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The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

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The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

James scores 38 as Heat hold off Hawks in overtime

Posted: 23 Dec 2013 10:41 PM PST

December 24, 2013

Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) dunks the ball past Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Louis Williams (3) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 121-119 in overtime. - Reuters pic, December 24, 2013.LeBron James scored 38 points with eight rebounds and six assists to lead the Miami Heat to a 121-110 victory over Atlanta in an NBA overtime thriller yesterday.

Michael Beasley added two crucial free throws with less than 10 seconds to play, giving the Heat a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Neither team led by more than three points in overtime. Miami trailed 119-116 when Chris Anderson's layup with 1:08 left in the extra period narrowed the gap to 119-118.

Kyle Korver and Paul Millsap both missed three-point attempts for the Hawks and on the ensuing Heat possession James got a pass to a driving Beasley who was fouled.

Beasley made both free throws to put the reigning NBA champion Heat ahead by one point.

Out of a timeout, Atlanta's rookie big man Pero Antic inbounded from the left sideline and lobbed the ball to Korver who was denied at the rim. Anderson grabbed the rebound and was fouled, making one more free throw with three-tenths of a second left to account for the final margin.

Ray Allen, starting in place of injured Heat star Dwyane Wade, scored 19 points and calmly drained three free throws to knot the score at 111-111 with less than 10 seconds left in regulation, sending the game into overtime.

Anderson scored 12 points and Beasley added 10 for the Heat, who notched their fifth straight win. - AFP, December 24, 2013.

Tottenham appoint Sherwood as head coach

Posted: 23 Dec 2013 08:32 PM PST

December 24, 2013

Tim Sherwood (pic) was yesterday appointed head coach of Tottenham with a contract to the end of the 2014-2015 season, the Premier League club announced.

Sherwood had been named as interim coach after Andre Villas-Boas was sacked earlier in December following a 5-0 defeat to Liverpool.

"Following the departure of Andre Villas-Boas, the Club can announce that Tim Sherwood has been appointed Head Coach with a contract to the end of the 2014/15 season," said a club statement.

The 44-year-old Sherwood had overseen a 3-2 over Southampton on Sunday.

Chris Ramsey, Les Ferdinand and Steffen Freund will work alongside the former England international midfielder.

"We were extremely reluctant to make a change mid-season, but felt we had to do so in the club's best interests," said Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.

"We have a great squad and we owe them a head coach who will bring out the best in them and allow them to flourish and enjoy a strong, exciting finish to the season.

"We are in the fortunate position of having within our club a talented coach in Tim Sherwood.

"We believe Tim has both the knowledge and the drive to take the squad forward."

Sherwood played 93 matches for Spurs between 1999 and 2003 and also turned out for Blackburn, Norwich, Portsmouth, Watford and Coventry before hanging up his boots in 2005.

He made his mark on Sunday when recalled striker Emmanuel Adebayor, left out in the cold by Villas-Boas, scored twice.

The win left Tottenham in seventh place, four points off the Champions League places.

Sherwood had said after Sunday's game that he wanted his future sorted out as soon as possible.

"What would be ideal for me would be to have a chat with the chairman and see what's best for the football club moving forward," he said.

"I need to know what they're thinking. I don't want this job for five minutes. That's no interest to me. Are we going to move it forward or not?

"It's a massive club with history and tradition. But whatever happens needs to be right for me, too.

"Andre has left the club in a good state. There's nothing wrong with the job he's done. Top of the league in the European competition (Europa League)."

A host of names had been linked with the Tottenham job including Ajax boss Frank De Boer, Guus Hiddink, Fabio Capello and Glenn Hoddle.

Capello is on the verge of signing a new deal to stay with the Russian national team until the 2018 World Cup. - AFP, December 24, 2013.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz

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‘The Hobbit’ still on top at worldwide box office

Posted: 23 Dec 2013 04:49 PM PST

December 24, 2013

The quest to defeat the dragon at the Lonely Mountain continues in 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug'. - AFP/Relaxnews pic, December 24, 2013.The second episode in the "Hobbit" trilogy, "The Desolation of Smaug" remains in the leading position at the global box office this week, according to the latest data from Rentrak.

