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Eating healthy — only possible for the wealthy? Posted: 05 Dec 2013 06:23 PM PST December 06, 2013 A diet of the healthiest food costs about $1.50 (RM4.84) more per person per day than the least healthiest, according to a survey of 10 wealthy and middle-income countries published yesterday. Researchers carried out an overview of 27 previously published investigations into dietary patterns that had solid data about what people ate each day and how much it cost. The studies were carried out in eight advanced economies and two middle-income countries, Brazil and South Africa. Diets were rated according to healthiness: eating more fruit, vegetables, fish and nuts ranked higher than consuming more processed foods, meats and refined grains. On average, a day's worth of the healthiest diet cost about $1.50 (RM4.84) more than the least healthiest, the analysis found. "This research provides the most complete picture to date on true cost differences of healthy diets," said Dariush Mozaffarian of Harvard Medical School. "While healthier diets did cost more, the difference was smaller than many people might have expected." Compared to the economic costs of diet-related conditions such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease, which have gained epidemic proportions in some countries, the difference is "very small", said Mozaffarian. The gap between unhealthy and healthy eating is mainly explained by high-efficiency, high-profit systems to farm, make and sell processed foods, according to the paper. This "inexpensive, high volume" approach could conceivably be applied to healthier foods, too, to bring down prices, it suggested. "Over the course of a year, $1.50 (RM4.84) per day more for eating a healthy diet would increase food costs for one person by about $550 (RM1,773.47) per year," said Mozaffarian. "This would represent a real burden for some families, and we need policies to help offset these costs." Of the 27 studies used in the review, 14 were conducted in The United States, six in Europe (France, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden), two each in Canada and New Zealand and one each in Brazil, Japan and South Africa. The paper is published online in BMJ Open, part of the British Medical Journal stable of publications. - AFP, December 6, 2013.

Unesco adds new entries to “intangible heritage” list Posted: 05 Dec 2013 04:38 PM PST December 06, 2013 A plate of kimchi, a Korean spicy dish of picked vegetables, is shown in this picture. - AFP/Relaxnews pic, December 6, 2013.Traditional Japanese washoku cooking methods, Korean kimchi-making, millennia-old Georgian wine-producing techniques and the Mediterranean diet were among 14 new entries added to Unesco's "intangible heritage" list. Envoys picked the new listings of traditional cultural activities worthy of preservation at a meeting in the Azerbaijani capital Baku, Unesco said in a statement late Wednesday. They include the traditional use of the abacus in China and a Christian festival in the French region of Limousin that involves holy relics being paraded before worshippers once every seven years. South Korea hailed the addition of "kimjang", the making and sharing of the country's traditional kimchi dish. The foreign ministry said it would seek legislation to ensure that kimjang remains "part of our precious cultural heritage and as a part of South Koreans' lives". Kimchi, a spicy dish of picked vegetables, is so much part of Korean life that a festival and even a museum are devoted to it. "I can't live without kimchi," wrote one online commentator in response to the listing. Japan warmly welcomed the addition of its washoku cuisine. "I feel genuinely happy," said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a statement. "Together with the Japanese people I want to pass on to the next generation our cherished culinary culture." Other additions are Belgian horseback shrimp fishing, the annual pilgrimage to the mausoleum of Sidi Abd el-Qader Ben Mohammed in Algeria, Taureg Imzad music, Jamdani weaving in Bangladesh, the Cirio de Nazare religious festival in Brazil, Sankirtana music from the Vaishnava people in India, a central Italian Catholic procession, an Orthodox holiday in Ethiopia and a Kyrgyz epic poem. A naming tradition common among the people of Western Uganda and Mongolian calligraphy also made the list. Established in 2008, the Intangible Cultural Heritage list comprises some 100 traditional events from around the globe and is designed to "help demonstrate the diversity of this heritage and raise awareness about its importance", according to Unesco. - AFP/Relaxnews, December 6, 2013.

