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The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

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The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

Men’s hockey squad successfully defends SEA Games title

Posted: 21 Dec 2013 04:18 AM PST

December 21, 2013

The Malaysian men's hockey squad proved that they are in the league of their own when they trounced Singapore 5-0 in the final at the Theinphyu Hockey Stadium and defended their SEA Games gold medal today.

Coached by Tai Beng Hai, the squad also proved that the combination of senior and junior players was not a factor for them to shine and keep their unbeaten record intact.

As the preferred team, the squad consistently displayed excellent performance and Azreen Rizal Nasir scored the first goal in the 7th minute before Muhammad Azammi Adabi added another goal for the team in the 19th minute.

Dangerouslee Mathew put pressure on the opposing team as he scored the third goal for Malaysia in the 26th minute before Mohammed Azzami scored another goal in the 32nd minute.

The second half saw both teams gave tough competitions, but Ahmad Kazamirul Nasruddin completed the rout with a penalty stroke in the 63rd minute.

With the result, Singapore took the silver, while Myanmar won the bronze after defeating Thailand 2-0.

To reporters, Beng Hai said he was satisfied with the squad's excellent performance throughout the Games.

"We are so proud to have delivered the expected gold medal," he said.

Senior player Roslan Jamaluddin, 35, he was proud to have helped the squad to defend the gold medal after winning it at the 2007 SEA Games in Korat, Thailand.

"I'm so happy because being a senior member in the squad, I am still able to help defending our gold medal. I hope the new breed of players will continue our excellent performance in Southeast Asia," said Roslan, who is the goal keeper.

The national women's hockey team also delivered the gold medal as expected after beating Thailand 6-1 in the final yesterday . - Bernama, December 21, 2013.

Tim Sherwood uncertain over Spurs role

Posted: 21 Dec 2013 02:27 AM PST

December 21, 2013

Tim Sherwood (pic) is keen to press his claims to become Tottenham's permanent manager, but admits Sunday's trip to Southampton could mark his final game in charge of the club.

Sherwood was installed as interim manager following the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas in the wake of a 5-0 home defeat against Liverpool last weekend.

The former Blackburn midfielder oversaw a defeat in his first match in charge, the midweek home loss to West Ham in the League Cup quarter-finals, and is keen to register his first victory when he takes his side to St Mary's Stadium.

"If it was down to me, I'm getting a 10-year contract now but football doesn't work like that," said Sherwood, who has been given no guarantee he will be in charge beyond the visit to the south coast.

"It's all about getting the results. I listen to managers all the time talking about the project, but the project is you win games or get sacked. End of story.

"I hope to have a chat with the chairman. I'm obviously taking the game on Sunday, but the games come thick and fast around Christmas, so I don't know when we are going to get that meeting in."

Sherwood believes the foundations are in place to improve on the club's inconsistent form.

Despite poor results of late, Spurs are only five points off the top four going into the latest round of matches and having progressed to the knock-out stages of the Europa League.

"I know the players we have got here, and I know the good young talent coming through the club," he said.

"We need to determine what long-term success is at this football club. That is something that the powers that be need to decide."

Sherwood will attempt to outwit Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino, who has also been linked with the Spurs vacancy but insists he has had no contact with the White Hart Lane club.

Ajax coach Frank De Boer has ruled out a move to north London while Guus Hiddink, Fabio Capello and Glenn Hoddle are among the other names linked with the post.

Pochettino, though, insists his thoughts are firmly on his current job and in the build-up to Sunday's game he spoke positively about his relationship with the Southampton hierarchy.

"As a manager what's really important is that the sporting aspect is under my control, in terms of signings," he said.

"Without my agreement no signings go through, and those two basic things are very important for any manager."

Southampton's recent disappointing results have taken the edge off their impressive start to the season, but their last two outings have seen them secure well-earned points against Manchester City and Newcastle.

"The thing about this team is that it's always played the same way," Pochettino said.

"It's played with the same identity against Arsenal and Chelsea, then against Manchester City.

"Those were really tough games of course, there's no denying that, but overall, despite that, the team has been playing well and with the same philosophy and identity which is the most important factor."

Tottenham's Andros Townsend is sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Pochettino has six senior absentees including Artur Boruc, Victor Wanyama and Nathaniel Clyne.- AFP, December 21, 2013.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Features

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US diplomat row overlooks Indian maids’ plight

Posted: 20 Dec 2013 11:26 PM PST

December 21, 2013

India erupted in fury last week over America's strip-search and arrest of an Indian diplomat accused of underpaying her housekeeper. But the story of the maid herself has received far less attention back home. - Reuters pic, December 21, 2013. Americans were shocked at the alleged $3.31-per-hour wage paid to an Indian diplomat's housekeeper in a case that has sparked global outrage. But to Rupa Thakur, who does the same job in Mumbai, it sounded like a small fortune.

