2nd Feb 2012 by Tan Pek Wan

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SPORTS

Horror in Puchong ﬂat

Notorious jailer awaits verdict

M’sian millionaire footballer

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Grandmother suffocates 10-year-old girl and cuts off own finger in suicide attempt

A Khmer Rouge leader who oversaw the deaths of 15,000 people will learn his fate tomorrow

Safee Sali signs RM2m deal to stay another two years with Indonesian side Pelita Jaya FC

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WORLD

Spiritual journey Hindu devotees practise ‘Naamdaan’, a type of meditation, in a rally by spirtual guru Sri Tulsidas Maharaj in Hyderabad - AFPpic

KUALA LUMPUR

Moo-ve out! Iron Lady Tan Sri Raﬁdah Aziz implores tainted leaders to quit, stops short of naming anyone but makes thinly-disguised references to her Wanita Umno successor By TERENCE FERNANDEZ AND AZRIL ANNUAR mmnews@mmail.com.my

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PETALING JAYA

Politicians ‘no’ to limiting supporters on nomination day By ASRUL HADI ABDULLAH SANI and AZRIL ANNUAR mmnews@mmail.com.my

POLITICIANS from both sides of the divide have unanimously rejected the Election Commission’s (EC) call to allow only 10 supporters at nomination centres, citing impracticality in enforcing the rule. On Tuesday, EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said it was necessary to ensure nomination day remained calm. He said the practice of having a parade accompanying the nominee should be abolished to ensure a peaceful atmosphere. Umno information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan told The Malay Mail that holding a huge procession dur-

ing nomination day was unique to Malaysia and part of the country’s culture. He said the EC must be more reasonable and allow at least 30 supporters at the nomination centre. “It is the Malaysian way of doing things. We like to gather supporters on the first day, so the supporters can see who our candidate is and we also want to see who will be contesting against us. So if they want to limit to 10, then it is too small,” he said. “I feel it should allow a larger number of supporters, probably 50, but it must be more than 30. However, if research proves it is better, then maybe, but I would like to hear the EC’s explanation.” MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu said the parade of supporters was

a show of solidarity for their candidate. “During nomination day, it is normal for political parties to show their solidarity with their supporters. Also, if EC wants to limit it to 10, then I cannot ask my family to come with me. I cannot bring my own supporters or invite members from the component parties,” he said. “It is not practical unless the candidate does not have to go to the nomination centre and appoint an agent to register for him. If you are going to allow mobilisation of supporters before nomination day, then why not allow them to show support during the nomination?” MIC Youth chief T. Mohan said the gathering of supporters was a non-issue and supporters from any

political party should be allowed to show their support. DAP deputy election director Anthony Loke said barring public involvement on nomination day was against the Federal Constitution. “This is about the freedom of movement, and it is up to respective political parties and candidates to decide. I think the EC should not limit the number of people because the authorities have always managed to control the big crowds in previous elections and by-elections,” he said. “The EC also has no power to limit a person from marching and this is against basic rights under the Federal Constitution.” PAS election director Hatta Ramli said the party would not agree to the EC’s proposal as nomination

day processions were important to raise the party’s spirit. “There was no problem before this and the police have been able to handle problems during nomination day previously. So, we do not agree with the proposal,” he said. PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told reporters at the party’s Chinese New Year do in Wangsa Maju earlier the EC must first consult and gauge public sentiments before making a decision. “Where in the world do you have that rule? Their role is to ensure that election is fair and clean. Their role is to clean the electoral roll and avoid cheating. “The EC must make sure there is access to the media. They must stop bribery and not all these petty procedural issues.”

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THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

THE MALAY MAIL

NATIONAL EDITORIAL Tel: 03-74951288 | Fax: 03-74951229 | E-mail: mmnews@mmail.com.my THE MALAY MAIL IS PUBLISHED BY: Malay Mail Sdn Bhd, Lot 2A, Jalan 13/2, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

PUTRAJAYA

KUALA LUMPUR

SEREMBAN

Royal reminder for city folk

Chandra provides food for thought

PR will threaten Islam, says Hasan

Cop jailed for shooting m-cyclist

The King urges Federal Territory folk to remain steadfast and continue to work hard amid uncertainty of global economy

Yayasan 1Malaysia chairman says politicians can sometimes be an obstacle to national identity but food can unite

Expelled PAS leader warns Pakatan will be threat to Islam, and DAP will merge Malaysia with Singapore if Opposition wins

A 21-year-old constable was jailed six months for shooting motorcyclist without justification during chase

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PETALING JAYA

Do away with gimmicks Parties should make nominations simple, says Umno council member By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani asrul@mmail.com.my

WHILE politicians are against curbing the number of nomination day supporters, Umno supreme council member Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah feels the nation must aspire to become an advanced democracy in its electoral process. The deputy higher education minister said the procession of party members at nomination centres was an unnecessary hassle.

“I am sure the public will welcome this because you can stand and compete, but don’t let it cause trouble to residents. It would also help lessen tensions between candidates and political parties competing for the seat.” He said the Election Commission (EC) must start re-examining the electoral process. “I am all for no procession. I think we should make nomination of candidates easier and hassle free. It is also about time we start restricting the use of posters and banners during campaigning.

“We should look at what advanced democracies are doing. They have nominations, but they don’t have the procession and posters plastered everywhere.” Saifuddin said political parties could have posters promoting candidates within their headquarters, saying banners and placards should be banned. “We no longer need posters because, unlike in the past, candidates can use the media to promote themselves, including television, newspapers and new media. I think we should encourage

debate between candidates instead of having poster wars.” He said the EC must consult relevant stakeholders before deciding. “What the EC should do is invite political parties for a discussion. All parties involved should arrive at an amicable solution to make our elections healthier and simple. “To me, it is simple. Our benchmark must always be against advanced democracy, making elections more of substance rather than rhetoric and gimmicks.”