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Platini calls for sin bins to replace yellow cards Posted: 05 Dec 2013 08:33 AM PST December 06, 2013 European soccer chief Michel Platini (pic) wants yellow cards to be replaced by a rugby-style system of sin bins. Platini, the president of governing body UEFA, said on Thursday he would also like the winner of national cup competitions to be rewarded with a place in the Champions League. "I would change the system of cautions," Platini told Spanish newspaper AS. "I would do it like in rugby, where the perpetrator would be punished by being off the pitch for 10 or 15 minutes of the game. "That means the team they are facing would benefit in the same match and it would be instead of a ban for accumulation of cards against another side later in the season. "It is an idea which needs to be developed and to see if it is something that would be good for the game." Under the current system, players are suspended when they accumulate a certain number of yellow cards over a period of the season. FIFA president Sepp Blatter poured cold water on Platini's idea later on Thursday. "I cannot see why we should change something in match control when we have established all the regulations," Blatter told a news conference in Costa do Sauipe, Brazil, where the world's governing body is meeting ahead of Friday's draw for the 2014 World Cup finals. Platini, the former France captain, said there was not enough support for the idea of giving national cup winners a place in the following season's Champions League. At present, teams gain qualification to the Champions League via their position in domestic league competitions. "It is something we have debated a lot, but when it comes to voting the countries in the majority are those which don't want to lose a place in the league for the cup winner," he said. "In Spain the cup has tradition like in other important countries, but it's not the case in all and in some there isn't even a cup." Platini agreed that the punishment handed down when a goalkeeper concedes a penalty - a spot-kick, the sending off of the keeper, and a subsequent suspension - are too harsh. "It is excessive," he said. "The penalty is enough. I think it is something that all in Fifa and Uefa agree, but there are one or two countries that are in the International Board that don't want to change it." Platini said he had improved the game in Europe since taking over as UEFA president in 2007. "I have worked to improve the game by asking for three changes: the pass-back rule, the red card for the last defender, and the introduction of goal-line officials," he said. "I have done plenty to improve the game with these rule changes." - Reuters, December 5, 2013.

Carlos Alberto warns Brazil singing the national anthem won’t win the World Cup Posted: 05 Dec 2013 08:23 AM PST December 06, 2013 Carlos Alberto Torres, the captain of arguably Brazil's greatest side, fears the current crop are worse than previous World Cup failures and the soccer-mad nation is overcooking expectations. Favourites Brazil are bidding to win a record sixth trophy on home soil in June and July next year, but misplaced confidence could be their biggest threat. "You have to keep your feet on the ground. You can't say six or seven months before the World Cup that we are champions. I don't think that is the right approach," the captain of the victorious 1970 side told reporters on the eve of Friday's draw for the finals. "We've had national teams better than the current one and we didn't win the World Cup. "We have the support and we are at home, but that doesn't mean we will win." Brazil established themselves as favourites after demolishing world and European champions Spain 3-0 in the Confederations Cup final at home last June. Backed by a raucous support and with outstanding performances from players such as Neymar, Paulinho and Fred, Brazil were surprisingly dominant over a side which had ruled the soccer landscape for five years. That boosted their confidence and manager Luiz Felipe Scolari last month ramped up expectation by declaring: "Brazil will be World Cup winners in 2014". Carlos Alberto travelled with the Brazil squad for friendly wins against Honduras and Chile last month and said he was impressed with their professionalism and preparation, but there was still a lot of work to be done. "My level of optimism has gone up, but when I see them play I must say it hasn't reached 100%," he told hundreds of journalists gathered in the media hall at the resort chosen for the draw. "We need to be realistic and bear in mind that there is a lot to be done before we are 100% ready and before we can make a bet and say we will be world champions." Fans enthusiastically singing the national anthem was cited as inspirational by many players at the Confederations Cup, but Carlos Alberto dismissed comments from other former winners such as Ronaldo that the crowd would play a crucial role. "We can't declare that we will win just because fans will sing the national anthem," he said. His comments came just days after another member of the 1970 team gave similar warnings about over-confidence. Tostao said Brazil's players, many of whom are playing in their first World Cup, must respect their opponents. "I fear that the euphoria over the national team will go beyond the limits of good sense, as if it were impossible for us to lose the World Cup at home," Tostao wrote in a column for the Folha de SP newspaper in Sao Paulo. "To win, you need to fear your major opponents. Fear is the security and pressure necessary to help you play better. "Spain, Germany and Argentina have the same or almost the same chances that Brazil do." - Reuters, December 5, 2013.

