Rabu, 11 Disember 2013

The Malaysian Insider :: Food

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The Malaysian Insider :: Food


World’s largest bottle of blush champagne unveiled

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 08:57 PM PST

December 12, 2013

French champagne house Armand de Brignac has released the world's largest bottle of blushing bubbly, a Midas vessel that holds 30 litres. - AFP/Relaxnews pic, December 12, 2013.French champagne house Armand de Brignac has released the world's largest bottle of blushing bubbly, a Midas vessel that holds 30 litres. - AFP/Relaxnews pic, December 12, 2013.French champagne house Armand de Brignac has released what it is calling the world's largest bottle of rosé bubbly that holds the equivalent of 40 regular 750 ml bottles.

Weighing 45 kg (100 lbs) and standing more than 1.2 metres tall (4 feet), the colossal, 30-litre Midas bottle will be uncorked December 13 at the Hakkasan Las Vegas restaurant at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, where it will be listed for $275,000 (RM880,000).

The Midas bottle will be reproduced in limited numbers.

Under the direction of winemaker Jean-Jacques Cattier, Armand de Brignac is hand-produced by a staff of eight craftspeople at the family estate in Chigny-les-Roses, France. Grapes used are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The Cattier family have been wine producers since 1763.

The Armand de Brignac Rosé is described as a fresh, full-bodied bubbly with aromas of strawberries and blackcurrant and is produced in limited quantities.

This fall Dom Pérignon also garnered attention for enlisting contemporary American artist Jeff Koons to develop eye-catching packaging for its Rosé Vintage 2003. Adapted from his existing life-sized version of "The Balloon Venus", Koons created smaller replicas of the metallic magenta art pieces to house bottles of the pink bubbly. - AFP/Relaxnews, December 12, 2013.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

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The Malaysian Insider :: Sports


Schalke down 10-man Basel to reach last 16

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 03:15 PM PST

December 12, 2013

Schalke 04's coach Jens Keller celebrates with Adam Szalai (centre) and Julian Draxler after their Champions League group E match against FC Basel in Gelsenkirchen, yesterday. - Reuters pic, December 12, 2013.Schalke 04's coach Jens Keller celebrates with Adam Szalai (centre) and Julian Draxler after their Champions League group E match against FC Basel in Gelsenkirchen, yesterday. - Reuters pic, December 12, 2013.Schalke confirmed their place in the Champions League knockout phase with a 2-0 home win against 10-man FC Basel yesterday that saw them finish second in Group E behind Chelsea.

Goals after the break by Germany's Julian Draxler and a strange second from Cameroon defender Joel Matip put Schalke in the last 16 to ease the pressure on under-fire coach Jens Keller.

The 43-year-old has been told a decision on his future will be made over the winter break in the wake of the Royal Blues's erratic form this season.

Having been knocked out of the German Cup last week and trailing leaders Bayern Munich by 17 points in the Bundesliga, Keller would have been set for dismissal after a year in charge had Schalke failed to go through.

The Royal Blues had to win to go through, and they faced 10 men for just under an hour as FC Basel had centre-back Ivan Ivanov, who cleared an early shot off the line, sent off for holding back Schalke's Adam Szalai on 31 minutes.

The Hungarian striker had only just replaced captain Benedikt Hoewedes, who went off with a hamstring injury just approaching the half-hour mark.

Hoewedes was lucky not to be shown a red card, instead of the yellow he received, on 29 minutes, as he injured himself with a rugby-style tackle on Basel captain Marco Streller, who would have been clear on goal.

Schalke had the best chance of the first half though, as Jefferson Farfan's cross was cleared onto the crossbar by Basel defender Taulant Xhaka on 12 minutes.

The ball fell to Draxler, who squared it to 18-year-old Max Meyer, but his shot was cleared off the line by Ivanov.

The breakthrough Schalke desperately needed came on 50 minutes when Farfan swung in a cross and found Draxler unmarked at the far post to slam home his shot and give the Royal Blues the lead.

Schalke secured their passage to the knockout phase seven minutes later when their second goal arrived in bizarre fashion.

Replays showed that five Schalke players were offside as the ball came into the box from a Farfan free-kick, but the assistant referee did not raise his flag and Matip was left alone to slot past Basel goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

Basel coach Murat Yakin was left protesting incredulously on the sidelines, but the defeat means the Swiss champions finish third in the group and drop into the Europa League.

After reigning champions Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen qualified on Tuesday, Schalke joined last season's runners-up Borussia Dortmund in progressing to the last 16 yesterday as all four Bundesliga sides progressed to the knockout phase. - AFP, December 12, 2013.

Arsenal through to last 16 as Napoli miss out

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 03:06 PM PST

December 12, 2013

Napoli's Gonzalo Higuain celebrates after scoring against Arsenal during their Champions League match at San Paolo stadium in Naples, yesterday. Arsenal have qualified for the last 16 despite losing 2-0. - Reuters pic, December 12, 2013.Napoli's Gonzalo Higuain celebrates after scoring against Arsenal during their Champions League match at San Paolo stadium in Naples, yesterday. Arsenal have qualified for the last 16 despite losing 2-0. - Reuters pic, December 12, 2013.Arsenal qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League despite losing 2-0 away to Napoli yesterday, while the Italian side agonisingly miss out.