Peter Jackson's latest feature earned $127.46 million (RM419.3 million) in 57 territories during its second weekend in theatres, ending December 22. The second instalment in the adventures of Bilbo Baggins has now grossed a total $403.80 million.

In second place, Disney's animated film "Frozen" took in $54.26 million worldwide this weekend, bringing its global box-office revenues to date to $344.16 million.

In third place, Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues" brought in a total of $40.18 million during its first weekend in theatres, a respectable performance for the comedy sequel, out in just seven territories.

In fourth place is the Chinese comedy "Personal Tailor" ("Si Ren Ding Zhi"). The satirical film, released in four territories, grossed $24.10 million worldwide. - AFP/Relaxnews, December 24, 2013.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Features

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Kalashnikov, designer of AK-47, dies at 94

Posted: 23 Dec 2013 06:13 PM PST

December 24, 2013

A file picture taken on August 7, 2007 shows Mikhail Kalashnikov, inventor of the fabled AK-47 assault rifle, posing during a media event in Izhevsk marking the 200th anniversary of the Izhmash firearms producer, which makes roughly 100,000 Kalashnikov rifles every year. – AFP pic, December 24, 2013. Mikhail Kalashnikov, designer of the fabled AK-47 automatic rifle which became a weapon of choice for guerrillas and governments the world over, died Monday at age 94.

His death, which came after a long illness, was announced by the office of the presidency in the Udmurtia region where he worked.

Kalashnikov, though he designed a weapon that became synonymous with killing on a sometimes indiscriminate scale, was seen in the Soviet Union as a national hero and symbol of Moscow's proud military past.

He died in Izhevsk, an industrial town 1,300 kilometres east of Moscow, Viktor Chulkov, spokesman for Udmurtia's leader Alexander Volkov, told AFP.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his "deepest condolences" to the family of the "outstanding" designer, the Kremlin said.

"One of the brightest, most talented and consistent patriots of Russia who dedicated all his life to serving his homeland has passed away," Volkov said in a condolence message quoted by his spokesman.

The spokesman, Chulkov, said a state commission would convene on Tuesday to plan a funeral for Kalashnikov, whom he described as a man of "state" stature.

Lavished with honours for designing the iconic rifle, Kalashnikov said he never intended for it to become the preferred weapon in conflicts around the world.

"I created a weapon to defend the fatherland's borders. It's not my fault that it was sometimes used where it shouldn't have been. This is the fault of politicians," he said during an award ceremony at the Kremlin to mark his 90th birthday.

World's favourite weapon

AK-47's name stands for "Kalashnikov's Automatic" and the year its final version was designed, 1947. Also called the "Kalashnikov", the rifle and its variants are the weapons of choice for dozens of armies and guerrilla groups around the world.

More than 100 million Kalashnikov rifles have been sold worldwide and they are wielded by fighters in such far-flung conflict zones as Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia.

A bayoneted version of the AK-47 rifle features on Mozambique's national flag.

Igor Korotchenko, head of the Centre for Analysis of World Arms Trade, called Kalashnikov an "outstanding Russian gunmaker, a man of natural gifts of the kind who are born just once in 100 years."

"The fact that he was born in Russia shows the intellectual potential of our country," he told AFP.
Kalashnikov was showered with every possible major prize in the Soviet Union – Hero of Socialist Labour and winner of the Lenin and Stalin prizes. Modern Russia in 2009 gave him its highest honour – Hero of Russia.

Young soldier's dream

Born in a Siberian village as the 17th child of family on November 10, 1919, Kalashnikov had a tragic childhood during which his father was deported as a "kulak" (prosperous peasant) under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in 1930.

Wounded during the bloody battle with Nazi forces at Bryansk in 1941, Kalashnikov was given six months' leave during which he thought up the first versions of his soon to be legendary rifle.

His superiors saw his talent and encouraged his work and in 1945 entered a prototype of the rifle into a competition. In 1947, the design was recommended for use in the Soviet army.

A year later, Kalashnikov was sent to the weapons factory Izmash in Izhevsk – a plant known since imperial times – to work on production of the rifle.

It quickly became prized for its sturdy reliability in difficult field conditions. The 205-year-old Izmash plant remains one of the main producers of Russian weapons and is treasured as a national icon.

