Selasa, 6 Ogos 2013

The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

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The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

Spurs director says they cannot force Bale to stay

Posted: 06 Aug 2013 08:05 AM PDT

August 06, 2013

Tottenham Hotspur director Keith Mills says the Premier League club cannot force Gareth Bale (pic) to stay if the player decides he wants to leave for Real Madrid.

"If a player is desperate to leave, it's very difficult to force him to stay," Mills said.

"We've seen it in other clubs," he told London's Evening Standard newspaper today. "Even if he has a contract, you can't force somebody to play for you."

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said last week that the La Liga club were in talks with Spurs to buy Bale, with speculation mounting that the 24-year-old, voted English Footballer of the Year last season, wants to move for a world-record fee.

Bale is still under contract at the north London club, where chairman Daniel Levy is renowned as a tough negotiator as Madrid discovered when buying Croatian midfielder Luka Modric from Spurs last year.

Spurs have strengthened their squad for the coming season with the addition of Brazil midfielder Paulinho from Corinthians, in a deal worth £17 million (RM84.54 million), and Belgium winger Nacer Chadli from Dutch side Twente Enschede for a fee that media reports said was in the region of £7 million.

Yesterday, they confirmed the club-record transfer of Valencia striker Roberto Soldado for €30 million (RM128.84 million).

The club missed out on Champions League qualification by one point last season and Mills said the new arrivals had brought the club hope that they could reach Europe's premier club competition for the second time.

The loss of Bale, however, even for a fee reported to be in excess of £85 million, would be a blow for their ambitions given the Welshman's outstanding performance last season. – Reuters, August 6, 2013.

Despite doping ban, A-Rod makes MLB season debut for the Yankees

Posted: 05 Aug 2013 10:26 PM PDT

August 06, 2013
Latest Update: August 06, 2013 02:13 pm

New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez leaves a news conference in Chicago, August 5, 2013. Rodriguez, baseball's highest-paid player and one of the sport's greatest hitters, was suspended for a record 211 games for doping. Reuters pic, August 6, 2013.Superstar slugger Alex Rodriguez, vowing to fight a 211-game doping ban, made a controversial season debut for the New York Yankees yesterday.

Rodriguez took the field against the Chicago White Sox just hours after Major League Baseball handed down sweeping sanctions in the latest drugs scandal to hit the game.

Rodriguez was banned through the end of the 2014 season. His punishment is due to start on Thursday, but he will be able to play during his promised appeal.

Meeting the media prior to the game, Rodriguez refused to answer a point-blank question as to whether MLB was accurate in charging that he used performance-enhancing drugs, including testosterone and human growth hormone.

"We'll have a forum to discuss all of that and we'll talk about it then," Rodriguez said, referring to the appeal.

"I don't know what the motivation is for any of this. But I'm going to respect the process."

A dozen other players accepted 50-game suspensions over their links to the Biogenesis anti-aging clinic in Florida.

MLB's announcement of the bans ended weeks of speculation over the fate of Rodriguez, a three-time American League Most Valuable Player who baseball officials say not only used banned drugs "over the course of multiple years" but also acted to "obstruct and frustrate" their Biogenesis probe.

Rodriguez, now recovered from hip surgery and a quadriceps injury, saw his first major league action since last year's playoffs.

He singled in his first at-bat -- greeted by a chorus of boos -- and finished 1-for-4 at the plate as the White Sox ripped the Yankees 8-1.

"I thought he looked OK," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "That's about all I can say."

While the suspension meted out to Rodriguez isn't as devastating as the lifetime ban MLB reportedly considered, it could be a career-ender for a 38-year-old player.

"I've had two hip surgeries. I've had two knee surgeries. I'm fighting for my life," said Rodriguez, who called the last seven months clouded by injury and doping accusations "a nightmare" and the worst time of his life.

"I have to defend myself," he said. "If I don't defend myself, no one else will."

His appeal could hinge on whether MLB Commissioner Bud Selig exceeded his authority with a 211-game ban, when baseball's anti-doping policy calls for a 50-game suspension for a first steroid offense and 100 games for a second.

