Isnin, 1 Ogos 2011

The Malaysian Insider :: Bahasa

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The Malaysian Insider :: Bahasa


Shamala tarik balik rayuan batal tukar agama dua anaknya

Posted: 01 Aug 2011 03:04 AM PDT

PUTRAJAYA, 1 Ogos – Bekas kerani bank S Shamala yang terbabit dalam pertikaian hak penjagaan dua anak lelakinya dengan suaminya yang telah memeluk agama Islam memutuskan untuk menarik balik rayuan peringkat Mahkamah Rayuan.

Shamala, 39, mengemukakan rayuan terhadap keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi yang menolak permohonannya bagi satu deklarasi untuk membatalkan penukaran agama kedua-dua anak lelakinya kepada Islam oleh suaminya yang telah berpisah dengannya.

Hakim Datuk Seri Abu Samah Nordin bersama Hakim Datuk Azahar Mohamed dan Hakim Datuk Alizatul Khair Osman Khairuddin membatalkan rayuan selepas Shamala menarik balik rayuan itu.

Menurut laporan Bernama Online, walaupun suami Shamala, Dr Muhammad Ridzwan, 43, memohon Shamala membayar RM15,000 bagi kos undang-undang, panel itu selepas menimbangkan pandangan kedua-dua pihak dalam rayuan itu, memutuskan untuk tidak mengeluarkan perintah mengenai kos.

Shamala, yang dipercayai berada di luar negara, juga menarik balik rayuan balasnya terhadap keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi yang memberikan kepadanya dan Dr Muhammad Ridzwan yang dahulunya dikenali sebagai Dr Jeyaganesh C. Mogarajah, hak penjagaan bersama kedua-dua anak mereka, Saktiwaran dan Theiviswaran, tetapi mengenakan kaveat ke atas Shamala, melarangnya mengajar anak-anaknya amalan agama Hindu dan memberi mereka makan babi.

Peguam yang mewakili Shamala, Steven Thiru memaklumkan panel itu bahawa notis menarik balik rayuan dan rayuan balas itu telah difailkan pada 11 Julai lalu.

Sementara itu, panel berkenaan menangguhkan empat rayuan lain yang dikemukakan oleh Dr Muhammad Ridzwan, ke satu tarikh yang akan ditetapkan.

Mahkamah juga menangguhkan notis usul yang difailkan oleh barisan peguam yang mewakili Shamala untuk menarik diri daripada mewakilinya dalam rayuan itu, ke satu tarikh yang akan ditetapkan, selepas memerintahkan peguam berkenaan menyerahkan permohonan menarik diri itu kepada Shamala.

Steven Thiru memohon kepada mahkamah untuk dirinya dan dua lagi peguam iaitu Ravi Nekko dan David Matthews untuk menarik diri daripada mewakili Shamala atas alasan mereka gagal mendapatkan arahan daripada anak guam mereka berhubung keputusan Mahkamah Persekutuan bahawa Shamala perlu membersihkan penghinaan mahkamah yang dihadapinya sebelum beliau boleh didengar.

Katanya sejak 2004, beliau menerima arahan daripada keluarga Shamala.

Terdahulu, semasa mengemukakan permohonan menarik balik rayuan itu, Thiru memberitahu mahkamah bahawa kes Shamala adalah satu kes yang sedih kerana ia melibatkan penukaran agama dua anaknya yang masih kecil yang ketika itu berumur empat dan dua tahun (ketika itu) tanpa kebenarannya yang mendorongnya memfailkan litigasi itu.

Thiru menggesa mahkamah untuk tidak mengarahkan Shamala menanggung kos undang-undang itu, menyatakan anak guamnya tidak patut dipersalahkan kerana beliau terpaksa memfailkan litigasi itu.

Muralee Menon, yang mewakili Dr Muhammad Ridzwan, bagaimanapun mendesak supaya Shamala menanggung kos undang-undang itu kerana menurutnya beliau telah menyediakan hujahan bertulis berhubung rayuan itu.

Beliau menggesa mahkamah memutuskan bahawa litigasi yang dikemukakan Shamala adalah menyusahkan dan telah membazirkan masa semua pihak kerana wanita meninggalkan negara ini bersama-sama dua anaknya itu atas pembiayaan suaminya.

Pasangan itu berkahwin pada 1998 mengikut upacara agama Hindu dan perkahwinan mereka didaftarkan di bawah Akta Undang-undang Pembaharuan (Perkahwinan dan Perceraian) 1976.

Pada 2002, Dr Muhammad Ridzwan memeluk Islam dan kemudiannya turut menukar agama kedua-dua anak lelakinya itu kepada Islam tanpa pengetahuan dan kebenaran Shamala.

Pada 12 November lalu, Mahkamah Persekutuan menolak untuk menjawab persoalan utama membabitkan perlembagaan dalam pertikaian Shamala-Dr Muhammad Ridzwan kerana Shamala dan anak mereka tidak hadir di mahkamah.

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ISA: Tujuh pegawai imigresen bebas esok

Posted: 01 Aug 2011 02:29 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR, 1 Ogos – Tujuh pegawai Jabatan Imigresen yang ditahan mengikut Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) antara 10 hingga 12 Oktober lalu kerana disyaki terbabit dalam sindiket penyeludupan manusia akan dibebaskan secara berperingkat mulai esok.

Sebagai permulaan tiga orang akan dibebaskan esok manakala empat lagi dibebaskan dalam masa terdekat.

Perkara itu diumumkan oleh Menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein hari ini.

Hishammuddin yang juga Naib Presiden Umno berkata pembebasan itu dilakukan selepas Kementerian Dalam Negeri mendapati semua tahanan terbabit menunjukkan kesedaran dan keinsafan atas kesilapan yang mereka lakukan.

"Saya telah memutuskan untuk membebaskan tujuh pegawai Jabatan Imigresen yang ditahan di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri antara 10 hingga 12 Oktober tahun lalu, kerana disyaki terlibat dengan sindiket penyeludupan manusia di negara ini.

"Pembebasan ini dibuat setelah Kementerian Dalam Negeri mendapati bahawa semua tahanan ini telah menunjukkan kesedaran dan keinsafan atas kesilapan yang telah mereka lakukan dan berjanji untuk tidak mengulanginya pada masa depan serta telah memberikan kerjasama yang baik kepada pihak polis dalam usaha untuk memerangi kegiatan penyeludupan manusia di negara ini," katanya lagi.

Kata beliau, penahanan mereka dibuat selaras dengan pendirian kerajaan untuk mempertahankan keselamatan dan ketenteraman awam di negara ini sekali gus bagi membolehkan siasatan lanjut dan menyeluruh dibuat khususnya terhadap kegiatan sindiket penyeludupan warga asing dan urusan keluar dan masuk dari negara ini.

"Tindakan ini juga dilakukan selaras dengan hasrat kerajaan untuk membuktikan kepada masyarakat di negara ini serta masyarakat antarabangsa bahawa Malaysia amat komited dalam memerangi aktiviti penyeludupan manusia.