Manufacturer lives on

Yet the design was never patented internationally and Izmash always complained that its potential income from the weapon was hit badly by the "pirated" versions of the designs made abroad.

Kalashnikov barely profited financially from his exploits and lived modestly in Izhevsk, a city in the Ural mountains of around 630,000.

The Izmash factory fell on hard times after a collapse in orders following the fall of the USSR, a fact that prompted Kalashnikov to make a personal appeal to Putin.

That appeal bore fruit and in August this year the Izmash company was revamped and renamed the Kalashnikov company in the hope his name would bring the factory more orders.

Kalashnikov's wife Yekaterina died in 1977. They had four children, three of whom survive and all of whom work on projects linked to their father's life. – AFP, December 24, 2013.

Battle of the Christmas decorations for Hong Kong malls

Posted: 23 Dec 2013 04:42 PM PST

December 24, 2013

This picture taken on December 19, 2013 shows Christmas decorations outside a shopping mall in Hong Kong. - AFP pic, December 24, 2013.In the race to extract cash from Christmas shoppers, Hong Kong's myriad shopping malls have taken to heart the maxim that you must spend money to make money when it comes to decorations this festive season.

From two-storey-high polar bears to giant Disney characters, the southern Chinese city is awash with increasingly elaborate displays as luxury outlets bid to outdo each other and get wealthy mainlanders through the door.

The competition between shopping malls is "very fierce", said Karen Tam, assistant general manager for marketing at the Harbour City shopping mall located on the bustling Kowloon waterfront.

Harbour City spent more than $645,000 (RM2.1 million) this year on a display that includes Disney characters from popular movies such as "Toy Story" and "Lilo and Stitch" placed among huge Christmas decorations.

Tam said the mall's budget will only increase in coming years, as it vies with its rivals to boost Christmas footfall and snare as many local and tourist shoppers as possible.

"The budget for Christmas decorations has to go up because it is really serious competition in Hong Kong and China," Tam said. "We have to be creative, we have to bring in new elements, we have to attract people's eyeballs."

The IFC Mall, located in the city's Central financial district, has set up decorations inspired by New York City's Central Park, with grassy knolls and stationary bicycles that light up when shoppers climb on and pedal.

APM in east Kowloon has constructed a whacky Christmas town featuring the Bear Dog characters from Japanese designer Shiro Nakano, as well as Warhol-esque soup cans topped with colourful Christmas trees.

Malls have kept their holiday designs – and their budgets – a closely guarded secret until the last possible minute, adding to the pressure on those responsible for the over-the-top displays.

"We had tried to check what the other malls are doing for the season, but everyone keeps it all very confidential," said Rebecca Woo, head of marketing at K11 Art Mall.

K11, which doubles as a shopping mall and an art gallery in the tourist hotspot of Tsim Sha Tsui, had an environmental twist on this year's festive installation which was six months in the planning and costing $516,000.

The mall opted for a two-storey tall polar bear made of steel pipes, accentuated with multi-coloured lights and fake foam snow, which Woo said was designed to raise awareness of the impact of human activities on the environment.

"We really want to bring something that is memorable for our customers," she said, adding that the mall has recorded a more than 10% increase in customer visits since it went on display.

The city's immigration department estimates around 11.11 million visitors from mainland China will enter Hong Kong from the end of December to the beginning of January, an increase of 7.6% compared to the same period last year.

In a study by Jones Lang LaSalle conducted over the first half of the year, mainland tourists were found to spend over $1,100 each on average, 39% more than visitors from other countries. - AFP, December 24, 2013.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Bahasa

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UAE sumbang AS$10 juta untuk mangsa banjir di Malaysia

Posted: 24 Dec 2013 03:16 AM PST

December 24, 2013

Bantuan khusus kepada lebih 20,000 keluarga yang terjejas akibat banjir besar yang melanda daerah Pekan dan Kuantan, Pahang. Gambar fail.Presiden Emiriah Arab Bersatu (UAE) Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan mengarahkan supaya US$10 juta diperuntukkan bagi membantu mangsa banjir yang melanda beberapa kawasan di Malaysia baru-baru ini.

