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The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

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The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

Ten-man Manchester City trim Chelsea’s lead

Posted: 15 Mar 2014 08:42 AM PDT

March 15, 2014

Manchester City's Vincent Kompany (left) reacts after being sent off by referee Lee Mason during their English Premier League soccer match against Hull City at the KC stadium in Hull, northern England, today. Despite the send off, Manchester City beat Hull City 2-0. – Reuters pic, March 15, 2014.Manchester City survived the 10th-minute dismissal of captain Vincent Kompany to win 2-0 at Hull City today and reduce Chelsea's lead in the Premier League to six points.

Kompany saw red for a last-man foul on Nikica Jelavic, but David Silva put City ahead with a glorious curling effort just four minutes later and Edin Dzeko made sure of victory at the death.

It was City's first league match for three weeks and they still have two games in hand on Chelsea, although the leaders can reassert their nine-point advantage with victory at Aston Villa later on Saturday.

City's success at the KC Stadium also saw them climb to second place above Liverpool, who visit Manchester United on Sunday, and Arsenal, who travel to Tottenham Hotspur later the same day.

"We needed to win today and playing with one player less for 80 minutes is very difficult, but I think we did a very good performance," said City manager Manuel Pellegrini, who saw his side eliminated from both the FA Cup and the Champions League earlier this week.

"We defended well with and without the ball, but we also attacked a lot. It was a very professional response from the players."

City were missing top scorer Sergio Aguero due to injury and they received a further setback in the 10th minute when Kompany was given his marching orders.

Jelavic appeared to foul Kompany as they jostled for possession, but play was allowed to continue and when the City captain hauled the Croatian down, referee Lee Mason immediately brandished the red card.

Kompany kicked out at a door in frustration as he stalked down the tunnel, but City reacted in stirring fashion, with Silva gathering a pass from Yaya Toure and arcing a glorious shot inside the left-hand post from 25 yards.

Visiting right-back Pablo Zabaleta then saw a tremendous volley hit the bar and bounce on the goal-line, but Hull finished the first half strongly.

Jelavic had earlier put a volley wide from an Ahmed Elmohamady cross and after David Meyler had seen a goal ruled out for offside, Jake Livermore drilled a shot just off-target from long range.

Joe Hart saved from Shane Long, twice, and Jelavic early in the second period, while substitute George Boyd had a penalty appeal turned down after tumbling over a challenge by the City goalkeeper.

Fernandinho spurned a gilt-edged chance to double City's lead when he scuffed wide from only 10 yards, but Hart saved from Boyd and Jelavic to preserve the visitors' advantage.

Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregor prevented Dzeko from putting the game to bed in the closing stages, but the Bosnian atoned in the last minute by sweeping home from Silva's incisive pass.

Kompany expressed his pride – and perhaps relief – through Twitter, writing: "Proud of the guys! Phenomenal shift they have put in again!"

Saturday afternoon witnesses a potentially significant fixture at the bottom of the table, with second-bottom Sunderland welcoming fifth-bottom Crystal Palace to the Stadium of Light.

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew begins his seven-game ban for headbutting Hull midfielder Meyler as his side visit bottom club Fulham, while third-bottom Cardiff City travel to Everton.

In the day's other games, Swansea City host fellow relegation candidates West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City visit Southampton, and Stoke City tackle West Ham United in a mid-table clash at the Britannia Stadium. – AFP, March 15, 2014.

Wenger aims to pile on the misery for troubled Spurs

Posted: 14 Mar 2014 10:26 PM PDT

March 15, 2014

Arsenal's coach Arsene Wenger (right) reacts next to Bayern Munich's coach Pep Guardiola during their Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match in Munich, March 11, 2014. – Reuters pic, March 15, 2014. Arsene Wenger has challenged Arsenal to revive their Premier League title challenge by adding to the troubles of their bitter rivals Tottenham in a vital north London derby tomorrow.

Wenger's side will be 10 points behind leaders Chelsea by the time they kick off at White Hart Lane if Jose Mourinho's men win at Aston Villa today.

But Wenger is convinced his team can still overhaul their title rivals and the Gunners manager believes the short trip down the Seven Sisters Road to face beleaguered Tottenham is the ideal place to start.