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Bruce Lee’s jumpsuit fetches RM324,620 in HK auction Posted: 05 Dec 2013 04:34 AM PST December 05, 2013 A yellow-and-black jumpsuit from Bruce Lee's final movie was sold for more than double its expected hammer price at an auction in Hong Kong Thursday commemorating the 40th anniversary of his death.Bruce Lee's jumpsuit and nunchaku sold in auction. - Reuters pic, December 5, 2013. The one-piece suit from "Game of Death", which was specially designed by a Hong Kong tailor to fit Lee, was sold at the evening auction for HK$780,000 (RM324,620) to an anonymous telephone bidder. His matching yellow nunchaku, also used in the film, sold at HK$540,000 (RM224.880) to a collector in the room, where a dozen bidders were seated. "It would have been nice to have the suit, but I prefer this most of all, more than any other thing," 49-year-old British investment manager George Philips, who also bid on the suit said after winning the nunchaku. "Everybody loves Bruce Lee items, I did karate when I was five or six years old," Philips said, adding that he used to practise with the nunchaku while wearing a motorcycle helmet. Bidding was "strong for an auction this size" Spink China vice chairperson Anna Lee said after the event. The auction fetched HK$2.19 million (RM912,000), double Spink's estimate of HK$1 million (RM416,000). All 14 lots were sold, with other items including a punch pad Lee used to refine his one-inch punch, which sold for HK$50,400 (RM21,000). Lee's bamboo whip used in "Game of Death" sold for HK$96,000 (RM40,000). All the items belonged to a private collector, but originally came from Lee or his friends and family. Lee died in 1973 after a severe reaction to medication, before "Game of Death" could be completed, although a version of it was later released using stand-in actors. Lee is credited with catapulting the martial arts film genre into the mainstream with movies including "Fist of Fury" and "The Big Boss". - AFP, December 5, 2013.

“The Voice” winner Danielle Bradbery to front Skechers campaign Posted: 04 Dec 2013 08:43 PM PST December 05, 2013 The pop singer will appear as the face of the brand in a major print and TV campaign for the Bobs from Skechers charity footwear. Winner of US TV singing show "The Voice" in 2013, the 17-year-old pop sensation has been named as the latest face of Skechers' Bobs line of shoes, which has now helped to donate 6 million pairs to kids in need. "Danielle's a perfect inspiration for the Bobs movement and young women everywhere, and we're so excited to have her as part of the Sketchers team," say Skechers. Bradbery, who is the show's youngest winner ever, will appear in the Spring 2014 print and TV campaigns for the brand. "Bobs shoes have helped so many children in need with their donation program and I love the fact that it really is a simple way for anyone to give back," she said. "There is so much need out there and it's wonderful to be part of such a positive movement that impacts people's lives." Danielle is a major talent to watch for 2014. She has has more iTunes hits than any singer from "The Voice" yet, and charted in Billboard's Hot Country Songs Top 20 with "The Heart of Dixie" earlier this year. Danielle joins "Dancing with the Stars" host Brooke Burke-Charvet as the second face of the Bobs collection, which first launched in 2011. The concept, similar to initiatives like fellow American brand Toms, and Parisian label Twins for Peace, sees Bobs work with non-profits to donate shoes to children in need. – AFP/Relaxnews, November 5, 2013.