Menurut Kedutaan UAE dalam satu kenyataan kepada Bernama hari ini, inisiatif ini merupakan bantuan khusus kepada lebih 20,000 keluarga yang terjejas akibat banjir besar yang melanda daerah Pekan dan Kuantan, Pahang.

"Persatuan Bulan Sabit Merah UAE akan melaksanakan inisiatif kemanusiaan ini melalui kerja-kerja pemulihan dan penyelenggaraan," katanya.

Tambahnya lagi, bantuan berupa keperluan asas yang diperoleh daripada pasaran tempatan dijangka akan memberi manfaat kepada lebih 100,000 rakyat Malaysia yang terlibat.

"Dengan bantuan ini, diharapkan mereka akan dapat pulang ke rumah dan menjalani rutin harian seperti biasa," katanya. - Bernama, 24 Disember, 2013.

Putrajaya dakwa Rafizi putar belit isu jual aset negara

Posted: 24 Dec 2013 03:12 AM PST

Oleh Md Izwan
December 24, 2013

Putrajaya mendakwa Pengarah Strategi PKR Rafizi Ramli (gambar) telah memutar-belitkan laporan Bank Dunia mengenai tuduhan menjual aset negara minggu lalu.

Kementerian Kewangan dalam satu kenyataan hari ini berkata, ahli Parlimen Pandan penggal pertama itu membuat tuduhan kepada kerajaan di atas kepentingan politik.

"Kenyataan yang dibuat oleh Ahli Parlimen Pandan, YB Rafizi Ramli adalah tidak bertanggungjawab kerana dengan sengaja telah memutarkan isi kandungan laporan tersebut bagi kepentingan politik," kata Kementerian Kewangan hari ini.

Rafizi sebelum itu menuduh Putrajaya menjual aset negara bagi tujuan menurunkan defisit ke paras 4% daripada jumlah Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) yang ditetapkan pentabdiran Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

"Semua pihak dinasihatkan meneliti laporan yang dibentangkan di Parlimen sebelum membuat tuduhan yang tidak berasas, demi kebaikan bersama," katanya lagi.

Kementerian Kewangan juga menegaskan tiada keperluan untuk memanggil sidang tergempar Parlimen kerana laporan Malaysia Economic Monitor (MEM, December 2013) yang dikeluarkan oleh World Bank (WB) tersebut telah pun dibentang di Parlimen pada 25 Oktober 2013.

"Oleh itu, cadangan untuk mengadakan satu sidang Parlimen tergempar seperti yang diuar-uarkan di dalam media bagi membincangkan isu ini adalah tidak berbangkit," kata Kementerian Kewangan dalam kenyataan media itu lagi.

Menurut Kementerian Kewangan, aktiviti penjualan tanah yang dijalankan sejak tahun 2008 tersebut adalah dibawah inisiatif pengewangan aset kerajaan (monetization of assets) bertujuan bagi memajukan tanah berkenaan serta membangunkan kawasan sekitarnya.

"Langkah ini telah merangsang lebih banyak penglibatan agensi-agensi kerajaan, syarikat-syarikat berkaitan kerajaan (GLCs) dan sektor swasta di dalam memacu pertumbuhan ekonomi negara," kata kenyataan itu lagi.

Aset tersebut yang dipindah milik juga dilakukan mengikut harga pasaran dengan penilaian dilakukan oleh Jabatan Penilaian dan Perkhidmatan Hartanah (JPPH).

Rafizi juga berkata laporan tersebut mendedahkan pendapatan kerajaan Malaysia akan dijana termasuk RM1.4 bilion daripada aktiviti penjualan aset dan RM4.2 bilion daripada sekuriti hutang daripada aset-aset negara (securitization of government mortgages).

"Pensekuritian hutang kerajaan dilaksanakan bagi mewujudkan modal pembiayaan tambahan untuk pinjaman perumahan penjawat awam.

"Hasil pensekuritian hutang kerajaan bukan merupakan sumber utama hasil kerajaan persekutuan kerana ia hanya mencakupi 1.9% daripada jumlah hasil kerajaan persekutuan," kata Kementerian Kewangan, sambil menegaskan pensekuritian hutang adalah satu aktiviti yang biasa dilaksanakan oleh bank-bank komersil sebagai satu strategi pembiayaan.