"Dalam hubungan ini, pihak berkuasa di Malaysia akan mengambil tindakan tegas untuk menghalang sebarang usaha untuk menjadikan negara ini sebagai 'transit point' bagi kegiatan ini," katanya lagi.

Hishammuddin berkata, pada masa yang sama beliau ingin mengingatkan pegawai serta kakitangan yang diamanahkan untuk menjaga keselamatan di pintu masuk negara, agar melaksanakan tugas dan tanggungjawab yang diberikan dengan penuh amanah.

"Jangan sesekali bertindak mengkhianati negara ini semata-mata ingin mengejar kemewahan hidup. Tidak tolak ansur ke atas mereka yang mengkhianati amanah negara," katanya.

Semalam Hishammuddin berkata, kerajaan telah menghantar pulang dua individu yang ditahan di bawah ISA kerana mempunyai kaitan dengan kumpulan pengganas, Pembebasan Harimau Tamil Eelam (LLTE) ke Sri Lanka baru-baru ini.

Jumaat lalu, polis membebaskan enam anggota Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) daripada tahanan di bawah Ordinan Darurat.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion

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The morning after GE13

Posted: 31 Jul 2011 08:41 PM PDT

AUG 1 — Too close to call. That will likely be the prognosis of the political pundits a few days before Malaysia's 13th general election which has to be held by 2013 at the latest. In 2008, the Barisan Nasional (BN) received just over 4.1 million votes while the opposition Pakatan Rakyat obtained about 3.8 million votes. In terms of parliamentary seats, BN won 140 seats whereas PR obtained 82 seats.

If the status quo remains, then the only factor that will change the results will be the new first-time voters casting their ballots. On this front the opposition seems to have the edge as it is registering twice the number of new voters in comparison to the BN. If this ratio translates into votes for the various parties then if there are an additional 1.5 million cast for GE13, it will mean that PR obtains another million votes whereas BN only gains another half a million votes. Thus the scenario may well be that BN has a total of 4.6 million votes and PR obtains 4.8 million votes.

The question then is whether PR can win the additional 30 parliamentary seats that it needs to form the government. This is quite possible with around 10 additional seats coming from Sabah and Sarawak and the balance 20 seats coming from the peninsula. Thus if PR attains 112 seats and BN 110 seats then PR takes over the government right? Well not quite. In all likelihood there will be a lot of confusion on the night of the counting and results may not be immediately apparent.

There will be some seats that will be challenged for electoral offences and at the same time there will be a scramble by the BN to try to get some of the opposition winners to cross over to the BN. The BN still has the power of incumbency on its side and to stay in power I have no doubt that they will do their utmost to entice some of the winning PR candidates. Many may consider this immoral but bear in mind that crossing over is entirely legal in Malaysia. Thus if PR only has a very small majority in Parliament, it is highly probable that BN will still be able to retain its power via crossovers.

The above scenario assumes that nothing much has changed since 2008 and that two out of every three new voters will vote for the opposition PR. The reality of course is that not all of the 4.1 million who voted for the BN or the 3.8 million who voted for PR in 2008 will do so again. The main question is which party will lose more votes?

Of course, lately with BN's mishandling of the Bersih rally, it would seem that BN would be losing more of its core constituents. The BN leadership is acting too paternalistically and continues to talk down to the voters. The legitimate aspirations of the voters too are not given free play. In the heat of the moment, I would not be surprised if many voters take the view that they want to teach BN a lesson for its arrogance and show the BN who the real Boss is.

On the other hand, it was not so long ago that the opposition too had its own problems not least of which was the apparent weakness in PKR's party elections where it seemed that PKR was rather devoid of active members within the party. The opposition PR too has its own internal squabbles and at times it seems that the ideological divide is hard to bridge.

To serve the best interest of the nation, it would be better if on the day after GE13 the people give a clear majority of around 20 seats or so to either the PR or BN. If the results are too close, it will lead to instability in the government which will not be good for Malaysia.

Though it is still some way to go before March 2013 when elections have to be held, it appears that today PR has a slight advantage over BN in terms of popular votes. Things can change in the interim to favour the BN but they will have to work very hard for it.

As it stands today, it seems that time is the only clear factor that BN really has in its favour.

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.

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Singapura dilanggar todak 2.0

Posted: 31 Jul 2011 05:20 PM PDT

AUG 1 — Temasek, the old Singapore, was home to a gifted 10-year-old named Hang Nadim. Even at a very young age, he was known to be a bit of an intellectual with a keen grasp of mathematical concepts and a penchant for advanced physics theorem.

He was probably the most sought after person whenever the island had a seemingly intractable problem that needed solving — water, sand, gambling, town planning — but more of the wee lad later. 

One day, disaster hit Temasek. Schools of horny — and not to mention deadly — ikan todak, or swordfish, started to attack the island at the end of the mating season like Chelsea FC supporters on an Asian Tour.

Quite inexplicably, they jumped out of the water, spearing and killing Singaporean passport holders, expatriates, and naturalised foreign football players. Their unruly behaviour [1] created havoc all over the island. 

People who came to witness the phenomenon soon tried to flee the beach, but many ended up getting lanced by the ikan todak. It was an absolute carnage, and the death toll soon rose. The chief lifeguard on duty, David Hasselhoff, had no choice but to alert the King of Temasek of the todak onslaught. 

The King hopped on his elephant, which was equipped with a brand new naturally aspirated 5.5-litre V8 engine, and reached the beach in no time with his entourage. 

The mayhem and the scale of the catastrophe were plain to see. There were dead bodies everywhere at the water's edge, and the King knew he had to act fast. 

He promptly instructed the rakyat to line up along the sandy shore with a parang, or machete, in hand. "Use your body as shield, and use the parang to chop the todak," he ordered. 

It didn't sound like a good idea then and — let's be perfectly honest here — it still sounds like a pretty dumb idea today. Alas, the rakyat had no other choice but to do as told.[2] 

Needless to say, the effort came to nought. The barricade of men did little to stem the tide, and resulted only in further loss of lives mainly attributable to massive loss of blood, sepsis and men accidentally stabbing each other while trying to hack the todak.

The dead bodies began to pile up, and even those who were not speared by the todak were also rolling all over the place, feigning injury like their national football team. 

Everyone was beginning to freak out as things looked increasingly bleak and hopeless. It was very confusing and incomprehensible, not unlike the lyrics to Justin Bieber's songs.

The King was at his wits' end, and he was desperate to salvage the situation. The calamity was obviously bad for the country's reputation, bad for business, bad for investors' confidence, and, of course, bad for voters. 

The King was at the point of fleeing, when someone suggested that he should consult Hang Nadim, the boy genius. Hang Nadim was hastily brought to the palace to deliberate the strategic options to combat the todak blitzkrieg. 

After listening intently to the client's brief, Hang Nadim gave a seven-page Powerpoint™  presentation to the King and outlined a remarkably simple plan to save Temasek from the deadly todak attacks: fortify the beachline by erecting a barricade of banana tree trunks. This would neutralise the todak threat AND spare the people from being skewered like kebabs. 