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al Qaeda gaining ground in Syria through fear and organisation Posted: 05 Dec 2013 06:52 AM PST December 05, 2013 A Free Syrian rmy fighter taking up a position in Aleppo. - Reuters pic, December 5, 2013. Armed with machine guns, black-clad al Qaeda fighters drove their pick-ups into the northern Syrian town and took over its imposing agriculture ministry building. They beheaded a sniper from a rival rebel unit, displayed his head in the main square and put roadblocks on major routes. Not a shot was fired in the takeover, in which informants, including a preacher from a local mosque, played key roles. The scene in Termanin, recounted by an activist who witnessed it last week, is being repeated in towns along the border with Turkey and at road junctions further inside Syria that have fallen out of President Bashar al-Assad's control. Whether through weakness or a desire to focus on Assad, rebel units are making way for the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), an al Qaeda affiliate led by foreigners hardened by guerrilla warfare in Iraq, Chechnya and Libya. The landgrab has given radical jihadists a large territorial base in the heart of a Middle East convulsed by the civil war raging in Syria since 2011. While constant conflict and shifting alliances mean Syria is a long way from becoming a centre for global jihad, Western and Arab states backing moderate opponents of Assad are alarmed. The ISIL is taking over supply lines to rebel areas and attracting members of less organised opposition units by its efficiency, undermining efforts by Washington to contain it ahead of talks in Geneva on a possible peace deal, opposition sources and Middle East security officials say. As well as an end to Assad's rule, a key aim of such a deal would be to establish a government and army capable of fighting off the ISIL, a Middle East-based diplomat said. "It will be difficult. We could be looking at a proxy sectarian war - whether Assad stays or goes - in which the ISIL will be a major player." Asked about the group's goals, an ISIL commander in the town of Armanaz in northern Syria who had fought in Libya, said it is fighting for "the downfall of the tyrant Bashar," but also seeking to impose Islamic law. Learning lessons from the 2011 war in Libya, he said ISIL was more determined to hold on to territory under its control. "Our mistake as mujahideen is that we were preoccupied with fighting Gaddafi and did not pay enough attention to how to hold on territory," said the commander, who goes by the nickname al-Jazaeri, or the Algerian. In a sign of concern over ISIL's gains, the United Arab Emirates, a staunch US ally, convened a meeting last week for dozens of tribal leaders from the oil-producing region of east Syria bordering Iraq's Sunni heartland. The ISIL and the Nusra Front, a smaller affiliate of al Qaeda seen as less intent on spreading jihadist ideology, occupy most oil fields in the eastern province of Deir al-Zor, although they lack the ability to operate the wells. The UAE meeting aimed to gauge the possibility of setting up a force similar to the Sahwa movement that fought al Qaeda in Iraq and rolled back some of its influence, opposition sources said, although neither the tribes nor the Islamists appear ready for a sustained fight. "There have been some clashes over oil, but the ISIL has sought not to mess with the tribes. At the same time the tribes are seeing how the ISIL likes to chop heads and they are not keen on a confrontation," one of the sources said. Areas under ISIL control include towns across the northern Syrian provinces of Idlib and Aleppo, parts of the eastern provincial capital of Raqqa and, to a lesser extent, of central Syria and the southern province of Deraa. In some of these it is trying to implement a rigid Islamist social agenda and has won new recruits, attracted more by its effectiveness than its ideology, local activists say. In the al-Rouge plain in Idlib, bordering Tukey, Hassan Abdelqader said ISIL has set up training camps for local recruits and has distributed head to toe veils in areas southeast of Idlib city to be worn by women. In al-Bab in Aleppo province, where Abu Mouawiya, an ISIL commander, is the effective governor, the group has enforced an Islamist school curriculum imported from areas under al Qaeda control in Yemen, activists said. They said thousands of poor Sunnis from rural Idlib and rural Aleppo have joined the ISIL in the last few months, including fighters who had left Nusra and the Free Syrian Army, the Western-backed force that aims to unite moderate rebels. A Free Syrian Army report prepared for the US State Department and quoted by the Washington Post said the ISIL has a backbone of 5,500 foreign fighters, including 250 Chechens in Aleppo, and 17,000 recruited locally. The local recruits are rural Sunnis, the majority group at the forefront of the uprising which grew from a crackdown on protests against four decades of rule by the Assad family. The Assads are from the Alawite offshoot of Shi'ite Islam backed by Iran and Hezbollah, while the Sunni rebels are supported by Gulf heavyweights and Turkey, but inter-rebel clashes have blurred the conflict. In some areas ISIL works with rivals from Nusra and the Western backed Free Syrian Army, while in others it fights them. A new alliance comprising Islamist brigades also has a mixed relationship with ISIL. In southern Damascus, ISIL has joined Nusra and other brigades in defending opposition neighbourhoods from advances by Assad's forces backed by Iraqi and Lebanese Shi'ite militia. Just months before, ISIL had attacked Nusra positions, taking advantage of an air strike by Assad's forces that killed three Nusra