Dalam pada itu, Kementerian Kewangan juga menegaskan komitmen kerajaan untuk mengurangkan paras defisit fiskal daripada 5.4% pada tahun 2010 kepada 3.0% pada tahun 2015.

"Pencapaian sasaran ini bukan bergantung kepada penjualan aset kerajaan dan pensekuritian hutang kerajaan, tetapi dirancang menerusi konsolidasi fiskal kerajaan," katanya lagi.

Malaysia mengalami defisit fiskal selama 15 tahun berturut-turut, hutang negara meningkat kepada 53.3% dalam KDNK pada penghujung 2012 daripada 51.6% pada hujung 2011 dan 39.8% pada hujung 2008. – 24 Disember, 2013.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion

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Strikers… can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em

Posted: 23 Dec 2013 08:10 PM PST

December 24, 2013

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

So, we approach Christmas Day after three days of some hectic and excellent football and it seemed to be a kind of an anti-climactic end as it turned out.

After the early kick-off on Saturday, which was surrounded by some made-in-Malaysia drama, had ended in an expected solid win for home side Liverpool against the visitors from Cardiff, there were goals galore over the weekend.

And what better team to start with than my sentimental favourite Tottenham Hotspur.

It was brave of then interim coach Tim Sherwood to start with a central midfield of Mousa Dembele and Christian Eriksen.

While Eriksen was quietly influential, Dembele on the other hand is not ready to play a deeper role. And it does not look like he will develop into one either.

His natural instinct is to keep the ball and he does that rather well but his strength has to be applied further upfield as a second striker… as an alternative to Emmanuel Adebayor perhaps.

We saw the best of Adebayor, or Adebayor at his best, as he has a habit of turning up when the chips are down on himself.

Yes, he is a good player. Yes, he has played for some big clubs. Yes, he has never lasted long at these big clubs. Yes, that is because he has a recurring tendency to be too big for his boots. Let us just enjoy his three great performances per year habit.

On the other hand, Luis Suarez is the class that is needed upfront for Spurs as he put up another master class performance. Here is a player who simply loves football. He is a player who puts his team ahead of himself all the time, every time.

Will Roberto Soldado go the way of Fernando "False Number 9" Torres? I hope not! There seems to be the same blank look in his eyes but trust Sherwood to ensure Soldado starts firing soonest.

Then at the Emirates last night, another striker could not find the target on two great occasions. Step forward, Olivier Giroud!

He is yet another striker who perhaps is not going to be good enough for The Gunners if they dream of being league champions.

He is just not world class and despite all his application, does let the team down when a goal is needed. At the least, Giroud cannot complain about a lack of service with the prowess they have in midfield.

The pragmatic Jose Mourinho once again would be happy with the scoreless draw. He may insist he has attacking players on the pitch but the straitjacket tactics and a curbing of natural instinct shows up another pragmatic performance.

The extended weekend, however, was brightened by the outrageous talent and awareness of Adnan Januzaj. He is going to save David Moyes's bacon. Already showing world class belief, a new superstar has been found.

Finally, when two teams are equally matched, on the day that is, it is then that the highly-talented individuals take the stage. This is where Manchester City had the cutting edge as personified by the introduction of Jesus Navas against Fulham on Saturday.

The best performance of the season from Fulham was simply not good enough as City proved once again why they are the team to beat this season.

Before I end, I must especially mention two items of news that has made my day.

First, that Malky Mackay has not been given the sack as per the ultimatum by Cardiff City's majority shareholder in an email last Friday.

Mackay is doing right by not resigning and though he expected to be given the boot on Monday, it has not happened as yet. Let's hope that common sense prevails after all he has done for the club.

The other news is like a Christmas gift to me. I made a wish in my last column and thank you Santa as it was announced last night that Tim Sherwood has been named the new manager of Spurs.

It is only an 18-month contract, that is, until the end of next season, but it should be enough for him to prove it or shove it.

And like these two managers having a better Christmas than they may have expected a week ago, let me just wish all readers of The Malaysian Insider a very Merry Christmas and happy holidays. – December 24, 2013.