The mother-of-three works 13 hours a day, six days a week for a family in the suburbs of India's financial capital, taking home 8,000 rupees (RM427) a month — or about RM1.20 an hour.

"Life is tough," said Thakur, 39, who moved to the city from Nepal as an uneducated girl to find work.

"After daily expenses and paying my children's school and college fees, I can save only around 2,000 rupees. With everything getting costlier every day, it is difficult for people like us."

Domestic service is a prominent feature of life in urban India, with a maid seen as a stamp of middle-class membership. Many of those who can afford it also have drivers, cooks and nannies.

Too many hours, too little cash

Such workers often start as young women or girls, like Thakur, who travel from rural areas to try to make a living and support their families, but who often end up working too many hours for too little cash, activists say.

While New York rigidly enforces laws to ensure even the lowliest employees get no less than $7.25 an hour, such legislation is almost entirely absent for Indian domestic workers.

"They need some kind of standardised wage practice in force," said Mumbai social worker Avisha Kulkarni, who campaigns on the issue.

There are also frequent reports of domestic servants being abused by their wealthy employers.

In November, a New Delhi court ordered an Indian lawmaker and his wife to be held in police custody for allegedly torturing to death a maid at their home.

The case came soon after a teenage maid was rescued from another upscale Delhi home by police and social rights campaigners, who said she had been slashed with knives and mauled by dogs.

The Global Slavery Index, released in October, found an estimated 13.95 million people in India are victims of forced labour — making up almost half of the world's slave population. Domestic service is a key area of concern.

"The central government has completely ignored the conditions of domestic workers," said Anannya Bhattacharjee, executive council member of the New Trade Union Initiative, who is based in northern Haryana state.

"It's part of Indian feudal tradition. There's always talk of domestic workers being part of the family but they want to be treated as workers," she said.

But there are also signs of change within the industry.

While demand remains high, Kulkarni said fewer women were willing to serve as live-in maids for one household, preferring to work at a number of homes and charge per task, such as cleaning utensils or washing clothes.

"The standard and cost of living has gone up," Kulkarni said, adding that many maids had high aspirations for their children and wanted them well-educated.

"They treat us so rudely"

This was the case for Pushpa Khude, another housekeeper in Mumbai, who financed her two children's college education and whose son is now a bank manager.

Khude, 45, cleans and cooks in several households and takes home 24,000 rupees (RM1,265) a month — a relatively high sum for her job in India — after starting work at the age of six watering plants for a Bollywood actor.

Nowadays she only works for expatriates, with no desire to take on Indian employers.

"I'm Indian, but I'm disappointed because other Indians aren't giving us (maids) respect or any responsibility," she said.

"They treat us so rudely and they don't trust us or give us holiday."

US attorney Preet Bharara, the prosecutor who spearheaded Khobragade's arrest proceedings, wondered why there was little concern in India for the maid and her family.

"One wonders why there is so much outrage about the alleged treatment of the Indian national accused of perpetrating these acts, but precious little outrage about the alleged treatment of the Indian victim and her spouse?" he said in comments earlier this week.

Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch, points out that millions of mostly women and girls perform "crucial jobs" around the world as domestic helpers, often enabling employers to pursue careers.

But she said that in India and elsewhere, they remain "among the most exploited", despite a new international treaty adopted in 2011 to improve their rights.

"India should sign the Domestic Workers Convention, encourage domestic workers to organise, and ensure that their complaints of abuse, including sexual abuse, are promptly addressed," Ganguly said.

"Quite often domestic workers fear reprisals and don't come forward with their complaints. Proper witness protection systems should be provided." - AFP, December 21, 2013.

Syria views Saudi as number one enemy

Posted: 20 Dec 2013 05:56 PM PST

December 21, 2013

Syrian rebels pose for a picture. Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Muqdad told AFP this week that Saudi Arabia was providing unfettered support for 'terrorist groups' in Syria. - Reuters pic, December 21, 2013. Syria now views Saudi Arabia as its number one enemy and accuses it of trying to destroy the country by arming jihadists and other rebels fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad.

The oil-rich Gulf monarchies have sided with the opposition from the start of Syria's conflict in March 2011, with Riyadh leading calls for the fall of Assad.

Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Muqdad told AFP this week that Saudi Arabia was providing unfettered support for "terrorist groups" in Syria, while other nations had reviewed their positions.

"I think that all those who supported these terrorist groups have the feeling now that they have made big mistakes," Muqdad said in an interview on Thursday, referring to the rebels seeking to topple Assad.

