BODOH PIANG! AHLUL PAS TAK RETI MATEMATIK!

2012-06-04T03:21:00Z

Agak mengejutkan apabila ramai di kalangan para penyokong PAS tidak berpuashati apabila jumlah kehadiran Himpunan Hijau Ke Putrajaya yang berlangsung di Stadium Darulaman, Alor Setar, pada 2 Jun lalu dikatakan hanya mencecah 50,000 hingga 70,000 orang sahaja.

Mereka meradang, marah, geram, memaki hamun, mencerca dan mencarut terhadap sesiapa saja yang mengatakan bahawa himpunan itu dihadiri kurang dari 100,000 orang penyokong PAS, kecuali laman portal pro-pembangkang, Malaysiakini.com.

Kedahan69ers.com juga tidak terlepas dari dimaki hamun oleh para penyokong PAS yang bertandang ke laman portal ini.

Apa pun, terima kasih atas kunjungan serta cercaan itu, dan hanya Allah SWT sahaja yang dapat membalasnya.

Bagaimanapun, agak menghairankan apabila Stadium Darulaman yang hanya mampu menampung seramai 32,387 orang sahaja di semua tempat duduknya.

Jumlah tersebut disahkan sendiri oleh Laman Web Rasmi Perbadanan Stadium-Stadium Negeri Kedah yang boleh dilawati di alamat; http://www.stadiumkedah.gov.my.

Pun begitu, sekiranya dikira secara stadium padat pun, wajarlah dikira semuanya yang berada di tempat duduk stadium itu berjumlah 40,000 orang, itu pun untuk tidak mengecewakan hati para penyokong PAS, walaupun sesetengah tempat duduk tidak padat.... SAMBUNG BACAAN DI KEDAHAN69ERS.COM

PAKATAN MEMANG HARAMI! SELAMATKAN PADANG PKNS DI KELANA JAYA AT ALL COST!

2012-06-04T00:00:00Z

ORANG kata, bukan penulis kata tau, Pakatan haram yang memerintah Selangor itu banyak hebat. Segala macam kejayaan yang dicapai sejak 4 tahun lepas sehingga katanya selepas ini kalau letak kambing jadi calon pun, parti-parti komponen dalam Pakatan haram ini akan menang.

Ini kata orang.

Tapi kelihatannya, disebalik semua itu, hari-hari kita dihidangkan dengan masalah yang hampir kesemuanya dikaitkan dengan kerajaan negeri. Masalah sampahnya, air percuma yang tak semua orang dapat, punca bekalan air bersih itu sendiri dan sebagainya. Cakap sampah ini sahaja, hidung rakyat Selangor dah naik tepu dengan bau sampah lama tak berkutip.

Kesian bebudak ni, takde dah padang nak main lepas ni!

Terbaru ini isu padang PKNS di Kelana Jaya pulak. Seperti yang semua tahu, Ahli Parlimen Kelana Jaya ini tak reti berbahasa melayu, dia hanya pandai rakam video orang mabuk cakap sorang-sorang.

Soalnya warna dalam peta. Satu peta warna merah (tanda boleh dibangunkan) dan satu lagi warna hijau (tidak boleh ada pembangunan). Kalau penuli salah, betulkan, tapi lebih kurang macam itulah kisahnya.

Bila bercakap soal tanah ini, memang sejak Pakatan haram mengambil alih, tanah di Selangor menjadi rebutan semua pihak berkepentingan, macam di Pulau Pinang juga. Paling ke depan sudah tentulah tycoon cina yang membiayai kewangan DAP dan seterusnya PAS serta PKR.

Sebab itu kita fikir amat tidak logik sekali pihak-pihak berwajib dalam isu padang PKNS ini boleh ‘tersilap’ menandakan dalam peta sama ada tanah itu boleh dibangunkan atau tidak. Penulis tidak rasa itu masalahnya, sebaliknya warna itu cepat-cepat ditukar setelah isu ini menjadi punca kemarahan rakyat yang menyaksikan Azmin Ali puas dimaki hamun penduduk minggu lepas.

Konon nak datang jadi hero, akhirnya menjadi sasaran maki hamun.

Paling menggelikan hati bila kerajaan Pakatan haram Selangor sendiri menubuhkan jawatankuasa menyiasat macam mana ‘kesilapan’ itu boleh berlaku. Boleh percaya ke ni? Sepatutnya pihak yang lebih berkecuali menyiasat, bukannya kerajaan negeri menyiasat PBT dibawah kendalian kerajaan negeri sendiri, tak gitu?

Penulis tidak hairan kalau nanti ada yang dikambing hitamkan dan diletak semua kesalahan.

Bila dilihat semula, apa masalah sehinggakan isu kecil macam padang pun boleh jadi masalah? Kata hebat, kata terer, BN ni semuanya yang tak baik, tapi bila dia perintah, soal kecil macam padang pun tak boleh selesai? Usah kata soal lain-lain yang lebih besar, macam isu janji 2008 yang berderet lagi tak bertunai.

Ini rakyat perlu fikirkan, apa jenis kerajaan yang anda pilih pada 2008. Penulis lihat, takde apa yang hebat pun bila puak ini mengambil alih, hebat gebang adalah tapi dari segi apa yang boleh dilihat dan dinilai, hampir tidak ada apa.

Sumber: MyKMU

Terrors on two wheels

2012-06-04T03:59:46Z

It’s sunny again and cyclists are zipping everywhere, with some becoming a road hazard.

IT’S that time of year when melodious birdsong is occasionally interrupted by the jarring screech “Fahrradweg!” (bicycle lane!) – the battle cry of the übercyclists.

Before I continue, I would first like to emphasise that I have nothing against cycling itself. It is a workout for bodies gone wobbly over a long winter of overindulgence. It is an ecologically friendly mode of transportation that gives you a certain degree of autonomy over your travel schedule. And it’s a cheap alternative to a day ticket to Frankfurt that would otherwise set you back by €8 (RM32).

Two cyclists taking a break in a field of dandelions near the southern German city of Nesselwang.

