — Polis hari ini merekod keterangan Naib Presiden PKR Tian Chua berhubung kenyataannya yang mendakwa insiden pencerobohan pengganas di Lahad Datu, Sabah, sebagai sandiwara Umno.

Ketua Polis Johor Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff berkata keterangan Tian Chua itu direkodkan petang ini di ibu negara oleh sepasukan polis kontinjen Johor bagi membantu siasatan mengenainya.

"Selain Tian Chua, polis hari ini juga merakamkan keterangan dua editor Keadilan Daily dan wartawan dari the New Straits Times Press di ibu negara," katanya kepada pemberita di Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen Johor, di sini.

Mohd Mokhtar berkata polis sehingga semalam menerima 230 laporan dari seluruh negara oleh orang ramai dan badan bukan kerajaan berikutan rasa tidak puas hati mengenai kenyataan Tian Chua.

Beliau berkata laporan pertama diterima polis adalah pada 2 Mac lepas di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Johor Baharu Selatan.

Katanya, siasatan mengikut Seksyen 500 Kanun Keseksaan kerana memfitnah itu sudah merekodkan 153 percakapan sehingga kini dan dijangka diserahkan kepada Timbalan Pendakwa Raya dalam masa terdekat.

Pada 1 Mac lepas, Portal Keadilan Daily, antara lain, memetik Tian Chua sebagai berkata pencerobohan di Lahad Datu hanya sandiwara kerajaan untuk menakut-nakutkan rakyat, seolah-olah wujud suasana tidak aman di Sabah.

"Ada konspirasi oleh kerajaan Umno untuk mengalih pandangan rakyat Sabah, terutama dalam isu pemberian kad pengenalan kepada warga asing," anggota Parlimen Batu itu dilaporkan berkata. — Bernama

Manila, keluarga Kiram bincang ‘pengunduran’ tentera Sulu

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 02:23 AM PDT

Oleh Clara Chooi
Penolong Pengarang Berita
March 11, 2013

Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, yang mendakwa dirinya Sultan Sulu, berdoa bersama keluarga dan penyokongnya di Taguig, Manila 6 Mac 2013. — Gambar ReutersKUALA LUMPUR, 11 Mac — Manila sudah menghidupkan semula perbincangan dengan keluarga Kiram tentang kemungkinan pengunduran tentera Sultan Sulu dari Sabah untuk menghentikan konflik ketenteraan yang panjang dengan Malaysia kata Menteri Kerajaan Tempatan Mar Roxas hari ini.

Pegawai pemerintah mengadakan mesyuarat tertutup dengan adik kepada lelaki yang mendakwa dirinya Sultan Sulu Jamalul Kiran III, Bantilan Esmail Kiram II hari ini untuk membincangkan "pengunduran" tentera "Di Raja".

Menurut ABS-CBN News, Esmail mengatakan keluarga Kiram mungkin mempertimbangkan kemungkinan tersebut akan tetapi mahu mengetahui apa nasib pengikut mereka terlebih dahulu.

"Kami semua sangat bimbang dengan apa yang berlaku di Lahad Datu, Sabah," kata Roxas dipetik dari portal atas talian siaran tersebut.

"Saya memberitahu mereka (keluarga Kiram) mengenai tindakan terkini pemerintah Filipina melalui rundingan DFA (Jabatan Luar Negara) dengan Malaysia untuk mempertahankan mereka yang tidak bersalah," tambah beliau.

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