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Cuba’s private eateries to compete in culinary festival Posted: 10 Jun 2013 04:56 PM PDT Reliving a childhood taste memory By Elaine Ho KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 — My first encounter with this moist, perfectly structured cake was back in the days when I used to go Hari Raya visiting with my parents.I wasn't interested in the other food served ... Read More

Sushi restaurant launches flying delivery service for diners Posted: 10 Jun 2013 04:24 PM PDT Reliving a childhood taste memory By Elaine Ho KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 — My first encounter with this moist, perfectly structured cake was back in the days when I used to go Hari Raya visiting with my parents.I wasn't interested in the other food served ... Read More

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FIA tribunal to hear Mercedes, Pirelli on June 20 Posted: 10 Jun 2013 08:42 AM PDT June 10, 2013 LONDON, June 10 — Mercedes and Formula One tyre supplier Pirelli will appear before an international tribunal in Paris on June 20 to answer charges of breaking the rules by testing in Spain last month, the sport's governing body said today. The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement that a notification of charges against both parties had been sent to the president of the tribunal. "Pirelli and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team have been convened by the President of the International Tribunal to appear before a judging panel of the International Tribunal," it added. The verdict will be published 'as soon as possible' after the hearing. Mercedes, who finished third in Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix with 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton (picture), risk stiff sanctions ranging from a fine to points deduction or even exclusion if found guilty. The rules bar teams from testing during the season with a current car. Champions Red Bull and Ferrari, the sport's most successful team, made formal protests at last month's Monaco Grand Prix when news of the test leaked out. Mercedes used their 2013 car at the 'secret' test in Barcelona, which came just before Germany's Nico Rosberg won in Monaco for the team, but have said the move was approved by the governing body. They have also argued that the test was private and not secret, run and organised by Pirelli - who are sole providers rather than 'competitors' in the championship and therefore not subject to the ban that applies to teams. Mercedes said last week that they welcomed the chance to present their case to the tribunal and would explain the full facts in "an open and transparent manner". — Reuters

Turkey unrest triggers concern for Olympic Games Posted: 10 Jun 2013 06:32 AM PDT June 10, 2013 Anti-government protesters demonstrate in central Ankara June 9, 2013. — Reuters picBERLIN, June 10 — Violent protests across several major Turkish cities since the end of May have raised concerns for the safety of the upcoming Mediterranean Games in the country's coastal city of Mersin. In a letter obtained by Reuters and addressed to 2013 Mediterranean Games organisers, the International Committee of Mediterranean Games (ICMG) is asking for security assurances and more information regarding the on-going demonstrations. "I am writing to express, on behalf of my colleagues, our great concern and sympathy for the unfortunate events that have occurred in Turkey," ICMG secretary general Isidoros Kouvelos said in the letter addressed to Ugur Erdener, head of Turkey's Olympic Committee and to Mersin Mediterranean Games organisers. "As you understand, all the Mediterranean family finds this situation quite worrying, especially as the Opening of the Games of Mersin will be in a few days," he said in the letter dated June 6. Mersin will host the international multi-sports event between June 20-30, stepping in less than two years ago after the Greek city of Volos, whose bid was led by Kouvelos, had to hand the Games back due to the country's fiscal woes. The Mediterranean Games organisers said all measures had been taken for safe competitions this month with Erdogan inaugurating new venues on Sunday. "The Mersin 2013 local organising committee and the National Olympic Committee of Turkey can confirm that the Mediterranean Games is unaffected by the largely peaceful protests that have taken place in the Adana-Mersin area, after an exhaustive review of the current situation with leading experts found that there is no elevated risk to the event participants," organisers said in a statement. "Turkey has an excellent safety and security record when it comes to major sporting events over the last decade, and athletes, officials and fans can be confident of experiencing those same high standards." Istanbul, bidding to host the 2020 Olympics, has witnessed tens of thousands of people flooding the central Taksim Square, where protests began nine days ago. The demonstrations have spread to several major cities, including the capital Ankara, with under-fire Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan warning that his patience was running out. Western countries have held up Erdogan's Turkey as an example of an Islamic democracy that could be emulated elsewhere in the Middle East but violent police action has drawn sharp criticism. "In order to reassure the Mediterranean family, I think it would be useful if you could give to ICMG and all Mediterranean NOCs (national Olympic committees) more precise information about the situation in the area Adana-Mersin and also the assurance that all the necessary measures have been taken in order to ensure the safety of the Games," the ICMG said. The Olympics-style event is held once every four years, with some 24 countries from the Mediterranean basin competing in 27 sports including athletics, swimming, gymnastics, football and basketball. — Reuters