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

Barang naik: Apa khabar pengundi BN

Posted: 23 Dec 2013 03:53 PM PST

December 24, 2013

Shukur mempunyai lebih 30 tahun pengalaman sebagai wartawan dan bekerja dengan pelbagai media. Beliau kini pencen tetapi menjadi pemerhati politik yang tegar.

Menjelang Pilihan Raya Umum (PRU) lalu, berbulan-bulan lamanya pemimpin Umno/BN melontarkan pelbagai janji pihan raya - yang disebut 'BN: Janji Ditepati' di merata ceruk rantau, khususnya di kawasan luar bandar.

Selain kempen habis-habisan di televisyen dan media yang mereka miliki, mereka juga mangadakan pelbagai majlis besar dan kecil di perkarangan masjid, di dewan serbaguna, di mana saja dengan membawa pelbagai habuan . Malah masuk ke rumah-rumah orang kampung memberitahu rakyat janji dan murah hati Umno/BN kepada rakyat.

Pemimpin Umno/BN benar-benar dilihat oleh rakyat yang kurang betfikir, sangat murah hati, maka itu merekapun, percaya janji Umno/BN ini. Tidak menjadi rahsia lagi, bahawa pengundi luar bandar ini sangat percaya. Ini kerana pengundi di kawasan ini, majoritinya, tidak ada ekses internet atau media alternatif yang lain, melainkan media tradisinal dan saluran televisyen biasa.

Antara lain, Umno/BN berjanji, harga barangan keperluan - gula, minyak dan barangan lain akan kekal seperti yang sedia ada, tol tidak dinaikkan, demikian juga tarif elektik akan kekal seperti sedia ada.

Di luar bandar ketika itu, Umno/BN kelihatan tidak ada masalah untuk mendapat sokongan. Bagaimanapun BN melihat ada masalah dengan pengundi bandar yang mempunyai akses kepada media baru. Maka itu, janji mereka tidak mudah diterima, berbanding dengan pengundi di luar bandar. Tetapi ada juga kelihatan sokongan kepada Umno/BN di kalanggan golongan generasi lama di bandar.

Dalam keadaan orang luar bandar, malah sesetengah orang bandar sendiri pun, percaya dengan janji itu, maka BN pun menang walaupun hanya mendapat 47% undi popular.

Kini apa yang terjadi ialah 4,5 bulan selepas PRU hampir semua barangan keperluan naik harga dan rakyat merasakan kehidupan mereka sangat tertekan. Semua golongan rakyat, kecuali golongan elit dan super mewah, merasakan peritnya dengan kenaikan harga barang ini.

Lebih-lebih lagi menjelang permulaan tempoh persekolahan dibuka beberapa hari lagi di mana ibu bapa terpaksa menyediakan belanja untukpelbagai persiapan persekolah anak.

Bagi anak muda juga sangat tertekan memikirkan hal ekonomi negara. Saban hari mereka menghadapi harga makan minum yang mahal, harga rumah mahal, sewa rumah mahal, harga kereta mahal, tambang bas dan teksi mahal. Hendak belajar perlu berhutang, hendak berniaga tiada modal, hendak bekerja peluang terhad, hatta hendak berkahwin terpaksa meminjam.

Tidak cukup dengan itu, pengumuman yang sangat merunsingkan - kenaikan 20 sen harga petrol selepas 4 bulan pilihan raya, harga gula diumum naik 34 sen selepas 5 bulan pilihanraya, tarif elektrik diumum naik 15% selepas 6 bulan pilihan raya dan terkini dijangka tol lebuh raya pula mahu dinaikkan, demikian juga cukai pintu di KL hendak dinaikkan.

Semua maklumat mengenai kebejatan ekonomi dan kenaikan harga barang ini diketahui dengan cepat oleh majoriti rakyat walaupun media yang dikuasai Umno/BN tidak melaporkannya. Ini kerana sudah ada media baru, media alternatif – laman sesawang, tweeter, facbook, sms dan pelbagai lagi yang menghantar maklumat cepat. Ini yang tidak disedari oleh orang Umno/BN, kerana mereka ketinggalan zaman.