We should look at what advanced democracies are doing. They have nominations, but they don’t have the procession and posters plastered everywhere

Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah Umno supreme council member

KUALA LUMPUR

JELI

Protection of Israel led to genocide

‘Support shameful’

WHILE criticisms on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s support for “all efforts to protect the security of Israel” continue to mount, the Perdana Global Peace Foundation (PGPF) puts in the perspective that such efforts have led to the genocide of Palestinians. In a strongly-worded statement condemning the opposition leader for coming up with such a view which appeared in the Wall Street Journal, PGPF said moves to protect Israel’s security had not only resulted in the deaths of many Palestinians, but it had been used as a licence for the state to continue with its military belligerence on the besieged people. In a statement yesterday, PGPF said “surely ‘protecting the security of Israel’ is not something that can be accepted at face value as Tel Aviv had exploited the principle to commit atrocities

and genocide on Palestinians”. “It is in the principle of protecting its security that Israel had conducted military operations and attacks on Palestinians, especially in Gaza, and these attacks had continued incessantly.” On grounds that Israel had to protect its security, PGPF, founded by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, pointed out how Tel Aviv justified its attack on the Mavi Marmara that killed nine activists and injured dozens on board, including Malaysian activists. The foundation said anyone who supports “all efforts to protect the security of Israel” was abetting, if not giving outright support of Israel’s continued genocide of the Palestinians and undermining all Malaysian efforts to support the Palestinians’ struggle for sovereignty. It also stated when Malay-

sians condemned the atrocities committed by Israel on Palestinians, including a protest by thousands of people at the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur on June 10, 2010, for the murderous attack on the Freedom Flotilla by the Israeli Defence Force, Anwar shared the sentiments of the Malaysians then. Referring to Anwar’s comment, PGPF said it was unacceptable for someone of his position to be expressing open support for the Zionist regime’s cause. Prior to this, several bloggers said Anwar, under attack for the remarks he made in the Wall Street Journal, tried to “wriggle” his way out by claiming the remarks were made in the context of the “two-state solution”. Veteran journalist and blogger Jailani Harun said Anwar’s statement did not mention nor imply anything on “Two-state solution”, a

reference to Israel and Palestine or anything in line with Malaysia’s and United Nation policy in recognising both states. Another blogger, who writes anonymously in the blog Jebat Must Die, echoed Jailani’s criticism of Anwar, saying, “this latest statement to clear his name means absolutely nothing”, because the ‘two-state solution’ was not mentioned in the article. PAS council of clergies deputy chief Datuk Mahfodz Mohamad, in a news report when commenting on Anwar’s remarks, said it was the people’s duty to support the oppressed rather than the oppressor. PAS youth chief Nasruddin Hassan Tantawi, in his Twitter post, had said supporting and protecting Israel was a betrayal to the ‘ummah’ (the Muslim community). — The Mole

THE statement by Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim supporting efforts to protect Israel’s security is most regretful and shameful, said International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed. He said as a Muslim nation, Malaysia was sympathetic with the people of Palestine who were suffering from the cruelties of the Zionist regime and Malaysia’s foreign policy was clear, that is to oppose cruelty and oppression. “So we hope Malaysians will assess the politics of this leader (Anwar) who is willing to do anything to gain support from certain parties,” he told reporters after opening a seminar to strengthen the leadership of the Rukun Tetangga Committee Members of the Jeli Parliamentary constituency, here yesterday.

“We acknowledge that the Palestinians are struggling for a true and correct cause, we know they are being oppressed by the cruelties of the Israeli regime,” said Mustapa, who is also the Member of Parliament for Jeli. He said the country’s foreign policy was beneficial but would change if the opposition were in control. Asked on press reports today that the Malays formed the biggest group of unregistered potential voters, Mustapa said Malaysians 21 and older should register. On the one-day visit by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to the state tomorrow, Mustapa, who is also chairman of the Kelantan Umno Liaison Body, said the visit would inspire the state Barisan Nasional (BN) machinery to work hard in facing the 13th general election. — Bernama

THE MALAY MAIL

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

NEWS

NATIONAL The only excitement was when the Troop 9 mounted police arrived and bystanders posed for photos with the horses Superintendent Zahari Mohd Yusoff Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) field commander

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KUALA LUMPUR

Rafidah: Leave if you are a burden! Equating tainted leaders to a gangrenous toe, former minister says they should put party above self and quit By TERENCE FERNANDEZ and AZRIL ANNUAR mmnews@mmail.com.my

FORMER Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz has launched a scathing, thinlyveiled attack on her successor Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, suggesting that the latter should vacate all posts in Umno and the government. In a candid interview with The Malay Mail recently, Rafidah stopped short of naming Shahrizat but the references were clearly pointed at the Women, Family and Community Development Minister. “If you are a problem to the party and government, please move out! “That’s it (for) everyone, whether it’s got to do with cows or anything (else). That’s the most matured way of dealing with your problems,” said Rafidah. “Why are you so hung up about the three-week deci-

sion (to take a break)? You’re missing the point! “The point is: damn it, decide, don’t leave it (the decision to go) to the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak). Don’t leave the onus on the Prime Minister to decide for you.” Rafidah’s remarks are bound to re-ignite talks of hostility between the two Umno heavyweights. Shahrizat had toppled Rafidah from her Wanita chief post in 2009. The Kuala Kangsar MP said a chain was only as strong as its weakest link. “If your toe has gangrene, you don’t chop off the whole leg, you just amputate the toe!” Hence, she said leaders who have become a liability to their respective political parties should take the right step and leave the party or at least resign from their posts rather than passing the burden to party leadership as they do not fit Najib’s definition of a “winnable candidate”. The

