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The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

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German Cup final error reopens technology debate Posted: 20 May 2014 08:06 AM PDT May 20, 2014 Bayern Munich's Dante (right) clears the ball headed by Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels (left) from behind the goal-line during their German Cup (DFB Pokal) finals in Berlin. – Reuters pic, May 20, 2014.Bundesliga clubs are set to vote again on whether to introduce goal-line technology into German football after Borussia Dortmund were controversially disallowed a goal in last weekend's cup final defeat. Bayern Munich claimed the league and cup double at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on Saturday after Arjen Robben and Thomas Mueller scored extra-time goals. But referee Florian Meyer failed to award Dortmund a 65th-minute goal, although replays showed a header by Borussia defender Mats Hummels had crossed the line. Bayern's defender Dante was behind the goal-line when he cleared the ball, but despite furious protests from the Borussia players, the goal was not awarded. Just two months ago, Germany's 36 professional clubs voted against providing goal-line technology for referees, with high costs being cited as the main reason. Technology in German football has been a hot topic, especially since Bayer Leverkusen's Stefan Kiessling was awarded a goal last October against Hoffenheim, but replays showed the ball entered the goal through a hole in the side netting. With Hummel's non-goal being labelled 'Torklau' ('goal theft') in the German media, the German Football League (DFL) have said they can put the vote to the clubs again. "If it is the wish of the clubs, a new vote on the introduction of goal-line technology would not be an issue," said Andreas Rettig, the DFL's managing director. Even Bayern, who benefited from Hummel's non-goal in Berlin, is in favour of a fresh vote as both the Bavarian giants and Dortmund voted in favour of introducing goal-line technology earlier this year. "I was disappointed that the league didn't commit itself to goal-line technology and we let the referees remain in the dark about what was happening on the pitch," Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told Bavarian television. "The Bundesliga must precede and there must be a vote on goal-line technology. "We're talking, of course, about money, but it would be a sensible investment. "Then we wouldn't be having discussions like the ones we saw after Berlin." Wolfgang Niersbach, president of the German Football Association (DFB) has said they are in favour of introducing technology, but the clubs would need to vote for it. The boss of Germany's referees, Herbert Fandel, the head of the DFB's referees commission, said his officials would welcome the help. "It if unfortunate that we have no goal-line technology in our highly-professional football," said Fandel. "Goal-line technology would eliminate such fruitless discussions like we had on Saturday." Likewise, World Cup referee Felix Brych said German officials would welcome the technology. "We would all be happy if we could get some help in this area. I can speak for all referees in this regards," he said. – AFP, May 25, 2014.

World badminton body mulls new scoring system Posted: 20 May 2014 04:44 AM PDT May 20, 2014 Badminton could soon see a new scoring system at the top level to benefit television coverage and make contests more attractive for viewers, the sport's governing body said on Tuesday. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) will open discussions on the subject this weekend in New Delhi on the sidelines of the ongoing men's Thomas Cup and women's Uber Cup team championships. The BWF has sounded out the players on three alternate options to replace the existing system that has the winner reaching 21 points, two points clear of his opponent, in a best-of-three game format. One suggestion is to have two games of 21 each with the decider, if needed, played for 11 points. Another format is 15 points for each game, while a third suggestion is to play five games of nine points each. A difference of two points will still be needed for the winner. A change in the scoring pattern is being discussed for the first time since 2006 when the 21-point pattern was introduced. "The BWF will be considering the matter as it seeks to continue innovative developments to improve badminton in all contexts - for fans, television, live streaming and for players at every level," the governing body said in a statement. "We think the time is right to discuss a new system with our members, so generations to come continue enjoying badminton at its best," BWF secretary-general Thomas Lund added. The BWF plans to trial the selected format at small tournaments and seek feedback from various stakeholders before it is introduced at major events like the world championships or the Olympics. – AFP, May 20, 2014.