After leading the top-flight table for a long period, Arsenal have surrendered the initiative with just one win in their last four league matches.

Yet Arsenal's wobble pales in comparison to the problems across north London, where Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood is engaged in a battle to save his job three months after taking over from Andre Villas-Boas.

Sherwood's surprise appointment looked like a masterstroke by chairman Daniel Levy when Spurs won five of their first six matches under the former Blackburn midfielder.

But Sherwood has seemed increasingly uncomfortable in recent weeks as Tottenham's form has dipped, culminating in his stinging criticism of his players' lack of character following last weekend's 4-0 thrashing at Chelsea.

With reports claiming Levy is already sounding out potential replacements, Sherwood desperately needed to restore morale in Thursday's Europa League tie against Benfica.

Instead, his players hardly looked like they had taken their manager's words to heart as they slumped to a lacklustre 3-1 defeat which was most memorable for Sherwood adding to the impression of a man feeling the heat as he became embroiled in a touchline spat with Benfica coach Jorge Jesus.

In the circumstances, Wenger knows Sherwood can ill-afford to lose tomorrow's derby showdown and he hopes the pressure on Spurs will aid his team's bid to get back on track after their midweek exit from the Champions League against Bayern Munich.

"It has always been difficult at White Hart Lane, but we are in a position where of course we want to win the game, because after losing at Stoke, it is very important," Wenger said.

"We had a good result against Everton in the FA Cup, we had a good result even at Bayern, but we must continue and have no more weak moments before the end of the season."

The Gunners have already beaten Spurs twice this season, but Wenger's team are unlikely to be overconfident after losing their previous two visits to White Hart Lane.

Their cause isn't helped by the absence of Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil, who will be sidelined for several weeks with a grade two hamstring tear suffered against Bayern.

Even so, Wenger is confident the loss of Ozil won't prevent Arsenal getting their title challenge back on course.

"It is a blow of course, but I am confident we have the quality to deal without him during that period," he said.

"We have many creative players in our squad who can take over and produce quality performances.

"I am convinced that the team is ready, even without Ozil, to go for the challenge."

Fifth placed Tottenham still have more than just north London pride to play for as they try to close the gap on fourth placed Manchester City in the race to qualify for the Champions League.

Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen is adamant his team-mates shouldn't let Sherwood take the blame for the club's current woes and he made it clear they need to raise their game this weekend.

"I have only been here for a few months but I still know how a derby is," Eriksen said.

"Now it is at home and I am looking forward to it. I think a positive result will give everything and everybody a big boost.

"Hopefully we will be way better on Sunday than what we were against Benfica." – AFP, March 15, 2014.

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

The Malaysian Insider :: Features

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Tips to safe online shopping

Posted: 13 Mar 2014 10:58 PM PDT

March 14, 2014

Price comparison website PricePanda co-founder Christian Schiller offers tips to shop safely online. – The Malaysian Insider pic, March 14, 2014With the Internet, shopping for goods and products has become more convenient and flexible as one could literally buy anything online any time of the day. Nevertheless, such convenience also comes with certain risks.

"Online shopping harbors some dangers such as identity theft, credit card fraud and malware software", said Christian Schiller, co-founder of price comparison website PricePanda.

To educate its customers and the public, PricePanda has offered a list of ten tips for safe online shopping.

1. Only shop at a known website address. Be careful with fake websites that use popular domains but a different top-level domain such as ".net" instead of ".com".

2. Check the website´s safety level. "Verisign trusted seal" indicates that it has a trusted identity and passes a daily malware scan. Before submitting data, check the URL -- https:// instead of "http://" indicates that your information is safe.

Other indicators for a safe page include the locked padlock in the status bar located at the bottom of the browser and the address field turning green. Price comparison websites like PricePanda check the identity and credibility of the shops they list. So you can guarantee that you are buying from a trustworthy online store.

3. Be careful with giving data away. Only provide the shopping portals with data they really need and never send credit card details via email.

4. Check your bank statements regularly. Do not wait for the bill. There may be a high chance to acquire any stolen funds if frauds are reported within a certain time frame, usually 30 to 60 days.

5. Secure your device. The cost for anti malware software is affordable and will prohibit inconvenient viruses, worms or trojan horses.