commanders, local rebel sources said. Nusra, ISIL and Free Syrian Army units also cooperate in the northeast, where they are fighting a land grab by Kurdish PYD militia. The PYD says it is defending the population against al Qaeda. In areas along the border with Turkey in Aleppo and Idlib, where the presence of Assad's forces is limited, ISIL has been more assertive in taking over territory from the moderate Free Syrian Army and other hardline Islamist units. Activist Firas Ahmad, who witnessed the takeover of Termanin, said it was typical. "They have informants who identify a weak target in a town. They capture the bakery and put roadblocks at the main roads, ensuring that they control food and movement." This brings ISIL revenue as well as supplies destined for the other brigades. "The executions are designed to make maximum impact," said Ahmad, pointing to amateur video showing the ISIL executing the leader and several members of Ghurabaa al-Sham, a moderate Free Syrian Army unit, in Atarib. Members of a rebel-run police station near Hazano town were spared a similar fate after the station was stormed by ISIL, Ahmad said. "The police chief and staff surrendered as soon as the attack started and declared their allegiance to the ISIL." Last month the ISIL took three pick-up trucks equipped with anti-aircraft guns that had crossed through the town of Atma, and came close to taking other trucks carrying US  combat food rations, activists said. An opposition figure who attended a meeting with US officials about logistics said: "The Americans are furious at the degree of ISIL reach over supply lines. Privately they are blaming the Turks for opening their borders that facilitated the infiltration of al Qaeda." Turkey has been an outspoken supporter of rebels fighting Assad and has assisted them by keeping its border open, but Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and other officials have denied this amounts to support for his al Qaeda foes. Abdallah al-Sheikh, an activist in Atma, said Turkish soldiers have been intercepting supply conveys and seizing them or turning them back in the wake of the recent ISIL advances. "The end result is that the ISIL is harming the overall military struggle and doing Assad a service," Sheikh said, adding that signs of a popular backlash against ISIL and the group's interference in people's lives are beginning to emerge. In the last few days, Sheikh said, the ISIL had been forced to withdraw from the nearby village of al Qah after armed skirmishes with local residents. - Reuters, December 5, 2013.

Chinese snap up Portuguese property for “golden visa” Posted: 04 Dec 2013 10:37 PM PST December 05, 2013 A man entering a real estate office with Chinese characters announcing properties for sale in Lisbon. – AFP pic, December 5, 2013. A dream home in Portugal is becoming a golden ticket for wealthy Chinese, where property assets can also yield a prized residence permit allowing them to travel and do business across Europe. Portugal is rolling out the red carpet to discriminating Chinese buyers, where they are stabilising property prices that have dropped by nearly a third during aChi deep recession that has accompanied the eurozone country's international bailout. One year ago, the Portugese Government launched a programme to attract wealthy investors, and the results are now beginning to bear fruit. For the purchase of a home or apartment of at least €500,000 (RM2.19 million) which is to be kept for at least five years, investors will receive a Portuguese residence permit. Only obliged to spend seven days per year in Portugal, the holders of these residence permits may travel and work throughout Europe without a visa within the Schengen area of countries. The Chinese account for the overwhelming majority of investors in the scheme, followed by Brazilians, Russians and Angolans. The scheme is similar to those in place in a number of other European nations, and data released last week by the foreign ministry showed that 356 of these residence permits issued so far have brought €222 million in investment. Now that the programme is up and running, the increase in investment is expected to be swifter, said Luis Lima, head of the Portugese real estate agent association. More than 300 new requests for permits are under review, which would take the total investment to €600 million, he estimated, and "the requests are almost always accepted". In a single week last month, €15 million was invested, according to government figures, a rate which if sustained would take annual investment to nearly €800 million. And companies are adapting to the rich newcomers. Lisbon real estate agency Casa em Portugal hired Yansi Xu solely to better serve Chinese clients. "They are almost all businessmen. I have sold them seven houses in two months," said the 34-year-old, taking a break from tapping frenetically at his computer. One client is a 35-year-old businessman who with his wife plans to move into a modern apartment near the Luz stadium in Lisbon's Benfica neighbourhood, so their young son can go to an English-language school in Lisbon. The Chinese education system is "too demanding" for the child, Lima said, so the parents would prefer him to be educated in Europe. Another advantage, said the realtor, is space. "For €500,000, clients can buy an apartment with four rooms at 130 square metres in Benfica, while in Beijing or Shanghai that is the price of a two-room space of 60 square metres," he said. Most Chinese investors do not aim to make Portugal their home, but want to use the visa to conduct business in other European countries, which they can visit freely within the Schengen area of 26 countries, which excludes Britain and Ireland. – AFP, December 5, 2013.