Gonzalo Higuain and Jose Callejon both scored in the second half either side of Mikel Arteta's sending-off, but Borussia Dortmund's dramatic late 2-1 win in Marseille saw them go through as winners of Group F ahead of Arsenal and pushed Napoli into third place.

The Premier League leaders did just enough in the heated atmosphere of the San Paolo stadium, with Napoli needing to win by three goals to be certain of qualifying, and Arsene Wenger's side can look forward to playing in the Champions League knockout stages for the 14th year in succession.

Napoli, meanwhile, miss out on a place in the last 16 as the losers in a three-way tie at the top of a remarkably competitive group, and will have to settle for the consolation of Europa League football in the New Year.

It was a sore one for Rafael Benitez's side, and another blow for the prestige of Italian football after Juventus were eliminated earlier in the day.

Beaten 2-0 by Arsenal in London in October, Napoli knew that, to be sure of qualification, they had to win by three clear goals, and their task was not helped by the absence of both Slovakian creator Marek Hamsik and goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

Brazilian Rafael Cabral made his Champions League debut in place of Reina, as Napoli, whose recent form has been patchy, looked to keep a clean sheet for the first time in nine outings.

The hosts knew they had to attack and they started with intent. However, their only attempt of any real note in the opening stages was a Goran Pandev shot that was blocked by visiting goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

Callejon curled an effort over the bar before Szczesny was let off the hook when he casually tried to chip clear from a Laurent Koscielny back-pass. Higuain intervened but, luckily for the Pole, he headed wide.

Arsenal sat back and controlled the game well in the opening period, breaking up play and frustrating their hosts.

They only created one chance of note but it was the best one of the first half, Olivier Giroud forcing a good save from Rafael after latching onto Mathieu Flamini's pass inside the area.

Napoli continued to press in the second half but their attacks lacked conviction, with Pablo Armero tearing forward down the left and cutting into the box only to see his shot easily saved.

But their persistence finally brought its reward with 73 minutes played when Higuain scored for the fourth time in this season's competition.

The Argentine exchanged passes with fellow former Real Madrid man Callejon on the edge of the box before turning and shooting low past Szczesny as the San Paolo erupted.

Napoli's hopes were given a further boost three minutes later when Arsenal's skipper for the night Arteta was shown a second yellow card by Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai for catching Callejon.

At that point Napoli were going through but, as the game drifted into the 90th minute, news filtered through that Borussia Dortmund had scored in France, leaving Rafael Benitez's side having to score two more goals to progress.

They got one, substitute Lorenzo Insigne playing in Callejon, who lobbed over the outrushing Szczesny and into the net, but that came with the last kick of the match and Napoli's efforts were ultimately in vain. - AFP, December 12, 2013.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Features

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What’s in a name? For Saddam Husseins, only trouble

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 01:14 AM PST

December 11, 2013

In a predominantly Shiite town near Baghdad, Saddam Hussein roams the streets unmolested, joking with checkpoint guards and shaking the hands of passers-by, proudly announcing his name.

"You didn't execute me," he tells policemen, laughing. "That was one of my body doubles!"

The man, clad in a long black robe and leather jacket, is not the Saddam known the world over. He is one of many nationwide cursed as the namesakes of a dictator who ruled the country with an iron fist for nearly a quarter century.

From Saddam's hometown of Tikrit in the north to the western desert province of Anbar, down through the southern provinces, Sunnis and Shiites carry a name once given in tribute, but which has since become an albatross.

"Saddam oppressed so many people, so those who were oppressed by him had strong feelings against him," said Saddam Hussein Ulaiwi, a 35-year-old generator operator living with his family in the town of Aziziyah, southeast of Baghdad.

"So they are always berating me because of my name."

Named by his grandfather when Saddam was Iraq's vice president and in ascendance, Ulaiwi had few positive feelings about sharing a name with the country's dictator.

He recounted how, in his school years, teachers would hold him to impossible high standards and dole out stiff punishments when he failed to meet them.

When he joined the army for compulsory military service, upon reporting to the unit to collect his uniform, he announced his name to the duty officer, who responded by assaulting him for taking the name of the president.

After the 2003 US-led invasion ousted Saddam Hussein the dictator, Saddam Hussein the generator operator hoped he would have some measure of relief.

While families in his hometown were unquestioning, his father received phone calls from political parties asking him to change his son's name and passers-by would berate him, his name reminding them of painful memories.

Ulaiwi did try to change his name in 2006, but was put off by the time involved in dealing with Iraq's labyrinthine bureaucracy and the expense required of someone with modest means, choosing instead to stick with his birth name.

"I regret giving him this name," Ulaiwi's father Hussein said wistfully, sitting with his son in the family's small one-storey home.

"There were pressures on us before 2003. After 2003, there was more suffering."