6. Use strong passwords with a good combination of letters, numbers and symbols and do not use them twice. Otherwise hackers may be able to break them and enter the personal account easily.

7. Avoid making purchases from public computers or hotspots as this makes it easier for people to steal private information.

If you must use public networks for online shopping, only use verified hotspots and ensure no one gets a glance when you are inputting your private data. Hotspot shields help to increase the security level.

8. Check the credibility of offers. Promising deals from dubious websites you receive via mail are most likely to be false.

9. Always log out of your browsing sessions and never save your payment details. Closing the browser is not enough to disable the access to the personal account and is an easy game for hackers.

10. Choose carefully your payment method. Debit cards are not safe enough for online purchase. Credit cards offer a higher protection against identity theft.

It is worth taking time to be cautious while shopping online as this will ensure a convenient, safe and enjoyable shopping experience. – March 14, 2014

Floating hotel draws workers to Canadian boom town

Posted: 13 Mar 2014 07:51 PM PDT

March 14, 2014

The MS Silja Festival, a Scandinavian ferry hired to house workers in northern British Columbia, passes Stanley Park on its way to load supplies in Vancouver, Canada March 1, 2014 in this picture provided by Peak Communications March 12, 2014. – Reuters pic, March 14, 2014.Hundreds of construction workers in booming northern British Columbia will take up residence this week in unique digs on board a cruise ferry revamped into a floating luxury hotel.

The aging ship will help relieve a housing shortage in one busy Canadian port town already bursting ahead of a promised energy boom that could last more than a decade.

The Silja Festival – a Baltic ferry made over as the Delta Spirit Lodge – will spend at least a year docked outside Kitimat, British Columbia, where it will provide housing for about 600 workers in town for Rio Tinto Alcan's US$3.3 billion (RM10.79 billion) smelter–upgrade project, which is expected to wrap up in 2015.

After that, the ship's owners hope more contracts will float their way as major energy companies like Chevron Corp, Petronas and Royal Dutch Shell push ahead with proposed liquefied natural gas export (LNG) projects along Canada's Pacific coast.

"This kind of investment would never occur without the kind of mega-opportunities that are growing in the Pacific Northwest," said Andrew Purdey, vice president of Bridgemans Services Ltd, the privately held company behind the hotel. "We saw the opportunity and we put it all together, but it was effectively driven by industry."

Despite the "No Vacancy" signs popping up all over town, the endeavor is risky. Bridgemans declined to say how much it is making from its first job, but it has already spent more than C$4 million (RM11.81 million) to import and upgrade the ship, with further improvements planned. It has no contract after work wraps up at the Rio smelter.

But if just four major LNG projects go ahead, roughly 15,000 extra beds will be needed in coastal northern British Columbia at peak construction, according to a report from National Bank Financial.

For employers, offering free top-end accommodations complete with a basketball court, a theater, a fine-dining room that serves three hearty meals a day and a captain's lounge for relaxing may be a draw in a very competitive labor market.

"We always go back to what our client wants. They want to build a platform that attracts and retains the best workers," said Purdey.

The North American energy industry is booming. Yet as companies make new investments, there are doubts the sector will be able to find and keep the employees needed to complete all the potential projects.

Speaking at an event earlier this year, British Columbia's energy and mines minister, Bill Bennett, said the province will need to import workers from other provinces and abroad.

"If every single high school kid in BC graduated, became an apprentice... it wouldn't even come close to satisfying the demand we see coming," he said.

Luring skilled labour away from other thriving areas, like the Alberta oil sands and the Bakken region driving North Dakota's fracking boom, will take more than good pay. Workers are looking for perks.

The floating hotel, with its all-inclusive facilities and gourmet meals, may be just the ticket for companies that want to take temporary living to the next level.

The ship, which used to sleep more than 2,000 people on overnight trips across the Baltic Sea, has been retrofitted with 700 single-occupancy rooms, each fitted out with a memory foam bed and flat-screen TV.

In addition to providing room and board for the temporary construction workers, the ship has meeting facilities and even a private dining area that can be rented out for special events.

The hotel also provides jobs for local residents who don't have a professional trade, the owners note, helping to ease the pain of a sharp increase in local housing costs.