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European Union drops limits on pet movements Posted: 10 Jun 2013 06:44 AM PDT June 10, 2013 It is now possible to get your dogsled team through the borders of EU member countries. The European Union on June 10, 2013 removed a limit of five pets per person crossing a border – if owners can prove their animals will take part in a competition, exhibition, or sporting event. – Reuters picBRUSSELS, June 10 – Having a hard time getting your dogsled team through the border? European Union lawmakers aim to help. EU member countries broadened a law governing the movement of pets today, removing a limit of five pets per person crossing a border – if owners can prove their animals will take part in a competition, exhibition, or sporting event. The legislation adds to the European Union's "pet passport" scheme, where Fido, Whiskers, or even a favoured ferret can move freely through the 27-member bloc if it has microchip identification and has been vaccinated against rabies. Pet-lover and member of the European Parliament Chris Davies, who helped draft the new law, said it showed the EU could ease burdens on citizens, instead of adding to them. Just 10 years ago it was not easy take a dog on a family car holiday. "The great thing about this piece of legislation is it just confirms that the legislation produced a decade ago has worked very successfully," he said. "There has been no increase in rabies or apparent risk of increase (of human infection)." The five-pet limit was imposed to prevent unrestricted cross-border trade by puppy farmers. But Davies said the relaxed rules offered owners the chance to take pets abroad to compete or for "sexual liaisons", while keeping oversight to prevent abuse. "We have freedom of movement and freedom of capital and all that sort of stuff. We also have freedom of pet movement," he said before adding, "as well as human movement". The travel documents must be issued by an authorised veterinarian and should also specify a pet's health status. Davies said he had not himself had the chance to try the pet-passport rules. "I've got a couple of cats, and they've shown no inclination to travel as of yet." – Reuters

Most women say high heels start to hurt after an hour Posted: 10 Jun 2013 04:37 AM PDT June 10, 2013 Ninety per cent of women surveyed said that they have experienced foot problems. – coka/shutterstock.comLONDON, June 10 – If you've ever suffered foot problems from wearing a gorgeous pair of heels, you're certainly in good company. Most women report that high heels start to hurt after one hour and six minutes, while 20 per cent say that they can feel the pain after just 10 minutes. In a new British survey of 2,000 men and women and 60 podiatrists conducted by The College of Podiatry, about half of women said that they suffered foot problems after wearing uncomfortable shoes. More than 40 per cent of women said that they'll suffer for the sake of fashion, while only 12 per cent of men said that they'd do the same. When the pain gets too much, one in four women said that they have resorted to dancing barefoot in a nightclub or bar, while a third of women said that they have walked home barefoot due to throbbing feet. Women in the survey on average said that they own 17 pairs of shoes, while men said that they own eight. The younger the woman, the higher the heels, with 20 per cent of women aged 18-24 owning a pair of six-inch high heeled shoes compared to 10 per cent of those aged 25-42. Perhaps it's no surprise but women were also found to have more foot ailments than men, with 90 per cent saying that they have experienced problems, ranging from blisters to muscular problems. Twenty per cent of women said that there were "embarrassed" by their feet, with another 12 per cent so ashamed that they always covered them up. "Feet are one of the hardest working parts of the body and in a lifetime you will walk in excess of 150,000 miles," said Lorraine Jones, podiatrist from The College of Podiatry. "As a result of general wear and tear, most of us will suffer with some sort of foot complaint at some point in our lives, but we are seeing a lot of cases which could have been prevented – particularly amongst women." "We all like to look good but it's important to take a common sense approach to footwear," she added. "High heels and flip flops are fine to wear occasionally but not all the time. For day to day wear you should opt for a well-fitting round toed shoe with a heel height of around three centimeters." – AFP/Relaxnews