"The only party who is declaring the full support to the terrorist groups, to Al-Qaeda, is Saudi Arabia," he said.

Muqdad urged the world to press Saudi Arabia to halt its support for the rebels, to prevent what he said was "another 11 September incident".

"I think that if the world wants to avoid another 11 September incident, they must start telling Saudi Arabia 'enough is enough'," he said, referring to Al-Qaeda's 2001 attacks on the US.

Earlier this month, Assad's government urged the United Nations to take a stand against Saudi support for Islamist groups whose influence has grown on the battlefield.

"We call on the UN Security Council to take the necessary measures to put an end to the unprecedented actions of the Saudi regime, which is supporting takfiri (Sunni extremist) terrorism tied to Al-Qaeda," the foreign ministry said in a message to UN chief Ban Ki-moon.

It was the first time the Syrian government has appealed to the international body to take action against Riyadh.

"Saudi Arabia is not content to merely send weapons and to finance but also mobilises extremist terrorists and sends them to kill the Syrian people," the Syrian message said.

Saudi 'not to stand idle'

Saudi-Syrian relations had been tense for years, long before the start of the brutal conflict that has now killed an estimated 126,000 people.

The Sunni-ruled kingdom severed diplomatic relations with Damascus following the February 2005 assassination in Beirut of Lebanese ex-premier Rafiq Hariri who had close ties with Riyadh.

Four years later, diplomatic ties resumed and Assad, who belongs to the Alawite Shiite sect, paid an official visit to Riyadh in March 2009.

Saudi King Abdullah, who rarely embarks on official visits abroad, reciprocated in October that year and made a landmark visit to Damascus to seal ties.

But relations deteriorated from the onset of the Syria war and were finally severed, with Riyadh repeatedly calling for the end of Assad's regime.

Saudi officials have simultaneously chided the West for its reluctance to intervene militarily on the side of the armed opposition.

On Tuesday, the Saudi ambassador to Britain, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdul Aziz, published in The New York Times a bluntly worded assessment of the West's policies on Syria and Iran.

"We believe that many of the West's policies on both Iran and Syria risk the stability and security of the Middle East," he wrote in the commentary.

The senior diplomat said Saudi Arabia has "global responsibilities", both political and economic, and vowed it will continue to support the rebel Free Syrian Army and opposition fighters.

"We will act to fulfil these responsibilities, with or without the support of our Western partners," wrote the ambassador.

He also acknowledged the threat of Al-Qaeda-linked groups in Syria, arguing however that the best way to counter the rise of extremists among the rebels was to support the "champions of moderation".

Muqdad on Thursday told AFP that "Saudi Arabia should be put on the list of countries supporting terrorism."

Outside regime circles, there is also growing animosity towards Saudi Arabia.

Earlier this month, a film which depicts the Saudi royal family in an unflattering light was screened at the Damascus opera house.

"It was important for me to show this movie," said director Najdat Anzour of his "The King of Sands" movie, which opens with Al-Qaeda's 9/11 attacks on the US.

"Al-Qaeda didn't come from Mars but from Saudi Arabia, from the Wahhabi, extremist way of thinking," Anzour told AFP.

Anzour said a Saudi cleric has issued a fatwa, Islamic decree, authorising his killing. - AFP, December 21, 2013.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz

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Small countries highlight Oscars’ Top Foreign Film short list

Posted: 20 Dec 2013 05:25 PM PST

December 21, 2013

Films from Cambodia, Palestine, and Bosnia and Herzegovina made the short list of candidates vying for the best foreign language film Oscar nomination, the Academy Awards organizer said yesterday.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences winnowed down 76 foreign films to nine in the first phase of the nomination process. The five nominees for the Oscar award will be announced on Jan 16.

Cambodia's French-language documentary "The Missing Picture," which uses clay figurines to tell the story of the bloody reign of the Khmer Rouge government, made the list, taking a step closer to becoming the country's first film to score an Oscar nomination.

Director Hany Abu-Assad, whose 2005 film "Paradise Now" earned Palestine's only Oscar foreign-language nomination, made the list with thriller "Omar."

Bosnia and Herzegovina, which won the Oscar statuette in 2002 for "No Man's Land" in the only instance it earned a nomination, made the short list with the drama "An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker."

Drama "The Great Beauty" from Italy, which has won a record 13 best foreign picture Oscars as a country, and Danish drama "The Hunt" starring Mads Mikkelsen also made the list a week after both films picked up Golden Globe award nominations for best foreign language film.

Belgian Flemish-language drama "The Broken Circle Breakdown," German thriller "Two Lives" and Hungarian drama "The Notebook" also made the short list.

Acclaimed Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai's ode to Kung Fu, "The Grandmaster," made the list. The art house director, considered one of the world's top filmmakers and best-known for dramas "Chungking Express" and "In the Mood for Love," has never had a film nominated for an Oscar.