"There were those who had hatred towards Saddam, and anything with Saddam's name," he said, noting for example that civil servants often do not deal with his son's requests, citing anger over his name.

A decade on from his capture, Saddam who was hanged in December 2006, still engenders passionate anger among many Iraqis.

Hundreds of thousands, most of them Shiites and Kurds, died at the hands of his Sunni-led government, and countless others suffered as a result of the wars he waged against Iran and Kuwait, the latter of which led to punishing sanctions that crippled Iraq's economy.

While some Saddam memorabilia can be bought in Baghdad, such as watches and other curios, major markings of his rule in the form of statues and posters have been torn down.

That leaves men bearing his name as among the few reminders of the dictator's rule.

Many Saddams have reported death threats, difficulty gaining access to government services and jobs, and other struggles over and above those faced by ordinary Iraqis.

"After 2003, many things happened to me when I travelled anywhere inside Iraq. I would conceal my name in order to save my life," said Saddam Hussein al-Mihimidi, an Iraqi journalist living in Ramadi, a city west of Baghdad.

Mihimidi's father was fired from his civil service job - as a result of his son's name, he was unable to convince his superiors he was not a supporter of Saddam's Baath Party - and efforts to change his name went nowhere.

The 33-year-old, who was named by the doctor who attended his birth, said life before the invasion for him was problem-free, living in the Sunni province of Anbar.

After US-led forces overthrew the government, he considered obtaining fake identification documents and would avoid leaving his house during the peak of Iraq's post-invasion violence in 2006 and 2007, "when they were killing people based on their name."

He now asks his friends to refer to him only as Abu Abdullah, or father of Abdullah, to mask his identity.

"After 2003, my life changed dramatically - from one extreme to another," he said. - AFP, December 11, 2013.

Your money and your data are safe in Switzerland

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 01:04 AM PST

December 11, 2013

It looks like the ideal location for a James Bond thriller: a massive underground bunker in a secret location in the Swiss Alps used for keeping data safe from prying eyes.

Housed in one of Switzerland's numerous deserted Cold War-era army barracks, the high-tech Deltalis data centre is hidden behind four-tonne steel doors built to withstand a nuclear attack - plus biometric scanners and an armed guard.

The centre is situated near the central Swiss village of Attinghausen, but its exact GPS location remains a guarded secret.

Such tight security is in growing demand in a world shaking from leaks scandals and fears of spies lurking behind every byte.

Business for Switzerland's 55 data centres is booming. They benefit from the Swiss reputation for security and stability, and industry insiders predict the wealthy Alpine nation, famous for its safe banks, will soon also be known as the world's data vault.

Revelations from former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden of widespread spying by the National Security Agency has served as "a wake-up call" to the dangers lurking in this era of electronic espionage, said Deltalis co-director Andy Reinhardt.

That danger is something his company takes seriously. To enter the 15,000-square-metre bunker that once served as the Swiss army's secret headquarters, one must first hand over an ID card, leave a biometric scan, go through a security portal, and finally push past an anti-nuclear steel door.

From there, a maze of concrete tunnels and corridors covered with Cold War-era military maps and dotted with large pools storing underground water lead to the 600-square-metre Deltalis data centre.

Located 200 metres inside the mountain and 1,000 metres below the peak, the pristine, white room, in use since 2011, houses row upon row of humming data storage systems.

The machines continuously gather and store data from individuals or companies willing to pay an undisclosed price to ensure their precious information will not be lost to power cuts, earthquakes or terrorist attacks, and will remain safe from would-be intruders.

Snowden's disclosures that online behemoths like Facebook, Google, Skype and Yahoo have assisted the NSA and other agencies in their snooping by handing over user data have proved a boon for companies like Deltalis.

"I have two positions: one is that I am a citizen of a European country and I find it unbelievable what the Americans are doing," said Christoph Oschwald, the co-director of Mount10, another data centre housed inside a Swiss mountain.

From a business perspective, he added, "It's fantastic! It has tripled the business within a short time."

While the global data storage industry is ballooning, companies in Switzerland, which has some of the world's strictest data protection laws, are reaping the benefits of the atmosphere of paranoia.

Under Swiss law, personal data is defined as a "precious good" that cannot, under no circumstance, be handed over to governments or authorities without authorisation from a judge.

Although Switzerland's reputation as the land of tight-lipped confidentiality has taken a hit with the rosion of its bank secrecy practices, it remains miles ahead of most other countries in terms of data protection, according to Peter Gruter, the head of the Swiss Telecommunications Association.

"In other countries, all kinds of institutions have access to these data, but here you need permission from a judge. That is a great advantage compared to, for instance, the United States," he said.

Susanne Tanner, who heads Swiss data centre Greendata, said many of her company's customers think the Alpine country is a safer bet for their data.

"Swiss companies using servers abroad want to return them to Switzerland, and companies from abroad have begun evaluating Switzerland as a potential place in Europe to conduct their data management," she said.

Fabien Jacquier, the head of Swiss IT security firm Kyos, agreed.

"Clients have become more sensitive to the issue of data protection. Several have asked us to bring their data back to Switzerland," he said.