The King's advisers were sceptical and vehemently protested, but were told off by the King.  

"We have nothing to lose by listening to this boy, but everything to gain if it works. Get it done, be proactive, work with a clear end in mind, synergise and think win-win!" barked the King. "I know I may sound like a management consultant now but it is absolutely imperative that we combine our strengths and genuinely strive for a mutually beneficial and sustainable solution." 

The entire population set upon the task of cutting down banana trees, and it was a good thing too that Temasek was a major banana producing country. It was a weekend, so everyone was pretty happy to work anyway since they are paid overtime at triple the usual daily rate. They hauled the trunks to the shore and before nightfall, the entire island was buttressed by row upon row of banana tree trunks. 

The King's advisers again derided the whole thing, saying that Temasek would gain no real benefit from the move. This was, of course, mere conjecture on their part, but hey, they were older and had a lot more facial hair, so they must have thought that that was enough reason for their bellyaching.  

The next day, everyone including the King rushed to the shores to check if their plan had worked. Lo and behold, there were literally thousands of struggling todaks with their snouts stuck in the banana tree trunks, trying to wiggle themselves free. The jubilant crowd chopped off the swordfish and Temasek was once again peaceful. 

Hang Nadim was heralded a hero and was rewarded handsomely by the grateful King. The lad was conferred a Datukship,[3] appointed a board member of a GLC, and became lead consultant to the Temasek ruler with comprehensive medical benefits.  

The King's advisers were fuming with rage that Hang Nadim was being feted by their boss, and heaped with honours, given an expanded job description and plump KPIs. They obviously envied the boy's intelligence and popularity among the girls, so they vowed to make the King turn against the boy. As you can see, dear readers, fury, jealousy and incompetence are never a good combo. 

They whispered into the King's ear, "If Hang Nadim can think up such a scheme at such a young age, what kind of a threat would he pose to the palace when he grows up? Your Highness, genius and ambition are a dangerous combination."  

This obviously got the King all riled up and worried about his future. 

"You are quite right," the King said. "What if the boy turns Temasek into a republic? Supreme control over the government shall no longer be granted through heritage, and the monarchy — constitutional or otherwise — becomes a relic. I cannot allow that to happen." 

To make this story slightly longer, the King continued, "What if this boy gangs up with other English-educated middle-class professionals, forms some kind of people action political party, suppresses free speech and other civil liberties, and becomes prime minister for 40,000 years?[4] Clearly, this boy cannot be allowed to live." 

Hang Nadim was immediately summoned to the palace, stripped of his Datukship, and swiftly sentenced to death with no real legal remedy made available. He did file for constructive dismissal but did not succeed, because unlike this day and age of complete judicial independence, the courts of law in those days were controlled by corrupt judges and under the thumb of the executive with no clear separation of powers. Thankfully, those dark days are now over. 

Thus Hang Nadim the boy genius was executed for being too smart, and for fear that he might grow up ambitious and hungry for power. He was lined up against a wall, pelted with rotten potatoes, and finally executed with a keris. 

Naturally, the insecure palace advisers were dead chuffed, as they looked forward to many more years of festering mediocrity. The whole episode is believed to be one of the earliest documented history of office politics as we know it today, complete with vicious folks, bumbling antagonists and generally idiotic supporting casts. 

Temasek did not remain peaceful for long, as the todak made a more deadly return soon after, descending on the island and harpooning the King, his advisers and all his subjects. It was a dark period in Temasek's history, where the people were stripped of their sense of humour, an affliction that remains among Singaporeans until today. 

This particular chapter was not one without a happy outcome. As a result of the whole banana tree trunk defence, there were banana leaves scattered all over the island. This triggered a lucrative export business when a Malayan entrepreneur began to import the leaves into the Federated Malay States and started a Kassim Nasi Daun Pisang outlet near Brickfields. 

The franchise thrived over the years until the area was torn down to make way for the construction of KL Sentral and all the posh condos. Well, that's development for you.

Notes:

[1] The ikan todak, not the expatriates.

[2] Come to think of it, I'd sooner have the management consultants lined up on the shores so that they can be speared to death by the todak.

[3] Not really a big deal, since even Shah Rukh Khan got one.

[4] The King need not have worried, as history has shown us that this did NOT happen.

* Excerpt from a work in progress: Updated Fairy Tales. Copyright Mohd Suhaimy Kamaruddin, July 2011.

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.

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Ahad, 31 Julai 2011

The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

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Lochte wins five, still claims underdog status

Posted: 31 Jul 2011 08:13 AM PDT

Ryan Lochte (right) looks up to Michael Phelps. This was after their win in the men's 4 X 200m freestyle relay. — Reuters pic

SHANGHAI, July 31 — Ryan Lochte claimed five gold medals at the world swimming championships in Shanghai but was convinced he was still playing second fiddle to teammate Michael Phelps.

Lochte's fourth individual gold medal, and fifth overall, was achieved in the men's 400 metres individual medley. He led from start to finish and was never really challenged even though he chopped down a gear on the final leg of freestyle when the race had already been virtually assured.

"It's been a hard eight days," Lochte told reporters. "Being able to do the 4IM at the end of the week. I am glad the meet is over."

Lochte's win ensured he repeated the feat of two years ago in Rome when he also won both the 200 and 400 individual medley titles. Hungary's Tamas Darnyi is the only other man to have won both medley titles in consecutive championships.

Lochte also won the 200 freestyle and 200 backstroke and was a member of the gold medal-winning 4x200 freestyle relay team. He was also only one of two swimmers to set a world record during these championships when he pipped Michael Phelps for the 200 individual medley gold.

China's Sun Yang broke the 1500 metres freestyle record in the final men's individual event on the programme today.

Lochte, who turns 27 on Aug. 3, was named the male swimmer of the meeting, usurping his more illustrious compatriot, though the big challenge is to ensure he continues his hot run of form into next year's London Olympics.

Phelps said that he had failed to fully commit to the intensive training schedule mapped out for him, and the fact he pushed his teammate so hard should worry the Florida-based Lochte.

"I don't think I am the top dog," Lochte said. "I have a whole year to work hard and train hard.

"For the most part, I am not really happy with the meet; I mean winning five gold medals is great but I know I can go faster.

"I will make sure next year I will have a perfect swim." — Reuters

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Sun burst caps final day of world championships

Posted: 31 Jul 2011 07:47 AM PDT

Ryan Lochte, with the Fina Trophy as the best male swimmer. — Reuters pic

SHANGHAI, July 31 — China's Sun Yang provided a record-breaking finale to the world swimming championships today, while Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps set up the potential of a mouth-watering showdown at next year's London Olympics.

The long-stroking Sun, roared on by his home crowd, produced a storming final 100 metres to break Grant Hackett's long-standing 1500 metres freestyle world record by clocking 14 minutes 34.14 seconds — just the second mark to be bettered in Shanghai.

"All the pain that I endured during my training in the past had paid off," Sun told reporters. "I didn't think too much about it (the record) before the race.

"I just wanted to swim with my own rhythm and in a 1500-metre race, you need to feel good about the swim. I think this has to do with all the hard work that I put in."