I also have no problems with law-abiding cyclists who go about their merry two-wheeled way.

I do, however, have a large bone to pick with the gadflys whose antics sometimes fly in the face of traffic rules, yet they raise a ruckus if so much as one-eightieth of your car’s tyre were to veer onto their sacrosanct cyclist lane.

Often enough, these are the ones kitted out in neon, skin-tight togs and helmets, looking like they took the wrong exit out of the last Tour de France. Not to be outdone are also entire families or cycling groups who think nothing of cycling five abreast on regular streets.

And woe betide pedestrians who accidentally cross over to a demarcated cyclists’ lane. You risk having a handlebar rammed into your back, if the furious jangling of bicycle bells hadn’t already made you scuttle like cockroaches.

This despite the traffic food chain that clearly places pedestrians at the pinnacle of the pyramid! Cyclists come in second, followed by the rest of us four-wheeled juggernauts. (This is in stark contrast to the Malaysian pyramid, which I believe is oftentimes inverted).

During driving lessons, you are taught to look out for cyclists. It’s not just a matter of glancing at your side mirror; you must look over your shoulder to cover blind spots or you could lose points during the practical exam.

But what to do when a cross light for pedestrians and cyclists turns red, thus permitting you to make a turn, and a cyclist whizzes past, leaving shrieking brakes in his wake? I experience this so often whilst driving through the city and I am a wary driver. (One only needs to look at German cops to know that lawbreakers don’t stand a grovelling chance of being let off the hook). And yet where are the stern Herren in green when the bane of my life flagrantly flouts the rules?

This has made me somewhat apathetic towards recent debates on the rising number of accidents involving cyclists and motorists. To be fair, there are motorists who should have their licences revoked – but some cyclists are not all blameless either.

Many ride around in the dark without lights or reflectors. This is especially dangerous since many suburban and country roads are not lit at night. What’s worse is that some even ride against traffic. It’s bad enough that one has to look out for deer crossing when passing dark, forested areas, what more cyclists dressed in black!

Once again, I must reiterate that there are just as many law-abiding cyclists out there who do not pull these stunts. But all it takes is for one freewheeling Lance Armstrong wannabe to get wedged on your bumper and you’re to blame.

Take, for instance, those cruising around during the morning rush hour on their recumbent bicycles, which place riders in a reclining position. Apparently it boasts ergonomic advantages as “the rider’s weight is distributed comfortably over a larger area, supported by the back and buttocks.” So while the rest of us are expected to make like owls swivelling our heads in all directions, can a supine cyclist truly register the goings-on around him?

Or take that bizarre buggy I recently encountered. It looked like Lady Gaga’s 2011 Grammy egg – on wheels. One could tell that the other motorists were unsure of what to do. Treat it like another car or overtake it as you would a regular bicycle under the prescribed circumstances outlined in the German driving theory course? In the end, the egg won. I later discovered that it is a velomobile. Wikipedia describes it as “a recumbent bike or tricycle with an aerodynamic shell.”

Well, with the weather improving by the day, one can only expect more of such human-powered vehicles on the roads. So now I simply look on the bright side. A speeding bike racing out of nowhere? No sweat!It’s a good test of my reflexes and my brakes.

> Brenda Benedict is a Malaysian living in Frankfurt. She often deflects her husband’s suggestion of getting her a bike by insisting that it be turquoise.

The make-up message

2012-06-04T03:59:46Z

It’s a liberating experience for the woman who has the confidence to present herself as she pleases.

HILLARY Clinton made major headline news last week when she stopped off in Bangladesh in her capacity as the American Secretary of State with almost no make-up on. Like, what in God’s name was she thinking?

Personally, I don’t care if a woman wears make-up or not, but Hilary has just gone and broken the Golden Rule of Make-up, which states that once you start wearing it, you can only stop at your own peril.

Head turner: Hillary Clinton speaking at a news conference in New Delhi, India, as she wraps up a tour of Asia. She made headlines when she stopped off in Bangladesh sans make-up.

When people see you with full make-up on everyday, they generally associate you with the look you’ve created. So when you suddenly strip away the mask, they are often taken aback because you look different.

Hillary has been seen wearing make-up long before she and Bill took over the White House. It’s always been part of her public face, but now that public face looks tired and drawn and older … When we look at her now, instead of thinking about the crises that she’s trying to avert and the great public relations job that she’s doing, we see sun spots and wrinkles and little spidery capillaries around her nose … Blemishes that most of us have at her age. Blemishes that we seldom notice forming on the faces of our loved ones, because they occur gradually. But with Hillary, there was no gradual public display. Just a sudden, stark unveiling in Bangladesh for all the world to see. Like, whoa!

But Hillary really doesn’t give a toss. And you’ve got to admire her for that. She knows she’s proven herself more than capable in her field, and can present herself as she pleases. I love her confidence. If only more women felt that way, without the need to be Secretary of State at the same time.

At the other extreme, I know a woman who wears make-up all the time, even when she goes to bed. Her husband has never seen her naked face. She gets up before him every morning, removes her make-up, has a shower, and then reapplies her make-up before he wakes up. Like, how tedious is that? How about some extra sleep for a change? And what about all that make-up smeared over her pillows? And more importantly, does she really think that he thinks that she looks like that all the time?

What if something were to happen to her, and he had to go to the local morgue to identify her body? If she doesn’t have any distinguishing moles or scars on her body, he might not recognise her scrubbed face in the body bag.

“Nah, that’s not my Lucy,” he might say. “Lucy has really long eyelashes, a flawless skin and lips the colour of crushed damsons.”

And if you finally convinced him that it is indeed Lucy, he might feel cheated – that he never got to see the real woman. That he fell in love with an illusion.

As a woman, I would want to be able to expose my nakedness to my partner, warts and all, and for him to gaze upon my imperfections and still find me beautiful. And if he didn’t find the nude me attractive, I would max out his credit cards, shred his suits, and dump him for someone who does.