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Amazon introduces StoryFront for short fiction Posted: 04 Dec 2013 11:14 PM PST December 05, 2013 Presenting itself as a new cross-genre imprint specializing in short fiction, StoryFront is to build on the success of Amazon's digital literary journal "Day One." "Based on the continued success of short fiction on Kindle as well as the enthusiastic response to Day One – we received thousands of subscriptions in the first week – we know readers are hungry for short stories and excited about exploring new genres," said Daphne Durham, publisher of the retail giant's Adult Trade and Children's Group. "With StoryFront, we're feeding that enthusiasm by offering a wide range of stories curated by a team of editors who are committed to the craft." It means that readers will be able to gain access to stories published as part of the "Day One" output without purchasing the journal itself via the label's home at amazon.com/storyfront, where prices are currently around $1 (RM3.23) or $2 (RM6.45) per purchase. Listed among StoryFront's 43-strong launch line up are "Sheila"; legal story "A Bite of Strawberry"; the fact-and-fiction tale "Museum of Literary Souls"; the futuristic adventure "Farmer One"; and the "12 Days of Christmas" series from a score of contributing authors. Also contained within the StoryFront offering are a selection of translated shorts from Brazilian authors, such as "A Little Death," "I Speak of Women," "Spore & Unruly Roger" and "Beatriz and the Old Lady." Brazilian author Cristovão Tezza described the new imprint as "a revolution inside the e-book revolution," adding that he was "very happy to be part of this new moment in publishing history." – AFP/Relaxnews, December 5, 2013.

“Paradigm Trilogy” announced for fans of dystopian fiction Posted: 04 Dec 2013 11:05 PM PST December 05, 2013 Looking for the next big dystopian Young Adult fiction trilogy after "The Hunger Games" and "Divergent"? Then keep an eye out for "The Start of Things," first in Ceri Lowe's new series coming April 2014. It's the part of the "Paradigm Trilogy" and sees Carter Warren awoken from a 15-year cryogenic sleep and plunged into life within post-apocalyptic London. "Inhabitants are routinely frozen until they are needed by 'The Industry,'" explains publisher Bookouture, and Carter has been selected for his potential to become the next Controller-General. But as Carter soon discovers, "the world has changed in ways that make him begin to question everything that he believes in" – the path to power may not run as smoothly as his superiors had hoped. "I was captivated from the first chapter, and am already eagerly waiting for book two – which for me is a fantastic sign," said Bookouture founder Oliver Rhodes. Sure, he would say that, conceding that a digital publishing model means "The Start of Things" can be made available "whilst the market for dystopian stories is still hot." But there's evidence to suggest that his glowing praise is well founded, as Lowe won the Global Short Stories award in 2012 and has become a fixture on the Writers' Forum competition shortlists. And by the time April rolls around, the "Divergent" film will have been in cinemas for a couple of weeks – could there be any better time to launch a fresh dystopian trilogy? – AFP/Relaxnews, December 5, 2013.

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Menziarahi kembali peranan Asmuni Awi dalam Muktamar PAS Posted: 04 Dec 2013 05:26 PM PST December 05, 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. Justeru mahukan ketelusan dan demi menegakkan poliltik yang bermaruah, maka Asmuni Awi, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pemilihan PAS dan sekalian anggotanya mengemukakan peletakan jawatan disebabkan oleh kesilapan teknik dalam senarai kertas undi bagi Jawatan Kuasa Kerja PAS Pusat. Kesilapan itu disedari setelah pengundian berjalan setengah jam dalam Muktamar PAS ke-59 baru-baru ini. Dia segera bertindak menangguhkan pengundian bahagian itu lalu mengemukakan peletakan jawatan serentak jawatankuasa itu. Niat dan tindakannya mulia tetapi tiada setiap tindakan yang mulia itu betul. Pimpinan sementara parti itu menolak peletakan jawatan itu dan mengarahkan mereka meneruskan amanah yang diberikan. Ada tiga pilihan yang pimpinan sementara boleh buat. Menolak atau menerima serta merta atau menangguhkan dulu peletakan jawatan itu. Pilihan yang dibuat ialah menolaknya. Menerima