Lochte picked up his fifth gold of the championships when he won the men's 400 metres individual medley, to add to the 200 IM, 200 freestyle, 200 backstroke and the 4x200 freestyle relay titles.

The 26-year-old American was named the male swimmer of the meeting for his performances, which included the only other world record in the 200 IM.

Compatriot Michael Phelps, however, had an understated championships yet still won four gold medals.

The most successful Olympian of all time won both the 100 and 200 butterfly titles as well as gold medals in the 4x200 freestyle relay and the 4x100 medley relay.

He also took two silvers, behind Lochte in the 200 freestyle and 200 IM, and a bronze in the 4x100 freestyle relay.

The 26-year-old Phelps had admitted to not really committing fully to his training regime after the highs of Beijing, when he won an unprecedented eight gold medals, and was using Shanghai as a test for where he stood 12 months out from his final Olympics in London.

The fact he was able to push Lochte so close in a number of events and produce highly credible times suggested he and coach Bob Bowman had a more than adequate base to build from and the London programme looks even more enticing with the true emergence of Lochte as a mature and intelligent opponent.

"The biggest thing (at this meet) was really trying to swim faster than I did last year," Phelps said.

"With the preparations that I had, I am fairly satisfied.

"Everything that went on here is going to be motivation for next year. We have 12 months to prepare for London and that's what I will find myself doing."

Rebecca Soni, best female swimmer. — Reuters pic

American Rebecca Soni was named the female swimmer of the meeting after she added the 50 metres breaststroke bronze to her three gold medals in the 100-200 breaststroke and the 4x100 medley relay.

"I'm very happy with the race, and excited for the result," Soni said. "I had a lot of fun. It is great fun for me this week."

Soni's compatriot Jessica Hardy won the 50 breaststroke and coupled with wins for Elizabeth Beisel and Lochte in the 400 metres individual medley races and the men's 4x100 medley relay team winning gold, the US were able to sneak past the host nation to head the medal table.

The US won 16 gold medals in the pool, and 17 overall, just nudging past China, who ended with 15 golds after they swept all 10 titles in the diving.

Therese Alshammar of Sweden won the women's 50 freestyle and set down a marker for London, though the powerful Dutch team again proved their sprint freestyle credentials when Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Marleen Veldhuis took silver and bronze respectively.

Britain's Liam Tancock retained his men's 50 metres backstroke title though the event is not on the London programme. — Reuters

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The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz

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String of hits brings smile back to Bollywood

Posted: 31 Jul 2011 01:21 AM PDT

Bollywood's upward trend started after the end of the back-to-back World Cup and IPL cricket tournaments with the Salman Khan action comedy "Ready". — AFP/Relaxnews pic

MUMBAI, July 31 — Bollywood has had a better start to the second half of 2011 after a tough first six months of empty cinemas and postponed releases caused by clashes with major cricket tournaments, analysts say.

Long queues and "house full" signs have returned to cinemas in India's entertainment capital Mumbai and across the country since the start of June for a string of films that have proved a hit with audiences.

The upward trend started after the end of the back-to-back World Cup and Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournaments with the Salman Khan action comedy "Ready".

Since then, Sanjay Dutt's slapstick "Double Dhamaal", Aamir Khan's comedy "Delhi Belly", the thriller "Murder 2" and the Hrithik Roshan-Katrina Kaif road movie "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara" (You Only Live Once) have all done well.

The boxofficeindia.com website, which tracks industry takings, on Wednesday said that "Zindagi" had taken 443.2 million rupees (RM29.7 million) since it opened on July 15, calling it a "hit".

"Murder 2" had taken 444.7 million rupees in under two weeks, deeming it a "blockbuster", while "Delhi Belly" had returns of 540.3 million rupees in three weeks, classing it as a "super hit".

"Double Dhamaal" was assessed as "above average" with takings of 452.1 million rupees in four weeks, according to the site.

"Singham", a crime drama starring Ajay Devgn, has had rave reviews since it came out last week and is also expected to do well.

"We've never had it so good. We've never had four successes back to back," said trade analyst Komal Nahta, referring to "Ready", "Double Dhamaal", "Murder 2" and "Zindagi".

"They were good films. There weren't too many releases in March or April but thereafter 'Ready' worked and the other films worked," Nahta, who writes for India's biggest film trade journal, Film Information, told AFP.

"When the World Cup and IPL were on there wasn't much filmed entertainment, so there was a hunger for films and people rushed to the cinemas."

The Indian releases had been expected to suffer as they hit screens around the same time as the last instalment of the Harry Potter series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" and the latest "Transformers" movie.

The boxofficeindia.com site said that first-week takings for the English version of the final Potter movie were 102.6 million rupees and 61.4 million in Hindi, as of Wednesday.

The English version of "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" had taken 125.3 million rupees and 49.6 million rupees in Hindi in three weeks, it added.

The results were more positive news for the Indian film industry, which has seen overall revenues fall 20 per cent in the past three years from US$2.3 billion in 2008 to US$1.85 billion in 2010.

Domestic box office revenues still contribute 75 per cent of an Indian film's earnings, according to research by KPMG.

Poor quality content, rising overheads, the global economic crisis and an increase in other ways for people to spend their spare time have all been blamed for the downturn.

Vinod Mirani, another industry analyst, said the recent successes proved that good films would work no matter what.

"It's as simple as that," he added.

All eyes are now turned to the next big release, "Aarakshan" (Reservation), starring Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone, on August 12.

The film has already proved controversial as it tackles the sensitive issue of reserving posts in the government and education sector based on caste.

Nahta said concerns expressed by political groups representing low-caste Hindus were unlikely to harm the movie.

"In fact, controversy more often than not helps a film," he added. — AFP/Relaxnews

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Beyoncé to create new video using fans’ wedding and prom photos

Posted: 30 Jul 2011 09:46 PM PDT

Screenshot from Beyoncé's video for "Best Thing I Never Had" — Courtesy of YouTube

LOS ANGELES, July 31 — Want to be in a Beyoncé video? On July 28, the pop star announced plans to create an alternative music video for her new single "Best Thing I Never Had", from her latest album, 4, using photos and video from fans.

The singer has asked fans to send in video footage or photos from their own weddings or prom experiences, which she will include in a new version of the video.

To take part, upload your clips to YouTube or photos to Flickr and tag them with #BeyonceBestThing before August 12.

Beyoncé will select her top picks to be included in the new video, which is scheduled to be unveiled in September.

Her fourth solo album, 4, released on June 27, has reached number one on album charts in nine countries, including the US and UK.

Beyoncé has won 13 Grammy Awards as a solo artist and three as a member of her former girl group Destiny's Child. She has sold a reported 75 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling musicians of all time. — afprelaxnews.com

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Scientology book author reveals church’s inner workings

Posted: 31 Jul 2011 08:13 AM PDT

[unable to retrieve full-text content]LOS ANGELES, July 31 — Scientology operates more as a business than as a church, relying on techniques perfected by car salesmen to attract new members and celebrities to its rolls. That’s just one of the takeaways from Janet Reitman’s controversial book about the world’s most controversial and secretive religion. “Inside Scientology” chronicles ...