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Robin Thicke holds onto UK singles number one spot Posted: 10 Jun 2013 08:05 AM PDT June 10, 2013 American R&B singer Robin Thicke. — AFP picLONDON, June 10 — American R&B singer Robin Thicke held onto the number one spot in the British singles charts for a second week with "Blurred Lines", notching up the biggest one-week sale of the year, the Official Charts Company said yesterday. The song, which features hip hop artists T.I. and Pharrell Williams, sold nearly 200,000 copies during its second week on sale, keeping British rapper Naughty Boy's dance track "La La La", featuring London singer Sam Smith, at number two. The Official Charts Company said Thicke's success was part of a trend that had seen sales of number one singles go "through the roof" in the last two months selling an average of 150,000 copies a week, compared to 106,000 last year. In the albums chart, British electronica duo Disclosure snatched the number one spot with their debut album Settle, beating off stiff competition from the Queens of the Stone Age. "We're absolutely delighted with the result. Proudest moment of our lives. We want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has bought the record," Disclosure's Guy and Howard Lawrence told the Official Charts Company. Disclosure's success meant French electronic music duo Daft Punk were knocked off the top spot with "Random Access Memories" and pushed into third place. Veteran Rod Stewart was duly pushed into number four with "Time". — Reuters

Artist uses toilet humour to protest Cyprus bailout Posted: 10 Jun 2013 07:39 AM PDT June 10, 2013 Mock toilets are placed outside the island's central bank in the capital Nicosia June 10, 2013. — Reuters picNICOSIA, June 10 — A Cypriot artist found a novel way to protest over Cyprus's financial meltdown today, lining up 20 sculptures resembling a cross between toilets and tombstones outside the island's Central Bank. Arranged in two rows on a pavement outside the building, the white "toilets" made of concrete and plaster caused traffic to slow down along a busy Nicosia avenue, with many drivers honking their horns in approval. From the rear, the "toilets" looked like headstones. "I felt the need to protest the situation my country is in ... and I think the choice of toilets has a pretty clear symbolism to everyone," artist Andreas Efstathiou told Reuters. Cyprus was forced to close a major bank and seize savings at a second in March to salvage the island's banking sector and secure 10 billion euros (RM41.3 billion) in aid from international lenders. Thousands of people lost their life savings. Efstathiou, who has been working on the design for two months, said that although Cyprus's recent financial woes were partly down to mistakes made by commercial banks, he chose the independent central bank for its symbolic value. Central bank spokeswoman Aliki Stylianou said artists were free to express themselves, but declined to comment on the specific choice made by Efstathiou. — Reuters

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Long-lost diary of Hitler’s aide found Posted: 09 Jun 2013 11:51 PM PDT British author Tom Sharpe dies aged 85 LONDON, June 6 – British comic novelist Tom Sharpe, known for his "Wilt" series about a harassed and hen-pecked university lecturer, has died aged 85, his publisher said today.The London-born author, ... Read More

Scottish author Iain Banks dies Posted: 09 Jun 2013 04:25 PM PDT British author Tom Sharpe dies aged 85 LONDON, June 6 – British comic novelist Tom Sharpe, known for his "Wilt" series about a harassed and hen-pecked university lecturer, has died aged 85, his publisher said today.The London-born author, ... Read More