The electronic spying revelations have loosened many purse strings, according to Oschwald of Mount10, who is thrilled that people have stopped asking why they should pay for a data storage service they could get for free from the likes of Google and Apple.

For the past four months, he said he hasn't heard that question once: "Now people know that if it is free, I can't complain if they are using my data for whatever they want." - AFP, December 11, 2013.

apo/nl/boc

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The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz

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The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz


Bette Midler to play Mae West in HBO biopic

Posted: 10 Dec 2013 09:42 PM PST

December 11, 2013

In a new HBO feature, Bette Midler will play Mae West, who made a name for herself as a provocative playwright in New York in the 1920s. - AFP/Relaxnews pic, December 11, 2013.In a new HBO feature, Bette Midler will play Mae West, who made a name for herself as a provocative playwright in New York in the 1920s. - AFP/Relaxnews pic, December 11, 2013.Mae West — legendary actress, playwright and sex symbol — will come to the screen in a biopic directed by William Friedkin for HBO, Deadline.com reports.

Born in Brooklyn in 1893, West saw her career take off in the 1920s, when she wrote, directed and produced the play "Sex". The show scandalised authorities to such an extent that West was sentenced to ten days in jail for obscenity.

For the forthcoming biopic, HBO has chosen to focus on this very period in the sex symbol's career, when in spite of the commotion caused by her previous play, she continued down the path of provocation. Her next plays dealt with taboos such as homosexuality and proved successful with audiences. Savvy as well as sexy, West eventually became one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood through her contract with Paramount, signed in the 1930s.

Bette Midler, who also got her start in show business through the New York theatre scene, will play the ambitious star in a TV movie directed by William Friedkin, who received an Oscar in 1972 for his film "The French Connection". Screenwriter Harvey Fierstein will base the screenplay for the feature on West's autobiography, "Goodness Had Nothing to Do With It", a title that references one of the actress's lines from the 1932 film "Night After Night". - AFP/Relaxnews, December 11, 2013.

Newly-found Johnny Cash recordings to be released — 30 years later

Posted: 10 Dec 2013 04:12 PM PST

December 11, 2013

A dozen newly-discovered recordings made by late American country singer Johnny Cash (pic) three decades ago will be released next year as an album, Sony Music's Legacy Recordings said yesterday.

"Out Among the Stars" will be released on March 25, the record label said, marking the first time the recordings will be available to the public.

The 12 songs, which include two written by Cash, were recorded for Columbia Records in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1981 and in 1984, but the record company passed on releasing them before dropping Cash from the label in 1986.

The recordings were found in 2012 when Cash's son, John Carter Cash, and Cash experts were cataloging the "Folsom Prison Blues" singer's song archive.

The album will feature three duets, two with his wife June Carter Cash and one with Waylon Jennings.

Cash, who died in 2003 at the age of 71, became an American folk figure over the course of his 49-year career by cultivating an outlaw persona and famously performing at US prisons. - Reuters, December 11, 2013.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Books

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The Malaysian Insider :: Books


Unicef launches book on profile of Malaysian children

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 04:23 AM PST

December 11, 2013

The United Nations Children Fund (Unicef) Malaysia today launched a book, Profile of Children in Malaysia - The Implementation of Children's Rights With Equity.

Its representative, Wivina Belmonte said the book consolidated publicly-available information related to children, and the information was analysed through a child right lens, general data and national research.

She said the book enabled one to assess the situation of children in key areas like education, health, standard of living, care and protection.

Belmonte said the book was not just about results of past efforts but served as a baseline to monitor further implementation of children's rights across the country.

"We hope this publication becomes an important reference in future planning for children, especially in preparation for the 11th Malaysia Plan," she said, adding that Malaysia should beam with pride over the significant improvements on realising children's well-being over the years.

Datuk Dr Rahamat Bivi Yusoff, director-general of the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) in the Prime Minister's Department, who launched the book, said EPU welcomed such moves which provided better care for children and women in Malaysia.

"The book provides a baseline to monitor the progress towards national and international goals and targets aimed at promoting the well-being of children," she said.- Bernama, December 11, 2013.

Print’s not dead, at least not for the next two years

Posted: 10 Dec 2013 08:24 PM PST

December 11, 2013

Print is alive and well, according to a US study conducted by consultancy firm Ricoh. - AFP/Relaxnews pic, December 11, 2013.Print is alive and well, according to a US study conducted by consultancy firm Ricoh. - AFP/Relaxnews pic, December 11, 2013.Print books still hold three main advantages over digital formats, according to the 70% of us who won't be dumping the traditional medium before 2016, finds a US study conducted by consultancy firm Ricoh.

Real books still have a better look and feel, don't strain the eyes to read, and are more satisfying to display — there's nothing like a good bookshelf, we'll say, when our flooring collapses from the weight of a lifetime of papyrus collection.

And any attached costs in terms of storage and transport might actually spur readers on to start and finish print books — 60% of downloaded e-books are never actually read.