A quick scan of real estate listings for Kitimat shows just how tight the market has become. Only two houses are listed for under C$200,000, and both are fixer-uppers.

"If the house is priced right, it sells within a few days," said Ilona Kenny, a realtor with RE/MAX Kitimat Realty who has lived in the area for nearly four decades. "They're being snapped up by people who live here, by investors who are renting out properties and families that are moving into town."

The town's typical family home – an older three-bedroom, one-bathroom bungalow – is selling for about C$250,000, said Kenny, compared with C$100,000 to C$150,000 last year. In one new subdivision, not yet under construction, townhomes start at C$288,500.

Rents too have skyrocketed, which is putting pressure on long-time residents who can no longer afford their homes, said Kitimat mayor Joanne Monaghan.

"All the apartment buildings that were built in the 1970s have been purchased and are being refurbished, and that's causing problems," she said. "People were paying C$400 a month rent, and now, in some cases, it's up to C$1,200 a month."

The worry is the town will soon find itself in a housing-affordability crisis, much like Williston, North Dakota, where a fracking boom delivered high-paying jobs for thousands of workers but also led to a sharp rise in homelessness.

While the housing crunch keeps Monaghan awake at night, she is happy the local economy is thriving. There are new hotels, restaurants and retail shops in the works, and the town of 11,000 just got its first Tim Hortons, a popular coffee shop chain that is the hallmark of a bustling Canadian town.

Still, the long-time politician knows that with every resource boom there is usually a bust. Indeed, the town was hit hard during the economic crisis when the local forestry industry collapsed.

"A few months after I became mayor, the Eurocan (paper mill) just pulled out. We had more U-haul trailers going out than I could shake a stick at," said Monaghan. "Now they're coming back in and I'm just thanking God."

Floating lodges are nothing new along the west coast, where they have traditionally been used for road, lumber and fishery projects, but there's never been anything close to the same size as the 11-deck Silja Festival ship.

As workers finish up last-minute vacuuming and polishing on board the floating hotel, the four investors are eager to secure their next contract. They have had meetings with various companies that plan to build LNG export projects.

To mitigate risk, the group did not buy the roughly US$30 million cruise ferry outright but rather reached a type of rent-to-own deal. If things go well, the investors can buy it. If not, they can walk away.

"I think everybody is sitting here waiting to see if this is a success," said Brian Grange, president of Bridgemans. "Am I terrified? No, I'm not. I think this is probably one of the most innovative ideas that has been seen on the BC coast in quite some time." – Reuters, March 14, 2014.

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz

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The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz

Take Me to Dinner – movie review

Posted: 14 Mar 2014 07:59 PM PDT

March 15, 2014

Love and murder is on the menu in Gavin Yap's 'Take Me to Dinner'. – The Malaysian Insider pic, March 15, 2014. Films about hitmen or assassins often focus on the glory, pathos, pain, violence and gore of the "profession".

The movie "Take Me to Dinner" turns the common hitman stereotype that portrays assassins as suave young actors on its head and replaces it with a pessimistic group of old men.

The movie is about an aged assassin named Edward, played by Patrick Teoh, who falls in love with his target, Jennifer (Susan Lankester), and decides to quit the job as a hitman.
The film could easily be about one hitman in his prime – young, debonair and busy dealing with explosions and car chases – but director Gavin Yap's sympathies lie instead with an aging hitman who decides to call it quits after falling in love with his target.

Lacking the Hollywood budget to do a Tarantino or Bourne, "Take Me to Dinner" offers a fresh perspective on the hitman-falls-in-love-with-target trope with its unconventional cast – a group of elderly, retired assassins.

Edward (Patrick Teoh) announces his "retirement" when he falls in love with Jennifer (Susan Lankester). But alas, a hitman is not allowed to "retire" and his announcement prompts his "friends" – Hamm (U-En Ng), Teddy (Ben Tan), Elijah (Michael Chen) and Manny (Thor Kah Hoong) – to take him out for dinner, a meal which is pretty much meant to be Edward's Last Supper.

The film manages to balance several key elements to present a dark, yet heartfelt approach to the subject of assassins, their loves and their passions. At the heart of "Take Me to Dinner" is what one hitman chooses to do when he has had enough of mayhem and chaos.