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Ex-Beatle McCartney cancels Japan tour over illness Posted: 19 May 2014 09:37 PM PDT May 20, 2014 Fans take photos of a poster of singer Paul McCartney after the cancellation of McCartney's concert at the National Stadium in Tokyo May 18, 2014. – Reuters pic, May 20, 2014.Former Beatle Paul McCartney has cancelled his Japan tour due to illness, organisers said today, days after apologising to fans for missing a pair of weekend concerts. The 71-year-old English pop veteran – one of two living members of the Beatles – had already cancelled planned performances at the National Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday and Sunday, after coming down with an unspecified virus. He "will regrettably have to cancel the remaining Japanese shows. Paul is still not feeling better and this cancellation is unavoidable," organiser Kyodo Tokyo said in a statement. A company spokeswoman said the music legend was "staying at a hotel in Tokyo and doctors are with him", but added that it was "unclear" if he would still perform at a South Korean tour scheduled for May 28. McCartney had planned to play a concert at another venue in Tokyo tomorrow and the last one in Osaka on Saturday as part of his "Out There" world tour. There were also plans for a Monday show to make up for the cancelled Saturday event. Among McCartney's dates in the Japanese capital was a show at the Nippon Budokan Hall, which would have marked his first return to the venue since appearing there with The Beatles in 1966. "I was really looking forward to playing in Japan again after we had such an amazing time here in November," McCartney was quoted as saying in the statement. "So, to cancel these shows as well as the National Stadium shows is hugely disappointing for me as well," he said. "I'd like to thank my Japanese fans for their love, messages of support and understanding. "I hope to see you all again soon. Love, Paul," he added. In an earlier tour of Japan in November last year, McCartney was seen singing 39 songs non-stop without retreating backstage. Major-selling newspaper the Asahi, citing people familiar with the situation, said McCartney's condition was improving but that he was still too unwell to perform on stage. Organisers said they were exploring "all possibilities" to reschedule the four-date Japan tour. The musician flew into Tokyo after a short rest at home in London following a strenuous South American tour. The Nippon Budokan Hall show had set aside 100 seats for those aged under 25 at 1,500 yen (RM47.54) each, the same price as they were 48 years ago. The rest of the tickets for the concert, originally scheduled for May 21, were priced at up to 100,000 yen. – AFP, May 20, 2014.

‘Godfather’ cinematographer Gordon Willis dead at 82 Posted: 19 May 2014 08:24 PM PDT May 20, 2014 Cinematographer Gordon Willis died on Sunday at the age of 82. – Pic courtesy of Wikipedia, May 20, 2014.Gordon Willis, the cinematographer responsible for stirring camera work in such film classics as the "Godfather" trilogy and several of Woody Allen's best-known films, has died aged 82. Willis died on Sunday in Falmouth, Massachusetts, funeral home Chapman Cole & Gleason confirmed. The cause of death was not immediately available. "This is a momentous loss," American Society of Cinematographers President Richard Crudo told Hollywood trade website Deadline. "He was one of the giants who absolutely changed the way movies looked." Willis received an honorary lifetime achievement Oscar in 2010 and was nominated for best cinematography Academy Awards for Allen's "Zelig" and "The Godfather: Part III." "He was a brilliant, irascible man, a one of a kind," "Godfather" director Francis Ford Coppola said in a statement. "A cinematic genius with a precise aesthetic. My favourite description was that 'He ice-skated on the film emulsion.' I learned a lot from him." Willis' work was credited with lending unique, often stunning imagery to a roster of films ranging from the romance "Manhattan" and lavish musical "Pennies From Heaven" to the Watergate thriller "All the President's Men." In thrillers such as Alan Pakula's "The Parallax View" and "Klute," for which Jane Fonda won her first Oscar, Willis's camera work evoked a dream-like, fugue state that critics credited with elevating the films to the status of classics. The Queens, New York-born Willis worked often with Coppola, Pakula and especially Allen, with whom he made eight films. "Gordy was a huge talent and one of the few people who truly lived up to all the hype about him," Allen said in a statement. Willis's films with Allen included the black-and-white "Manhattan," "Annie Hall," "The Purple Rose of Cairo," "Interiors," "Stardust Memories" and "Broadway Danny Rose." His credits in the 1990s included "Presumed Innocent," "Malice" and "The Devil's Own," the final film in a nearly three-decade career, which was also Pakula's last directorial effort. – Reuters, May 20, 2014.