The more studious among us also value the mental focus afforded by a book, especially as e-readers are fading in allure next to multipurpose tablet devices; with a book, there is but one tome spread before us, and one tome to rule our concentration. - AFP/Relaxnews, December 11, 2013.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion

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Di manakah skrip-skrip itu hendak dipentaskan?

Posted: 10 Dec 2013 03:59 PM PST

December 11, 2013

Dinsman atau nama sebenarnya Che Samsudin Othman adalah budayawan, penulis dan sastrawan. Beliau menulis untuk kepuasan dan kebebasan berkarya.

Sambil membimbing peserta kursus penulisan skrip drama pentas selama 14 sesi (14 minggu) itu saya pun terfikir juga - untuk apa skrip-skrip drama pentas (teater) hendak dihasilkan banyak kalau pementasannya masih sukar untuk dilaksanakan, disebabkan kerajaan masih enggan memperuntukkan bajet yang munasabah untuk itu?

Tetapi saya meneruskan juga tugas membimbing itu. Alhamdulillah, beberapa orang menunjukkan bakat yang sangat memberangsangkan. Maksudnya kalaulah kita memerlukan skrip baru untuk pementasan, beberapa skrip yang dihasilkan oleh peserta kursus ini layak untuk diangkat dan dipentaskan. Karya Ayieat Farid misalnya, pasti akan meletupkan sesuatu yang boleh menggegarkan masyarakat kita hari ini. Demikian juga dengan karya Kassim Muhamad, walaupun akan menghadapi masalah dalam hal teknikal daripada segi pengarahannya.

Sebuah rumah itu tiba-tiba tidak lagi menjadi rumah manusia, tetapi rupa-rupanya rumah para syaitan, dengan sang Atok itu bapanya syaitan, walaupun tidak ada lakonan atau mekap yang meniru syaitan, dan tanpa sekali pun disebut kata 'syaitan' dalam skripnya. Hanya kepala saya yang membacanya merumuskan demikian. Maka saya tak bersetuju dengan judulnya "Suci Dalam Debu". Tak sesuai. Farid perlu berikan judul yang baru. (Tapi itu hanya cadangan. Pilihan tetap pada Farid).

Malah bukan dua itu saja skrip yang bagus. Ada lagi. Karya-karya peserta dari Bali (Indonesia) dan Bangladesh (dalam bahasa Inggeris) itu pun boleh dipentaskan. Demikian juga monodrama "Uri" karya Nik Norimani, dan beberapa lagi - daripada Firdaus dan Amera Yusof, semuanya boleh dipentaskan. Cuma soalnya di manakah skrip-skrip itu hendak dipentaskan?  

Nik Norimani mungkin tidak akan menghadapi masalah untuk mementaskan "Uri", kerana drama itu hanya memerlukan seorang pelakon sahaja. Kalau ada sedikit bajet lebih, bolehlah dimasukkan juga penyertaan beberapa orang korus bagi memeriahkan lagi persembahan itu.

Namun faktor paling pentingnya ialah Nik Norimani itu sendiri; walaupun masih belajar di tahun akhir di Universiti Malaya, dia sudah menjadi aktivis teater yang sangat aktif dan sudah banyak terlibat dengan pementasan, sebagai sinografer, pereka cahaya dan berlakon. (Pementasan teater saya "Pengisytiharan Abul 'As Menantu Nabi" di Kota Bharu 15 Mac lalu, dialah sinografernya). Maka, tentulah dia tahu di mana dan bagaimana boleh mendapatkan penganjur untuk pementasannya.

Kalau saya masih di usia sedang aktif selepas universiti dulu saya pasti teruja untuk mementaskan karya Panji Wilimantara dari Bali yang berjudul "Apa Jadinya?". Sebab apa? Sebuah karya yang kelihatannya mudah dan ringkas, berlatar hutan, gubuk usang dan anak sungai di hutan, tempat dua insan sang bapa dan anak lelakinya tinggal dengan berburu dan menangkap ikan, lalu mereka bercakap soal mengapa manusia perlu kahwin. Ternyata Panji pelajar wayang kulit ini walaupun katanya belum ada pengalaman menulis tetapi gayanya mencipta dialog yang begitu segar bersahaja membawa nada humor bersama makna yang filosofis Hindu itu - saya seperti tidak mahu percaya bahawa "Apa Jadinya?" adalah skripnya yang pertama. Mitos Jaratkaru yang dimasukkan dengan unsur teatrikal itu pasti mampu mengangkat skrip ini menjadi satu persembahan yang menarik.

Nah, itulah dia, kursus penulisan skrip teater 14 minggu yang sedang saya bimbing sekarang ini membuktikan bahawa kita sebenarnya tidak bermasalah dalam penulisan skrip, kalau kita benar-benar mengingin dan memerlukan skrip untuk pementasan. Kita sebenarnya mempunyai ramai yang berbakat. Kita boleh melahirkan ramai lagi penulis skrip teater yang boleh menghasilkan karya bermutu dan boleh memberi nafas segar kepada dunia teater.