INCURRING THE IRON LADY’S IRE: Rafidah denied there were any similarities between the current NFC funds abuse uproar and the AP scandal during her time in government

Prime Minister had on several occassions stressed that the Barisan Nasional would only field what he termed as “winnable candidates” in the next general elections. “Whoever is in the wrong, please do the needful. But do not use the same brush stroke to tarnish the gov-

ernment. That’s why I say if you’re a bother to the government, you are a liability to the government and to the party, (and should) make the decision to move away,” she said. Known as the Iron Lady, Rafidah was also quick to slam anyone who intends to open

old wounds such as the allegations of the awarding of Approved Permit (APs) that was used against her during her time in government. She said it was unfair to equate the two incidents. “There was no evidence and there was no link to any family member,” she said.

“You think I’m not a Godfearing woman and do all these things? It’s a sin, you know!” Shahrizat, who is currently abroad, did not respond to calls and text messages. • Look out for Rafidah’s interview next week

KUALA LUMPUR

Bersih 2.0 death inquest: Cops say no clashes in KLCC NO tear gas or chemicallaced water was fired and police action around the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) was not aggressive, police ground commanders testified at the second day of the inquest into the death of a taxi driver during last year’s Bersih 2.0 rally. Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) field commander Superintendent Zahari Mohd Yusoff denied clashes took place at the scene. “The situation there was calm. There were no disturbances,” he told the inquest into Baharuddin Ahmad’s death at the magistrate’s court yesterday. He said the only action Troop 3C, the sole FRU unit present there during the July 9 rally, took was to mount roadblocks and its members did not fire a single tear gas canister nor used truncheons and shields. Zahari said the only excitement was when the Troop 9 mounted police arrived and

bystanders posed for photos with the horses. The sixth witness to testify before coroner Zulkpli Abdullah admitted being aware of what was happening at the Jalan Ampang-Jalan Yap Kwan Seng intersection near Public Bank. He said two other General Operations Force (GOF) Public Order Riot Unit (Poru) detachments kept watch further down both roads. Zahari agreed there could have been other incidents he was unaware of or was not reported to him, especially since allied police units in areas Poru 38 and Poru 47 were outside his area of command. His account differed slightly from that of Inspector Shamsul Baharin Kadir, who said there were things of some concern at the Jalan Ampang-Jalan Tun Abdul Razak intersection where he mounted a barricade. Shamsul, who commanded the Kuala Terengganu-based

Poru 47 drawn from the GOF’s 9th Battalion, said he was confronted by over 3,000 protesters whose numbers continued to swell. “I radioed for instructions and was ordered by Dang Wangi OCPD to fire tear gas into the crowd.” He decided against firing tear gas as he deemed it “inappropriate” and ordered his men to advance instead. Shamsul related seeing the crowd disperse as his men advanced, leaving him no reason for him to resort to “further action”. He was adamant no tear gas was fired by his unit in the area. FRU’s water-canon vehicle commander Inspector Mohd Rustam Mohd Nor concurred with Shamsul’s account of a large crowd near KLCC on the road leading to Ampang Park, passing in front of the main Suria KLCC entrance and Avenue K mall across the road. He said his Water-canon Crew 2A from Johor’s FRU

Unit Two detachment, the only one in the area at the time, with Poru 38 met headon with a large group but denied any clash took place. “Arriving at the scene, I saw a large crowd. I requested Poru 38 to give way so that my water cannon could help control the situation. “When I took position in front of Poru 38, the crowd dispersed and ran off towards Ampang Park... I don’t know why, maybe they thought we were going to take further action.” Mohd Rustam admitted seeing protesters running away in front of Avenue K Mall and Ampang Park, but could not confirm if any other action was taken by Poru 38 or other units against the protesters as he “came late”. He was, however, adamant his crew did not discharge their riot-control weapon at the fleeing protesters. Baharuddin was found unconscious and unresponsive after collapsing at Avenue K

UNDER CONTROL: The crowd at the main entrance to KLCC on July 9

for undetermined reasons. Police claimed the cabbie suffered a heart attack, while family members and Bersih 2.0 compatriots believe otherwise, some claiming Baharuddin was a victim of tear gas exposure, chemical-laced water or police action. Eyewitnesses described protesters running into Avenue K and towards Ampang

Park after an alleged clash with riot police. The three police officers were the first batch of police witnesses called during the afternoon session. The Poru 38 commander will be called when the inquest reconvenes at 11am today. On Tuesday, Baharuddin’s daughter Ummi Mirza took the stand. — Malaysiakini

thursday 2 february 2012

NEWS

THE MALAY MAIL

NATIONAL The people, including residents of the federal territories, should remain committed, continue to work hard and support the government’s initiatives Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah

PUTRAJAYA

Remain steadfast, King tells FT folk He also presents awards in conjunction with Federal Territory Day REMAIN steadfast and continue to work hard amid the uncertainty in the global economy. This was the message put across by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah to city folks in conjunction with the Federal Territory Day celebration here yesterday. Referring to the slowdown currently experienced by the United States, Europe and Japan, the inflationary pressure due to the hike in commodity prices, the debt crisis in Europe and also the slowdown in global trade, the King said the global situation will directly impact the Malaysian economy. “The people, including residents of the federal territories, should remain committed, continue to work hard and support the government’s initiatives to

strengthen the country’s economy,” he said at the investiture ceremony at Istana Melawati, here. Present were Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman. The King also called on the people of all races to continue nurturing unity and strengthening cooperation among them to ensure continuous prosperity for the country. He expressed his happiness at the progress achieved by Kuala Lumpur and said the national capital was on the right track to become a global city and to be among the world’s 20 most liveable

cities by 2020. “The same goes for the Federal Territory of Putrajaya. Apart from becoming the federal administrative centre, I am happy that Putrajaya is also taking steps towards becoming a sustainable and prosperous city,” he said. Earlier, during the ceremony, he presented awards in conjunction with this year’s Federal Territories’ Day. Among the recipients were Mubarak president Tan Sri Abu Hassan Omar who received the Darjah Seri Utama Mahkota Wilayah (SUMW), which carries the title Datuk Seri Utama. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar, who was among recipients for the SUMW, was not present as he is on a working visit to London. There were five conferred

with the Darjah Seri Mahkota Wilayah which carries the title Datuk Seri, namely MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, Housing and Local Government Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Kabit, KUB Malaysia Berhad chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Halim Abdul Samad, MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief Datuk Seri Michael Chong Ten Soo and Malaysian Association for the Blind deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal Kuppapitchai Rawther. A total of 34 people were conferred with the Panglima Mahkota Wilayah which carries the title Datuk, 30 received the Johan Mahkota Wilayah, 74 were given the Ahli Mahkota Wilayah and 84 received the Pangkuan Mahkota Wilayah. — Bernama

ROYAL HONOURS: The King confers Chong with the Datuk Seri title at Istana Melawati yesterday — BERNAMAfoto

KUALA LUMPUR

SUBANG JAYA

FT Day welcomes 17 babies

RM900mil lost to illegal logging annually

THE Federal Territory Day yesterday saw the arrival of 17 babies at several public and private hospitals. The 11 boys and six girls were born in two government and three private hospitals in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, as at 2pm. A survey revealed seven were born in KL Hospital

(HKL), four each in Putrajaya and Pantai KL Hospitals, and one each in Pusrawi and Gleneagles Intan Hospitals. HKL welcomed five baby boys, and two girls, of Myanmar and Indonesian origins, while Putrajaya Hospital had two boys and two girls, whereas Pusrawi and Gleneagles received a boy each. — Bernama

By ANDREW SAGAYAM andrew@mmail.com.my

BUNDLE OF JOY: Nur Hidayati Mohd Sharif and husband Saiful Idzzuan Mat Said joyfully watch their newborn girl at Pantai Hospital — BERNAMAfoto

KUALA LUMPUR

1Care scheme faces flak before launch DESPITE much government hype, another attempt to restructure Malaysian healthcare services signals a dismal future for the rakyat, who currently enjoy a vast assortment of medical subsidies. This is the view of opponents of 1Care who have taken their campaign online, hoping to educate Malaysians as to what they feel would happen when the government rolls out the ‘1Care for 1Malaysia’ health insurance scheme.

The ‘TakNak1Care’ or ‘Say No to 1Care campaign’ on Facebook and Twitter is run by Citizens’ Healthcare Coalition (CHC) and supported by the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Association, Malaysia (FPMPAM). The ‘Malaysians against 1Care’ campaign has thus far generated about 454 likes on Facebook and 20 followers on Twitter. A couple of interactive multimedia presentations on the disadvantages

of the proposed system have also made it online. CHC is hoping to prompt Malaysians to air their views online before the proposed scheme goes live nationwide, arguing that health services are a social good, and not a profit-generating commodity. In their argument, the CHC said 1Care is not only expensive as Malaysians will have to contribute 10 per cent of their monthly income to a regulatory body for basic

healthcare, but also restrictive in the options it gives patients. Speculation is rife over initiatives taken to table a Bill to moot a national healthcare financing authority (NHFA) in the coming Parliament sitting in March. “After paying so much, you cannot pick your own doctor as the government will choose a doctor for you, and you can only see your assigned doctor six times a year,” said CHC. — Malaysiakini

AN estimated RM800-900 million in revenue is lost annually to illegal logging, claims Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M). Its president Datuk Paul Low (pic) said more efforts are needed to bring down the numbers and maintain 50 percent of the country’s land area covered by forests and trees. The figures, obtained from Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, also showed a decrease in illegal logging, from 419 cases in 1993 to 24 cases last year. “Although, we managed to reduce the number of cases, we need to continue our efforts. With the Forest Watch Project and cooperation from the public, TI-M is confident we will be able to reach the

target,” he said. “TI-M, together with the Forestry Department and Natural Resources and Environment Ministry (NREM) hope the public can become our “eyes and ears” and feed us with information or tipoffs on illegal logging,” he said, after launching the Forest Watch and Public Awareness Campaign on Forest Conservation at Sunway Pyramid here yesterday. Low said the public can help out by tracking illegal logging activities using the Google Earth Geospatial Technology (satellite, imagery, aerial, photography and GIS 3D globe). “The public can assess forest cover and report irregularities through wwww.timalaysia-forestwatch.org.my,” he said, adding those in rural areas who do not have internet access could call in or write letters to TI-M, Forestry Department or NREM to lodge their complaints.