peletakan itu serta merta adalah tidak betul kerana siapa pula hendak meneruskan yang belum selesai itu? Kesilapan yang berlaku itu boleh dibetulkan segera tetapi tiada siapa dapat membetulkan jika Asmuni dan jawatankkuasanya melepaskan tanggungjawab itu. Tetapi kalau sekadar pengerusinya meletakkan jawatan, maka ia boleh ditimbangkan kerana jawatankuasa yang ada boleh meneruskan tugasnya. Asmuni boleh membuat pilihan demikian dulu dan menasihatkan supaya diangkat penolongnya menjadi ketua baru, tetapi anggota jawatankuasa yang lain akan rasa bersalah kerana kesilapan itu tidak semestinya kesilapan Asmuni seorang. Tetapi ia adalah lebih baik daripada semua jentera meletak jawatan, kerana ia akan menangguhkan terus kerja yang belum selesai itu. Apa pun tindakan awal Asmuni itu tidak betul. Jika tugas itu diibaratkan seperti catering di majlis kenduri. Ketika semua tetamu menghadapi hidangan tiba-tiba didapati nasi tidak ditanak. Ia adalah kesilapan besar yang memalukan tuan rumah. Beras memang sudah disediakan dan semua kemudahan dan peralatan ada. Kerana menerima kesalahan itu caterer dan semua tukang masak termasuk pelayan memulangkan semua kepada tuan rumah termasuk tanggungjawab kewangan demi menjaga maruahnya sebagai penyedia makanan. Tetapi siapa hendak menyelesaikan semua kerja yang tinggal. Boleh tetamu meratah apa yang ada. Kerja mengemas khemah dan membasuh pinggan siapa hendak buat? Jika Asmuni mengira ketelusan dan maruah politik perlu dijaga, langkah terbaik kiranya dia hendak menebus kesilapan itu ialah dengan menyelesaikan dulu masalah itu seperti tindakan yang diambilnya, dan kemudian bolehlah minta maaf dan meletakkan jawatan. Waktu peletakan dibuat boleh didulukan, tetapi kuatkuasanya bermula sebaik selesai keputusan pemilihan. Bolehlah pengumumannya dibuat oleh pengerusi muktamar. Apakah PAS akan terima itu adalah masalah PAS. Apakah pasukan itu dibubar sebagai muktamar berakhir, atau badan yang sama dengan mengekalkan Asmuni akan digunakan lagi untuk pemilihan kemudian ia adalah hal lain. Apa pun muktamar menilai pengalaman Asmuni dan krunya, menerima permohonan maafnya kerana pengalaman amat penting. Kesilapan adalah satu pelajaran yang berguna bagi kesempurnaan dan kecekapan pentadbiran masa depan. Asmuni membuat kerja yang mulia atas nama ketelusan dan maruah politik parti, cuma kesilapannya ia mengemukakan peletakan jawatan sebelum kerjanya diselesaikan. Dia akan dilihat lebih mulia kiranya tindakan menerima tanggungjawab atas kesilapan dibuat selepas hidangan disiapkan. – 5 Disember, 2013. * Ini adalah pendapat peribadi penulis dan tidak semestinya mewakili pandangan The Malaysian Insider.

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Tayangan percuma Tanda Putera sempena Perhimpunan Agung Umno Posted: 05 Dec 2013 02:29 AM PST OLEH MOHD FARHAN DARWIS December 05, 2013 Selain bersidang, para perwakilan dan pemerhati Pehimpunan Agung Umno kali ini juga boleh menonton wayang. Ini kerana filem Tanda Putera akan ditayangkan secara percuma malam ini di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC) bersempena dengan perhimpunan itu. Perkara itu diumumkan Pengerusi Tetap Umno Tan Sri Badruddin Amiruldin ketika sesi perbahasan ucapan dasar Presiden Datuk Seri Najib Razak di PWTC, Kuala Lumpur. Tayangan filem mengisahkan dua sahabat, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein dan Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, akan ditayangkan di Dewan Merdeka, jam 9 malam nanti. Kontroversi filem berkenaan timbul apabila Penasihat DAP Lim Kit Siang mendakwa filem berkenaan memaparkan fakta salah apabila memaparkan babak remaja berbangsa Cina, yang dikatakan dirinya kencing di tiang bendera Menteri Besar Selangor ketika rusuhan kaum 13 Mei berlaku. Ekoran kontroversi babak berkenaan, filem berkenaan terpaksa ditunda sebanyak tiga kali sebelum tayangannya diteruskan pada 29 Ogos. Filem berkenaan diarahkan oleh Datin Paduka Shuhaimi Baba itu dibiayai oleh kerajaan melalui kerjasama Persona Pictures dengan Perbadanan Kemajuan Filem Nasional (Finas) dan Multimedia Developement Corporation. DAP menggambarkan filem berkenaan sebagai propaganda kerajaan Barisan Nasional. Shuhaimi bagaimanapun menegaskan filem berkenaan hanya menggunakan babak 13 Mei sebagai plot untuk menunjukkan hubungan persahabatan antara dua pemimpin tersebut berhadapan peristiwa getir mengukuhkan negara meskipun masing-masing mempunyai masalah kesihatan. – 5 Disember, 2013.