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How children of ‘tiger moms’ and European-American moms differ Posted: 19 May 2014 06:26 PM PDT May 20, 2014 A new study looks at the parenting differences between Asian-American 'tiger moms' and Western or European-American moms. – AFP/Relaxnews pic, May 20, 2014.Asian-American "tiger mothers" may be better at motivating their children to complete difficult tasks, but children raised in the US by European-American mothers could be described as more independent. Those are some of the findings of a new study that builds on the conversation started in 2011 when self-proclaimed tiger mom Amy Chua penned a controversial parenting memoir, "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother", which was criticised for typecasting Asian mothers as unforgivingly strict and demanding. For their study, published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, researchers from Stanford University asked high school students to describe their relationships with their mothers and challenged them to a series of tasks that were designed to make the students fail. The objective was to test the kids' levels of motivation and perseverance. When instructed to think about their mothers, students of Asian-American moms were observed to be more motivated to complete a task despite experiencing failure, compared to students born to Western or European-American moms. In fact, these students performed better when prompted to think about themselves during the exercises. The fundamental difference: children of Asian-American kids draw on their connectedness to their mothers to overcome difficulties, while children of Western moms view themselves as independent. "In European American contexts, overcoming failure is a personal project not a group project," researchers said. Another notable finding: while children of Western moms considered the pressure they get from their mothers as negative, interestingly, students of Asian-American moms said they still feel supported by their mothers regardless of the pressure they experienced. Researchers also say their findings extend beyond the home, as kids from Asian-American mothers are more likely to observe hierarchy and respect the authority of a teacher than European-American students. It's the latest study to come from the "tiger mom" controversy. Findings out of Michigan State University found that high-achieving Chinese students were more depressed and anxious than their white peers. The 2012 study emphasised the importance of rearing happy children more than academic scholars. – AFP/Relaxnews, May 20, 2014.

What do you want in a spouse? Genetic similarity may help Posted: 19 May 2014 06:09 PM PDT May 20, 2014 People tend to choose spouses who have similar DNA, according to scientists who reported yesterday the results of a study exploring the genetic resemblance of married couples. – Reuters pic, May 20, 2014.He leaves the toilet seat up, prefers old Japanese monster movies to romantic comedies and fancies mixed martial arts over ballet. So what do you have in common with your husband? More than you may think. People tend to choose spouses who have similar DNA, according to scientists who reported yesterday the results of a study exploring the genetic resemblance of married couples. The researchers examined the genetic blueprints of 825 US married couples and found a significant preference for a spouse with DNA similarities across the entire human genome. The study compared this affinity for husbands or wives with similar DNA makeup to the well-established and strong tendency of people to marry mates with similar educational levels. The researchers found that the preference for a genetically similar spouse was about a third as strong as the preference for a spouse with comparable education. The 1,650 people studied in the research were non-Hispanic, white men and women born between the 1930s and 1950s who were taking part in a broader US government-funded study involving health and retirement. "We do know in some sense that people prefer genetically similar spouses because we know that people tend to date and marry within their own racial and ethnic groups. We worked really hard in this study to not just replicate that fact," said researcher Benjamin Domingue of the University of Colorado's Institute of Behavioral Science, who led the study. "We eliminated racial variability and tried to control for ethnic variability. And we still find a preference for genetically similar individuals," Domingue added. The researchers measured genetic similarity by comparing 1.7 million individual DNA building blocks, known as single nucleotide polymorphisms, in the study participants. They compared the genetic makeup of the married couples to other randomly chosen people of the opposite sex in the same pool of study participants. Domingue said the actual mechanism for a person being drawn to another person's genetic similarities is probably complicated and multifaceted – "just a whole host of things," he noted. The researchers noted that people usually pick spouses with similar backgrounds and characteristics in addition to education, including race, religion, age, income and body type. Genetic similarity can be added to the list, they said. "For example, people clearly care about height in picking partners. To the extent that tall people marry other tall people, that is going to result in genetic similarity among spouses. But it is difficult to know whether height or genes is driving this decision," Domingue said. The researchers said it would be interesting to see the results of similar studies involving other populations including additional races, interracial spouses and gay couples. – Reuters, May 20, 2014.