Rodriguez admitted in 2009 to using steroids while playing for the Texas Rangers between 2001 and 2003, but that was before baseball's current anti-doping rules were in place.

This latest scandal further taints his achievements on the field, including a 2009 World Series title with the Yankees and 647 career home runs that put him fifth on Major League Baseball's all-time career list.

Selig said the outcome of the Biogenesis investigation was proof of the effectiveness of baseball's anti-doping policies, which have been toughened in recent years after complaints from US lawmakers.

The sweeping suspensions are based on evidence gathered in the investigation rather than on positive drug tests - so-called non-analytical positives.

They are the most comprehensive doping sanctions imposed by a sport that has long struggled to get to grips with the issue.

Several stars have admitted to doping, and such icons as US home run king Barry Bonds and pitching legend Roger Clemens escaped doping charges in court cases only after their legacies were tainted.

"As a social institution with enormous social responsibilities, baseball must do everything it can to maintain integrity, fairness and a level playing field," Selig said.

"We are committed to working together with players to reiterate that performance-enhancing drugs will not be tolerated in our game." - August 6, 2013.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Features

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Washington Post: the US capital’s powerful paper

Posted: 06 Aug 2013 03:59 AM PDT

August 06, 2013

The Washington Post's office in Washington. - Reuterspic, August 6, 2013.The Washington Post has a storied history as the house newspaper of the US political elite, and its journalists reported some of the 20th century's biggest scoops, including the Watergate scandal.

More recently, the paper was one of two international news organisations approached by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden when he wanted to leak details of a vast US surveillance programmes.

But, like many papers, the Post has struggled to adapt to the evolving media landscape as more readers find their news online and has faced sharply declining revenues.

Nevertheless, many were astounded by Monday's announcement that the newspaper arms of the company, owned and run by the Meyer-Graham family since 1933, are to be sold to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

"This is a day that my family and I never expected to come," publisher and Post CEO Katharine Weymouth wrote in a letter to readers.

Her uncle Don Graham, head of the overall Washington Post company, wrote in a separate letter that the clan had been "proud to know since we were very little that we were part of the family that owned The Washington Post."

The paper is perhaps best known for the investigative series in the early 1970s written by then-unknowns Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein about a break-in at the Democratic National Convention headquarters.

The building was the Watergate Hotel, which bequeathed its name to the resulting scandal which forced the resignation of president Richard Nixon, among other top figures.

Woodward and Bernstein both won Pulitzers for their reporting, based largely on tips from anonymous sources, which showed that officials at the highest levels in the FBI, the Justice Department, the CIA and the White House were involved in the break-in and attempts to cover it up.

This journalistic coup came under the watch of legendary publisher Katharine Graham, who led the company for three decades starting in 1963.

Graham, daughter of Eugene Meyer, who bought the Washington Post in 1933 at a bankruptcy auction, took over after her husband committed suicide – at a time when women rarely held top business posts.

She garnered massive respect for her stewardship of the newspaper. Among other successes, she took the company public in 1971 and, by the time she stepped down, the stock had increased by more than 30 times its original price.

The paper's investigative reporting has continued to leave a mark, including a recent investigation of the Walter Reed military hospital that prompted a review of the treatment of wounded veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The paper has won 47 Pulitzer prizes, including six in 2008 alone.

But its reputation took a blow in 2009, when it became known that Weymouth and executive editor Marcus Brauchli were planning to sell off-the-record access to their reporters as well as officials, analysts, and executives, at high priced "salons" at Weymouth's house.

The idea to raise money for the paper prompted accusations of hypocrisy and the company quickly apologized and shuttered the plan.

The incident did nevertheless underline the Post's ongoing financial difficulties – the newspaper posted an operating loss of US$53.7 million (RM174.31 million) last year – which in turn set the stage for Bezos' surprise takeover. – AFP, August 6, 2013.

Washington Post: the US capital’s powerful paper

Posted: 06 Aug 2013 03:59 AM PDT

August 06, 2013

But, like many papers, the Post has struggled to adapt to the evolving media landscape as more readers find their news online and has faced sharply declining revenues.