The movie is centered around two stories at different times in Edwards life, the dinner itself, and running alongside that, the story of how Edward and Jennifer meet and how their relationship develop.

However, some scenes such as those which are intended to develop the relationship between Jennifer, and Edward were slow and dragged out. They may have been meant to show a growing bond, but some of the scenes are unnecessary and the dialogue gets a little dry.

There were, however, some scenes where the Yap creativity manages to leave some conclusions to be made by the audience, this adds a touch of mystery and keeps the audience on their toes.

The semi-homophobic jokes made by the adult diaper wearing Manny directed at Teddy however, were really uplifting, lightening up the mood and were really funny.

The five friends chatting over dinner and drinks, pretending all was well, yet fully knowing that at the end of the night, it would be Patrick's last dinner put a darker ambience and an almost depressing atmosphere to the movie. But what no one could have foreseen is the irrevocable series of events sparked by the meal that will change their lives forever. – March 15, 2014.

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion

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Khalid baru muncul sebagai ahli politik

Posted: 14 Mar 2014 04:43 PM PDT

March 15, 2014

Haji Subky Abdul Latif seorang penulis bebas dan tinggal di Kuala Lumpur. Seorang pendiam, dia gemar meneliti perangai manusia dan berita politik di Malaysia.

Sejak menjadi menteri besar Selangor pada 2008 Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim tidak menyerlahkan dirinya sebagai orang politik. Dia lebih dilihat sebagai seorang pentadbir yang mahu menjadikan Selangor sebagai sebuah syarikat besar.

Sejak itu, beberapa kali PKR mengadakan pilihan pimpinan, tidak pernah dia cuba untuk merebut jawatan penting yang bertaraf naib presiden ke atas. Malah kedudukan sebagai ketua PKR Selangor pun dilepaskan kepada orang lain.

Sebagai menteri besar dan orang politik dia hanya mendapat sokongan sederhana saja daripada partinya dan tidak pula dia berbuat sesuatu bagi mendapat sokongan padu kepadanya. Dia terbuka kepada kritik orang daripada partinya.

Jika dia tidak kalis kritikan partinya, maka apa pula yang diharapkan daripada musuh partinya – Umno dan BN – yang menjadi pembangkang di Selangor. Politik Umno mewujudkan pelbagai jenama NGO menceceh apa saja yang dibuat oleh kerajaan Selangor. Apa yang dihadapi Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin selama menjadi menteri besar Perak, maka itulah yang Khalid hadapi.

Semua kebangkitan dan kecaman itu mati tiba-tiba di Perak apabila rampasan kuasa berlaku. Datuk Seri Najib Razak turun untuk memimpin Umno dan BN Selangor untuk menjadikan Khalid seperti Nizar. Tetapi politik Najib di Selangor disembelih oleh Khalid apabila Adun BN selepas PRU13 merosot daripada PRU 2008.

Gara-gara penyembelihan politik itu Najib meninggalkan Selangor sebagai panglima yang kalah.

Ikut tersembelih ialah panglima Najib di Selangor, Datuk Seri Noh Omar dilucutkan daripada Kabinet, terpaksa berpuas hati dijadikan pengganti Najib sepenuh masa sebagai ketua Umno Selangor. Paling teruk tersembelih ialah bekas Ahli Parlimen Sepang, Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed sebagai setiausaha Umno Selangor yang selama lima tahun hari-hari membalun Khalid.

Dia bukan sekadar disembelih daripada kerusi Parlimennya bahkan tiada apa-apa lagi dalam Umno Selangor.

Dalam masa sebulan yang terakhir ini Khalid baru muncul sebagai orang politik susulan dua perkembangan besar di Selangor iaitu PRK Kajang dan MOU penstrukturan semula air di Selangor antara kerajaan negeri dan kerajaan pusat.

Penentangnya dalam PKR menyebut melalui PRK Kajang itu memungkin dia tidak menjadi menteri besar. Calonnya di Kajang, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yang disebut menjadi penggantinya. Dia tidak menunjukkan dia kecewa dan susah hati dengan desas-desus kedudukannya itu malah dia cuba menjadi pengarah PRK yang terbaik untuk memenangkan partinya di Kajang.