Cambodia’s ‘orphan tourism’ sparks concern

Posted: 31 Jul 2011 01:34 AM PDT

[unable to retrieve full-text content]SIEM REAP, July 31 — Pictures of hundreds of former volunteers line the walls of a muddy courtyard in Cambodia’s tourist hub of Siem Reap, their faces once familiar to the orphans playing there but now long gone. The colourful gallery at the Acodo orphanage illustrates a growing trend of holidaymakers donating their time and skills to children in ...


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Jenazah Seniman Negara Syed Ahmad selamat dikebumi

Posted: 31 Jul 2011 02:31 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR, 31 Julai — Jenazah Seniman Negara Datuk Syed Ahmad Syed Jamal, 82, yang meninggal dunia malam tadi, selamat dikebumikan di Tanah Perkuburan Islam Kampung Sungai Pusu, Gombak, di sini pada pukul 11.30 pagi tadi.

Syed Ahmad, yang menerima anugerah Hadiah Seni Negara pada 1995 dan pelbagai hadiah lain sepanjang penglibatan beliau dalam seni visual, meninggal dunia di kediamannya di Gombak kira-kira pukul 10 malam.

Beliau meninggalkan isteri Datin Halimah Mohd Noor, 69, dan dua anak lelaki iaitu Syed Nurlhaq, 35, dan Syed Nabil, 39.

Ketika ditemui pemberita, Halimah berharap usaha Allahyarham suaminya untuk menaikkan martabat seni negara dapat diteruskan pelbagai pihak.

"Arwah telah mengutarakan banyak cadangan kepada kerajaan serta pihak lain dalam usaha ikhlas arwah naikkan martabat seni negara . . . harap cadangan ini dapat dilaksanakan," katanya dipetik Bernama Online.

Beliau berkata seni yang dihasilkan Allahyarham sepanjang hidupnya juga diharap menjadi pemangkin bagi generasi muda di negara ini untuk terus berkarya demi membawa seni ke tahap tertinggi.

Anak bongsu Allahyarham, Syed Nurlhaq, pula berkata bapanya meninggal dunia akibat sakit tua.

Sementara itu, Ketua Pengarah Balai Seni Lukis Negara Datuk Mohd Yusof Ahmad yang turut menziarahi jenazah Allahyarham berkata pemergian Syed Ahmad merupakan satu kehilangan besar dalam bidang seni lukis di negara ini.

"Arwah merupakan seorang seniman prolifik dalam seni lukis di negara ini, beliau pergi meninggalkan satu legasi dan hasil karya beliau amat diminati dan dicari-cari pegumpul seni lukis di dalam dan luar negara," katanya.

Beliau berkata kali terakhir Allahyarham bekerjasama dengan Balai Seni Lukis Negara ialah dua tahun lepas untuk menjayakan pameran retrospektif yang mempamerkan lukisan dengan susunan perjalanan seni beliau.

Mohd Yusof berkata Balai Seni Lukis Negara amat berbangga menyimpan karya Syed Ahmad dan menganggapnya satu amanah bagi memastikan karya Allahyarham dapat dinikmati generasi akan datang.

Pensyarah UiTM Profesor Madya Jailani Hassan pula berkata Allahyarham merupakan 'bapa' kepada semua penggiat seni lukis muda di negara ini.

"Arwah amat mengambil berat tentang generasi kami . . . arwah ini penyambung antara penggiat seni lukis generasi terdahulu dengan generasi kita sekarang, arwah adalah mentor saya dan mentor generasi sekarang," katanya yang bertemu Syed Ahmad buat kali terakhir pada tiga hari lepas.

Rakan karib Allahyarham, Raja Ahmad Aminullah berkata kali terakhir mereka berjumpa ialah pada minggu lepas, dan seperti biasa, beliau dan Syed Ahmad berbincang isu mengenai seni budaya di negara ini.

"Arwah merupakan seorang yang begitu ghairah dalam hal berkaitan seni di negara ini, arwah selalu memberi pandangan yang mampu memberi manafaat kepada masyarakat, arwah juga seorang yang sanggup bersama susah dan senang dengan kawannya," katanya yang juga Pengarah Galeri RA Fine Arts.

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Putrajaya hadapi cabaran jurang ekonomi antara kelas, kata menteri

Posted: 31 Jul 2011 12:23 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR, 31 Julai — Putrajaya mengakui ketidaksamaan ekonomi antara pelbagai kelas sosial dengan Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yackop berkata, ia menjadi halangan untuk menyelesaikan masalah itu termasuk di kalangan kaum yang sama.

Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri itu berkata sementara pentadbiran Najib berusaha "mengurangkan" jurang pendapatan antara pelbagai kaum, ia masih belum dapat menyelesaikan perbezaan ekonomi antara kaum.

"Walaupun kami berjaya mengurangkan ketaksamaan antara kaum, namun masih terdapat jurang antara kaum itu sendiri," katanya pada satu program dialog anjuran Pemimpin Mahasiswa Malaysia Summit (MSLS).

Nor Mohamed (gambar) yang bertanggungjawab dalam Unit Perancang Ekonomi (UPE) juga berkata, dasar kuota Bumiputera masih lagi diperlukan.

"Ia satu falsafah moral... kerajaan mempunyai tanggungjawab untuk membawa semua orang ke titik permulaan. Setiap kelemahan yang ada memberi satu peluang untuk kembali ke asal.

"Sebaik sahaja anda mendapat mereka untuk ke titik permulaan, persaingan akan diteruskan," katanya.

MENYUSUL LAGI

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Najib mencari ‘Talian Hayat’

Posted: 30 Jul 2011 07:03 PM PDT

31 JULAI — Bila penulis menerbitkan satu makalah "General Election in July, folks!" pada 20 Mei lalu, ia bukan bertujuan untuk 'spin'. Mengimbas kembali, itulah ruang tarikh atau 'window' paling wajar menyerang-hendap atau 'ambush' Pakatan Rakyat. Pengumuman pembubaran parlimen  boleh menjadikan perhimpunan Aman Bersih 2.0, 9-Julai lalu di satu kedudukan yang sukar diberikan tumpuan oleh penganjur. Lebih parah lagi bagi parti-parti politik yang dalam 'panic mode'. Najib gagal.

Malang buat Umno-BN, Perdana Menteri Najib tidak sehebat pendahulunya. Najib kini sudah kehilangan jendela atau 'window' paling strategiknya. Sebaliknya, tidak keterlaluan kalau penulis nyatakan bahawa Najib mungkin sahaja akan kehilangan peluang untuk memimpin dalam perang PRU k-13 ini! Maksudnya, penulis meramalkan Najib akan disingkir sebagai Presiden Umno sekaligus Pengerusi BN sebelum PRU ke-13,.