Nevertheless, many were astounded by Monday's announcement that the newspaper arms of the company, owned and run by the Meyer-Graham family since 1933, are to be sold to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

"This is a day that my family and I never expected to come," publisher and Post CEO Katharine Weymouth wrote in a letter to readers.

The building was the Watergate Hotel, which bequeathed its name to the resulting scandal which forced the resignation of president Richard Nixon, among other top figures.

This journalistic coup came under the watch of legendary publisher Katharine Graham, who led the company for three decades starting in 1963.

The paper has won 47 Pulitzer prizes, including six in 2008 alone.

The idea to raise money for the paper prompted accusations of hypocrisy and the company quickly apologized and shuttered the plan.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz

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India “superhero” Hrithik back in action after brain surgery

Posted: 05 Aug 2013 11:34 PM PDT

August 06, 2013
Latest Update: August 06, 2013 02:42 pm

Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan is back in action after undergoing brain surgery last month for an injury suffered while performing a stunt for an upcoming film.

Hrithik, 39, said he was "doing absolutely fine" as he launched the trailer of "Krrish 3", the latest movie in the hit superhero franchise.

"Even with a hole in my brain, my spirit has been intact," Roshan told a news conference in Mumbai yesterday, his first official appearance since his operation on July 7.

"Life hits you hard. But it takes you three seconds to decide if you are a superhero or not. I am," he added.

Hrithik, who enjoys a huge fan following because of his macho on-screen persona, was injured while shooting an action sequence for "Bang Bang", an Indian remake of the Tom Cruise-Cameron Diaz hit movie "Knight and Day".

The injury triggered headaches that were caused by a subdural haematoma or clot, often caused by bleeding in the brain due to a blow to the head, leading Hrithik to undergo surgery.

Doctors told the actor to rest for four weeks after the operation, delaying the shooting schedule of "Bang Bang".

The first two movies in the Krrish series drew huge turnouts at the box office.

All three movies have been directed by Hrithik's father, Rakesh Roshan.

"Krrish 3" will be released in November during Deepavali.

Depardieu back in Paris for FIFA film after fallout with French

Posted: 05 Aug 2013 08:12 PM PDT

August 06, 2013
Latest Update: August 06, 2013 07:12 pm

Veteran French actor Gerard Depardieu is shooting a film in Paris for the first time since he sparked a huge outcry by leaving France for tax reasons and taking Russian nationality.

In an exclusive interview with AFP, the 64-year-old film star said he did not move out of the country to escape the taxman but to flee "the way governments use the money they take."

The award-winning performer made global headlines late last year when he decided to move to Belgium after the Socialist government sought to impose a 75 percent tax rate on annual incomes over one million euros ($1.3 million).

He was subsequently granted Russian citizenship by President Vladimir Putin. The decision stirred up controversy, as have his friendships with Putin and Chechnya's strongman leader Ramzan Kadyrov -- both accused of human rights violations.

"It's the first time that I'm shooting again in France (since the controversy)", he told AFP Sunday of his new film about the history of the FIFA World Cup, in which he plays the competition's creator Jules Rimet.

"I had refused all French films as people could not understand. I am Russian and a Belgian resident. I live in Russia, where I spent three-and-a-half months. I have firms in the countries in which I live because it's more advantageous.

"In 15 years, I have spent maybe only five months in France. Since December 2012, a month-and-a-half... I am not escaping the taxman but the way governments use the money they take," he said by phone.

The film shoot in Paris will only last around 20 days, and Depardieu will be acting in English alongside "an international cast" of British, Australian and American actors including Tim Roth, he said, without giving more details.

Under the helm of French director Frederic Auburtin, the actors will also work on location in Brazil, Switzerland and Spain, and the film is due to come out in time for the 2014 World Cup.

"The film was planned a long time ago but it proved difficult to set up," Depardieu said.

"It's the history of football as told by four men of incredible power," including Rimet, the co-founder of FIFA, the world football governing body.

Known as much for his acting skills as for his erratic off-screen behaviour, Depardieu was recently fined 4,000 euros ($5,315) and had his licence suspended for driving his scooter in Paris while drunk in November.