HSDM/AUTO/2012/014_Malay Mail_370x260mm THE MALAY MAIL

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THE MALAY MAIL

NATIONAL Malaysia is the food home. That’s one of our common identities Dr Chandra Muzaffar Yayasan 1Malaysia chairman

KUALA LUMPUR

Food for thought at forum Politicians a stumbling block in creating national identity but palate may save us, says Chandra By RAM ANAND ramanand@mmail.com.my

POLITICIANS can sometimes be an obstacle for Malaysians to attain a common national identity, says Yayasan 1Malaysia chairman Dr Chandra Muzaffar. He said the vested interests of certain politicians have scuppered the efforts of Malaysians to create a common identity. “Some politicians can exploit narrow-mindedness and certain bigoted views for their own vested interests. In some cases, it’s just pure ignorance,” Chandra said at a presentation at the Intercultural Dialogue — Towards Greater Awareness: Community Identity & National Identity, at the Malaysian Integrity Institute yesterday. The one-day dialogue, aimed at exchanging knowledge on the nation’s ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, was organised by Yayasan 1Malaysia with the cooperation of the Associa-

tion of Voices of Peace, Conscience and Reason (PCORE). Speaking about the “Malaysian Identity”, Chandra noted religion was also a major hindrance to reaching a common identity. “The biggest problem here are people who misunderstand religion. There are religious individuals who think their religion is exclusive and not inclusive. This beats the very teaching of the religion itself,” he said. “What we don’t have enough of are people who would come forward and correct these misconceptions.” On a lighter note, Chandra said one of the uniting identity factors for Malaysians was food. “Malaysia is the food home. That’s one of our common identities.” He also warned although Malaysians had created good perceptions about themselves in the eyes of the world, personal qualities, such as honesty, still leaves a lot to be desired. “We need to be known as the ones with integrity

Performing arts a ‘stepchild’

IDENTITY CRISIS: Chandra speaking at the dialogue as Raja Zarith Sofiah listens — Pic: Ashraf Shamsul Azlan

and honesty. Looking at the scandals Malaysians have, both here and overseas, it doesn’t bode well for us.” The dialogue was

graced by the Association of Voices of Peace, Conscience and Reason patron the Sultanah of Johor, Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah.

Also at the event, attended by 200 Malaysian and foreign participants, was Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala.

Speak out, Idris Jala tells moderate minds MODERATES need to be more vocal than extremists in voicing their opinions to dissipate religious tension in the country, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala. Speaking after the Intercultural Dialogue yesterday, he said religious intolerance was a form of polarisation that needed to be managed. “It’s not a problem that needs to be solved. But these extremists treat it as a problem to be solved, so they start leaving out other religions from their idea of

a society. These extremists exist everywhere, among Christians and Muslims alike.” Asked about Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali’s controversial white ang pow handouts during the Malay-rights movement’s recent Chinese New Year open house, Idris said Malaysians should be sensitive to other norms and practices. “Say, I have a superstition with red, that I don’t really like the colour and I have to hold an open house for Chinese New Year. What will

I do? I will probably compromise on my superstition and hand out ang pows in red. Because we are talking about religious sensitivity here.” Idris also rubbished the “Malaysian first, race second” debate that surfaced last year. “It’s like asking which comes first, my eye or my leg? Both have fundamental functions. I am a Malaysian first, also a Kelabit first, an Asian first and so on. You can’t choose which is more important.”

It’s not a problem that needs to be solved. But these extremists treat it as a problem to be solved, so they start leaving out other religions from their idea of a society. Datuk Seri Idris Jala Minister in THE Prime Minister’s Department

THE performing arts industry in Malaysia is being treated like a “stepchild” by the authorities. Veteran theatre personality Datuk Faridah Merican (pic) said this, claiming the authorities were exerting “too much control” over the Malaysian way of life, with performing arts being affected. “There was once when City Hall vetted through one of my studio scripts that said that the word ‘Quran’ should be removed because the person saying the word during the proposed play was not Muslim. Faridah, who was speaking during the Intercultural Dialogue yesterday, also asked why many Malays did not learn local languages, such as Tamil or Mandarin. “I was brought up in Penang and we could all speak Hokkien. I believe the current Malay generation is missing out because while they bother to learn German or French as their third language, they don’t bother learning Mandarin or Tamil.” Faridah emphasised also expressed her frustration with censorship. “The artistes back during my time and even now wanted to tell the Malaysian story, that passion has always been there, but can you imagine having every single thing we do being vetted by City Hall?”

Downfall of Western civilisation ‘good’ for humanity YAYASAN 1Malaysia chairman Dr Chandra Muzaffar feels the collapse of the Western civilization would be “good” for humanity.

“I believe the Western powers, for more than 200 years now, has only stunted growth in other countries.” Chandra was asked to ex-

plore the possibility of a power shift in civilisations due to the recent economic meltdown in the Western world at the Intercultural

Dialogue yesterday. “Now, we see that the rising countries are China and India. these were ancient civilisations. What we are seeing is

the re-emergence of these ancient civilisations as the superpowers for modern economy. “What we need to ask ourselves is why Americans con-

tinue to sit on the highest board of handling finances all over the world even though the dollar currency is in a very weak state.”

THE MALAY MAIL

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

NEWS

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thursday 2 february 2012

THE MALAY MAIL

NATIONAL The dispute was between two gang members who wanted control of an area in Desa Mentari Acp arjunaidi mohamed petaling jaya police chief

PETALING JAYA

PUCHONG

Woman kills granddaughter Poor business sparks dispute leading to tragedy By G. PRAKASH prakash@mmail.com.my

THEIR relationship was “very close”, witnesses say. So why a 57-year-old woman killed her much-beloved 10-year-old granddaughter, is beyond everyone's comprehension. The drama unfolded when the girl’s 31-year-old father received a call from his mother yesterday, telling him that she had killed his daughter at the family’s apartment unit on the eighth floor of Koi Legian Condominium, near Batu 8 in Jalan Puchong. The young father immediately rushed home. Serdang police chief Supt Abdul Razak Elias said upon arriving home at 9am, the man found the bedroom door locked but saw a glimpse of some movement through a window. “He asked his mother to open the door but she refused and threatened to jump off the window instead.” After failing to coax his mother, the man called the police. “We received the call around 11.30am. The man said his mother told him that she killed his daughter, two days ago.