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KKLW tubuh jawatankuasa khas pembangunan luar bandar, Shafie sokong Akta Derhaka Posted: 10 Jun 2013 02:19 AM PDT June 10, 2013 PUTRAJAYA, 10 Jun — Kementerian Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah (KKLW) menubuhkan sebuah jawatankuasa khas baru-baru ini khusus untuk menyelaras program pembangunan luar bandar. Menteri berkenaan Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (gambar) berkata selain pembangunan fizikal, jawatankuasa yang ditubuh dengan kerjasama beberapa kementerian lain itu juga bertanggungjawab menyelaras program yang berkaitan dengan penyediaan peluang pekerjaan dan perniagaan. "Sebagai contoh, Kementerian Belia dan Sukan boleh membantu KKLW dengan memberi maklumat lengkap mengenai jumlah belia di kawasan luar bandar tertentu dan kami boleh menyediakan peruntukan serta prasarana untuk golongan itu," katanya. Beliau berkata kerjasama dengan Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani pula akan dapat memperkasa usaha membangunkan modal insan di kalangan golongan lepasan sekolah dan belia di luar bandar, menerusi penyediaan pelbagai peluang perniagaan buat mereka. Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Seminar Transformasi Desa Kepada Penghulu-Penghulu Semenanjung Malaysia di Institut Kemajuan Desa (Infra), Bangi dekat sini hari ini.  Seramai 500 penghulu dari seluruh negara menyertai seminar itu yang dijalankan dalam bentuk perbincangan panel, perbincangan kumpulan dan pembentangan kertas kerja mengenai cadangan pemerkasaan institusi Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung (JKKK) dan Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung Persekutuan (JKKKP). Sementara itu Shafie yang juga Naib Presiden Umno berkata beliau menyambut baik cadangan untuk memperkenalkan undang-undang khas bagi kesalahan menderhaka kepada raja, dan berpendapat ia bertujuan mempertahankan kedaulatan institusi diraja negara. Beliau berkata kajian menyeluruh harus dilakukan dalam penggubalan akta itu, yang dilihat sesuai untuk menghalang pihak atau individu tertentu daripada menderhaka kepada raja, sama ada dalam bentuk ucapan, sindiran, grafik dan sebagainya. Beliau berkata demikian bagi mengulas cadangan bekas Hakim Mahkamah Rayuan Datuk Mohd Noor Abdullah untuk mewujudkan satu undang-undang khas terhadap kesalahan menderhaka kepada raja. — Bernama

Dunia belum kehabisan minyak dan gas, kata CEO Petronas Posted: 10 Jun 2013 02:17 AM PDT June 10, 2013 KUALA LUMPUR, 10 Jun — Dunia belum kehabisan minyak dan gas walaupun telah berpuluh tahun aktiviti penggerudian dan pengeluaran minyak dijalankan, kata Presiden dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) Kumpulan Tan Sri Shamsul Azhar Abbas (gambar). Jika peserta industri melihat luar Asia dalam skala global, bekalan masih banyak untuk dikeluarkan, dan dunia masih membuat pencarian konvensional, katanya dalam ucapan keadaan industri di Persidangan Minyak dan Gas Asia ke-17 di sini hari ini. "Berikutan penemuan baharu, perkembangan teknologi dan pengalaman operasi, secara teknikalnya, sumber yang boleh diperoleh dianggarkan mencukupi untuk selama dua abad pada penggunaan semasa," katanya. Menurut Agensi Tenaga Antarabangsa, rizab dunia telah meningkat sejak 1990 di sebalik pertumbuhan pada penggunaan, dan setakat 2011, anggaran adalah kira-kira 1.5 trilion tong dengan 5.9 trilion tong lagi sumber boleh diperoleh yang masih belum ditemui, tambah beliau. Shamsul Azhar berkata Iraq mempunyai rizab minyak terbukti kelima terbesar dunia pada 143 bilion tong. Bagaimanapun, memandangkan tenaga adalah penyumbang utama kemakmuran ekonomi, pergantungan ke atas tenaga jangka pendek meningkatkan risiko gangguan bekalan dan pergolakan harga, kata beliau. Katanya, pelbagai pelaburan huluan di blok penggerudian dan pembinaan jaringan paip baharu dan terminal regasifikasi menunjukkan strategi keselamatan tenaga. "Serupa juga dengan PETRONAS, kami memulakan pencarian dan strategi pengeluaran agresif, mencuba pelbagai cara baharu, perairan yang lebih dalam dan lapangan yang lebih kompleks," katanya sambil menambah untuk memastikan keselamatan tenaga, peserta industri perlu diberikan kebebasan untuk menentukan keberuntungan komersil pasaran sendiri. "Dengan itu, peserta industri mempunyai fleksibiliti untuk menguruskan risiko mereka sendiri, berusaha untuk memberikan bekalan dan memenuhi permintaan pada harga yang ditentukan pasaran," kata Shamsul Azhar. Beliau juga menyeru semua syarikat minyak, penyedia perkhidmatan dan pembuat dasar bekerjasama untuk mencipta penyelesaian yang menggalakkan penggunaan teknologi dan menarik kecemerlangan operasi. "Industri kita harus berterusan mencari wadah untuk beroperasi dengan bertanggungjawab dan mesra alam," katanya. — Bernama