But according to a person close to the actor, who refused to be named, he is now "on top form and has stopped all excesses."

Depardieu will play Dominique Strauss-Kahn in an upcoming film inspired by the spectacular fall from grace of the French former IMF chief, who was accused of sexually assaulting a New York hotel maid.

He is also due to star in a historic serial penned by Gulnara Karimova, the eldest daughter of Uzbekistan's leader, with whom he has also released a pop duet. – AFP, August 6, 2013.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Books

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U.S. seeks tighter control over Apple in e-book case

Posted: 05 Aug 2013 04:41 PM PDT

August 06, 2013
Latest Update: August 06, 2013 07:46 am

Apple Inc is headed for a showdown with the U.S. government and dozens of states, which last Friday urged that tough new restrictions be imposed on the company for illegally conspiring to raise e-book prices.

The changes proposed by the U.S. Department of Justice and 33 U.S. states and territories are designed to stop Apple from committing further antitrust violations after U.S. District Judge Denise Cote said on July 10 Apple had a "central role" in a conspiracy with five major publishers to raise e-book prices.

But the proposed changes extend beyond e-books, potentially limiting Apple's ability to negotiate for such content as movies, music and TV shows, and increasing regulatory oversight of other business areas such as the company' App Store.

In a court filing, Apple called the proposed injunction a "draconian and punitive intrusion" into its business that would hurt consumers and competition, and was "wildly out of proportion" to the harm it was meant to address.

"The resulting cost of this relief - not only in dollars but also lost opportunities for American businesses and consumers - would be vast," it said.

Federal and state regulators disagreed.

"Under the department's proposed order, Apple's illegal conduct will cease, and Apple and its senior executives will be prevented from conspiring to thwart competition," said Bill Baer, head of the Justice Department's antitrust division.

Cote will weigh the arguments at an Aug. 9 hearing in her Manhattan courtroom. A damages trial might follow.

Despite Apple's protests, analysts have said the bigger issue for the Cupertino, California-based company in this case might be damage to its reputation, not financial harm.

Amazon.com Inc commands about 65 percent of the U.S. e-books market, while Apple's share has been estimated in the single digits.

Limits on deal-making

The governments' plan, which needs court approval, would require that Apple end its contracts with the five publishers and be banned for five years from entering contracts that would effectively raise prices of e-books sold by rivals.

The publishers are Lagardere SCA's Hachette Book Group Inc, News Corp's HarperCollins Publishers LLC, Pearson Plc's Penguin Group (USA) Inc, CBS Corp's Simon & Schuster Inc and Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck GmbH's Macmillan. All settled with U.S. regulators.

Apple would also be unable to cut deals with providers of movies, music and TV programs for its iPad tablets and iPhones that would likely increase the prices at which rivals might sell such content.

Officials also want to make it easier for consumers to compare e-book prices by requiring Apple for two years to let Amazon, Barnes & Noble Inc and other rivals provide links to their own stores within their iPad and iPhone apps.

Industry experts said the proposal, if adopted, could solidify Amazon's dominance in the e-books market.

"Why isn't the DOJ forcing Amazon to play fairly? This is the question the publishing industry wants answered," said Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords, an e-book publisher and distributor that works with Apple, Barnes & Noble and other companies. "Apple brought much-needed competition to the e-book market and now the government is trying to undermine them."

Albert Greco, a book-industry expert at Fordham University's business school, said the proposal "does not address the long term issue of book pricing in the United States."

The plan also requires Apple to hire a full-time internal antitrust compliance officer, and use a court-appointed external monitor to ensure its compliance with the proposed final judgment for 10 years.

Government officials said the changes would permit Apple to compete "vigorously and lawfully" in the e-books market.

Apple countered that the changes seek unnecessary relief for harm already remedied under the settlements with the publishers. It urged Cote to reject the injunction entirely or approve a "narrower and more modest" alternative.

'Apple seized the moment'

Federal and state officials accused Apple of conspiring with the publishers in late 2009 and early 2010, as the iPad was being launched.

They said the conspiracy caused some e-book prices to rise to $12.99 or $14.99 from the $9.99 that Amazon charged.