Begitu sekali? Ya, demi menyelamatkan Umno-BN, Najib akan bakal diketepikan. Sejarah akan berulang. Tun terpaksa diketepikan Umno untuk menyelamatkan parti Melayu itu, sebab telah menjadi 'liabiliti' terbesar perjuangan parti mereka. Ternyata strategi itu berbisa dan mengena. Pak Lah menang besar dalam PRU ke-11, April, 2004 itu, bahkan antara terbesar dalam sejarah politik pilihanraya Umno.

Kini Umno sedang menghitung opsyen atau pilihan strategik yang sama. Bezanya Tun diketepikan setelah terlalu lama memimpin; 22 tahun. Najib baru sahaja masuk tahun ketiganya. Najib pun belum pernah menang pilihanraya umum yang dikemudinya sendiri. Besar harapan Najib untuk membuktikan kepemimpinannya.

Mungkin sahaja itu akan tinggal cita-cita. Dia semacam akan tersungkur di garis permulaan tampaknya. Dia sedang menemui ' su'ul khatimah' atau 'kesudahan buruk' dalam kerjaya politiknya. Bagi seorang ahli politik tambahan calon negarawan, kesudahan seperti itu amat mengaibkan dan mengerikan sekali.

Mengapa Umno terpaksa singkirkan Najib?

Sebabnya banyak dan terus menonjol. Pendeknya (bukan 'pendek kata'), Najib telah menjadi 'liabiliti paling besar' buat Umno diambang PRU ke-13 ini. Dia telah menjadi seumpama Tun dalam masa yang jauh lebih singkat. Bagi sebuah parti, yang penting ialah survival atau kesinambungan hidup parti untuk terus berkuasa. Pemimpin boleh datang dan pergi. Tak ada siapa yang akan kekal. Tapi parti dan 'perjuangan' mesti dipertahankan, walau apapun. Mungkin  'mantra' atau 'maxim' ini umum dan berkuatkuasa untuk semua. Tempoh tiga tahun ini menyaksikan Najib berusaha keras membuktikan bahawa beliau punya wibawa dan wawasan. Beliau tidak lengah untuk meyakinkan rakyat dan pengundi. Tahap sokongan atau 'approval rating' beliau, mengikut dapatan beberapa pusat kajian polls, menunjukkan peningkatan pada peringkat awalnya menjadi PM. Najib telah cuba buktikan bahawa beliau peka kepada soalan 'pandangan awam' atau 'public opinion' sehingga sanggup mengungkpakan bahawa 'Era kerajaan tahu semua telah berlalu". Ketika itu kononnya beliau sanggup mendengar rakyat.

Najib cuba perbaikki imej partinya yang tercalar kerana terlalu angkuh pra PRU ke-12 dengan mantranya "Rakyat di dahulukan dan prestasi diutamakan'. Kesemua itu adalah cubaan gigih Najib untuk baikpulih 'persepsi' terhadap partinya. Najib juga cuba mendekati dan melayani warga 'netizen' dan golongan muda dalam media baru- facebook dan twitter dan berinteraksi secara maya dan 'engaged' secara langsung juga dengan mereka.

Justeru, tidak hairan Najib masih boleh memenangi beberapa pilihanraya kecil sehingga keputusan mutakhir terikat pada kedudukan seri 8-8 sejak selepas PRU ke-12.

Namun amat malang bagi Najib, semakin ghairah beliau membuktikan kepimpinannya, semakin menyerlahkan kelemahan sebenar dirinya, samada pada rakyat atau pengundi dan lebih parah lagi kepada pendukung setia dan 'warlords' partinya sendiri, Umno.

Mutakhir ini, 'tahap sokongan' atau 'approval  rating' terus merosot berbanding sedikit waktu dahulu. Tiga tahun adalah lama dalam politik. Pelbagai pergolakan politik nasional, pertentangan agama dan pertelingkahan atas garis ras atau kaum, kemelut rasuah, ketirisan serta kebocoron dalam pengurusan kewangan dan pembangunan Negara, semua menyerlahkan kepemimpinan Najib sebenarnya. Najib seharusnya sedar, tetapi beliau tidak begitu. Beliau semacam dirasuk sindrom penafian.

Samada isu nama Allah, isu kepala lembu atau babi hutan. serangan terhadap rumah ibadat, Interlok, PPSMI, GMI, rampasan negeri Perak dan pelbagai lagi perilakunya dalam beberapa PRK khususnya di Sibu, Serawak dan Hulu Selangor, telah pun menyelak hakikat sebenar 'dirinya'. Beliau 'reckless' atau tidak punya 'jatidiri politik' yang wajar disanjungi seumpama bapanya, seorang negarawan.

Sebaliknya kata-kata tidak cermat, seperti 'you help me dan I help u' memperkuhkan pelbagai amalan buruk dalam rasuah politik pilihanraya. Memberi kedudukan tinggi orang yang sabit rasuah sementara dia mahu perang rasuah. Dia sinonim dengan tabiat flip-flop, satu ciri yang tidak membuktikan ketegasan. Beliau hanya mahu 'sokongan' semua.

Kini Najib berdepan pelbagai ujian getir. Rakyat dan pengundi terus menilai sementara partinya terus cemas serta rimas dengan prestasi Najib dan mutakhir ini gelagat buruk dan perilaku 'first ladynya' . Ia memburukkan lagi peluang Najib. Berbelanja besar dan 'taste' atau selera hyper-mewah berlawanan dengan anjuran menyuruh rakyat bercermat. RM4.5 juta menganjur Persidangan Wanita Pertama Dunia yang dihadiri 14 wanita pertama kebanyakan dari Negara Afrika bukan satu yang wajar dalam 13 tahun bajet defisit yang ditanggung kerajaan BN.

Beg tangan, gelang tangan mewah dan cincin belian didakwa RM24 juta yang ada hubungkait dengan FLOM itu amat tidak disenangi rakyat yang dianjurkan berjimat dalam mendepani himpitan kos saran hidup yang tinggi. Perbelanjaan besar rumah kediaman PM dan TPM juga dipandang cukup jelek oleh rakyat. Pertikaian pelbagai pihak tentang  'entourage' keluar Negara seperti urusan  pra-pertunangan di Kazakhstan masih menantikan pertanggungjawaban secara telus dan amanah.

Najib kini kehilangan 'goodwill'nya atau 'sangka baik' dan 'hormat' rakyat pada dirinya. Ini petanda buruk  bagi seorang pemimpin, khususnya ketua sesebuah kerajaan.

Bersih 2.0 pula  terus menyerlahkan kepimpinan buruk Najib dan kegagalan beliau menangani cabaran Politik Baru. Kini rakyat-pengundi yang  mengalami pencerahaan minda dan kemerdekaan jiwa serta punya keberanian menyatakan segala yang salah yang dilakukan orang politik dan parti-parti politik samada kerajaan atau pembangkang. Najib gagal mendepani tuntutan dan melayani desakan masyarakat sivil sekaligus meletakkan persepsi negatif terhadap diri dan kerajaannya yang semacam mahu terus melindungi yang 'kotor' dalam sistem pilihanraya. Ini termasuk hal kekotoran dalam daftar pemilih dan mengundi lebih sekali. Isu dakwat kekal lawan kaedah biometric akan terus menjadi polimik tajam. Najib gagal menangani isu semudah ini. Ataukah beliau mahu menyerlahkan niat jahat kerajaannya?