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Makkah: Segalanya bermula di sini Posted: 09 Jun 2013 11:42 PM PDT June 10, 2013 Mujahid Yusof Rawa is MP for Parit Buntar and PAS National Unity Committee chairman. 10 JUN — Makkah dan Madinah tidak dapat dipisahkan, jikalau Madinah adalah tempat berhijrah Nabi maka Makkah adalah tempat bermulanya dakwah. Kedua-duanya mempunya tabiat mukabumi yang berbeza dan sekaligus mempengaruhi tabiat penduduknya, Madinah terkenal dengan sifat ramah dan lembutnya kerana mukabuminya yang lebih subur dan dipenuhi dengan telaga-telaga yang menyejukkan mukabuminya. Makkah pula terdiri dari bukit-bukau batu yang kering kontang dan permukaanya yang berbukit menjadikan hidup penduduknya sukar. Hanya telaga zam-zam yang menghidupkan kota padang pasir ini dan demikianlah sejarah Nabi Ibrahim telah membuktikan kehebatan Makkah. Saya kini berada di lembah yang kering kontang ini seperti yang disebut dalam sejarah. KAABAH ADALAH MAKKAH Sejarah juga telah membuktikan Kaabah sebagai perhatian utama Makkah. Tanpa Kaabah tidaknada Makkah yang menjadi tumpuan. Ia adalah bangunan pertama atas mukabumi ini bagi menandakan pemusatan seluruh alam sebagai tanda kebesaran Allah. Ia tidak disembah tetapi sebagai pusat tanda supaya manusia tertumpu kepadanya untuk menyembah Allah, Pencipta Alam Semesta. Sejarah Kaabah adalah panjang merentasi semua kisah para Anbiya dari Adam, Ibrahim, Ismail dan akhirnya Muhammad s.a.w. Malah hikmah kedatangan Nabi yang dibangkitkan di Makkah adalah simbol penyatuan jalur para Anbiya ditemukan melalui Ibrahim a.s melalui Nabi Ismail dan Nabi Ishak menandai kesatuan Risalah Tauhid dari Ahlul Kitab sebelumnya. Saya terasa kagum berada di pusat penyatuan risalah para anbiya dan Kaabah berdiri megah menjadi saksi kepada sejarah agung ini. MASJID DAN TANAH HARAM Dengan semua penghayatan sejarah ini, Masjidil Haram telah meyimpulkannya dan justeru itu saat pandangan pertama kepad Kaabah akan pasti menyentuh kalbu siapa yang memandangnya. Ia kekal di situ berhadapan dengan cabaran zaman dan pertukaran masa dan sejak itu tidak ada saat ia tidak diagungkan dengan berjuta manusia  bertawaf dan beriktikaf di dalamnya semenjak manusia mengenalinya. Walaupun dalam sesuatu zaman ia dicemari dengan berhala yang digantung di sekelilingya, Kaabah tetap dihormati malah tanah haram sekelilingya dipelihara dari pertumpahan darah yang boleh mencemarinya. Dengan itu Makkah mendapat nama tanah haram, iaitu haram bagi pengunjungnya menumpahkan darah manusia mahupun binatang. Di atas nama ini ia dianggap suci dan diagungkan kerana mengikuti perintah Allah supaya ia di sucikan untuk para pengunjung yang mempunyai niat suci menyembah Allah di dalamnya. MAKKAH ERA KINI Seseorang akan terbayang Makkah adalah bandar suci yang kekal dengan cara hidup lama dengan bangunan yang lama. Jawapannya adalah Makkah memiliki status bandar moden tetapi mengekalkan sejarahnya melalui pemeliharaan Masjidil Haram. Adalah mudah untuk seseorang menikmati gaya hidup modern di celah bandar suci ini. Jam terbesar dan tertinggi disaluti emas di hadapan pintu masuk King Abdul Aziz menjadi bukti kemewahan Makkah. Bangunan wakaf King Abdul