Notably absent from the list was Iranian domestic drama "The Past" starring French actress Berenice Bejo and directed by Asghar Farhadi, whose 2011 drama "A Separation" won the best foreign language Oscar.

France's coming-of-age lesbian love story "Blue Is the Warmest Color" was also absent as its release in France did not make the Sept 30 deadline to be eligible for submission.

The annual Academy Awards, Hollywood's top film honors, will be handed out on March 2. - Reuters, December 21, 2013.

Tom Cruise settles defamation lawsuit with publisher

Posted: 20 Dec 2013 05:16 PM PST

December 21, 2013

Actor Tom Cruise (pic) on Friday settled a $50 million (RM164 million) defamation lawsuit against a German media company that published a report saying the Hollywood star had "abandoned" his daughter Suri after his divorce from actress Katie Holmes.

Attorneys for Cruise and Bauer Publishing Company, which publishes US celebrity magazines Life & Style and InTouch Weekly, agreed to have the lawsuit dismissed, with each paying their own costs and attorneys' fees, according to a document filed in US District Court in Los Angeles.

The actor's attorneys said in a statement that Cruise and Bauer settled the dispute and that the publishing company "never intended to communicate that Tom Cruise had cut off all ties and abandoned his daughter, Suri, and regret if anyone drew that inference from anything they published."

Terms of the settlement were not disclosed and are confidential, the statement said.

Bauer's attorneys were not immediately available to comment.

Cruise's lawsuit, which also alleged invasion of privacy, gave a glimpse into the "Mission: Impossible" actor's tightly guarded private life, including his divorce from Holmes and his Scientology religion.

The case was scheduled to head to trial in June 2014.

In a declaration filed in federal court last month, Cruise denied that he had cut his 7-year-old daughter out of his life, "whether physically, emotionally, financially or otherwise."

The initial lawsuit was filed by Cruise in October 2012, after Bauer's magazines published reports claiming Cruise, 51, had abandoned Suri following his 2012 divorce from Holmes.

"'Has he chosen Scientology over Suri for good? Abandoned by Daddy.' I mean come on, that is absolutely disgusting. That is absolutely disgusting," Cruise said according to a transcript of a September video deposition.

Cruise added that one of Holmes' "assertions" for their 2012 divorce was that she wanted to protect Suri from Scientology and that his only daughter from his marriage to Holmes was not currently practicing the religion.

Cruise also said in the deposition that while Holmes, 35, was a practitioner of Scientology before and during their six-year marriage, she left the church when she filed for divorce.

The actor is one of the highest-profile members of Scientology, a religion founded by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard in 1954.

Its followers, which also include actor John Travolta, believe humans are immortal beings whose existence extends beyond one lifetime. Critics of the church describe it as a cult that harasses people who try to quit.

Actress Leah Remini was one of the most prominent celebrities to leave the Church of Scientology earlier this year, and has spoken out about being cut off by many friends due to her decision. - Reuters, December 21, 2013.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Bahasa

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The Heat digantung kerana pertukaran pemilikan, kata Putrajaya

Posted: 21 Dec 2013 01:33 AM PST

December 21, 2013

Akhbar The Heat digantung kerana tidak menepati syarat ditetapkan KDN. Gambar fail.Akhbar mingguan The Heat digantung kerana mereka tidak memaklumkan berlaku pertukaran pemilikan dan hala tuju daripada sebuah akhbar perniagaan, kata Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN), hari ini.

"Permit penerbitan The Heat mensyaratkan pemilik untuk memberitahu KDN jika berlaku pertukaran pemilikan.

"Tambahan pula, permit adalah untuk akhbar perniagaan mingguan. Bagaimanapun, syarat-syarat ini dilanggar," kata KDN dalam satu kenyataan lewat petang ini.

Akhbar mingguan The Heat yang dilancarkan September lalu digantung pada minggu ini selepas menerima surat tunjuk sebab kedua daripada KDN.

Sebelum ini, KDN menafikan dakwaan bahawa penggantungan The Heat adalah disebabkan laporan tentang perbelanjaan tidak berhemah Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak dan isterinya Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

"Keputusan penggantungan tidak ada kena mengena dengan laporan The Heat mengenai Perdana Menteri dan sebarang tuduhan sebaliknya adalah tidak berasas," kata jurucakap KDN, dipetik oleh The Wall Street Journal.

KDN berkata, permit penerbitan akhbar mingguan berbahasa Inggeris itu digantung kerana mereka melanggar syarat ditetapkan.

Sementara itu, Timbalan Menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, berkata penggantungan akhbar The Heat berkuatkuasa serta merta selepas diberikan surat tunjuk sebab.