Hanya satu masalah dan halangan besar dalam dunia teater kita yang belum dapat kita atasi, iaitu masalah kesedaran pentadbir dalam kerajaan atau pihak berkuasa dalam negara kita sekarang terhadap pentingnya aktiviti teater dan perlunya diperuntukkan sejumlah bajet mencukupi bagi mengaktifkan aktiviti teater.

Itulah masalah kita yang sebenarnya dalam dunia teater di Malaysia hari ini. Untuk menghasilkan skrip bermutu nampaknya tidak begitu bermasalah. Yang bermasalah ialah untuk mementaskannya, kerana skrip-skrip itu perlu dipentaskan. Dan itulah perkara yang sering saya ulangi kepada peserta tersebut: "Mesti ingat dalam kepala sewaktu kita menulis, bahawa tulisan kita ini adalah untuk dipentaskan, untuk dilakonkan di atas pentas, dan ada penonton yang menonton lakonan cerita yang kita tulis ini."

Pesanan tersebut penting, untuk memandu pemikiran dan kreativiti penulis skrip. Makanya dalam sesi-sesi perbincangan pun hal bagaimana sesuatu skrip itu hendak dipentaskan selalu dibangkitkan, hingga sering juga saya perlu mengingatkan, begini:

"Kita ini penulis skrip. Kenapa nak fikirkan sangat soal bagaimana adegan itu hendak dipentaskan. Itu kerja pengarah. Biarlah pengarah yang memikirkannya. Susah atau senang hendak pentaskannya, boleh atau tak boleh, itu bukan urusan penulis. Penulis hanya menyediakan bahan untuk direalisasikan ke atas pentas oleh pengarah. Kalau ia tak boleh dibuat hari ini, belum ada orang yang tahu bagaimana hendak membuatnya, tak mengapa, suatu hari nanti pasti akan ada orang yang boleh membuatnya. Tulis saja. Jangan bataskan imaginasi kamu."

Dalam skrip Farid misalnya, Habil menghentakkan kepala ibunya berkali-kali dengan seketul batu besar. Kata seorang peserta dalam perbincangan: "Biar kepala itu hancur berkecai." Bagaimana membuat itu? Biarkan sang pengarah yang memikirkannya. Biarkan itu menjadi cabaran kepada pengarah yang akan mengarah skrip itu nanti.

Demikian juga dengan skrip Kassim Muhamad. Terdapat beberapa adegan yang tak siapa pun tahu bagaimana hendak menunjukkannya di atas pentas. Tetapi tak mengapa, kata saya. Masalah itu boleh difikirkan kemudian. Sekarang tuliskan saja, kalau itu idea yang hadir dalam kepala.

Begitulah, sebuah teater itu prosesnya pasti akan mengalir menuju kepada pementasan. Maka pementasan itu mesti ada. Tak dapat tidak. Dan pementasan memerlukan peruntukan kewangan yang mencukupi, sedangkan teater bermutu itu di mana-mana pun di dunia ini bukanlah produk yang boleh dikomersialkan. Ia mesti dibiayai oleh kerajaan atau pihak yang kaya (korporat, yayasan, individu filantrofis) dan tidak mengharapkan keuntungan daripada wang yang dibelanjakan untuk teater.

Tetapi kita tidaklah pula boleh menunggu saat bertuah itu. Apa yang boleh kita lakukan sekarang perlu kita lakukan sekarang. Kalau kebetulan ada bakat di bidang penulisan yang boleh dibimbing dan diangkat menjadi penulis, kita lakukan; kerana di situ pun mungkin ada tenaga ampuh seperti Nik Norimani itu, bersama kawan-kawannya, yang mampu menemukan jalan bagi memungkinkan teater selalu dipentaskan.

Kassim Muhamad juga sudah banyak kali terlibat dalam kerja pementasan, mengkhusus di bidang pengurusan, (di samping menulis esei, cerpen dan puisi). Hanya kali ini secara serius dia mahu menulis skrip teater. Kebetulan melalui kursus ini dia menghasilkan sebuah skrip yang sangat menarik. Mengangkat sang ular menjadi suatu watak yang melengkapkan kehidupan seorang anak muda berwawasan besar. Tetapi sang ular berwawasan lebih besar, hingga akhirnya berlaku pertembungan dan pertarungan yang dahsyat.

Tentu dia pun inginkan karyanya yang luar biasa itu dipentaskan, untuk melihat sejauh mana kreativiti dan teknologi boleh saling membantu bagi mencipta sebuah karya seni yang berbeza dan menarik.

Nampaknya, seperti yang memang selalunya pun begitu, penulis tidaklah selesai kerjanya dengan sekadar menghasilkan skrip sahaja. Mereka perlu juga terus berusaha semampunya, bagi membawa hasil karya mereka itu ke hadapan penonton. – 11 Disember, 2013.

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

Tentang gambus, festival dan sifatnya

Posted: 10 Dec 2013 03:24 PM PST

December 11, 2013

Meor Yusof Aziddin adalah Malaysian folk singer/songwritter yang telah menghasilkan 10 album indipenden sejak tahun 2000 sehingga 2011. Juga penulis untuk buku tentang kehidupan, "Sembang Tepi Jalan" dan "Syurga Yang Hilang." Memblog di www.pestajiwa.net. Berkerjaya sebagai "professional busker" di KL Sentral di bawah pengurusan KTMB sejak tahun 2010 sehingga ke hari ini.