Dia cuba mengelakkan politik Anwar mati di Kajang, kerana jika Anwar mati di Kajang, maka politiknya di Selangor pun mati. Sebagai orang yang dikatakan akan digantikan selepas PRK itu dia tidak akan sabotaj Anwar seperti yang politik Umno lakukan terhadap pencabar dalam parti sendiri.

Masa itu jugalah dia menawarkan diri menjadi calon timbalan presiden PKR menjelang bulan puasa nanti. Dalam masa tidak banyak dikritik dulu dia tidak rebut jawatan penting parti. Masa dia dikritik kuat oleh rakan dalam partinya, baru dia hendak merebut jawatan kedua selepas Anwar yang pastinya akan jadi presiden parti nanti.

Masa kempen inilah dia mengejutkan semua orang dengan bersetuju menandatangani MOU tentang air di samping Langat 2 yang jadi panas sebelum ini. Dia mencapai persetujuan dengan kerajaan pusat dan memberi laluan kepada pembinaan loji yang terbengkalai sebelum ini.

Dengan perkembangan terbaru itu Khalid dibidas oleh pemimpin dan penyokong partinya tetapi dia dibela oleh semua orang Umno baik berjawatan atau tidak. Umno kata, isu air di Selangor selesai dan orang Selangor tidak akan mati dahaga selepas ini.

Kajang adalah tempat yang terdekat dengan tapak Langat 2 itu, pengundi Kajang tentu bersyukur dengan MOU itu, sepatutnya memberi undi kepada parti Khalid.

Politik Khalid ialah dia dikecam musuh ketika partinya mempertahankannya tetapi ketika partinya mengkritiknya, dia dibela oleh musuhnya, BN. Dia sudah jadi orang politik sekarang. – 15 Mac, 2014.

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

The M-League saga, an apparent unfair advantage to one state

Posted: 14 Mar 2014 04:16 PM PDT

March 15, 2014

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

Table toppers Kelantan host Pahang in Kota Baru (8.45pm) tonight. The Steve Darby-led host look to defy all their supporters' sentiments, empty stadium and all, with a challenge from an infuriatingly inconsistent Pahang.

The home team has a strike force of Mohamed Ghaddar and Forkey Doe that is lethal, and a big test for the central defence pairing of Damion Stewart and Zesh Rehman.

The unfair advantage of "immunity" seemingly enjoyed by the Elephants (you know what I mean) will be tested. Stewart and Rehman have both accused Johor Darul Takzim's Argentinian pairing of Pablo Aimar and Luciano Figueroa of making racist remarks, and once again the FAM seem to be dilly-dallying with a decision.

The Disciplinary Committee of the FAM has to realise the importance of nipping issues in the bud. However, this is just another example of the professional game in Malaysia being run by amateurs.

Does anyone even doubt for a second that this situation will eventually drag out till May?

Well, perhaps because Pahang play JDT three times that month. Two mouth-watering FA Cup semi-final ties and a Super League clash! Watch this space.

On the subject of JDT, a big test awaits them in Terengganu with a clash against the second-placed Turtles in Kuala Terengganu tonight (8.45pm).

The home team has been coming along nicely and a big effort will be needed from the Southern Tigers if they are to leave the Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah stadium with all three points.

Hopefully, there will be more intent and a better tactical approach as the last time out, JDT were left uninspired by the bench against Sime Darby, especially in the last 20 minutes.

Playing against 10 men inexplicably took the fire out of the Southern Tigers belly, which is not the ruthlessness that a team gunning for the Super League title needs.

And finally, Sarawak will have to show more discipline in defence after conceding two soft goals against T-Team. They host Singapore's Lions XII (8.45pm) in Kuching tonight, in what could be a good passing game.

The Singaporeans look neat and tidy on the ball, while Sarawak could be forced to play the same way at a slower tempo than they are accustomed to. This may give the advantage to Lions XII although Sarawak can, and will, try to emulate Stoke City at set pieces.

Clumsy Spurs fall at home to Benfica

So the Spurs go marching on with another shocking show, this time a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Benfica in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League Round of 16.