Aziz adalah satu bangunan berbagai dari hotel, kompleks beli-belah dan gerai-gerai kecil ala bazar. Bangunan Safwah bersebelahannya juga hebat dengan berbagai keperluan modern untuk dinikmati oleh para pengunjung. Makanan dunia terdapat di mana-mana di Makkah, bolehlah dikatakan Makkah adalah adalah Bandaraya Antarabangsa terhebat di dunia. Tetapi tidak ada yang dapat dibandingkan dengan aura Kaabah dan bersolat di masjidil haram. LABAIKALLAHUMMA LABAIKA Berpakaian ihram serba putih tanpa sebarang alat yang berjahit sememangnya membuatkan kita tiada memiliki apa-apa, ia mengingatkan kita semasa kita dilahirkan hanya dibalut kain. Berihram sendiri telah mengeluarkan segala kesombongan kita selama ini dan kita lakukannya semua kerana Allah. Pada suhu yang mencecah 30'C hanya Allah sahaja tempat kita memohon perlindungan semasa menyempurnakan tugas umrah. Saya mengajar anak-anak saya talbiyah beberapa kali semasa van kami memasuki Makkah, sambil mata saya mencuri melihat bangunan jam besar yang boleh dilihat dari setiap sudut kita memasuki Makkah. Namun tumpuan utama ialah untuk melakukan ibadat umrah di mana kami akan bertawaf, bersaie setelah berihram di Zulhulaifah. Kami dipandu oleh mutawwif dari Patani bernama Ustaz Lotfi seoarang pelajar di sini. Semasa kami mendekati pintu besar King Abdul Aziz, saya sekali lagi mengingatkan anak-anak saya supaya benar-benar mengikhlaskan diri dengan penuh sifat kehambaan apabila memasuki Masjidil Haram. Sebaik sahaja Kaabah mula menunjukkan dirinya semua kami terpegun sambil berdoa supaya Allah memelihara Kaabah dan menambahkan padanya penghormatan dan kehebatan. Selesai urusan umrah kami kembali ke hotel keletihan sambil mengharapakan dapat menjalankan solat subuh berjemaah di masjid. MEMBINA KEKUATAN Saya amat memahami selama ini bahawa kekuatan hakiki ialah kekuatan dalaman yang memberikan bekalan untuk setiap manusia melalui perjalanan di dunia yang fana ini. Ujian terlalu besar, ombaknya ganas, perhentiannya entah di mana, jadi hanya keyakinan pada Allah dan kekuatan diri menjadi teman ketika semua manusia tidak akan memberikan apa -apa faedah untuk kita. Perjalanan umrah kali ini cukup bermakna untuk saya mencari erti kekuatan dan ketenangan jiwa. Semasa saya bersendirian di tempat saie bahagian Bukit Safa, saya merasai ketenangan itu, walaupun beribu manusia dengan suara zikir yang tinggi lalu lalang di hadapan saya, saya seolah berada sendirian,mengenangkan perjuangan Nabi Ibrahim dan isterinya Hajar bersama anaknya Ismail yang masih bayi meronta-ronta dahaga dan kelaparan. Siti Hajar berlari-lari dari Safa ke bukit Marwa sekitar 1 km pergi balik mendapatkan pertolongan suaminya Ibrahim yang meninggalkannnya kerana perintah Allah. Namun kehendak Allah menentukan sejarah zam-zam bermula di sini apabila berbuak dari bawah tanah air zam-zam yang masih dinikmati hingga saat ini oleh berjuta kaum muslimin yang datang ke Makkah. Saya tidak mengendahkan hiruk pikuk orang ramai yang bersaie, waktu itu adalah waktu saya mengimbau dalam ketenangan waktu saya dan apabila saya sedar membuka mata, bibir saya spontan menyebut ALLAHU AKBAR, segalanya bermula di sini... * Ini adalah pandangan peribadi penulis.