I used to date a man who disliked make-up, which is kind of odd when I think about it, because the first time we met, I was wearing make-up. And throughout the first year of our relationship, I wore make-up when I went out with him. Then one day, he announced that he would prefer it if I didn’t wear make-up.

The idea scared the bejeezus out of me, but I complied. What can I say? It was a long time ago and I was eager to please.

A pattern was then established: whenever I was with him I would “dowdify” myself, as I used to call it, and the minute I was away from him, I would put my make-up on.

Then one evening, when we were having dinner in a restaurant, I caught him ogling another woman – a woman who was so obviously wearing make-up. I wanted to tip his bowl of soup into his lap, but I restrained myself. Instead, I went off to the loo and applied some powder and lipstick and a little bit of eyeliner.

After that incident, my ogle radar was on full alert. And sure enough, a few weeks later, when we were sitting in an Italian restaurant, I saw him glancing a little bit too long at another woman sporting a full face of make-up.

“You know something,” I said, taking a bolstering swig of Chianti, “if you ask for Spaghetti Bolognese, and it’s placed in front of you, it doesn’t make much sense to be drooling at the thought of a plate of lasagna. You need to get your order straight.”

He stared at me without saying a word, which indicated that he understood what I was saying. Either that or he was trying to figure out why I was talking about Spaghetti Bolognese and lasagna when he’d ordered risotto.

When I related this little anecdote to my current partner, a man who doesn’t mind make-up as long as it’s appropriate, he responded by saying that some men don’t like make-up on their partner because it doesn’t taste good.

He so obviously hasn’t tasted crushed damson lipstick before.

> Check out Mary on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mary.schneider.writer. Reader response can be directed to star2@thestar.com.my.

Wedding bells

2012-06-04T00:56:31Z

Why do people get married?

SO Brangelina are getting hitched (finally!) and Obama has announced his support of same-sex marriages. What is going on?! Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against these issues, in fact, religious debate aside – we should all be proud that marriage has become more liberal, open and understanding. When once divorcees were shunned, now we don’t bat an eye to couples who marry for the second or even third time (after all getting it right isn’t easy!). Thus thumbs up that marriage in this day and age has evolved into a true expression of freedom and love.

Last weekend I attended a friend’s wedding dinner – one of the few weddings that I actually enjoyed going to, simply because it was about the couple and the celebration of their union and not about the family or showing off how much money they have. They’ve actually just been blessed with a newborn baby last month, and finally took the plunge after ‘living in sin’ for several years.

In a modern reversal of the typical ‘dating-move-in-get-married-have-a-baby’ process, the marriage of my two friends signals a shift in a growing mainstream perspective that marriage, while sacred to many, does not necessarily have to be the be all and end all. May I just add that my friends are foreigners whose cultural values do allow them to make certain lifestyle decisions which may or may not be approved by Asian families, but that not withstanding; it made me think why people make the decision to marry at all? After all, having a child together is, in my eyes anyway, the ultimate commitment to your partner.

Wedding statistics show that people are actually getting married less and less each year and considering that the divorce statistics it is not surprising (scary!). People are also waiting till they are older, either due to reasons of career, not having found the right partner or also wanting to be sure of themselves and the relationship before committing for life. In the case of my friends, marriage was a way of legally protecting their individual and collective rights as a spouse and family unit. That may not sound very romantic, but their decision was not lightly made nor made without love.

I don’t know what made Brad Pitt finally want to make Angelina Jolie his legal spouse and vice versa since they have been a family unit for a while now (perhaps the children have a lot to do with it), but legally it makes sense, especially with the massive fortune the two Hollywood stars have amassed over the years. Should anything happen to either one, the other parent will have full rights over the kids and similarly with their wealth (unless of course there’s a pre-nup involved). Back in the land of normal people, the same rights do apply, although perhaps it is more to do with protecting the status of each spouse and that of their offspring. If my friends had not married, their son would not legally have a father - but this is an age-old issue, except now the taboo of being born outside wedlock no longer applies (so much).

While love seems to be the main reason for getting married, I think the legal, financial and emotional implications of marriage are important reasons too. Financially, marriage offers a couple more monetary security, the combination of dual income, insurance benefits, family plans and the added advantage of tax breaks, while emotionally marriage fills the longing that people have for creating permanent connections and of belonging somewhere with someone.

Religion is also another big ticket motivation – for instance, unlike other religions where celibacy or monasticism act as a means of salvation, Islam considers marriage as one of the most virtuous and approved institutions. As a Catholic I can also tell you that even as a child my mother (let alone God) started to drill it into me that divorce will never be option for me. Geez, no wonder I’m taking my time (*ahem* because I better get it right, haha).

In an age where we are beginning to make up our own rules and ideas about marriage, the decision to get married is perhaps an even more significant one. Whether it is later in life, after the house and kids or a second or third marriage, getting hitched seems to be very much a public celebration of what couples share together and have achieved, rather than merely as a passport to adulthood. Should we still believe in weddings and marriage? I would say very much so because it is the optimal celebration and commitment of love. It’s well known that ‘married couples’ live longer and are generally happier than singles – so doesn’t that say something?

Albeit being slightly biased (I do run WeddingGuideAsia.com!), all in all I have to say that despite the world continuing to change and evolve, one thing will remain constant – love. And if you think what you have between your partner is that true, blue love, then why not take the plunge? Statistics aside, one things for sure, you never know what you’re gonna get.

So ‘just do it’ (wink).

This is the last installment of Wedding Whisperer. We thank Stephanie Chai for her contribution to Clove.

Ghost of 666 yet to be buried

2012-06-04T00:56:30Z

Peter Mojuntin, the then Sabah Local and Housing Minister, was a living legend. Even today, 36 years after his death, his name is spoken with reverence.

HERE’S my recollection of the “Triple Six” tragedy which struck Sabah on June 6, 1976. That year, I was nine years old. It was a Sunday and I was at a wooden house that was my family’s weekend getaway in Kampung Pogunon, Penampang.

News – probably from the radio – trickled through that a Nomad aircraft had crashed in Sembulan, about 16km from my village, as it was about to land at Kota Kinabalu airport at around 3.30pm.