Let us first take a look at the team with the obviously dubious selection of Harry Kane to lead the front line. This young striker, unfortunately, is Championship material right now.

He may only be 20-years-old but being big and lumbering, and with a relatively poor touch for a striker, he is going to at best be another Nicklas Bendtner, but never a Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Then again, any poor soul who even attempts to reach the greatness that is Zlatan is fighting a losing battle.

The choice of Younes Kaboul as skipper on the night sent the wrong message and certainly zero respect from his teammates, but worst of all, the football from Spurs was limp.

The three goals conceded must be among the cheapest goals one will ever witness at White Hart Lane. A simple through ball leaving four defenders square and dead; two set piece deliveries into the box, and an irrational fear of body contact from the Spurs defenders and it was game over.

The positives were Cristian Eriksen, continuously growing into an even more refined footballer, and the growing awareness of how Andre Villas-Boas' decision-making in the transfer window was a losing gambit.

Tim Sherwood is now carrying the can, but it is a stinking can.

This is because even as he desperately tries to ensure European qualification at the very least for next season, with Everton and Manchester United breathing down their necks, it is sure to be a very interesting run-in this Premiership season.

Enjoy the weekend, with a reminder of a prayer for all aboard MH370. – March 15, 2014.

* 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

The Malaysian Insider :: Bahasa

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Perkeso bayar RM2.2 bilion kepada pencarum tahun lepas

Posted: 15 Mar 2014 03:18 AM PDT

March 15, 2014

Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial (Perkeso) membuat pembayaran sebanyak RM2.22 bilion kepada 423,287 pencarum sepanjang tahun lepas, kata Menteri Sumber Manusia Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem.

Beliau berkata sebanyak RM150.27 juta adalah untuk bayaran pencen penakat, pencen ilat (RM453.65 juta), hilang upaya kekal (RM392.77 juta), faedah orang tanggungan (RM219.72 juta) dan sejumlah RM150.27 juta untuk hilang upaya sementara.

"Perkeso juga menjelaskan bayaran rawatan dialisis berjumlah RM122.84 juta, program saringan kesihatan (RM29.35 juta), dan elaun layanan sentiasa (RM24.92 juta)," katanya ketika berucap menutup Program Perkeso Bersama Media 2014 di Kuching, hari ini.

Turut hadir Ketua Eksekutif Perkeso Datuk K Selvarajah.

Sementara itu, Riot berkata kerjasama media dan Perkeso banyak membantu meningkatkan kefahaman dan kesedaran majikan supaya melaksanakan tanggungjawab mereka untuk mencarum.

"Ini terbukti dengan peningkatan bilangan majikan aktif mencarum kepada Perkeso. Tahun lepas, bilangan pencarum majikan ialah sebanyak 393,359 yang meningkat sebanyak 9,784 majikan atau 2.55 peratus berbanding 383,575 majikan pada 2012," katanya.

Tahun lepas, pekerja aktif mencarum turut meningkat sebanyak 69,927 orang kepada 5,946,861 orang berbanding 5,876,934 orang pada 2012. – Bernama, 15 Mac, 2014.

Selepas seminggu dan beberapa petunjuk, apa yang kita tahu dan tidak mengenai MH370

Posted: 15 Mar 2014 03:05 AM PDT

March 15, 2014

Ia masih lagi menjadi misi pencarian yang terbesar – melibatkan beberapa dozen pesawat dan kapal laut di lautan luas dan ribuan lagi menggunakan carian internet melalui imej carian terkini satelit – namun pesawat Malaysia Airlines (MAS) MH370 masih gagal ditemui.

Pesawat Boeing 777-200ER yang membawa 239 penumpang itu lenyap genap seminggu lalu selepas dalam perjalanan dari Beijing ke Kuala Lumpur, namun carian di Laut China Selatan sehingga ke Lautan Hindi masih gagal mengesannya.

Tiada sebarang serpihan di mana-mana lokasi di laut mahupun daratan. Tiada petanda badan pesawat yang besar dengan nombor pendaftaran 9M-MRO di dasar lautan atau diletakkan di mana-mana antara 634 laluan berikutan kapasiti bahan apinya.

Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak berkata kepada keluarga dan media hari ini masih tiada sebarang lokasi atau nasib pesawat kecuali pencarian diluaskan ke sempadan Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan sehingga ke Lautan Hindi, dan operasi di Laut China Selatan dihentikan.

Sehingga hari ini 14 negara, 43 kapal laut dan 58 pesawat udata terlibat dalam misi mencari pesawat berkenaan yang kali terakhir dihubungi pada 8.11 pagi pada Sabtu.

Sebelum itu, seorang pegawai kerajaan Malaysia berkata penyiasat menyimpulkan salah seorang juruterbang, ataupun seseorang yang berpengalaman mensabotaj pesawat MH370.

Associated Press memetik pegawai yang enggan dinamakan dan terlibat dalam penyiasatan berkata, sabotaj bukan lagi teori, sebaliknya "konklusif". Najib bagaimanapun tidak mengulas lanjut perkara itu.

Ketika pendedahan terbaru Najib itu, berikut adalah perkaraapa yang kita tahu dan tidak mengenai Pesawat MH370, yang kini dikenali sebagai "misteri penerbangan yang tidak pernah berlaku" sebelum ini.

Apa yang kita tidak tahu:

* Lokasi sebenar pesawat MH370. Ia hilang disekitar kawasan utara Selat Melaka selepas ping terakhirnya pada jam 8.11 pagi, 8 Mac 2014.

* Keadaan semua 227 penumpang dan 12 krew penerbangan.

* Pihak yang mengemudi MH370 selepas hilang daripada radar.

* Pihak yang mematikan talian komunikasi pesawar pada 1.07 pagi dan transponder pada 1.21 pagi, Sabtu lepas.

* Motif kehilangannya. Masih lagi menjadi teka-teki.

* Sama ada di utara atau selatan Selat Melaka.

Misi mencari dan menyelamat kini terarah ke kawasan utara koridor dari Thailand ke Kazakhtan/Turkmenistan dan selatan koridor dari Indonesia ke Lautan Hindi.

Apa yang kita tahu:

* Pesawat tidak berada di Laut China Selatan. Misi pencarian dihentikan meskipun terdapat penemuan beberapa tompokan minyak, serpihan dan gelombang seismos.

* Sistemnya dimatikan dengan sengaja berasingan sebelum hilang.

* Pesawat tidak memasuki ruang udara Vietnam.

* MH370 mempunyai 7.5 jam baki bahan api pesawat bila hilang.

* Tidak terhempas ketika hilang.

* Mengubah haluan dan ketinggian

* Pesawat itu merentasi Semenanjung Malaysia di sempadan Thailand

* Kali terakhir komunikasi dengan sistem pesawat pada 8.11 pagi, Sabtu, hampir tujuh jam selepas hilang daripada radar.

* Terdapat dua warga Iran menggunakan pasport palsu dengan kerakyatan Itali dan Austria yang dicuri di Thailand sekitar dua tahun lalu.

* Seorang lelaki mempunyai pasport dengan nombor siri yang sama dengan seorang warga China di Fujian, China.

* Interpol berkata terdapat beberapa penumpang dengan pasport yang meragukan.

* Terdapat penulis kaligrafi China, pegawai kerajaan, pasangan bercuti, dua orang bayi dan 20 pekerja kilang elektronik Freescale dalam pesawat.

* Ia pesawat berkongsi kod China Southern Airlines. Dua lelaki menggunakan pasport palsu membeli tiket mereka bersama melalui ejen di Pattaya, Thailand sehari sebelum berlepas.

* Kehilangan pesawat membawa perhatian kepada lingkaran khusus mencuri dan menjual pasport curi di Thailand.

* Juruterbangnya berusia 53 tahun dengan 18,000 jam rekod penerbangan dan mempunyai simulator pesawat B777 di rumahnya. Kediamannya diserbu hari ini.

* Pembantu juruterbang berusia 27 tahun dengan rekod penerbangan 2,700 jam.

* Malaysia Airlines adalah salah satu syarikat penerbangan paling selamat di dunia selepas Qantas dan Singapura Airlines. Hanya dua insiden kemalangan direkodkan setakat ini, dengan salah satunya sabotaj. – 15 Mac, 2014.

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

Sabtu, 15 Mac 2014