Tuduhan Rapid rugi RM40b kerana PR tidak berasas, kata Ahli Parlimen pembangkang Posted: 05 Dec 2013 02:25 AM PST OLEH DIYANA IBRAHIM December 05, 2013 Datuk Seri Najib Razak menyalahkan Pakatan Rakyat menyebabkan kerajaan rugi RM40 bilion apabila pelabur menarik keluar dari projek Rapid. Gambar Reuters. Ahli Parlimen Pakatan Rakyat menyelar kenyataan Perdana Menteri Datuk Najib Razak menyalahkan mereka ke atas kerugian RM40 bilion yang ditanggung kerajaan akibat penarikan balik pelabur dalam projek Pembangunan Bersepadu Penapisan Minyak dan Petrokimia (Rapid) di Pengerang, Johor. Menurut Ahli Parlimen Sepang Mohamed Hanipa Maidin, tuduhan Najib itu langsung tidak berasas kerana hanya berani mencadangkan di Perhimpunan Agung Umno namun bukan saluran betul seperti Parlimen. "Siapa yang menyebabkan kerugian? Kalau betul tuduhan beliau, maka saya cabar membawa isu ini ke Parlimen berdebat dengan kita. "Tapi kalau setakat bercakap di Perhimpunan Agung Umno di hadapan penyokong beliau, menuduh tanpa ada bukti. Saya percaya pencinta alam sekitar di Taiwan juga tidak mahu syarikat negara mereka terlibat dalam projek ini," katanya kepada The Malaysian Insider. Tambahnya beliau juga antara salah seorang peguam yang mewakili rakyat Pengerang membawa kes ini kerana melihat projek tersebut bertentangan dengan undang-undang. "Sekiranya kes ini tidak ada bukti dan asas yang kukuh maka tidak mungkin permohonan untuk membawa kes ini di Mahkamah Tinggi Johor Bahru berjaya. Kita mencabar dari sudut undang-undang mengenai projek itu," katanya. Najib, semasa menyampaikan ucapan dasarnya hari ini, mendedahkan Presiden Petronas Tan Sri Shamsul Azhar Abbas memaklumkan kepada beliau mengenai kehilangan peluang pelaburan dari Taiwan bagi projek Rapid itu. Ini kerana sebilangan ahli pembangkang telah ke negara itu dan menakut-nakutkan pelabur terbabit. Sementara itu Ahli Parlimen Seputeh Teresa Kok menyifatkan tindakan Najib menyalahkan PR adalah sesuatu melucukan. "Kenapa dia menyalahkan Pakatan, mereka yang menentang adalah rakyat, kerana tidak berpuas hati dengan kerajaan mengenai isu tersebut. "Sekiranya beliau menyalahkan PR bermakna turut menyalahkan keinginan rakyat," katanya. Kok menjelaskan tindakan tersebut secara terang-terangan menunjukkan kegagalan kerajaan Barisan Nasional kerana selalu saja menuduh tanpa ada sebarang bukti dan fakta. Manakala Ahli Parlimen Pokok Sena Datuk Mahfuz Omar berkata apa yang dikatakan Menteri Dalam Negeri Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi menggelar PR sebagai pengkhianat adalah perbuatan biadap. "Amat biadap kerana beliau sebenarnya menuduh rakyat sebagai pengkhianat kerana yang menentang penduduk. Parti politik cuma lah suara menyalurkan bantahan mereka untuk pengadilan," katanya. Katanya lagi, Najib sebenarnya keliru antara kehendak rakyat dan parti politik berhubung isu tersebut. "Beliau cuba mengalihkan kegagalannya menguruskan negara dengan ketirisan dan kebocoran yang menunjukkan mereka ini sebenarnya pengkhianat. "Itu merupakan satu perbuatan biadap padahal dia sepatutnya rasa syukur bila rakyat tidak melabelkan dia sebagai pengkhianat," katanya. – 5 Disember, 2013.

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