Evidence damaging Apple's case included emails from Steve Jobs, its late chief executive, that the officials said reflected a desire to boost prices.

"Taking advantage of the publisher defendants' fear of and frustration over Amazon's pricing," Cote concluded, "Apple seized the moment and brilliantly played its hand."

In their settlements, the publishers agreed to pay more than $166 million for consumers' benefit. None admitted wrongdoing.

The case is U.S. v. Apple Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 12-02826. - Reuters, August 6, 2013.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Bahasa

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Jakim, jabatan agama Islam negeri sedia bekerjasama tangani Panji Hitam Langkasuka

Posted: 06 Aug 2013 02:59 AM PDT

August 06, 2013
Latest Update: August 07, 2013 01:59 am

Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) dan Jabatan Agama Islam Negeri sedia bekerjasama dengan pasukan keselamatan bagi menangani kumpulan Panji Hitam Langkasuka.

Ketua Pengarah Jakim Datuk Othman Mustapha berkata orang ramai yang mempunyai maklumat mengenai kumpulan itu diminta memaklumkannya kepada Jakim dan Jabatan Agama Islam Negeri masing-masing.

"Melalui perkembangan terkini yang berlaku semalam, kumpulan berkenaan dilihat semakin berani untuk menterjemahkan ideologi mereka dalam bentuk tindakan bagi menyatakan hasrat mereka," katanya dalam kenyataan hari ini.

Semalam, polis menahan 10 individu yang mendakwa anggota kumpulan Panji Hitam dari Timur Empayar Langkasuka Nusantara, di luar pintu Istana Negara kerana dipercayai cuba melancarkan rampasan kuasa terhadap Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Kumpulan itu yang turut dianggotai dua wanita dan berpakaian serba hitam tiba di Pintu 1, Istana Negara, pada 4.10 pagi menaiki tiga kenderaan yang turut dipasang bendera dan kain rentang serba hitam tertulis Kerajaan Langkasuka Nusantara.

Menurut Othman, meskipun doktrin yang dibawa kumpulan berkenaan jelas bertentangan dengan fakta sejarah dan menyeleweng dari sudut agama, termasuk doktrin raja utusan Allah dan tentera Al-Mahdi, namun mereka diyakini mempunyai pengikut yang setia.

"Gerakan ini mula dikesan sejak awal menerusi media-media sosial yang didedahkan serta dikongsi bersama masyarakat, walaupun ia dilihat sebagai perkara yang tidak masuk akal," katanya.

Beliau berkata, oleh kerana kumpulan ini telah mencetuskan isu keselamatan, pihak keselamatan wajar mengambil tindakan. - Bernama, 6 Ogos, 2013.

Buku Pak Lah jelaskan kenapa beliau sering ‘tertidur’

Posted: 06 Aug 2013 02:42 AM PDT

OLEH MOHD FARHAN DARWIS
August 06, 2013

Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (gambar), yang sering dikritik kerana kerap tertidur menjelaskan alasan beliau terlelap ketika bertugas.

Dalam buku terbarunya: Awekening, the Abdullah years in Malaysia, bekas perdana menteri itu mendedahkan beliau menghidapi masalah kesihatan "sleep apnea."

Pengganti kepada Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad pada 2003 itu berkata lagi, beliau juga telah mendapatkan rawatan kesihatan semasa isterinya ketika itu Datin Seri Endon Mahmood mengetengahkan masalah tersebut.

"Saya berjumpa rakan baik saya, Dr Balvinder di Hospital Putrajaya yang mencadangkan kajian dilakukan ke atas saya," katanya dalam bukunya itu.

Abdullah turut berkata penyakitnya adalah berbahaya memandangkan penghidapnya boleh terlelap ketika memandu.

"Doktor kata saya perlu serius, jadi saya ke Australia (pada 2007) untuk membuang polyps dalam hidung saya yang menyebabkan kesukaran bernafas," katanya.

Perkara itu jelas Abdullah turut diketahui Dr Mahathir, namun bekas perdana menteri yang berkhidmat selama 22 tahun itu sentiasa menggunakan perkara itu untuk mengkritiknya.