Beliau berkata, ia merupakan prosedur biasa sementara menunggu jawapan kepada surat tunjuk sebab, sebelum tindakan selanjutnya daripada KDN.

"Penerbit mempunyai masa sehingga 24 Disember untuk menjawab surat tunjuk sebab yang dikeluarkan kepada mereka," kata Wan Junaidi kepada The Malaysian Insider.

Najib, setelah mengambil alih pucuk pimpinan daripada Tun Abdullah Badawi, mengumumkan beberapa langkah ke arah ruang demokrasi, termasuk kelonggaran sekatan terhadap media.

Bagaimanapun, tindakan menggantung The Heat dilihat sebagai percubaan mengembalikan era pemerintahan Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yang menunjukkan kawalan ketat ke atas media.

The Malaysian Insider difahamkan, walaupun KDN tidak menyatakan secara spesifik berhubung mana-mana artikel, dipercayai ia disebabkan oleh rencana muka depan akhbar itu bertajuk "All eyes on big spending Najib"dalam edisi 23-29 November, 2013. – 21 Disember, 2013.

Chua Soi Lek tidak terima `viagra politik’ Najib

Posted: 21 Dec 2013 12:17 AM PST

OLEH EILEEN NG
December 21, 2013

Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek (kanan) bersama calon Timbalan Presiden, Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong; dan Datuk Donald Lim (dua dari kiri) membuang undi di pemilihan MCA. - Gambar The Malaysian Insider oleh Afif Abd Halim, 21 Disember, 2013.Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek tidak gembira dengan cadangan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak bahawa MCA memerlukan "viagra politik" untuk bangkit semula dalam pilihan raya akan datang.

Presiden MCA itu berkata, beliau tidak terkejut dengan kenyataan pengerusi Barisan Nasional (BN) itu kerana MCA masih lagi belum bangkit selepas kehilangan banyak kerusi pada Pilihan Raya Umum 2008 dan 2013.

Dalam Pilihan Raya 2008, MCA hanya berjaya mendapat 15 kerusi Parlimen dan 32 kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) di seluruh negara.

Dalam Pilihan Raya 2013 pula, kerusi MCA merosot lebih teruk dengan hanya mendapat tujuh kerusi Parlimen dan 11 kerusi DUN.

Mengulas ucapan Najib, Dr Chua berkata, rakyat seharusnya bijak membuat penilaian terhadap BN secara keseluruhannya terutama MCA kerana parti itu merupakan sebahagian komponen daripada entiti itu.

"Ini bukan soal pucuk pimpinan sahaja... ini soal sokongan kepada kerajaan. MCA merupakan sebahagian daripada BN, apa dasar yang dilaksanakan oleh BN akan ditafsirkan seperti MCA sebahagian daripadanya.

"Kalau dasar itu rakyat tak terima, maka MCA dan parti komponen lain (juga) akan menanggung beban ini," katanya.

Apabila ditanya apakah MCA memerlukan Viagra untuk kembali bangkit, Dr Chua berkata: "Anda perlu tanya kepada PM apakah dia tahu apa itu Viagra?"

Najib semasa merasmikan Mesyuarat Agung Tahunan MCA ke 60 hari ini menyeru MCA mengambil "viagra politik" bagi mengembalikan semangat anggota parti berkenaan terutama ketika sokongan daripada kalangan masyarakat Cina semakin merosot.

Presiden Umno itu berkata, MCA masih mempunyai ahli di peringkat akar umbi, namun semangat mereka lemah.

"Kita perlukan viagra politik. Lemah semangat. MCA ada ahli di akar umbi, tetapi tiada semangat.

"Nanti kita minta Menteri Kesihatan buat," katanya berseloroh.

Najib turut memberikan beberapa langkah penambahbaikan kepada MCA dalam usaha parti komponen itu meraih semula sokongan masyarakat Cina.

Beliau berharap kepimpinan MCA dapat bersatu di peringkat pusat dan bekerjasama serta mengetepikan kepentingan peribadi.

Selain itu, Dr Chua berkata, beliau tidak menyesal apabila membuat keputusan untuk tidak mempertahankan jawatan presiden MCA.

"Kehidupan saya tidak semata-mata hanya berkisar kepada politik sahaja, malah saya masih ada rancangan lain selepas berundur nanti.

"Namun, saya masih seorang perwakilan dan anggota parti dan akan terus memberi sokongan kepada parti tidak kira dalam memberi nasihat ataupun menghadiri sebarang program yang dianjurkan oleh parti," katanya.