“Upon reaching the scene, we forced open the door and managed to stop the suspect from jumping,” said Abdul Razak. He said the suspect had suffocated the girl, identified as Pow Mei Shaung, with a pillow while she was sleeping. “We believe she had been dead for at least 12 hours before we arrived. The suspect had also tried to kill herself by chopping off the ring finger on her left hand.” Abdul Razak said the finger was recovered in the kitchen on a chopping board with the weapon, a chopper. Police found the girl’s body on the bed. Next to the bed was a pail which contained a bit of blood. The blood in the pail was from the suspect’s finger, after she had chopped it off and gone back to the room and lay next to the victim’s body after placing her finger in the pail. “According to the father, when he returned home Tuesday night, he thought his daughter was asleep with her grandmother. Their relationship was close, and he never suspected anything,” Abdul Razak said. Police also found a note on the wall, written by the suspect in Mandarin with a red marker pen: “I don’t feel

Accomplice arrested in turf war arson attack By AIZAT SHARIF aizat@mmail.com.my

good, I want to die”. “Poor business from the coffee shop had sparked a family dispute, leading to the girl’s murder,” said Abdul Razak. He said a police check also revealed that the suspect was supposed to go for treatment for mental illness but never did. He urged the public with mentally-ill family members to ensure they take proper medication to avoid similar incidents. Meanwhile, the condominium’s security guard S. Permal, 74, described the suspect as a very nice person.

“She was very down-toearth. I think she was unaware of her action at the time she killed her granddaughter. She really loved her. They were close,” he said. Permal said it was only two days ago the suspect visited the guard house and gave him ‘ang pow’ and some food. “She was a very good-hearted person. I have no idea what could have driven her to do this.” A neighbour who declined to be named, said the victim, who attended SRJK (C) Kuen Cheng, was a good friend of her 8-year-old son.

TRAGIC DEATH: The granddaughter's body being carried out of her house

“She was very bright. They used to go swimming together.” She said the victim’s parents separated three years ago. It was learnt that five people, including two other relatives, resided in the unit. Both the suspect and the victim’s body were sent to Universiti Malaya Medical Centre. The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

MARANG

Police look for ‘Geng Mie Tiger’ robbers Police are hot on the trail of a gang believed to be involved in robberies, snatch thefts and motorcycle thefts. Marang police chief DSP Ahmad Mazlan Yahya said the group known as ‘Geng Mie Tiger’, comprising three members, has been active in

Bukit Payong and Marang. He said they were Mohd Zulhelmi Rosli or ‘Mie Tiger’, 24, from Kampung Alor Limbat, Bukit Payong, Mohd Zakaria Abd Ghani or ‘Mamat Itik’ 23, from Kampung Rhu Muda and Abdul Latip Mat Bidin, 29, from Kampung

Padang Limau Nipis, Bukit Payong. “We are confident they will be tracked down soon to help solve several criminal cases in the district,” he told reporters here, yesterday. He said police were also seeking help from the public

to furnish information which could lead to the arrest of the suspects. According to Ahmad Mazlan, ‘Mie Tiger’ had been previously charged in court but failed to show when the case came up. He said those who had in-

formation about the gang can contact Marang police at 09-6182222 or the Bukit Payong Police Station at 09-6191222. “They can send an SMS or go to the nearest police station,” he said. — Bernama

POLICE have arrested an accomplice following the arson attack that damaged 26 motorcycles and a taxi at the Desa Mentari flats car park on Saturday. Petaling Jaya district police chief ACP Arjunaidi Mohamed (pic) said the unemployed man in his early 20s was picked up following investigations. The suspect who was picked up near the flats at 6pm on Monday, is also believed to be a gang member. “We know the motive could be revenge over a personal dispute among two gang members who wanted control over an area in Desa Mentari,” Arjunaidi said. He added that police believed that one of the suspects torched the parking lot merely because his rival regularly spends time in that area. Both groups were residents of the flats and police have indentified others to assist into investigations. Last Sunday, police arrested the prime suspect-a 20-year-old man-following the incident. Both the suspects are under remand and being investigated under Section 435 of the Penal Code, for causing mischief by fire.

KUALA TERENGGANU

Police looking for key witness in drug case TERENGGANU police are looking for a security guard to testify in a drug trial involving a religious teacher in the Kuala Terengganu court. State narcotics criminal in-

vestigation department chief Supt Roslan Abdul Wahid said Arzo Said, 38 failed to turn up in court for the trial that started in August last year and his absence had dis-

rupted proceedings. “We urge the public or family members to give their cooperation since we are not able to trace his whereabouts,” he told reporters

here yesterday, adding that the court had issued a warrant of arrest for Arzo whose last known address was Buluh Gading, Manir. Arzo is the main witness in

the trial of Abdul Karim Mohamad, 41, who was charged for trafficking drugs comprising 347.6 grams of ganja after his arrest in April last year.