"Saya memberitahu Dr Mahathir keadaan saya jadi untuk beliau mengatakan saya tertidur kerana tidak berminat dengan tugas tidak patutlah," katanya dalam buku berkenaan.

"Beliau tahu masalahnya namun memilih untuk memperkatakan semua itu."

Dr Mahathir melantik Abdullah sebagai penggantinya, namun Barisan Nasional (BN) tewas dua pertiga Parlimen pada Pilihan Raya 2008, yang kemudiannya menyaksikan Datuk Seri Najib Razak mengambil alih pemerintahan negara.

Dr Mahathir juga sering mengecam Abdullah ketika penggantinya itu mentadbir kerana membiarkan menantunya, Khairy Jamaluddin dan sekutunya di "tingkat empat", mengacau bilaukan negara. - 6 Ogos, 2013.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion

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Pulanglah menyambut hari yang mulia

Posted: 05 Aug 2013 04:10 PM PDT

August 06, 2013
Latest Update: August 06, 2013 03:10 pm

Zulkifli Sulong is a veteran journalist and the editor of HarakahDaily.net and the Bahasa Malaysia weekly Siasah.

Beberapa hari lagi umat Islam akan menyambut hari raya Aidil Fitri, hari kemenangan bagi mereka yang berjaya dalam berpuasa sepanjang bulan Ramadan.

Dengan menyambut Aidil Fitri, umat Islam akan meninggalkan Ramadan, bulan yang penuh dengan keberkatan dan kemuliaan.

Sepanjang bulan Ramadan, umat Islam berpuasa. Bukan setakat tidak makan dan minum di siang hari sahaja bahkan lebih dari itu.

Mereka dituntut supaya meninggal segala larangan ketika berpuasa bahkan juga mengerjakan ibadat sepanjang bulan yang mulia ini.

Rakyat Selangor sangat bernasib baik sepanjang bulan Ramadan ini. Ketika semua kakitangannya mendapat bonus raya sebulan gaji, rakyatnya yang beragama Islam juga mendapat rahmat tersendiri.

Rahmat itu adalah pengisian ilmu di bulan Ramadhan ini. Semua masjid dan surau di Selangor penuh dengan aktiviti ibadat di bulan yang mulia ini.

Selepas bersolat terawih sebanyak lapan rokaat dan Witir tiga rakaat, mereka boleh mendengar tazkirah Ramadan.

Berbeza dengan nasib umat Islam di beberapa negeri yang diharamkan dari diadakan tazkirah sepanjang bulan puasanya. Seorang Mufti mengeluarkan fatwa, tazkirah boleh merosakkan solat Terawih.

Kesan dari aktiviti tazkirah yang diadakan sepanjang Ramadan ini, surau dan masjid di seluruh Selangor penuh sepanjang bulan ini.

Menjadi fenomena biasa sebelum ini, surau dan masjid akan penuh di awal Puasa namun berkurangan di penghujungnya.

Namun tahun ini fenomena berbeza di kebanyakan surau dan masjid. Oleh kerana sejak dari awal lagi, para ustaz yang memberikan tazkirah mengingatkan mereka tentang pahala di 10 malam terakhir Ramadan, surau dan masjid penuh sampai ke hujung Ramadan.

Bukan setakat waktu solat Terawih sahaja dipenuhi orang, solat malam atau Qiamulail yang dibuat di awal pagi juga dipenuhi orang. Mereka mengejar malam Lailatul Qadar yang pahalanya lebih daripada 1000 bulan.

Kini Aidil Fitri menjelang tiba. Jalan-jalan raya keluar dari Kuala Lumpur dan Shah Alam penuh dengan kenderaan sejak petang Jumaat lepas lagi. Mereka mahu pulang ke kampung masing-masing.

Di kampung (kecuali beberapa negeri), mereka tidak akan dapat menikmati kuliah dan tazkirah Ramadan sebagaimana Selangor.

Namun begitu di kampung ada ayah dan bonda yang sedang menanti kepulangan anaknya. Berbuat baik kepada kedua ibu bapa juga memberikan limpahan pahala yang berganda.