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‘Selfie’, ‘hashtag’ now in Merriam-Webster dictionary Posted: 19 May 2014 05:58 PM PDT May 20, 2014 Merriam-Webster defines 'selfie' as 'an image of oneself taken by oneself using a digital camera especially for posting on social networks'. – Reuters pic, May 20, 2014."Selfie", "hashtag" and "tweep" are among more than 150 new words added to America's best-selling Merriam-Webster dictionary, spotlighting the growing influence of technology on everyday life. "So many of these new words show the impact of online connectivity to our lives and livelihoods," said Peter Sokolowski, editor-at-large for Merriam-Webster. "Tweep, selfie, and hashtag refer to the ways we communicate and share as individuals," he added. Originally a social media buzzword, "selfie" was admitted to the online version of the Oxford English dictionary in 2013, which named it word of the year. Merriam-Webster defined "selfie" as "an image of oneself taken by oneself using a digital camera especially for posting on social networks". The dictionary said a "more playful intersection" of technology and human behaviour can be seen in "steampunk". The word made the cut and was defined as "science fiction dealing with 19th century societies dominated by historical or imagined steam-powered technology". "Crowdfunding", "big data" and "gamification" were also added, showing "how technology is being used to understand and motivate behaviour", the dictionary said. Another newbie was "catfish", defined as a person who sets up a false social networking profile for deceptive purposes. "Fracking" was also admitted to the dictionary. The technique involves using huge amounts of pressurised water mixed with chemicals to crack open shale – sedimentary rock containing hydrocarbons – to release natural gas or oil. It has unlocked an energy boom in the United States but has sparked controversy elsewhere as a threat to the environment and potential cause of earthquakes, with some countries banning it. – AFP, May 20, 2014.

Philip Roth retires from public view after final interview Posted: 19 May 2014 03:34 PM PDT May 20, 2014 Author Philip Roth poses in New York in this September 15, 2010 file photo. – Reuters pic, May 20, 2014.Philip Roth, widely regarded as one of the greatest US novelists of his generation, has confirmed he will be retiring from writing and from the public stage during a "final" interview with the BBC. In the two-part documentary, the first part of which will be aired today, the reclusive author tells interviewer Alan Yentob that "this is my last appearance on television, absolutely my last appearance on stage anywhere". Roth stunned the literary world 18 months ago when he told French cultural magazine Les Inrockuptibles he was laying down his pen. In the interview for BBC programme "Imagine", the 80-year-old confirmed his retirement while looking back on the events that shaped a career spanning over 50 years and 31 books. The grandson of Jewish immigrants from eastern Europe, Roth grew up in Newark, New Jersey, and his own life and Jewish background were constant sources of material for his fiction. After limited success with 1959 novella "Goodbye, Columbus", he hit stardom in 1969 with "Portnoy's Complaint", a sexually explicit comedy about a young Jewish-American obsessed by masturbation and his mother. During the interview, extracts of which were released by the BBC, Roth said that a comment made in 2004, in which he insisted he could not live without writing, had been misguided. "I was wrong," he told former BBC One chief Yentob. "I had reached the end. There was nothing more for me to write about. "I set out upon the great task of doing nothing. I've had a very good time over the last three or four years. Now that I don't write, I just want to chatter away." Quoting legendary American boxer Joe Louis, Roth said he had "done the best he could with what he had". The interview took place in Newark, and examines the influence of the neighbourhood on his work. Commenting on the scandal surrounding the release of "Portnoy's Complaint", Roth said he "was very curious as a writer as to how far I could go" and to see "what happens if you go further". He also discussed the importance of his time in communist Prague during the 1970s, and of a spell living in Israel. The writer focused particularly on the impact of the 1986 trial of John Demjanjuk, a Cleveland autoworker from Ukraine who was accused of being Ivan Marchenko, a notorious guard at the Treblinka extermination camp during World War II. He was initially sentenced to death, but the conviction was overturned due to lack of evidence. In his later years, Roth has lived a secluded life in the Connecticut countryside, which he described as a "very congenial" place to live and work. "If I'm stuck, I walk out the door," he told Yentob. "I walk around for 10 minutes then come back and I'm away." – AFP, May 20, 2014.