Bercakap pada sidang media selepas mengundi pada pemilihan parti sempena Perhimpunan Agung MCA kali ke-60 di Wisma MCA, hari ini, beliau berkata, keputusan tidak mempertahankan jawatannya itu untuk memberi peluang kepada pucuk pimpinan yang baharu menerajui parti.

"Saya turut berharap dan sentiasa mendoakan pucuk pimpinan yang baharu ini dapat mengembalikan sokongan masyarakat Cina terhadap MCA dan sama-sama berjuang untuk berkhidmat kepada mereka," katanya.

Sementara itu, Dr Chua juga menyeru semua perwakilan menghormati keputusan yang dibuat selepas pemilihan dan bekerjasama dengan barisan kepemimpinan yang baharu bagi menerajui parti.

"Saya tidak mahu sejarah berulang apabila ada perwakilan yang tidak puas hati ketika saya dipilih menjadi presiden pada pemilihan 2010 lalu meletakkan jawatan meninggalkan parti.

"Ini satu tindakan yang tidak bertanggungjawab, tidak menghormati sistem demokrasi yang diamalkan serta tidak menghormati keputusan perwakilan kerana golongan ini mementingkan diri sendiri yang mahukan individu tertentu sahaja memimpin parti dan enggan bekerjasama dengan pemimpin baharu," katanya. – 21 Disember, 2013.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion

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GLC jangan lepas tangan

Posted: 20 Dec 2013 03:48 PM PST

December 21, 2013

Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed is a three-term MP for Pulai and the new PAC chairman. Apart from being in the new politics, he also writes for The Malaysian Insider while debating other matters at www.jazlan.net

Tidak sampai 10 hari lagi kita akan memasuki tahun 2014, tahun yang dilihat begitu mencabar kepada rakyat terutama sekali kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN) dalam usaha untuk mengotakan segala manifesto Plihan Raya Umum ke-13 selepas berjaya membentuk kerajaan dengan 133 kerusi Parlimen.

Namun, 'jalan' yang menanti kerajaan BN pimpinan Datuk Seri Najib Razak dilihat amat mencabar terutama sekali dalam berdepan dengan tanggungjawab mengimbangkan dengan realiti iklim ekonomi dunia dengan memastikan kesejahteraan serta kebajikan rakyat terus terpelihara.

Kini, penasihat-penasihat Putrajaya dikhabarkan 'pening kepala' dalam menangani kemarahan rakyat berikutan kenaikan harga utiliti, bermula dengan pengumuman tarif elektrik sebanyak 15 peratus pada Januari 2014 kepada cadangan menaikkan harga tol antara 50 sen hingga RM2 juga pada bulan yang sama.

Sebelum ini, kerajaan terpaksa menaikkan harga minyak RON 95 dan diesel serta gula dengan mengurangkan subsidi di bawah pelan rasionalisasi subsidi, dan ini sedikit sebanyak memberi 'peluru' kepada pembangkang untuk 'membantai' kerajaan.

Di media sosial dan media massa, rakyat secara terang-terangan meluahkan kemarahan, kekecewaan serta kesal dengan kenaikan berkenaan. Walaupun para menteri Kabinet cuba merasionalkan segala tindakan berkenaan, ia nampaknya langsung tidak berkesan.

Kenyataan mengenai tindakan rasionalisasi subsidi, kepentingannya terhadap masa depan negara serta kenyataan tidak mahu menjadi kerajaan populis dengan tidak mahu meranapkan ekonomi negara, dalam memberi kewajaran kenaikan harga tarif elektrik, harga minyak atau harga tol langsung, tidak mendapat simpati daripada rakyat.

Namun bagi saya, peranan Syarikat Berkaitan Kerajaan (GLC) yang menjadi monopoli kepada hampir semua sektor utama ekonomi negara perlu digerakkan dalam membantu kerajaan untuk mengurangkan kemarahan rakyat.

Umum mengetahui kerajaan memegang saham utama dalam GLC-GLCnya yang memiliki Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan (PLUS) dan Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) dan banyak lagi.

Pada masa sama, syarikat-syarikat ini, dipayungi oleh sebuah syarikat pelaburan strategik negara iaitu Khazanah Nasional yang sebenarnya, adalah kunci untuk kerajaan mengekang kenaikan harga kemudahan awam terutama sekali konsesi tol serta tariff elektrik.

Kepentingan kerajaan yang bersifat monopoli ini memberikan kuasa mutlak kepada GLC ini dalam menentukan harga perkhidmatan yang ditawarkan kepada rakyat. Ini juga boleh disalahguna untuk mencari keuntungan yang berlebihan.