Marilah kita pulang dan mengembirakan ibu dan bapa (kepada yang masih berpunya). Marilah kita pulang untuk bersama sanak saudara menyambut hari mulia.

Maaf zahir dan bathin.- 6 Ogos, 2013.

* Ini adalah pendapat peribadi penulis dan tidak semestinya mewakili pandangan The Malaysian Insider.

On lemang, keramat and opiates

Posted: 04 Aug 2013 05:17 PM PDT

August 05, 2013
Latest Update: August 05, 2013 06:05 pm

Datuk Zaid Ibrahim founded Malaysia's largest law partnership before focusing on politics. He was a minister in the Abdullah administration, was in Umno, PKR and last in KITA as its president.

The search for lemang (glutinous rice baked in bamboo) can be trying during the fasting month. Most lemang sellers only operate their stalls at night and usually open for business a few days before Hari Raya.

So my search took me to many areas in Datuk Keramat, Keramat Dalam and parts of Setiawangsa.

At last, I managed to find one along Jalan Genting Kelang, manned by a sweet Malay lady in her 60s who was being helped by her grandson. I was so happy about finding the stall that I ended up buying most of her stock. She was pleased-you could tell she ended the day happy with herself.

Driving around Keramat is always enjoyable. The Malay in me is elated whenever I enter this traditional Malay area, which is also what happens when I am in Kampung Baru.

The modest homes, the mosques and surau and of course the quintessential warong and food stalls selling kuih, tom yam and sup tulang make these neighbourhoods unique and bring back memories of our own kampung far away.

Then reality sets in: the sight of old and crowded flats, low-grade shoplots, clogged drains and unkempt playgrounds that illustrate Malay life in the city.

The urban Malays have not changed much over the years. In the meantime, the Chinese keep up their pace of acquiring and developing the great city of Kuala Lumpur.

Our leaders always speak of Malay rights and promise to defend them at all cost. These promises are really just opiates that dull the Malay senses. Other opiates include our leaders' habit of rewriting history, instilling fear of the Chinese, and making the people believe that the Malay Rulers are being threatened and that Islam itself is under assault.

These are false and meaningless slogans, but they have the desired effect of redirecting the Malay consciousness away from examining just how dismal their lives have become and economically neglected they truly are.

These leaders prefer to stoke Malay emotion rather than deal with the hard facts of life. Preoccupied with enriching themselves, they have grown lazy. They focus on beauty contests, YouTube videos, and telling the Malays that shariah law will solve all problems, including crime.

Instead of teaching Malays how to develop skills, create jobs, control their household debt and be competitive in schools and universities, they take the easy way out by giving the Malays their daily dose of opiates.

The British did the same to the Chinese by giving them the real stuff - opium - and for a long time the Chinese did not care about anything about their lives until Mao Tse Tung woke them up from their stupor.

Whenever we have had good Malay leaders, they were either beaten or politics prevented them from undertaking the hard task of uplifting the Malays economically.

Datuk Raja Nong Chik's proposal to develop Kampung Baru was a good idea that was long overdue, but he could not carry it through. Malays in the city generally do not trust Umno and the Pakatan Rakyat took advantage of the situation and objected strongly, although I doubt any of their leaders had better ideas.

Malay leaders have made all kinds of announcements about Kampung Baru but today, the neighbourhood remains a high-class ghetto.

Keramat, Setiawangsa, Sentul and other areas can also do with a massive injection of capital and new developmental ideas. There should be close cooperation between the Federal Malay leaders and Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim of the Selangor state government to find ways to uplift the Malay community. That is not possible as politics always get in the way, and so they continue serving opiates.

Leaving Kampung Datuk Keramat, it struck me that Malays like the word keramat. It means having magical powers. Even the names of new housing schemes and roads have keramat in them.

My friends in Umno also told me that Umno is parti keramat.

All I want to say before signing off is this: for as long as the Malays are not prepared to go into rehabilitation, stop taking opiates and start thinking for themselves, keramat will abandon them sooner or later.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri. - August 5, 2013.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

Selasa, 6 Ogos 2013