Saya ingin menjemput pembaca dan peminat muzik untuk cuba luangkan masa pada sabtu ini, 14 Disember 2013 (8 malam - 10 malam) dan hadir memeriah serta memberikan sokongan dengan menonton persembahan 'live' pemain gambus/oud dalam dan luar negeri di Festival Gambus Kebangsaan (NGF 2013) di  Auditorium Mini JKKN, Kuala Lumpur.

Program ini dianjurkan oleh National Conservatory of Art (NCA) dengan kerjasama Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara (JKKN) dan Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI).

Seperti biasa, untuk program yang berbentuk ilmiah ini tiket masuk adalah percuma, sebab umum tahu orang kita yang majoritinya Melayu masih ingin dan lebih ghairah kepada pertunjukan hiburan artis glamour yang tidak tahu berlakon, tapi laku sebagai pelakon kerana kisah putus tunangnya menjadi bahan cerita masyarakat atau belanja kawin yang mencecah hingga RM13 juta.

Saya juga akan faham jika yang membuat persembahannya penyanyi popular seperti Hafiz atau Faizal Tahir contohnya yang dijemput untuk bermain gambus secara miming, saya gerenti walau dikenakan bayaran, pasti ramai yang akan hadir. Mereka bukan hendak dengar muzik gambus, mereka cuma excited lihat penyanyi pujaan main instrumen pelik.

Yang tidak berbakat menyanyi, tapi laku sebagai penyanyi walau yang ditonjolkan hanya cermin mata rayban sambil tersengih berposing menggamit orang kampung menampal wajah mereka di bilik sambil berangan sampai kiamat.

Jadi kita faham tentang senario mentaliti masyarakat yang tidak minat dan faham sangat tentang muzik, berbanding hiburan dan gossip di negara yang kebanyakan rakyat dan pemikiran mereka sudah mencapai tahap tepu ini.

Bukan itu saja, bahkan tidak ada bajet atau tajaan daripada segi ringgit kecuali tempat yang disediakan, juga makan dan minum. Sebenarnya ini kali kedua program seperti ini diadakan.

Kali pertama ia berlangsung tahun lalu, tapi tanpa ada promosi ia kurang mendapat sambutan melainkan galakan dan sokongan pihak yang terbabit.

Saya rasa kerajaan perlu memberi sokongan wang ringgit kepada mereka yang terlibat kerana program berbentuk ilmiah seperti ini walau hasil pulangannya daripada segi komersial tidak memberangsangkan, namun untuk jangka masa panjang, ia penting untuk anak cucu kita nanti tahu apa itu muzik zapin, ghazal, mahupun muzik Timur Tengah.

Agak menghairankan kerana peruntukan kerajaan untuk cabang seni dan budaya itu sepatutnya lebih mencukupi sebenarnya, tapi itulah, apabila segalanya dipolitikkan maka jadilah ia seperti cerita biasa yang selalu kita tonton dan baca hari ini.

Raja Zulkarnain dan gambusnya.Raja Zulkarnain dan gambusnya.Saya sempat bertemu dan berbual panjang dengan orang kuat program NGF baru-baru ini, Raja Zulkarnain (lahir 1971 di Muar, Johor) atau nama panggilannya Zul yang merupakan aktivis gambus di negara kita ini.

Kita kata aktivis kerana tahap dedikasi dan minatnya yang mendalam terhadap alat muzik tradisional terutama gambus agar dapat diterima secara komersial di negara kita ini.

Saya rasa jika kita bercerita tentang gambus atau oud, sebenarnya alat muzik ini namanya oud, bukan gambus.

Tetapi, kita sudah terbiasa dengan nama gambus Melayu oleh orang lama dulu yang memang terlalu menjaga adat dan budaya.

Orang dahulu tidak gemar muzik tradisional lama seperti zapin dan joget diusik mahupun ditambah sesuai dengan peredaran zaman.

Tidak menghairankan antara sebab itu juga muzik tradisional kita kekal selamanya di sini dan sukar untuk berkembang di merata dunia seperti muzik blues dan jazz.

Zul penting dalam dunia gambus tanah air selain nama-nama lama yang kita kenal seperti allahyarham Fadhil Ahmad.

Penting kerana selain pernah menjadi tenaga pengajar untuk alat muzik gambus di Akademi Seni Kebangsaan (ASK) dari 2003 hingga 2010, sebelum ASK ditukar namanya kepada Aswara pada 2005, beliau juga berjaya menghasilkan sebuah buku hasil karangannya bertajuk 'Oud , Warisan Seni dari Timur Tengah' yang diterbitkan oleh Institut Terjemahan & Buku Malaysia Berhad pada 2013.

Beliau pernah berguru dengan Nasheer Shamma selama mendalami muzik gambus di Kaherah, tokoh muzik oud terkenal di persada antarabangsa yang berasal dari Iraq.