Sebagai GLC utama negara yang menjadi pemegang saham kepada syarikat-syarikat lain yang memonopoli sektor seperti pengangkutan MAS dan Malaysia Airport Berhad), infrastruktur (PLUS), tenaga (Tenaga Nasional Berhad), komunikasi (TM Bhd dan Axiata Bhd), hartanah dan pembinaan (UEM), hospital (IHH Berhad), dan perbankan (CIMB), sudah pasti semua syarikat-syarikat milik Khazanah ini mencatatkan keuntungan.

Jika tidak mencatatkan keuntungan, mengapa kerajaan memberikan monopoli kepada syarikat-syarikat milik Khazanah ini? Ini belum saya sentuh syarikat-syarikat yang tidak diurustadbir dengan baik seperti Malaysia Agricorp yang dilaporkan mencatat kerugian tunai lebih satu billion ringgit atau projek KLIA2 yang diuruskan oleh MAHB dan dibina oleh kontraktor utamanya UEM Bhd, yang meningkat mendadak daripada kira-kira RM1 bilion kepada lebih RM4 bilion. Ini akhirnya, menyebabkan syarikat MAHB terpaksa menaikkan sewaan dan caj kepada syarikat penerbangan.

Kini sudah sampai masanya kerajaan melalui Khazanah melihat semula sama ada syarikat-syarikat miliknya boleh membantu antara satu sama lain dalam mengurangkan kebergantungan kerajaan dalam memberikan subsidi.

Dalam kata lain, adalah lebih mudah sedikit keuntungan daripada syarikat milik Khazanah dalam sektor utama seperti perbankan atau hartanah disalurkan kepada GLC lain. Sebagai contoh, syarikat pemegang konsesi tol dalam membayar pampasan konsesi.

Kita sedia maklum pun bahawa syarikat-syarikat di bawah Khazanah ini membuat keuntungan daripada harta-harta atau kedudukan istimewa mereka. Sebagai contoh, apabila UEM Bhd mendapat kontrak pembinaan daripada MAHB untuk membina KLIA2, selain kontrak pembinaan Jambatan Kedua Pulau Pinang.

Melalui kaedah 'cross subsidy' ini, kerajaan berkemungkinan akan dapat mengurangkan impak kenaikan harga tol secara maksimum, sebaliknya, ia dilakukan dengan cara lebih berhemah.

Pada pendapat saya, kerajaan perlu lebih telus memaklumkan kepada rakyat mengenai keuntungan GLC seperti Khazanah, kerana ia adalah milik rakyat serta ditubuhkan untuk menjaga kepentingan negara iaitu sudah pastinya rakyat.

Dalam soal kenaikan tarif elektrik pula, pengumuman yang dilakukan seakan tidak kena pada mata rakyat kerana ia dilakukan dengan begitu mendadak tanpa ada sebarang kawal selia daripada pihak tidak berkepentingan.

Jika soal keuntungan Tenaga Nasional yang menjadi teras utama, mengapa tarif elektrik perlu dinaikkan? Sudah pasti ia akan menimbulkan kesangsian di hati rakyat.

Manakan tidaknya, TNB adalah syarikat milik kerajaan melalui pemegang saham utamanya - juga Khazanah - dan jika diteliti dengan mendalam ia sebenarnya, adalah milik rakyat juga.

Timbul persoalan peranan Suruhanjaya Tenaga dalam soal memberikan kewajaran mengapa tarif elektrik perlu dinaikkan. Badan ini sepatutnya menjadi badan bebas untuk meneliti sebarang cadangan untuk menaikkan harga utiliti ini.

Kita sedia maklum bahawa dasar IPP negara ini yang menswastakan industri penjanaan elektrik memberikan keuntungan yang berlebihan kepada IPP ini, walaupun ketika ini, simpanan tenaga elektrik dilaporkan mencecah 40 peratus daripada kadar biasa sekitar 5 peratus.

Sebab itu, saya berpendapat bahawa GLC tidak boleh lepas tangan dalam soal membantu kerajaan menangani serta mengekang kenaikan harga barangan asas negara.

Segala apa yang berlaku kini berhubung soal kenaikan harga ini membawa kepada satu kesimpulan, bahawa perlunya banyak lagi badan atau jawatankuasa bebas.

Mungkin sudah sampai masanya untuk penubuhan sebuah Suruhanjaya Tol untuk melihat secara lebih telus harga tol serta pembinaan lebuh raya pada masa akan datang.
Di samping itu, suara rakyat boleh diterjemahkan melalui Parlimen seperti mewujudkan Jawatankuasa Pemilih untuk meneliti jabatan-jabatan serta kementerian yang bertanggungjawab kepada penyediaan kemudahan asas.

Sistem Parlimen di negara ini tidak mempunyai jawatankuasa pemilih seperti di United Kingdom yang boleh meneliti segala dasar kerajaan serta perbelanjaan setiap kementerian dalam memastikan kepentingan rakyat sentiasa dipelihara.