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MH370 movie: the vanishing act Posted: 19 May 2014 07:01 PM PDT May 20, 2014 Rushdi believes that a change agent must tell the truth to a benevolent dictator, religious hardliner, and compassionately connect with youth and have nots. It was inevitable that a movie, not a documentary, would be made from the disappearance of flight MH370! But, who would 'dare' to put a tragedy without evidence on the silver screen? Would it be Hollywood? Bollywood? Nollywood? MH370 was not only the lead story in many western news organizations globally, beyond CNN's obsession, but also the number one trending topic on many social media for sustained period of time, and it quickly reached the five corners of the world. Thus, the film would naturally feed into the curiosity-cum-information vacuum and may confirm theories for a segment of opinions. Even if the whereabouts of MH370 are located before the movie is released in August, many people will still make an effort to see the movie. For more than anything else, it will provide imagination colour, and may, just may, provide closure for some. Imagination of the director on: -Passengers travelling with the stolen passports -Security screening at KLIA, cargo manifest, etc. -Relationships of captain (with the simulator), co-captain, and cabin crew -Pre-flight plane checks -Selected Business/Economy class passengers that figure into the story and sub-stories -Portrayal of Press Briefing by Hishammuddin Hussein, Minister of Defense and Acting Minister of Transport Will the trailer be allowed to be viewed in Malaysia and/or China?  If not, it will be the greatest public relations publicity for the movie! Many people will spend money to go to another country where its premiered! The black/grey market will also address the demand! Cannes Film Festival On May 18, the UK's Mirror reported Bollywood Director, Rupesh Paul, put together a US$3.5 million (RM11.24 million)  trailer for the MH370 movie, The Vanishing act, for the Cannes Film Festival.  That $3.5M investment may be a very smart move, as raising money for the movie to be shot in US, India, etc., will not encounter the usual fund raising obstacles! Investors may be counting their money even before investing, but there is a caveat and it involves contingency-fee based lawyers! The spark for the movie, to be released in August, was an unnamed Malaysian journalist, who contacted Rupesh Paul about his theory concerning the disappearance, and a fictional trailer was made in record time, the screen play took three weeks and the shooting took six days in an actual plane in Bombay. The trailer comes across as an intense undertaking of part horror film, part action-thriller, part scorned characters, and part entrenched interpretation of a higher being. Observations The fast-track speed which the trailer came out within alleged sensitivities towards the families of the victims is a 'Houdini-like tight ropewalker across Niagara Falls' balancing act. [If it becomes accepted without massive back-lash, does it act as an template for other recent external shock events, like Putin and Ukraine, Hafez/Baashar  and Syrian genocide, Malala and Taleban,  or even former deputy prime minister of Malaysia and his vocal boss?] The initial thought that came to mind, in today's age of lawsuits and counter-suits, is there some sort of permission required to make such a movie? If so, from whom: MAS/Malaysian government, families of victims, etc?  Now, is it reasonable to expect lawyers will go after the movie revenue on behalf of victims, and collect their contingency fee? Second, the world has not found a trace of MH370, conspiracy theories abound, and we now have a trailer about what could have happened.  Is the movie  a stop gap filler  when information is not forthcoming, too little, or is incorrect? The biggest concern of the director is, when/if MH370 found, his movie theory is incorrect. But, it is a fictional movie, hence, he covers his tracts and tracks with the usual disclaimers for self protection. Third, the unnamed Malaysia journalist reached out to an Indian director with a theory, hmm, why? Did this person have access to some insights or inside information?  