There was talk that some Sabah ministers were onboard the aircraft and they had been rushed to hospital.

There were also rumours that Datuk Peter Mojuntin, the state Local and Housing Minister and assemblyman for Moyog (part of the Penampang parliamentary constituency), was onboard.

The 36-year-old politician was known as the people’s politician.

There was a famous story of him eating nomsoom (a pickled Kadazandusun dish) which was infested with worms as he did not want to offend his host.

I remember hoping that Peter would survive the crash.

My childish hope was that doctors would keep him alive using “bionic technology”.

In 1976, one of the most popular TV shows (in black and white) was the Six Million Dollar Man.

It was about an American astronaut with bionic implants.

There were no survivors.

Eleven people were killed, including Sabah Chief Minister Tun Fuad Stephens, Peter, Datuk Salleh Sulong (state Finance Minister), Chong Thain Vun (state Communications and Works Minister), Darius Binion (assistant to the Chief Minister) and Johari (Tun Fuad’s adopted son).

They were returning from Labuan after negotiating Sabah’s oil and gas rights.

To quote The Sabahan: The Life and Death of Tun Fuad Stephens by P.J. Granville-Edge and Rajen Devadason, “In 1976 when the crash occurred on a clear, sunny afternoon, ‘sabotage’ was on the tongues of most Sabahans – it happened 53 days after Berjaya had won the state election, and bombs had been going off in the state, after all.”

I remember being part of a long queue of thousands of grieving people at St Michael’s Church in Penampang to pay our last respects to Peter.

Peter was a living legend.

Even today, 36 years after his death, his name is spoken with reverence.

An autobiography of Peter, titled The Golden Son of the Kadazan, written by Bernard Santa Maria just after the tragedy, is still banned.

I don’t remember if I saw an 11-year-old boy (together with his family) standing next to his father’s body.

The boy, Donald Mojuntin (his dad named him after Donald Stephens – who later became Tun Fuad – because he was a close friend and mentor), was engrossed in his pain and oblivious of the crowd.

“I was old enough to realise that my father was asleep, and he would never wake up,” recalled Datuk Donald Mojuntin, who is now a 47-year-old politician.

“The pain was indescribable. I felt hollow inside ... grief, sadness.

“I kept wondering why this had happened to my father.”

Donald, the assemblyman representing the constituency his dad once held, is an assistant Finance Minister.

The Upko information chief became a lawmaker when he won the Penampang parliamentary seat in 2004.

Donald said the aircraft crash spurred him to mature faster as he was the eldest of five siblings.

The mysterious nature of his father’s death traumatised him.

“Many people (when I was growing up) said it was not an accident but an act of sabotage. When we were young, we were affected by that,” he said.

As a teenager, Donald’s heart was filled with pain and anger over the “Triple Six” tragedy.

“It was not like a switch ... that I could just switch off.

“It affected my studies when I was doing my O and A levels in England,” he said.

Closure came gradually.

“I can’t pinpoint when exactly I had total closure ... perhaps when I completed my law degree in 1991,” he said.

“What happened is the past. If there was foul play, my family cannot be the judge of it; only God will deal with those who were involved.”

“How do you feel now?” I asked.

“I feel sad. I don’t feel like talking about it. Up until this day, I still feel pain especially now, as in front of me is a man who is in his 70s. My father would be the same age if he was still with us,” he said in a phone interview.

“And there are still many people who want to know what really happened on that day.”

The ghost of 6.6.76 is yet to be buried.

Joy gene alert

2012-06-04T00:56:30Z

A recent study finds that Germans are ‘incapable of enjoying life.’

APPARENTLY, the Germans’ “joy gene” is kaput. As I scrolled down Der Spiegel online news about a week back, the headline, Study Finds Germans Incapable Of Enjoying Life, stood out.

It even trumped my original reason for trawling the website, which was to read commentaries on Bayern Munich’s dismal defeat at the hands of Chelsea in the Champion’s League final, which I should add was (and remains) no laughing matter.

Anyway, Rheingold (a Cologne-based market research and consultancy institute) had found that “46% of Germans claim to be increasingly unable to enjoy anything due to the stress of daily life and the feeling of being constantly reachable.” Fifty-five per cent of the study’s younger participants even claimed to have lost their ability to feel good. The researchers concluded that, “Our joy gene is increasingly defective – we’ve forgotten how to enjoy ourselves.”

While this is no scientific study, it remains an eyebrow raiser. Yet how reflective is it of reality?

I know I’ve repeated myself oftentimes about the lack of spontaneity when it comes to fun pursuits like going for massages or catching up with the extended family for a mini-reunion.

The precision planning that goes into preparing for such activities, for example, often overwhelms me.

This is in stark contrast to the spur-of-the-moment adventures I’ve had back home. One minute we are breakfasting on karipap sardin and kuih bom and the next minute my niece says, “Shall we go to Malacca, ah?” Three hours later, my sister, my niece and I were counting change at the Malacca toll plaza. We were there for only three days but returned rejuvenated and high on laughter and onde onde.

I bet if I were to float such an idea here to say, my mum-in-law, we’d still be discussing logistics and the fact that it might not be such a good idea after all.

Our family reunion dates are fixed a year in advance and an activity programme is sent out to all members closer to the date via email for voting and approval. In other words, organised fun. Last minute tweaks to a finalised programme have on occasion caused consternation.

Or take the recent discussion among some of my singing group mates regarding our stage outfits for an upcoming performance. To me, the singing is as much fun as the dolling up. For some others, hemlines, necklines and colour combos are salient issues. I’ve now settled for a no-frills, teal, sleeveless, sheath. Sigh.

The study was spot-on in its description of “a typically German sequence of steps to enjoyment, which the researchers named ‘pleasure DNA’.” The first step involves the feeling of having earned something. This is followed by preparation for the longed-for pleasure, such as booking a day of wellness treatments. But then comes the biggest hurdle: letting go and clearing the mind. Although some 91% said that pleasure makes life worthwhile, only 15% could recall moments in which they were able to forget their worries and feel truly happy.