Anyone with information can contact the Investigation Officer, Insp Misbah Abd Rashid at 019-9598804 or contact the nearest police station, he said. — Bernama

THE MALAY MAIL

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

NEWS

NATIONAL Islam is trapped under lock-and-key by DAP and PKR but the master key is with PAS Datuk Dr Hasan Ali former Selangor state exco member

KUALA LUMPUR

Hasan: PR a threat to Islam

By AZRIL ANNUAR azrilannuar@mmail.com.my

DAP will also merge Malaysia with Singapore, says expelled PAS leader EXPELLED PAS member and former Selangor state exco member Datuk Dr Hasan Ali yesterday found much sympathy from a crowd of 1,000 people in Bangi, as he warned them of how Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will threaten Islam. At one of the first stops in his nationwide roadshow since being expelled from PAS, Hasan said the DAP would soon enough merge Malaysia with Singapore into a republic. “Imagine what DAP will do once they take over Putrajaya. They will merge Malaysia with Singapore and join hands with Singapore’s PAP (People’s Action Party),” he said. Touching on a raw point, he said DAP would “clearly” also abolish Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, which protected the special position of Malays, and do away with Islamic enactments. Playing the victim card liberally, Hasan, who will decide whether to appeal his expulsion from PAS in “a

few days”, said this was foreshadowed by DAP’s muscleflexing in Selangor. The only way to stop this, he said, was to support his “third force”, Jati, which campaigned for Islam, the Malays and a strong royal institution. “Even if Parliament agrees to turn the nation into the republic, it will need the rulers’ endorsement. Much of our constitutional rights are under the rulers’ protection, so let’s support a continued IMR,” he said, leading the crowd to chant I (Islam), M (Malay), R (royal institution). Relating his experience as the exco member in charge Islamic affairs, Hasan said his hands were tied even by “white kopiah-wearing PAS central committee members” who told him to “tone down on raids”. “The important things is to capture Putrajaya first, he said. I swear to God, that was what he said. I thought to myself, Selangor has a Mus-

lim MB, five Muslim exco members and still we have no aperture to stop people from doing wrong. “I cannot accept this argument ... it doesn’t matter if Muslims don’t pray, commit illicit sex and gamble as long as we get to Putrajaya first ... Where are we heading?” he asked the crowd. He said the fact that the censure came from PAS was most hurtful, as it is expected that DAP and PKR would take a more nuanced view as they were “mixed parties” with many non-Muslim members. Setting the premise to promote Jati, Hasan related how young Muslim women would nonchalantly drink alcohol even when Selangor Islamic Affairs Department officers were taking their statements. “Ninety per cent of those in budget hotels during a raid were Malay Muslims. One room has five men and one woman ... most of those in the hotels were university students,” he said.

He also warned of the twin threats of liberalism and pluralism which, he said, was supported by the “dangerous Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim” who, in a way, was “more dangerous than (DAP chairman) Karpal Singh”. Hasan said his “third force”could defend against these threats because it was bound only to their loyalties to God, the prophet, Islam, Malays and the royal institution. “Once, we were able to speak freely on matters of Malays and Islam, but now we can’t even mention hudud, Islam, illicit sex, jihad. Islam is trapped under lock-andkey by DAP and PKR but the master key is with PAS,” he said. All the same, he said, nonMuslims should not be afraid as Muslims would accord them the same respect as they did to any individual. “I have done no wrong, I did not rob, threaten, oppress ... or even sodomise anyone. I am not power-hungry but

only wanted to enforce Islamic enactments ... It is up to you to judge,” he said. Hasan was later mobbed by supporters wanting autographs and photographs with him. Some of them asked him why he did not lead them to chant Hidup Melayu (Long live the Malays). Earlier, moderator Norman Toha called on the people of Bangi to weigh their options carefully before marking their ballot papers. He said that out of 36 seats held by Pakatan Rakyat in the Selangor state assembly, half were held by non-Muslims. “When the Port Klang assemblyman (defected), we were left with 17 and now that Hasan is sacked we have 16,” he said. “If Muslims were stopped by non-Muslims when the numbers were 18 to 18, what more can you expect if our numbers are lower than that. “I don’t mean to differentiate between Muslims and nonMuslims but that is the fact.” — Malaysiakini

KUALA LUMPUR

ALOR STAR

Perkasa: We won’t repeat ‘white ang pow’ mistake

Misunderstanding of law over students’ suspension, says MB

MALAY rightwing group Perkasa admitted yesterday it had made a mistake in giving out white ang pow packets and pledged that such an incident would not recur. Its secretary-general, Syed Hassan Syed Ali, said the episode had served as a lesson to Perkasa and urged all parties concerned to be careful and ensure that their action did not touch upon the sensitivities of other people. “We will heed by the prime minister’s comments on the ang pow issue. It is right that it should serve as a lesson to Perkasa and all parties to be more careful, so as not to touch the sensitivities of other cultures,” he said. “Perkasa also respects and agrees with the comments made by MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong that any one race should be sensitive to other cultures. “However, Perkasa hopes

that it is not directed only at Perkasa but also at other race-based non-governmental organisations where, sometimes, it is difficult for them to apologise.” As such, he said, Perkasa viewed this as a healthy comment from Wee in order not to create further tension or unrest over the issue. “Perkasa hopes the matter is now closed. Perkasa admits its mistake which is truly unintentional and we pledge not to repeat it,” he said. White envelopes are normally reserved for funerals as in Chinese custom. Perkasa, however, stopped short of apologising for the whole affair despite several quarters, including Gerakan vice-president Mah Siew Kong, demanding it. on Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak denied the white packets had

anything to do with the government. “The white packets distributed at the Chinese New Year function should not be construed to be accepted by the government,” he said in a posting on his Chinese-language Ah Jib Gor Facebook page. “I think that as long as we can have a better understanding of the Chinese culture and be sensitive to cultural taboos, such controversial events can be avoided. “We all know that ang pow means a red envelope, dominated by red rather than other colours.” Najib said the incident could be used as a social experience. Perkasa had received criticisms following the distribution of the white ang pow packets by its leaders at their Chinese New Year function on Sunday. — Malaysiakini