The comment is not meant to "inflame passions for a witch hunt?"  Would the journalist not be taken seriously in the Malaysian movie industry? Or is this too politically charged for Malaysia to undertake? The movie may challenge the Malaysian narrative and control, as perceptions may be coloured or discoveries clouded going forward about MH370. Conclusion As journalists have a certain code of integrity that they must abide by, does the movie industry, from Hollywood to Bollywood, have a similar responsibility to, say, family of the victims when the search for the evidence is still work in progress? Will the "magic" of Bollywood provide some answers to the Vanishing MH370? Will it inflame passions against the airline? Governments? We understand the motivation of the director, getting to the truth, but we have have not heard from him if percentage of the movie revenue will go to a trust fund for the families of the victims? This trailer will produce many comments, good, bad and ugly, and it will set up for a very charged release! – May 20, 2014. * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

P Ramlee sebagai pemikir budaya Posted: 19 May 2014 04:37 PM PDT May 20, 2014 Shukur mempunyai lebih 30 tahun pengalaman sebagai wartawan dan bekerja dengan pelbagai media. Beliau kini pencen tetapi menjadi pemerhati politik yang tegar. Kadang-kadang ada ketikanya saya merasa hendak keluar seketika – hanya seketika - daripada memikirkan persoalan politik tanah air yang saya kira sangat tajam dan semakin berkecamuk serta membingungkan, tidak manusiawi, seperti tidak ada penyelesaiannya. Maka itu, saya mendengar kembali melalui YouTube lagu-lagu lama seniman agung P Ramlee – antaranya Joget Si Pinang Muda, Tanya Sama Hati, Anakku Sazali, Beginilah Nasib Diriku dan beberapa lagu lain yang sangat popular kerana bumbu seninya demikian tinggi. Secara kebetulan, pada awal 60-an di Singapura ketika saya bekerja di beberapa penerbitan sambil belajar di Sekolah Inggeris, Jalan Daud, di sebelah malam, di sana saya sering bertemu dengan Allahyarham. Lebih-lebih lagi ketika bekerja selama setahun dengan majalah yang diterbitkan oleh Allahyarham P Ramlee sendiri - Gelanggang Filem. Pemimpin majalah itu ialah novelis Abdullah Hussein (Sasterawan Negara) dan saya bekerja di sana selama setahun. Bersama penyair A S Amin - sahabat karib Sasterawan Negara A Samad Said – yang menjadi pengurus majalah tesebut, kami sering menemui Allahyarham P Ramlee, sama ada di studio Jalan Ampas atau di rumahnya di Macpherson Road. Biasanya jika tidak ada kelas, saya ke rumahnya untuk menyaksikannya bermain piano dan menggubah lagu. Lagu-laginya sentiasa popular, kerana nilai estetiknya yang tinggi, adunan irama lama dan baru, liriknya yang sangat menarik. Umpamanya lagu 'Kenek-Kenek Udang', lagu rakyat Terengganu yang diberi nafas baru, dengan liriknya disusun semula oleh Jamil Sulong. Maka pada 29 Mei ini genap 41 tahun pemergiannya, tetapi lagu-lagunya dan filemnya yang banyak mengandungi sindiran tajam dan kritik sosial, masih terus diminati oleh kalangan generasi lama dan baru. Karya seninya ini terus segar justeru beliau adalah seniman luar biasa yang versatil di mana setakat ini belum tandingannya. Saya teringat kembali di masa lampau ketika menyaksikan shooting filem Seniman Bujang Lapok di Studio Jalan Ampas di mana P Ramlee dan teman rapatnya – Allahyarham S Shamsudin dan Aziz Satar yang meminggal dunia tidak lama dulu beraksi dengan penuh lucu. Di sana juga saya menyaksikan bagaimana pelakon Ahmad Nisfu dengan penuh lucu menjalankan peranan sebagai 'Direktor Ahmad Nisfu' yang menjadi bingung dan hampir pitam gara-gara kelakuan tiga bujang lapok – P Ramlee, S Shamsudin dan Aziz Satar itu. Ahmad Nisfu adalah pelakon watak yang sangat menarik. Ketika bersara daripada berlakon, beliau bertugas sepenuh masa sebagai muazzin di masjid Onan Road, dekat Geylang hingga akhir hayatnya. P Ramlee sering mengambilnya berlakon dalam filemnya kerana mimik muka dan karekternya yang lucu. Kejayaan P Ramlee juga kerana dibantu oleh ramai sahabatnya, seperti