Kezaliman dan tindakan ganas pihak PDRM terhadap peserta Bersih 2.0 satu hal yang menunjukkan bahawa Najib dan menteri-menteri gagal memahami bagaimana mendahulukan rakyat dan faham bahawa 'era kerajaan tahu semua sudah berlalu'. Najib mendapat liputan buruk media dalam dan luar Negara, termasuk kritikan dari pimpinan politik dalam partinya seperti Saifudin Abdullah dan Khairy Jamaludin., Kedua-dua tokoh pemimpin muda Umno. Mungkin ramai yang takut bersuara.

Tidak pernah disaksikan betapa masyarakat 'netizen' media sosial memarahi pemimpin parti politik seteruk kali ini. Tetapi dengan Najib ini, selepas Bersih 2.0, lebih 200,000 warga sebuah facebook menuntut Najib berundur segera. Ini cukup menyiksakan seorang pemimpin!

Semacam tidak memahami realiti akar umbi, Najib terus membuka pelbagai 'front' memerangi rakyat-pengundi yang sepatutnya dimenangi hati-budi mereka. Umno-BN terus memerhatikan Najib yang bertindak 'sumbang' mungkin dengan nasihat pelbagai firma 'consulting'nya termasuk APCO, yang tidak tahu waqi' atau realiti politik Negara dan salur-galur psiki orang Melayu, kaum Cina-India dan ratusan etnik dari sabah dan Sarawak.

Najib wajar melebarkan lingkungan kawan dan memperkcilkan lawan. Perilaku mencetuskan kesan sebaliknya. Najib tidak tahu bahawa beliau punya musuh dalam selimut. Najib melalui sepupunya Hishamuddin menahan 6 pemimpin Parti Sosialis Malaysia, yang hari ini dinobat sebagai PSM06 atau EO6. Dr Jeyakumar, MP Sg Siput yang juga ditangkap telah memulakan mogok laparnya. Atas tekanan rakyat, penulis meramalkan mereka akan di bebaskan. (Telah pun).

Najib mengundang amarah kaum India, yang sokongan mereka belum pasti akan kembali kepada BN. Menteri Sumber Manusia dari MIC dan Presiden telah 'broke-rank' lantas mengecam kerajaan Najib atas tahanan di bawah Ordinan Dharurat 1960. Kini seluruh lapisan rakyat sivil dan politik Pakatan bergandingan untuk membebaskan tahanan EO6 ini.

Front perang antarabangsa juga dibuka oleh Najib ketika secara 'terdesak' mengambil tindakan menahan lantas 'mendeport' William Bourdon, peguam hak asasi manusia yang menjadi peguam sebuah NGO, Suara Rakyat Malaysia, SUARAM, yang mengangkat pendakwaan rasuah dalam perolehan kapal selam Scorpene di Mahkamah Perancis.

Peguam yang datang untuk berucap dalam program 'fund raising' Suaram bagi membiayai kes perbicaraan terhadap dakwaan rasuah syarikat Perancis DCNS yang membekalkan kerajaan Malaysia kapal selam scorpene, akhirnya dihantar pulang setelah didakwa melanggari peraturan visa kemasukannya. Sekali lagi rakyat dan dunia memerhatikan apa pulak yang cuba dilindungi Najib kali ini. Kes akan didengari di Mahkamah Perancis pada bulan September tahun ini.

Bermakna Najib kini terpaksa berdepan dengan risiko besar dengan apa yang bakal didedahkan siasatan peguam Suaram ini. Mampukah Najib mengangkis persepsi buruk ini, jika sebutan itu membabitkan orang kepercayaannya? Mampukah Umno menerima dampak buruknya seandai dapat di dedahkan Willaim Bourdon nanti skandal perolehan scorpene tentang siapa antara penerima RM540 juta itu?

Najib terus ditimpa nasib malang kerana mantra keramat "1-Malaysia" nya pada awalnya adalah memenangi pengundi kaum Cina dan India yang telah menyokong pembangkang. Ini pendekatan 'inklusif' atau 'keterangkuman'nya. Sedari awal mantra ini kurang disenangi oleh partinya sendiri. Ia dilihat terlalu lunak kepada kaum bukan-Melayu. Mahyuddin sedari awal telah menyanggah dengan beliau bertegas dia Melayu dulu 'Malay first' sesuai dengan slogan 'Hidup Melayu' dan 'Ketuanan Melayu' yang didukungi Umno sejak azali.

Pelbagai pendekatan 'inklusif' Najib tidak di'kongsi' oleh partinya dan Perkasa digunakan oleh 'warlords' Umno seperti Tun Malhathir untuk membantah segala program Najib termasuk agihan projek MRT dan pelbagai lagi yang dilihat terlalu "1-Malaysia". Seawalnya Perkasa mahu mengheret Najib sebagai bertindak bertentangan dengan peruntukan Perlembagaan Persekutuan Perkara 153 dsbnya.

Kini Najib bukan sahaja dilihat gagal membaikpulih ekonomi dengan segala program transformasinya bermula NKRA, NKEA, SRI, Model Ekonomi Baru (NEM), ETP dan EPP, tetapi ditanggapi 'warlord' partinya sendiri sebagai menghakis 'penguasaan politik' dan 'kedudukan ekonomi' orang Melayu. Penubuhan Teraju, penghapusan Suruhanjaya Peluang Saksama (EOC) dan pelbagai tindakan bolak-balik dan 'patah-balik' tidak dapat merawat 'kemarahan warlords' partinya sendiri. Hakikat tentangan dari dalam ini tidak mudah Najib tangani. Ia lebih menusuk jiwanya dari serangan Pakatan Rakyat dan masyarakat sivil.

Mutakhir ini dan sedikit berlain adalah penubuhan Angkatan Amanah Rakyat (Amanah) oleh Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah dan kawan-kawanya. Ia tidak boleh dipandang mudah oleh Najib. Mereka bukan parti pembangkang dan bukan juga 62 NGOs yang menubuhkan Bersih 2.0. Mereka adalah ahli Umno dan BN, sebahagian besar adalah pemimpin atau mantan pemimpin Umno-BN dan berjawatan dalam kerajaan seperti Kadir Sheikh Fadzil, Syed Hamid Albar, Osu Sukam dan dari MCA seperti Ong Tee Keat. Penentangan mereka adalah atas dasar menentang "korupsi, kronisme dan krisis perkauman" yang membarah dan endemik  dalam Umno dan BN.

Mereka juga mahu menjadi kuasa ketiga dan sanggup menentang Najib. Apakah mereka bersedia untuk bersama Pakatan dalam satu "Grand Coalition" untuk menjatuhkan kuasa Najib dan Umno-BN? Apakah 'game-plan' atau strategi Ku Li. Tidak jelas sehingga kini. Yang jelasnya mereka sangat marah kepada Najib yang dilhat gagal mengeluarkan Negara dari segala macam krisis yang mereka juga adalah sebahagian darinya satu masa dahulu.