Selaku Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kira-Kira Wang Negara (PAC), saya baru pulang daripada lawatan Parlimen United Kingdom dan mendapati bahawa jurang pengasingan kuasa antara badan eksekutif dengan Parlimen negara itu tidak terlalu ketara berikutan interaksi yang kerap antara Jawatankuasa Pemilih yang sentiasa memantau setiap pelaksanaan dasar yang dilakukan kerajaan.

Malangnya di Malaysia, kita tidak mempunyai Jawatankuasa Pemilih seperti di UK, cuma ada suatu jawatankuasa yang boleh memainkan peranan itu di negara ini.

Ini sebenarnya, adalah cabaran utama kepada PAC yang sebenarnya, mempunyai tanggungjawab yang begitu besar dan tidak boleh semata-mata bertindak berdasarkan Laporan Ketua Audit Negara (LKAN).

Sebagai sebuah jawatankuasa bebas yang mewakili rakyat dengan diwakli oleh wakil daripada parti kerajaan dan juga pembangkang, PAC perlu memainkan peranan lebih proaktif bukan sahaja untuk meneliti segala perbelanjaan kerajaan, malah memastikan hasil negara sentiasa dikutip dengan cekap untuk pembangunan negara serta kesejahteraan rakyat.

Menteri Kabinet dan pegawai kerajaan seharusnya tidak perlu takut berhadapan dengan PAC melalui prosiding kerana rakyat diberi peluang untuk mengutarakan sebarang persoalan melalui wakil rakyat mereka yang duduk dalam jawatankuasa ini.

Sekiranya, jawapan tersebut didapati memuaskan oleh PAC, maka persoalan yang timbul tidak perlu dipolitikkan di luar daripada Parlimen.

Kerajaan BN perlu bersikap telus dalam soal ini, kerana jika segala kemarahan, kekecewaan serta persepsi negatif yang dilemparkan tidak ditangani dengan betul, ia akan memberikan kesan negatif dalam tempoh lima tahun akan datang menjelang PRU 14.

Sifat berdiam diri atau kenyataan-kenyataan yang 'separuh masak' daripada kerajaan tidak akan dapat meredakan kemarahan rakyat kerana mereka sebenarnya sedar bahawa kuasa adalah di tangan mereka. - 21 Disember, 2013.

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

Sherwood saviour for spendthrift Spurs

Posted: 20 Dec 2013 02:57 PM PST

December 21, 2013

As a player, Shebby Singh won everything there was to win in Malaysia football, and represented the country on the international stage.

The best thing to happen this week, Tottenham Hotspur getting knocked out of the English League Cup.

The worst thing to happen this week, Malaysia getting knocked out in the semi-finals of the SEA Games.

The Spurs result against West Ham United is a blessing in disguise for two reasons. Firstly, the disorganised club need to get their heads down and come up with a playing identity. Secondly, this result does not make Tim Sherwood a bad choice.

Obviously, when Spurs embarked on a signing spree during the pre-season, there was no plan as to the brand of football to be played.

The players signed were brought in simply because they were available – not to fit into a plan or project.

"Let us sign them and they will work it out on the pitch, eventually" seemed to be the order of the day.

Somehow, football has never worked that way. But then again football is about spending money.
Especially, if it is not your own.

Even the financially worse clubs will spend money because the man in charge believes two or three more players will complete the jigsaw puzzle.

The way forward for Spurs now is to trust Sherwood, give him all the time needed to work the players into a team with a direction and playing identity.
This personality is ready to step up and if the likes of Jose Mourinho and Andre Villas-Boas were given opportunities and trust by Porto, here stands a man who will go on and make a name for himself.

While at Blackburn Rovers last season, I chased Sherwood persistently and eventually got chased away by the honourable chairman of the club. He refused to let Sherwood go then, now he has to trust him.

In Myanmar, we looked dangerous when we played direct football and that too in the last 20 minutes of the SEA Games semi-final against Indonesia.

The Indonesians were technically better, passed the ball better but we looked physically stronger. The bulldozing brand of football got us an equaliser but eventually penalties did us in.

And once again, the future of Malaysian football takes a step back. To kick or caress the ball? Love it or leather it? Questions to be answered and the sooner the better.

Winning the SEA Games football gold medal is not, and has not been, an indication of the progress of football.

On a brighter note, we have some very good individuals in our Under-23 football squad and all we need now is to become a good team.

Looking ahead to the weekend, Spurs go to Southampton, an example of a team in the true sense of the word. Good players in a good playing system and a team to emulate for Spurs.

On the Monday night, the Arsenal will play all the football but Chelsea will win. – December 21, 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

Sabtu, 21 Disember 2013