Ahmad Nisfu, Sudarmadji dan lain-lain. Maka ketika di Jalan Ampas, seniman besar ini sangat berjaya dan mengharumkan nama negara dan bangsansanya. Ketika menerima Bintang Kehormatan AMN daripada Yang di-Pertuan Agong di Kuala Lumpur, Almarhum Pendita Za'aba mengucapkan tahniah kepada P Ramlee dengan berkata "Awak mengharumkan nama bangsa Melayu." Itulah P Ramlee di zaman gemilangnya dan tidak ada siapa pun yang menyangka pada waktu itu bahawa seniman agung ini menghadapi zaman suramnya hingga akhir hayat ketika menetap di Kuala Lumpur. Di sinilah, mereka yang tahu mengenai P Ramlee mengingati bahawa pada zaman 'mewah'nya di Jalan Ampas, pelbagai jenis orang mengadu susah kepadanya, meminta pertolongan darinya, khususnya meminta wang untuk membeli makanan atau wang tambang pulang ke kampung. Semua tidak dihampakannya. Itulah P Ramlee yang pemurah. Nama penuh seniman ini, Teuku Zakaria bin Teuku Nyak Puteh bin Teuku Teuku Karim, berasal dari Lhokseumawe, Aceh, Sumatera dan membuka perniagaan di Pulau Pinang. Ibunya benama Che Mah Hussein. P Ramlee lahir di Counter Hall Road,  Pulau Pinang, 22 Mac 1929, selepas fajar dalam dingin pagi ketika umat Islam bertakbir menyambut Aidilfitri. Beliau meninggal dunia pada 29 Mei 1974 setelah diserang sakit jantung. Ketika di Singapura, saya sering melihat beliau bekerja, sangat teliti, berfikir dan berfikir lama sebelum menyusun skrip dan menggubah lagu. Sebab itulah beliau pernah menyatakan kesal yang amat sangat ketika ada penulis di Kuala Lumpu yang menulis di sebuah majalah bahawa kononnya, "P Ramlee hanya seorang seniman, bukan pemikir budaya." Lalu dengan nada kesal beliau memberitahu saya, "Penulis ini tidak tahu apa yang dia tulis. Bukanlah aku berfikir ketika menulis skrip, menggubah lagu, malah ketika berlakon, 'Macam mana penulis ini mengatakan abang hanya seniman bukan pemikir budaya.'"  Bagi P Ramlee ini suatu penghinaan kepadanya. Ketika di Singapura, beliau banyak menulis kertas kerja mengenai seni filem dan muzik untuk pelbagai seminar anjuran badan budaya di sana. Tetapi, biasanya kertas kerjanya hanya dua muka surat, tetapi ketika membentangkannya sendiri kadang-kadang memakan masa hampir sejam setengah menghuraikannya dan beliau boleh berhujah dengan baik dengan stail dan jenakanya. Dia pernah menunjukkan kepada saya dua helai kertas kerjanya mengenai seni budaya Melayu dan saya dimintanya membetulkan ejaannya. Saya bertanya mengapa dua helai saja kertas kerja ini. Lalu P Ramlee menjawab, "Abang boleh syarahkan sampai dua tiga jam. Jangan bimbang." Allahyarham menguasai hampir semua bidang seni – menyanyi, menggubah lagu, berlakon, bermain alat muzik dan segalanya. Para tokoh seni yang paling banyak membantunya, antaranya, ialah S Sudarmadji, Jamil Sulong, penggubah lagu Kasim Masdor, Yusuf B., Othman Ahmad, penulis lirik Yusnor Ef dan lain-lain. Kadang-kadang sambil minum kopi o ais di warung Jalan Ampas, dia menyanyikan lagu yang baru digubahnya. Kemudian berhenti sebentar untuk mengunyah roti yang dikukus dan dibubuh telur masin di dalamnya. Itulah kegemarannya ketika bersarapan. Pernah pada suatu hari beliau memberitahu sambil menunjukkan sebuah akhbar Melayu. Dengan nada marah, kesal dan kecewa beliau memberitahu bahawa ketika beliau menang sebagai Pelakon Lelaki Terbaik di Festival Filem Asia di Tokyo kerana lakonannya dalam filem 'Anakku Sazali' akhbar itu menyiarkan gambarnya sangat kecil dan di muka belakang pula serta tersorok. Tetapi, katanya, waktu beliau di saman kerana lambat membayar cukai pendapatan, akhbar itu menyiarkan gambar dan beritanya begitu besar di muka depan. "Adilkah macam ini, mengapa akhbar ini buat macam ini," tanyanya. Semasa hayatnya, Allahyarham sangat ingin mengarahkan filem berunsur agama, 'Hidayah' di mana skripnya sudah pun disiapkannya. Malangnya, tiada siapa yang hendak membiayai penerbitannya. Maka cita-citanya itu tidak kesampaian hingga akhir hayatnya. Bagaimanapun P Ramlee, kawan-kawan dan karyanya terus dikenang oleh generasi baru dan lama sebagai seniman dan pemikir budaya. – 20 Mei, 2014. * Ini adalah pendapat peribadi penulis dan tidak semestinya mewakili pandangan The Malaysian Insider.