Dengan situasi ekonomi yang buruk ini, keluh anak-anak muda, ada senarai rasionalisasi (baca: pengurangan) subsidi yang diumumkan, belum dikira dengan yang bakal diumumkan, ditambah pula dengan peniaga yang menaikkan harga barangan kerana kos pengangkutan akibat minyak naik. Semuanya ini dilakukan hanya beberapa bulan selepas PRU Mei lalu.

Bagaimana dengan janji BN yang berdegar-degar menjelang pilihan raya untuk tidak membebankan rakyat. Adakah kenaikan harga barang keperluan ini tidak membebankan rakyat?

Bagaimana pula dengan penyong dan pengundi Umno/BN dalam PRU yang lalu. Adakah mereka tidak terkesan dengan kenaikan harga barang sekarang? Adakah mereka semuanya golongan elit atau super mewah yang tidak sedikit pun terjejas dengan kenaikan harga barang ini. Apa khabar mereka sekarang?

Adakah penyokong dan pengundi BN ini akan berkata "kenaikan harga barang sedikit saja", sama dengan jawapan orang besar politik negara yang bersilat lidah mempertahankan kedudukan ekonomi yang merosot sekarang dengan alasan tidak munasabah.

Malah ada menteri yang mengeluarkan hujah dangkal, memalukan dan memperlihatkan tidak cerdik, seperti berkata: "Kalau tak mahu kena tol, pakai jalan alternatif (jalan lama)." Dan ada orang besar kerajaan yang berkata, "Kurangkan makan gula, kerana gula naik harga. Jangan guna kereta, kerana minyak naik harga." Dan banyak lagi kata-kata yang menggambarlan rendahnya cara berfikir mereka.

Malangnya, inilah dia para pemimpin BN yang menang dalam PRU lalu, sementara ada yang menjadi menteri melalui kedudukan sebagai senator bukan melalui pilihan rakyat.

Sepatutnya kerajaan dan para menteri yang lebih dulu berjimat, namun sekarang ini rakyat lebih dulu merasakan kesannya dengan kenaikan harga barang. Sementara itu, dalam kegawatan akibat kenaikan harga ini, timbul pula masalah Cukai Barangan dan Perkhidmatan (GST) yang dijangka menambah beban rakyat. Menurut pemimpin Pakkatan Rakyat, cukai GST yang akan dilaksanakan pada April 2015 jelas bersifat zalim dan tidak adil menurut konsep Islam.

Presiden PAS, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, berkata GST ternyata bercanggah dengan konsep adil dalam Islam kerana mengenakan cukai kepada semua orang tanpa mengira kaya atau miskin.

Perlu difahami, katanya, konsep adil mengikut Islam (adalah) bukan semua orang kena. Konsep adil mengikut Islam (adalah) mereka yang mampu mengikut kemampuan masing-masing.

"GST ini, yang beli gula satu lori, yang beli gula satu kilogram, semua kena bayar cukai. Ini satu konsep yang salah," katanya sewaktu berucap di majlis pelancaran Kempen Faham GST, Tolak GST di Kelab Sultan Sulaiman, Kampung Baru, baru-baru ini.

Beliau berkata,kerajaan juga wajib menetapkan harga tidak membebankan rakyat jika berlaku cukai melibatkan kenaikan harga barang keperluan asas yang diguna oleh semua golongan masyarakat.

Majlis Pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat meminta perdana menteri mengadakan sidang khas Parlimen untuk membahaskan masalah yang berkait dengan rakyat tanpa mengira kerajaan dan pembangkang. Biar ahli-ahli Parlimen bebas memberi pandangan mereka.

Turut berucap malam itu ialah Ketua Umum PKR, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim; Penasihat DAP, Lim Kit Siang; Timbalan Presiden PKR, Azmin Ali; Ahli Jawatankuasa PAS Pusat, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad serta wakil-wakil NGO dan aktivis yang menentang pelaksanaan GST.

Dalam keadaan ekonomi yang gawat diakibatkan oleh perbuatan rasuah, ketirisan dan sebagainya, serta ketika terserlah janji BN tidak ditepati, kita wajar bertanya kembali kepada mereka yang mengundi BN dalam PRU yang lalu, "Apa khabar dengan kenaikan harga barang ini. Setuju juga?" - 24 Disember, 2013.

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

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

Selasa, 24 Disember 2013