Perhaps the latter is bound to the aforementioned feeling of being “constantly reachable.” It would be unfair to claim that the malady of having a Smartphone or tablet PC as an additional limb is limited to the Germans alone. Yet, constantly flipping through these gadgets won’t help with unwinding after a stressful day at work. Owning neither, I’m a strong proponent of the iQuit button for when things go overboard.

However, many here seem unable to do so as they are innately programmed for perfection. This is undoubtedly an admirable trait in reasonable doses. The study found that “81% of those surveyed said that they experience pleasure best when they have managed to achieve something first.”

This is not to say that the Germans can’t party. They certainly “radiated a zest for life” during the 2006 soccer World Cup finals.

“But this mood shifted beginning in 2008,” says Rheingold psychologist Ines Imdahl. The problem, she believes, is that Germans feel weighed down by the ongoing European debt and currency crisis. “It’s more than simple complaining,” she adds. “People have the feeling that we have to shoulder the entire crisis here.”

I can totally empathise here. Even I get agitated every time I read or hear news of yet another European country threatening to go belly up financially, with the prospect of Germany footing the bill.

Then there’s “pleasure pressure” – a situation where enjoyment turns into an obligation. Frankly, I cannot relate to this but it is interesting to note that when faced with various leisure activities, some people then feel they “must” enjoy them all.

Most boggling, however, were the two-thirds of respondents who imagined that they might actually feel good by doing something provocative. “A motorcyclist reported experiencing delight when he blew exhaust fumes in the direction of a convertible driver as he accelerated at a green light.”

Well, whatever makes you happy. Right?

Brenda Benedict is a Malaysian living in Frankfurt. She loves the word “chillax.”

Membataskan Kebebasan Internet

2012-06-04T03:54:36Z

by Sheih on June 4, 2012

Saranan Tun Dr. Mahathir supaya pihak kerajaan memikirkan kembali kebebasan mutlak internet adalah tepat. Berita Minggu memetik bekas Perdana Menteri Malaysia itu sebagai berkata, “Negara perlu dibenarkan menapis segala kekotoran yang masuk melalui internet”.

Membataskan ‘kekotoran’ bukanlah bererti menyekat kebebasan penyampaian maklumat menerusi internet, sebaliknya bertujuan mempertingkatkan kualiti penggunaan internet dikalangan pelayar maya. Walaupun Malaysia mengekalkan dasar internet tanpa tapisan sejak membangunkan Koridor Raya Multimedia, tetapi sejak kebelakangan ini, pelayar internet dari Malaysia mula sedar bahawa sudah ada sekatan yang menghalang mereka daripada mendapatkan data dari server-server tertentu.

Halangan ini bukan sahaja dibuat oleh browser mereka tetapi juga oleh pihak penyedia perkhidmatan internet mereka. Namun begitu pelayar internet mempunyai pelbagai teknik untuk terus mendapatkan data-data dari laman yang dihalang itu sama ada secara percuma atau berbayar.

Walaupun sesetengah pihak berkuasa dalam kerajaan merasakan internet membuka ruang baru untuk menggugat kestabilan politik, saya merasakan itu bukan sebab utama kita perlu memikirkan semula sekatan terhadap internet.

Masalah yang lebih besar ialah ancaman jenayah siber dan moral terhadap pengguna. Pelbagai skim penipuan bercambah dengan pesat menerusi internet dan pihak berkuasa sehingga kini gagal untuk bertindak selain dari sekadar mampu menasihatkan pengguna supaya berwasapada.

Skim penipuan menerusi email yang kebanyakannya didalangi oleh warga dari Afrika adalah salah satu daripadanya. Terbaharu pula ialah penggunaan Facebook bagi dalam insiden penculikan berprofil tinggi melibatkan seorang murid sekolah antarabangsa di Kuala Lumpur.

Walaupun kita mempunyai pelbagai undang-undang untuk mendakwa pelaku jenayah di alam maya sama seperti di alam nyata tetapi tindakan sekatan secara bijak lebih baik sebagai langkah pencegahan.

Sekatan secara bijak ialah sekatan yang menghalang ancaman terhadap masyarakat tanpa menghalang hak mereka mendapatkan maklumat yang mereka inginkan. Pada waktu yang sama menghormati hak masyarakat menentukan jenis maklumat yang mereka inginkan.

Era pihak penguatkuasa menentukan jenis maklumat yang sesuai untuk masyarakat sudah berakhir.

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BEZA BN SELANGOR DAN PAKATAN.

2012-06-04T02:30:00Z

dikesampingan pas dan pakatan menerajang tumbuk polis pada rusuhan 28 april, BN selangor pulak ambil langkah proaktif dengan mengiktiraf jasa bekas polis dalam mempertahankan negara. LAGI FOTO KLIK SINI.

nampak ada perbandingan bukan ?

pakatan terajang tumbuk polis.

BN selangor hargai polis.

ulang kata.

pakatan tendang,pukul polis.

BN selangor hargai polis.

amacam pakatan, pedih tak ayat ni ?

RAMAI DALAM ISTILAH KELDAI POLITIK.

2012-06-04T00:00:00Z

puak pas begitu berbangga dengan performance mereka pada hari jumaat lepas.

berjaya mengumpulkan hampir 30 ribu penganut pas dalam usaha mencantumkan kembali semangat politik yang semakin pudar.

ada yang kata ianya perhimpunan bersejarah. bagi aku puak pas ni memang dah dijadikan begitu rupa, asal berkumpul maka merekalah yang akan jadi jagoan yang paling ramai akan hadir.

baik kedah mahupun di kota baharu, sambutan dalam apa jugak acara pas pasti akan mendatangkan ribuan ahlinya.

tak perlu kisah dengan sambutan sedemikian.

yang perlu ahli pas kisahkan adalah satu.

berbaloikan lelah kamu waktu menghadirkan diri dalam perjumpaan puluhan ribu ahli sekiranya perjuangan yang selama ini kamu laungkan sebenarnya dah tiada.

negara islam dah tiada.