Jadi, bagi kita yang berminat untuk kenal dengan lebih mendalam apa itu gambus, oud atau sejarahnya, bolehlah memiliki buku tersebut yang boleh didapat di kedai-kedai utama.

Menariknya tentang Zul, asalnya beliau mendalami ilmu gitar di G I T London dari 1999-2000 namun selepas mengenali alat muzik oud pada 1999, beliau mula jatuh cinta sehingga 3 bulan berikutnya beliau berguru dengan seorang tenaga pengajar gambus di London.

Alat muzik oud ini sangat unik, seperti kata Zul. Oud baginya adalah tentang elemen mistik yang terdapat di dalamnya. Saya akui katanya itu, sama seperti sitar yang mana untuk mencapai tahap 'feel' atau 'rasa', ia bukan suatu yang mudah.

Sama seperti saya menonton persembahan atau mendengar muzik Munir Bashir (oud), Naseer Shamma (oud), John McClaughin (guitar), Paco De Lucia (gitar flamenco) mahupun Osman Ali Khan (sitar). Mereka akan membawa kita secara perlahan-lahan masuk ke dunia mereka melalui irama yang dimainkan. Nilai asyik itu sukar untuk digambarkan. Benarlah kata pujangga, kita hanyalah alat saja, segala bunyi dan rasa itu milikNya yang abadi jua.

Untuk program NGF 2013 ini nanti, antara peserta ialah Muhammad Razman Shaharin Hadi (pemain gitar flamenco dari Malaysia), Ismahairi Putra (Singapura), Mohd Zulhafis Zulkeply (UPM), Syech Razie Ali Maula Dawilah (Indonesia), Nathan William Fischer (USA), Zulkifli Ramli (Dewangga Sakti) dan Eric Zang (USA).

Saya ucapkan selamat maju jaya dan selamat berjuang kepada Zulkarnain, saya percaya jika kita tekun dengan watak yang kita jalani ini, akan ada hasil dan hikmahnya di kemudian hari. – 11 Disember, 2013.

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

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

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Abu Kassim terima anugerah daripada Sultan Selangor

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 02:08 AM PST

December 11, 2013

Ketua Pesuruhjaya Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) menyifatkan anugerah yang diterima sempena ulang tahun Keputeraan Sultan Selangor hari ini adalah satu penghargaan kepada inisiatif SPRM mencegah gejala rasuah di negara ini.

Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed (gambar) berkata, beliau berbangga kerana kini usaha dan penglibatan SPRM dalam membanteras rasuah bukan hanya mencatatkan kejayaan di negara ini tetapi turut mendapat pengiktirafan antarabangsa.

"Saya mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Tuanku Sultan untuk anugerah ini yang saya kira suatu bentuk pengiktirafan Tuanku kepada pencapaian SPRM membanteras rasuah selama ini," katanya kepada pemberita selepas menerima anugerah itu daripada Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah di Istana Alam Shah di sini.

Abu Kassim, 53, yang dikurniakan Darjah Kebesaran Datuk Setia-Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah (S.S.I.S) yang membawa gelaran Datuk Setia, adalah antara 102 penerima darjah dan bintang kebesaran Selangor sempena ulang tahun Keputeraan Ke-68 Sultan Selangor hari ini.

Hadir sama dalam istiadat pengurniaan tersebut ialah Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim; Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri (SUK), Datuk Mohammed Khusrin Munawi; serta barisan Exco dan wakil-wakil rakyat Selangor. - Bernama, 11 Disember, 2013.

MB Terengganu dipuji, tahan lori roti untuk diagih kepada mangsa banjir

Posted: 11 Dec 2013 01:55 AM PST

December 11, 2013

Ahmad Said turut turun padang melihat nasib yang melanda mangsa banjir di Terengganu. Gambar fail.Ahmad Said turut turun padang melihat nasib yang melanda mangsa banjir di Terengganu. Gambar fail.Tindakan Menteri Besar Terengganu, Datuk Seri Ahmad Said yang menahan dua buah lori Gardenia untuk mengagihkan bekalan rotinya kepada mangsa banjir di Kemaman baru-baru ini mendapat pujian pembangkang.

Dalam sesi perbahasan Belanjawan 2014 di Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Terengganu hari ini, Hishamuddin Abdul Karim (PAS-Tepoh) memuji tindakan Menteri Besar yang menahan kenderaan berkenaan di kawasan Chendor, Pahang minggu lalu.

Hishamuddin berkata, Menteri Besar tidak sanggup melihat rakyat kelaparan akibat terperangkap dalam banjir selepas laluan Kemaman-Kuantan ditutup akibat dinaiki air.

"Saya kira, jika saya berada di tempat Menteri Besar ketika itu, saya juga akan melakukan perkara yang sama atas faktor kemanusiaan," katanya.

Tindakan Ahmad itu mendapat pujian ramai dan berita tentangnya tersebar luas di laman sosial Facebook dan beberapa blog. - Bernama, 11 Disember, 2013.

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com
 

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