Motokar terpilih saja turn harga Posted: 09 Jun 2013 05:00 PM PDT June 10, 2013 Haji Subky Abdul Latif seorang penulis bebas dan tinggal di Kuala Lumpur. Seorang pendiam, dia gemar meneliti perangai manusia dan berita politik di Malaysia. 10 JUN — Jika ditakdirkan Pakatan Rakyat memenangi PRU13 pada 5 Mei lalu, tentu kita sudah tahu bila semua motokar akan turun harga dan berapa angaran harga kereta pilihan masing-masing. Kita tahu tidaklah hari ini menang, esok harga motokar itu akan turun seperti yang Pakatan Rakyat janjikan tentang harga minyak. Tetapi ia sudah boleh beritahu bila cukai eksais itu akan dibatalkan dan bila mula motokar murah itu boleh dibeli. Tentulah tidak berbangkit lagi cukai itu akan dimansuhkan apabila Putrajaya tidak dapat diambil. Kita boleh lupakan ia sekurang-kurangnya hingga PRU14 nanti. Harga itu tetap berbangkit apabila BN yang tidak mahu menggunakan panggilan manifesto ke atas janji pilihan rayanya, bahkan memanggilnya akujanji, meniru semangat manifesto Pakatan untuk memurahkan secara umum motokar yang baru dibeli. Tidak dijanjikannya cukai eksais akan dihapuskan, tetapi harga baru itu akan dikurangkan antara 20 hingga 30 peratus. Sekarang ia menang semula. Orang yang menangguh untuk membeli motokar baru menjelang pilihan raya dulu tidak sanggup menunggu lagi. Ada yang melupakannya membelinya dengan harga pasaran yang ada. Perkhabaran awal dari kerajaan, banyak yang perlu dibuat sebelum harga baru itu ditentukan. Ada logiknya kerana sebelumnya ia tidak ada perancangan itu. Ia hendak diturunkan kerana manifesto menjanjikan cukai eksais akan dibatalkan. Secara automatik harga itu akan turun, cuma  menunggu masa saja. Tidak banyak yang Pakatan perlu tunggu, Cuma tentukan masa bila ia dimulakan. BN belum ada dasar mengenainya. Maka terpaksalah menunggu masa. Ia baru hendak membuat dasar. Akhbar pula mengeluarkan senarai harga beberapa jenis motokar di negara-negara ASEAN. Tanpa memaklumkan negara-negara itu ada cukai eksais atau tidak, harga motokar di Thailand, Filipina dan Indonesia lebih murah. Lepas itu ada pula maklumat terbaru, tidak semua motokar boleh diturunkan harganya. Motokar tertentu saja akan diturunkan. Bila motokar terpilih itu akan diturunkan? Mungkin tidak dalam waktu yang terdekat? Jangan sampai menjelang PRU14 baru ia turun. Masa itu Pakatan akan memberi banyak maklumat tentang harga baru untuk perbandingan, kerana manifesto barunya akan meneruskan cadangan membatalkan cukai eksais. Saya terkilan motokar yang saya ingin belum tentu dapat dibeli dengan harga yang murah, kerana ia mungkin tak termasuk dalam senarai motokar terilih yang boleh diturunkan harganya. Jika PR menang dulu, sudah tentu apa jua jenis motokar yang hendak, harganya tentulah lebih murah. Bukan sikit-sikit murah. Tetapi benar-benar murah. * Ini adalah pandangan peribadi penulis.

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