perjuangan hudud dah tiada.

hatta kerusi timbalan presiden pas pun pemimpin pas sanggup ditiadakan demi nak cater sekelumit undi cina.

perhimpunan pas di kedah jumaat lepas laksana hujahan hadis yang mengatakan banyak buih pada ombak, tapi berderai tatkala ia menghempas pantai.

pas banyak.

tapi kualitinya semakin pudar.

pas banyak tapi sekadar menjadi pelaksana keldai politik terbaik untuk anwar dan DAP.

flip flop politik pas berada dalam darjah lacuran yang paling tinggi.

ketidakupayaan pas menyelesaikan isu murtad yang dibawa hasan ali adalah pemangkin kepada permulaan kehancoran parti pas.

saat itu pas lebih mementingkan priority undi cina daripada mempertahankan dakyah murtad.

liwatan politik songsang yang pas amalkan pada saat ini adalah sukar untuk diperbaiki.

kasihan pas, mereka gagal untuk menerima pandangan protes melayu dan ianya merupakan berita yang baik untuk umno.

MALAM NI CERAMAH KAT KAJANG.

2012-06-03T18:41:00Z

masih ada org nak dgr ke ceramah org bodoh2 mcm dlm gambar ni

habya orang bodoh sahaja macam awak yang dah tertutup pintu hati untuk menerima kebenaran yang tidak mahu dengar ceramah macam tu.

Orang PR ni kalau orang bodoh piang pun tapi masih dalam PR akan dainggap cerdik pandai, tapi kalau yang cerdik pandai tapi keluar PR akan dianggap bodoh.

Org Pakatan dah termakan tahi palat cina DAP sebab tu otak dia org dah beku habis.

Anon 5:33 AM ...

Bila dah bangang, jangan buat komen bodoh.

mana taiko cheras.... berani turun laa. kalo stakat berani kat FB, guna nama melayu padahal anak cina, kencing tak basuh...hahaha

ko renti kan laaa...... kalo kote sunat, mehh maii ceramah zaid mat aripp, dgn yb zul, mmg kene balun kaw2 punya, wa ckp luu...

otai
subang

SOKONG ANON 5.33...

CAKAP PASAL ANUAR PASAL BELIA K..POP DIAM... ZUL..ZUL...

dengar ceramah umno ni dapat duit tak????

asan ali setan aqidah dan raja2 lanun ada tak????

ada kena bawa teloq dan batu untuk dilontar ke ceramah sebelah tak?????

kalau tak ada itu semua buka ceramah gaya umno....aku tak nak pi lah...

aduhhh..anon 10.25 - sini memang tak dapt duit tapinya yg best tu penceramah TIBAI ni TAK AKAN MINTA DERMA DLM TIN MILO ...baguih la kalo hang tak dtg..buat busuk kawasan aje ngn bau mulut longkang hang tu..heheh sila jauhkan diri ye dari kawasan ceramah. Mekaseyyyy.

Johor Baru church rejoices over RM500,000 govt aid

2012-06-04T03:00:00Z

One for the albumn

The Star

MALACCA: The Holy Light Church (English) received a cheque for RM500,000 from the Government for the construction of its building in Jalan Persiaran Ponderosa in Johor Baru.

It was good news for church members who were having their annual camp at Puteri Resort here when they received the cheque from congregation member and senior lawyer Roger Tan.

Tan said they were grateful that the cheque was received so soon after Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin approved the grant.

Tan, who is also a Commissioner in the National Water Services Commission, was at the signing of the Water Services Restructuring Water Agreement on May 23 in Putrajaya when he approached Muhyiddin about the church being in urgent need of funds to complete its RM4mil building.

The building, which houses a worship hall, a multi-purpose hall and meeting rooms, is due to be completed in October for the church’s 60th anniversary celebrations.

“The generous gift from the Government is indeed a pleasant surprise and yet so timely,” said senior pastor Dr Chuah Seong Peng.

Chuah voiced appreciation for Muhyiddin’s kind gesture, saying:

“It is a commendable and magnanimous act that encourages Malaysians to work together to build a strong, united and prosperous country for the benefit of all.”

The church also received a grant of RM200,000 from the Johor Government in August 2010.

Tan hands over a mock cheque to Pastor Dr. Chuah.

Kampar residents look forward to a new hospital in two years

2012-06-04T02:18:14Z

FOLKS are hopeful of Kampar Hospital’s promise to bring about better quality healthcare services while waiting for the town’s new hospital to be completed.

Commending the Health Min-istry’s effort to upgrade the old hospital, Kampar resident Lee Chun Li said the move was important since it would be another two years from now before the new hospital was ready.

“I am grateful the existing hospital has not been neglected and standards have not dropped even as they get ready to shift into a new building.

Appreciation: Perak Health director Datuk Dr Ahmad Razin Ahmad Mahir (left) presenting a fruit basket to Liow (second from right). Looking on are state Health committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon (right) and Kampar MP Datuk Lee Chee Leong (second from left) during Liow’s visit on May 18 to the hospital.

“The nurses and doctors have remained as friendly and helpful as they were before,” said the 45-year-old housewife.

Lee added that it would greatly benefit Kampar folks to have their own physiotherapy unit instead of having to go all the way to Ipoh to seek treatment.

During his visit last month, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had instantly approved a RM50,000 allocation to convert the hospital’s old kitchen into a physiotherapy unit.

Liow had also given the hospital three new dialysis machines to cater to the needs of its 14 renal failure patients while promising to look into its request for a new autoclave.

The hospital’s director, Dr Nailah Safian had told Liow that the existing autoclave used by the hospital to sterilise its equipment and instruments was already two decades old.

Primary school teacher Siti Jamilah Mohd Taib, 38, was hopeful that the Ministry would obtain the necessary funding to upgrade the facilities.

“It will ensure that patients’ needs are taken care of in the short term between now and two years time when the new hospital is up and running,” she said.

Housewife Kalimah Sukri, 66, said those who could not afford private healthcare services stood to benefit most from the ministry’s efforts to continuously upgrade and improve the existing hospital.