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Tiada bon diterbitkan bagi MAS, kata KWSP Posted: 20 May 2014 03:04 AM PDT May 20, 2014 Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) menjelaskan bahawa ia tidak pernah menerbitkan atau melanggan bon untuk membiayai Malaysia Airlines (MAS) seperti yang dilaporkan oleh media. "Akta KWSP 1991 tidak membenarkan KWSP menerbitkan bon," katanya dalam satu kenyataan hari ini. KWSP juga berkata bentuk pembiayaan terakhir yang disediakannya bagi syarikat penerbangan nasional itu adalah pada tahun 1994, yang dibayar sepenuhnya pada 2004. Satu laporan minggu lepas menyebut KWSP menyuntik wang ke dalam MAS kerana syarikat penerbangan itu menghadapi masalah kewangan disebabkan oleh kehilangan Pesawat MH370. – Bernama, 20 Mei, 2014.

SPR nafi dakwaan DAP, Borang 14 diguna seperti biasa Posted: 20 May 2014 02:48 AM PDT OLEH HASBULLAH AWANG CHIK May 20, 2014 Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) hari ini menafikan dakwaan DAP bahawa Borang 14 tidak akan disahkan oleh ketua tempat mengundi (KTM) dalam Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Parlimen Teluk Intan kali ini. Pengerusinya, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof (gambar) berkata PRK Teluk Intan juga mengamalkan standard piawaian operasi (SOP) yang biasa diamalkan dalam sesebuah pilihan raya yang dijalankan di Malaysia. "Mengikut peraturan, Borang 14 ini diisi bersama wakil calon selepas mengira undi. Mengira undi pun bersama-sama sebelum dipersetujui wakil calon. "Bagaimana timbul isu tidak disahkan? Memang KTM akan mengesahkan kerana dia bertanggungjawab di bilik itu. Dakwaan mereka bohong sama sekali," katanya ketika dihubungi The Malaysian Insider. DAP hari ini mendakwa SPR mahu memansuhkan prosedur pengesahan Borang 14 oleh KTM selepas kiraan undi selesai dijalankan. Setiausaha Publisiti DAP, Tony Pua berkata pendekatan yang digunakan SPR dalam PRK Teluk Intan kali ini sengaja digunakan Umno bagi membolehkan Barisan Nasional (BN) memenangi pilihan raya. "Umno mempunyai motif supaya DAP tewas tidak kira dengan apa cara sekalipun. Kita sudah lihat politik kotor yang timbul dalam media sosial dan surat khabar. "Kita rasa jika Borang 14 tidak perlu disahkan dan ini kali pertama dalam sejarah Malaysia diterima kemungkinan pilihan raya kecil yang kotor akan berlaku," katanya pada sidang media di bilik gerakan DAP di Teluk Intan hari ini. Abdul Aziz berkata proses pengundian dan pengiraan undi sememangnya dipantau rapi dan segala penjumlahan undi akan direkodkan dalam Borang 14. "Di Teluk Intan, prosesnya sama. Tiada perubahan. Proses mengundi ini dipantau. Apabila bilangan undi diketahui maka dipindahkan ke Borang 14. "Sebelum KTM tandatangan, wakil calon akan melakukan semakan bersama-sama," katanya yang sempat mengkritik pemilihan PKR lebih buruk daripada pilihan raya yang dijalankan SPR. – 20 Mei, 2014.

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