Di persimpangan kritikal ini, Najib semacam keseorangan. Yang jelasnya menyokongnya ialah Rosmah. Kalau cepat dilakukan PRU ke-13, ramai yang mahu terus bertanding akan terus terpaksa bersamanya. Sebabnya dalam tradisi Umno, Presiden menentukan calon-calon. Tetapi kalau lambat, tak siapa pun takut dan segan kepada Najib. Dan masa tidak menyebelahinya. Kalau mahu tunggu lepas Bajet, yakni bulan Oktober-November, skandal Scorpene menghantuinya. Kalau mahu tunggu tahun depan Mac-April, pemilihan partinya menjadi Najib lebih gusar dan gundah gulana.

Di persimpangan ini, kombinasi fraksi 3-M – Mahyuddin, Mukhriz dan Mahathir, dikatakan tidak akan duduk sahaja untuk menyaksikan partinya mereka punah kerana gelagat Najib-Rosmah. Usaha Najib mengembalikan sokongan kaum Cina-India disaksikan sebagai gagal. Umno mungkin sahaja memikirkan supaya jangan buang masa dengan kelompok kaum ini.

Apakah Mahyudin-Mukhriz-Mahathir akan merancang manjtauhkan Najib bagi mempastikan Umno berpeluang untuk terus menguasai kepimpinan Negara? Mampukah fraksi 3-M ini mengekalkan sokongan kaum Cina dan India yang cuba dimenangi Najib? Tentunya tidak. Mampukah Umno bertahan dengan hanya sokongan Melayu yang juga terbelah dua?  Apakah mereka ini disokong fraksi Amanah Ku Li?

Umno jelas di kedudukan yang paling parah sejak pasca PRUke-12. Mereka masih belum mendapat sentuhan strategi keramat lagi. Apakah Najib-Rosmah akan terpaksa dikambinghitamkan bagi memberi talain hayat kepada parti Melayu tertua di dunia ini?

Najib terus mencari tallian hayatnya untuk kekal bernafas di Putrajaya.

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.

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The writing (or decorations) is on the wall

Posted: 30 Jul 2011 06:13 PM PDT

Jalan To Kong (Temple Street), Malacca: there are three places of worship along this road; the Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi temple (fore-ground), the Kampong Kling Mosque (with the minaret) and at the far end the Cheng Hoon Teng temple. The early multi-ethnic and multi-cultural communities' living shoulder to shoulder with to each other is reflected in the way they built their places of worship. All photos by Victor Chin.

JULY 31 — As the legend goes, Malacca was founded by Parameswara, the fugitive with his group fleeing from Singapore, about 500 years ago. Later he went on to establish the first Malacca Sultanate in the 15th century.

At that time Malacca was a natural port that sheltered the sailors from the north-east and south-west monsoons in this region. The monsoons were one of the keys to the success of Malacca as a trading port in the early sailing years. The winds brought the Arabs, Indians and then the Europeans from the West and the Javanese, Bugis and Chinese from the East.

As years went by, due to its increasing strategic and commercial importance, Malacca became a battle ground as the colonial world powers and the local warlords fought to control it.

But despite all the wars and violence in the waters of the Malacca Straits, many of the early sailors, traders, pirates, warriors and labourers of various races established their new homes in Malacca.

Jalan Hang Jebat, Malacca. This street has many fine examples of the Nyonya style architecture and auspicious ornamental facades built in the early part of the 20th century. This group of wealthy Malaccans displayed their financial position and social status openly.

This street has many fine examples of the Nyonya style architecture and auspicious ornamental facades built in the early part of the 20th century. This group of wealthy Malaccans displayed their financial position and social status openly.

By the early 20th century, many Chinese had settled and set up homes in Malacca. Some of the Chinese merchants had become very wealthy doing business with the colonial powers.

One group in particular, calling themselves the Baba Nyonya or Peranakan, became millionaires and they all strived to build houses that symbolised their newfound wealth.

This group kept their Chinese religious and cultural beliefs and customs but remixed their language, food, dressing, music and dance with the local Malays, Portuguese and English.

Their deep Chinese roots meant a heritage full of myths, legends and stories. Many of them continued to practise their religious customs and rituals. The rich among them built impressive buildings and adorned their facades with auspicious shapes, images and symbols. The poorer families made do with items made of paper and ink which they stuck on their walls and doors. 

No 17, Jalan Hang Jebat, Malacca. This is one of my watercolours done in the 1990, from a collection of 64 paintings of the facades of early shophouses in Penang, Malacca, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. These watercolours were my way of contributing to the documentation and conservation of our architectural heritage.

The dragon and the phoenix are the most popular mythological creatures in Chinese art. There is a pair of colourful flying phoenix, made of broken coloured ceramic tiles, adorning the front of this house, settled in just below the two large semi-circular windows. This fantastic creature is the queen of birds and it symbolises the sun, the heat of summer and the bountiful harvest.

In the middle of this pair of birds is a bouquet of colourful flowers also made of broken coloured ceramic tiles and it signifies a fruitful season. Different flowers represent each of the months of the year and the plum blossom indicates the coming of spring.

This type of common floral arrangement, set in colourful square frames, in different sizes and combination, is repeated in between the windows and the sides. The rest of the facade is painted all over with different floral motifs.

What can these artistic combinations of bird and flower images mean to us today? In the old days these were important symbolic and metaphysical protections for the houseowner and his family and businesses.

But many of these families (and their fortunes) have come and gone. New entrepreneurs have moved in to this touristy part of Malacca.

These new tenants or owners are also concerned about prosperity and wealth but these days they rely more on the steady supply of cheaper products from China, Philippines and Thailand and cheap labour from neighbouring countries.

No.78, Jalan Kampong Pantai, Malacca. This is another one of my watercolours. The Greek-like pediment of this shophouse, constructed 78 years ago, is broken in at the top and standing in the middle of this opening is a statue of the Chinese Goddess of Mercy and she is surrounded by a lotus garden and flowering plants.

This is an exquisite artistic expression of the Baba Nyonya period of the shophouses in Malacca. On this facade, the East and the West come freely together.

The Western root is in the triangular pediment which is from the Greek temples and this architectural form had come through the maritime trade route from Europe. The creative and unknown artists and craftsmen proudly put it on top of the first floor facade of this building with the other European-looking cornices, pilasters, bases and capitals. 

The Chinese builders confidently inserted on top of this Greek temple pediment one of their popular goddesses — the Goddess of Mercy, Kuan Yin. This Buddhist bodhisattva has a long history which includes Roman and Indian legacies but when it reached ancient China, the Chinese decided to turn it from a male figure into a female one.

Accompanying her in her lotus garden are other flowers, birds, bats, and a pair of lions or unicorn-looking animals. This facade is a classic symbol of the marriage of the different faiths and a trust in the good omens. It's also a uniquely Malaysian architectural heritage.

Although all this artistic imagination, still on ago old walls, had a metaphysical origin in the past, their aspirations were for the common good; living a life of peace with your neighbours and caring for a sustainable harvest or relationship with Nature are still clearly relevant to us today.

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