-The STAR-

Fresh bread, tender hearts

2012-06-04T02:03:14Z

VANS under the Roti 1Malaysia project turned up at several places in Padang Serai, Kedah, bringing smiles to the less fortunate.

The vans were loaded with 3,000 pieces of fresh bread and pastries.

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Heng Seai Kie said Kedah was the first state in the country to benefit from the charity programme.

Quick bite: Heng (seated second left), Eu (seated second right) and Roti 1Malaysia volunteers joining Pertubuhan Bakti Yong Ai Anak Yatim residents to sample some buns in Kulim.

“The Roti 1Malaysia team decided to pick Padang Serai as a form of respect to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah who is also the Sultan of Kedah.

“As five-star hotels are not allowed to sell their surplus bread and pastries after 6pm due to quality control, the team collected the items to distribute to the needy,” Heng told a recent press conference at Yong Ai Orphanage in Taman Selasih, Kedah.

Roti 1Malaysia chairman Datuk Anne Eu said she hoped more hotels and bakeries would join the programme in the future.

“We hope to spread more joy to the needy,” she said.

V. Letchumi, 50, and her 21-year-old daughter S. Anbarasi, who were at SJK (T) Ladang Wellesley in Lunas, said that apart from Roti 1Malaysia, her family had benefited from the 1Malaysia clinic and the 1Malaysia Book Voucher (BB1M).

“I am grateful there is such a programme for us. We love the pastries and bread,” Letchumi said.

Over in Kampung Siam, resident Nor Asiah Bakar, 36, was grateful to be given several boxes of bread and pastries.

“I can keep the bread and serve it to my family as breakfast for the next few days,” she said.

At Yong Ai Orphanage, Nicholas Yong, nine, grinned from ear to ear after receiving a box of Roti 1Malaysia.

“I am glad to be able to taste the high-quality bread such as the danish and croissant,” he said.

The convoy with 20 members made their rounds to seven locations in Kedah.

They visited Kamakshi Children Home, Kampung Kelang Sago and Yong Ai Orphanage in Kulim, SJK (T) Ladang Wellesley and Kampung Siam, both in Lunas, and also two hardcore poor families in Jalan Padang Serai and Sungai Seluang.

Roti 1Malaysia is a registered non-profit non-government organisation fully endorsed by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

It is aimed at promoting a caring society.

The members conducted a pilot project in November last year in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur to collect fresh surplus bread and pastries from 21 hotels and a bakery.

To date, the bread and pastries have been delivered to 60 orphanages, old folk’s homes and homes for the disabled twice weekly.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will officially launch the charity programme at a date to be fixed.

-The STAR-

Malaysians urged to keep house plants with health benefits

2012-06-04T01:46:38Z

INDOOR green plants are more than decorations because many of them also have the power to make a difference to our quality of life.

From clearing cigarette smoke to repelling mosquitoes, houseplants such as peace lilies and geranium are set to feature more prominently in Malaysian houses soon.

Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong, who was captivated by the plants during a visit to the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Develop-ment Institute (Mardi) in Serdang recently, said plans were afoot to raise public awareness on such plants so more people could enjoy the benefits.

Repels mosquitoes: Chua taking a whiff of a geranium plant. With him is Mardi horticulture research centre director Tengku Ab Malik Tengku Maamun (left).

“They are also beautiful and easy to maintain. All them of them have different uses and strengths,” he said, citing peace lilies which help to clear the air of cigarette smoke as an example.

For people who are allergic to dust in the air, Chua suggested that they plant bamboo palms at home because it could reduce irritation caused by air pollution.

“One can also trade their mosquito coil or spray for geranium plants which have the ability to ward off mosquitoes,” he added.

Chua said geranium plants could also double as an insect repellent when placed on balconies of apartments or condominiums.

Meanwhile, Mardi director-general Datuk Dr Abd Shukor Abd Rahman said these plants, costing between RM5 and RM10, were God’s gifts.

He said some of the plants originated from tropical rainforests but had long been planted as decorative plants in local households.

“Mardi is trying to identify the active compound in these plants which enable them to have these special abilities.

“If we can process the compound, we can create products for commercial use,” he said.

The following are some of the indoor plants and their uses.

Peace Lily

Peace lily has the ability to purify indoor air from tobacco smoke and trading it for fresh oxygen. The plant also gets rid of toxic gases such as formaldehyde found in paint, and benzene, which is found in cigarette smoke. With its dark green leaves and spade-shaped white flowers, it is also a beautiful plant that adds a fresh touch to home surroundings. Peace lilies thrive in shady areas and needs to be watered about once a week. Keeping several peace lily plants at home can help reduce stuffiness in the air.

Geranium

With the citrus smell of its leaves, the geranium plant has the very practical and useful ability to repel mosquitoes. It is suitable to be placed in bedrooms and gives off a slight fragrance in the air. While it can be kept indoors, the plant needs to be brought out for some sunshine every two to three days. The plant takes about two months to grow from seed to a mature plant.

Aloe Vera

Perhaps more well known than other houseplants, the aloe vera is believed to have healing properties and can be used to treat wounds. This succulent plant is also able to clear the air from toxic gases like formaldehyde and benzene. Commercially, aloe vera gel is processed into facial products, yogurt, beverages and some desserts.

Chinese Evergreen

The Chinese evergreen plant has the ability to filter various toxic gases such as ammonia, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and benzene. It is easily maintained and does not require much sunlight. This leafy plant grows from 20cm to 150cm in height. It is a popular ornamental plant seen in shopping malls, hotels and offices as it is easy to grow.

Spider Plant

With its leaves stretching out like spider legs, this plant is helpful in purifying the air and reduces indoor air pollution. It clears the air from pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene. This plant thrives easily but grows best at temperatures between 18°C and 32°C.

-The STAR-

MITE sparks investors’ interest

2012-06-04T01:29:36Z

The Malaysia International Tourism Exchange (MITE) 2012 has achieved its objective of promoting the country’s tourist attractions to outsiders, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

She said Malaysia had all the attributes that made it an ideal holiday destination as well as a magnet for investors.

“This major event (MITE) has awakened the interest of investors, tourism and travel trade members whose nature of business involves marketing tourism services and building up a good network of business contacts for the trade,” she said in a speech read out at the close of the event held at the Malaysia Agro-Exposition Park in Serdang on Saturday.

Welcome: Ng (right escorting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at MITE 2012 Malaysia International Tourism Exchange.

The text of her speech was read out by Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MYCEB) chief executive officer Zulkefli Sharif.

Dr Ng said MITE had received the support of 370 Malaysian-registered sellers and those from 11 countries, as well as 115 buyers from 23 countries, of which 70% were from Asean.

She noted that the event had created smart partnerships among the invited buyers and sellers during a two-day business-to-business session.

Dr Ng said the local tourism industry was projected to record 36 million tourist arrivals with RM160bil in tourism receipts by 2020.

“This would mean that we have to work harder to attract more tourists to help increase our tourism earnings from RM1bil a week to RM3bil a week in 2020,” she said.

The minister also announced that the next edition of MITE would be held from June 6 to 9 next year. — Bernama

PAS Dibantu Syaitan ?

2012-06-04T01:30:00Z

Punyalah hebat fitnah Nik Aziz sampai mendakwa ada persefahaman antara PAS dengan malaikat. Tapi sekarang aku tengok PAS bukannya ada persefahaman dengan malaikat dah tetapi dengan syaitan.

Terima Kasih Kerana Sudi Membaca

Seputeh BN rep eager to start work immediately

2012-06-04T01:25:19Z

BELIAWANIS deputy chief Nicole Wong Siaw Ting has moved into her own office after operating her service centre at coffee shops.

Ting has been moving from one coffee-shop “office” to another for the past years to meet the people and solve their problems.

“Now that I have a permanent workstation, the public can come and see me here at my new office, but that does not mean I am not prepared to go back to my old habits whenever the need arises,” said Wong.

Wong said now that she was the Seputeh BN chairman, there was an urgent need for an office where she could work from without having to carry her papers around whenever she went on her rounds to meet, hear and solve problems of people in Seputeh.

“I am finally settling down and eager to start work immediately,” she said.

Her new workstation in a double-storey corner lot in Taman Gembira, Jalan Ramah, Kuala Lumpur was launched by Federal Territory MCA chairman Datuk Seri Tan Chai Ho.

“She has the experience of working with the former Seputeh BN chairman and knows the local issues well,” said Tan.

During the opening ceremony, the Seputeh branch contributed RM10,000 to disabled youth Sam Turner, 20, from the Insan Welfare Society of Brain Injured Child and RM3,000 to Choy Sam Wan who is suffering from cancer.

Wong said the monetary contribution was from the 1MCA Medical Fund.

Wong will be at her workstation every Tuesday from 11am to 6pm and Thursdays from 11am to 8pm. She will meet people at coffee-shops on other days.

-The STAR-

Granny cares for family with RM250 a month

2012-06-04T01:12:47Z

KUALA LUMPUR: Rahmah Tahir may be 66 but she is the rock and life line of her family. The single mother has to care for her mentally-challenged daughter and two grand-daughters aged 17 and 13.

Her meagre income of about RM250 per month selling nasi lemak at a roadside is barely enough to support herself.

Rahmah said she “had no choice but to take in her daughter and her family after her husband walked out on them”.

Yesterday, she was one of 22 from needy families who received food packages from the Guru Dharma Society here.

The packages containing basic needs such as milk, flour, sugar, salt, canned food and hygiene products were handed out by Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Donald Lim and a group of volunteers.

Lim said, besides providing food aid, programmes in conjunction with 1Azam gave the families the support they needed to start small businesses as well as basic training in woodwork, sewing and other skills.

“We have to equip these families with the right tools to be able to support themselves,” he said, referring to a popular saying “give a man a fish, he can eat for a day, teach a man to fish, he can eat for a lifetime.”

Programmes to help troubled children of poor families are also in the works.

“The aim is to change these children’s outlook in life and increase their confidence,” he said.

-The STAR-

Opposition only focused on creating illusions, says Chua

2012-06-04T01:00:20Z

MUAR: The Opposition is focused on creating illusions with issues to divert people’s attention from their actual need — economic security, said MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

“Many people are affected by the illusions and forget what they really need is to see economic growth and that their rice bowl is more important than politics,” he said.

Dr Chua said although Malaysia was a democratic country and that people had the right to change the Government, they ought to consider if the Government of their choice would fulfil their real needs.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, he said, had been leading the Government on a path of economic transformation to ensure continuous growth.

“Economic growth does not come naturally but through efforts,” he said during a dialogue with Chinese community leaders and associations here yesterday.

On the contrary, the Opposition, said Dr Chua, did not have its own economic growth model but created the illusion that the Government was incapable.

He also predicted that more street demonstrations would be held before the general election to divert people’s attention.

Meanwhile, the Government’s Economic Transformation Programme, added Dr Chua, had borne fruit and helped the country achieve a 5% growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) last year, adding that the first quarter of the year reported a 4.7% growth.

“While the economy for many developed countries is going downhill, we managed to maintain a minimum unemployment rate of 3.5% with certain industries facing a shortage of workers,” he said, citing the local furniture industry as an example.

During a Parents Day celebration organised by a Buddhist society in Batu Pahat on Saturday, Dr Chua said religion should not be politicised and used as a tool for political mileage.

-The STAR-

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BEZA BN SELANGOR DAN PAKATAN.

RAMAI DALAM ISTILAH KELDAI POLITIK.

MALAM NI CERAMAH KAT KAJANG.

Johor Baru church rejoices over RM500,000 govt aid

Kampar residents look forward to a new hospital in two years

Fresh bread, tender hearts

Malaysians urged to keep house plants with health benefits

MITE sparks investors’ interest

PAS Dibantu Syaitan ?

Seputeh BN rep eager to start work immediately

Granny cares for family with RM250 a month

Opposition only focused on creating illusions, says Chua