KEDAH Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak said the criticisms over Kolej Universiti Insaniah’s (KUIN) decision to suspend five students were because of a misunderstanding of the law used. Azizan, who is also the college’s chairman, said the students were not suspended for breaching the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) 1971 because the Act governed public institutions of higher learning (IPTA) whereas Kuin was a private college. “They do not understand, they made a wild accusation and caused a lot of confusion and headache. I had given an answer, IPTS is different from IPTA,” he told reporters after chairing the state executive council meeting here yesterday. Azizan, who is also the Kedah PAS commissioner, said he had enlightened

Kee Kwong ready to contest in Wangsa Maju

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang on the matter and his political secretary would go to Kuala Lumpur armed with documents to explain to Hadi. “As an independent body, as long as the decision does not conflict with basic principles, let them decide. I cannot interfere. I cannot say too much because the matter was brought to the court by the students,” he said, adding that Kuin would likely be defended by Karpal Singh. The five students were suspended for breaching the UUCA by participating in a demonstration, making speeches with loudspeakers and holding a press conference to protest the use of a religious teaching block to house a smart school. However, four of them had been reinstated while another is still barred from the campus. — Bernama

PARTI Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Central Leadership Council member and the party’s Disciplinary Bureau chairman, Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong (pic), would “gladly” accept any nomination to contest for the Wangsa Maju parliamentary seat in the 13th general election. He told reporters he was already the PKR coordinator for Wangsa Maju and had been active in the constituency since October 2010. The former Gerakan vicepresident, who once held the deputy land and cooperative development minioster’s post, said “things are working well” for PKR in the constituency. “That (being nominated) is up to the boss (party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) and not me. But yes, if I am nominated, I would gladly accept ... if given the chance, I would contest,” he said. “I am already the coordinator for PKR Wangsa Maju and I have been active in this constituency since October 2010. I have prepared a service centre here, too. I am working well with the people.” Tan joined PKR in 2008 but did not contest in the general election that year. n his former allies in Umno, Tan said the current Umno was “corrupt”, unlike the party’s “old guards”. “After 10 years of trying to talk to them I have failed, I gave up. I’ve spoken to some ‘Umno Lama’ members and they are crying about how bad ‘Umno Kini’ has become. Umno will only reform if they are forced to become the Opposition in this country,” he said. The incumbent for Wangsa Maju is Wee Choo Keong, who became an independent MP in 2010 after contesting under the PKR ticket in 2008.

10 NEWS

thursday 2 february 2012

THE MALAY MAIL

NATIONAL Perhaps with this initiative, people will cooperate and provide information quickly to the police Rodziah Ismail State executive councillor for welfare, women affairs, technology and innovation

SHAH ALAM

Reward for clues to pig head incident Selangor government offers RM10,000 for leads to assist police probe By Meena Lakshana meena@mmail.com.my

A REWARD totalling RM10,000 has been put up for anyone who can provide credible information on the “pig’s head” incident that occurred at a mosque in Rawang. The offer, which comes from the Selangor govern-

ment, is to facilitate investigations into the incident which occurred at the Nur Iman mosque in Batu 18, Jalan Ipoh at 5.15am on Tuesday. State executive councillor for welfare, women affairs, technology and innovation Rodziah Ismail said yesterday, the cash would be given to individuals who can provide credible information

until the culprit is caught and charged for the offence. “This is not the first time such an incident has occurred,” she said during a press conference after the state executive council meeting. “We have seen in the past where no arrests have been made.” “Perhaps with this initiative, people will cooperate

and provide information quickly to the police,” she added. She also said individuals with information on the incident can contact the state’s toll free line at 1 800 888 2824. Asked if the state government’s efforts would interfere with police investigations, Rodziah said the Selangor government was

merely aiding the cops. “Whatever information is given to us will be relayed to the police,” she added. To eliminate fraud, the cash would be distributed to the individuals at the discretion of the state government, she said. “They will have to go through the process of lodging a police report and serving as a witness to investiga-

tions,” she added. A roasted pig head was found placed at the staircase leading into the mosque by a committee member when he was about to open the door for prayers at dawn. The case is being investigated under Section 295 of the Penal Code for injuring or desecrating a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class.

KUALA LUMPUR

GEORGE TOWN

Mayor: I have no hidden agenda behind budget

PDC gets RM500m for building affordable homes in Penang

By Azril Annuar azrilannuar@mmail.com.my

“WHAT makes him so special?” KL mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail (pic) yesterday took a swipe at Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng after the latter alleged City Hall did not disclose the full details of the city’s 2012 budget when it was unveiled last month. Lim had yesterday accused Ahmad Fuad of refusing to disclose full details of the the budget to the public and KL’s members of parliament. “We are KL’s MPs who have debated the national budget in Parliament. So why can’t we look at the detailed city budget?”, Lim questioned. Lim claimed that during a meeting between several KL MPs and the mayor that was held prior to Chinese New Year, the MPs had asked for a copy of the budget. However, he said Ahmad Fuad refused to entertain their request and only allowed them to view the summarised hard copy version. Lim also accused Ahmad Fuad of not consulting with the public and the MPs before the budget was approved. Responding to Lim’s allegation, Ahmad Fuad said Lim failed to attend a seminar which was organised by City Hall last year despite being invited to attend. Ahmad Fuad told The Malay Mail that the city council had engaged with around

By Llew-Ann Phang llewann@mmail.com.my

200 to 300 citizens and consulted, explained and discussed the tentative budget and invitations were sent to “everyone including Lim”. “We called for a seminar, we invited around 500 people and around 200 to 300 showed up. The only MPs who bothered to attend was Nurul Izzah (Lembah Pantai) and Tian Chua (Batu). So why is he bringing this up? Why am I being accused that I did not consult the public or the MP? “He did not show up. He accused me of having an agenda? What agenda? I have to report to the Ministry (Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing ministry) and the Prime Minister. He said that during the seminar, City Hall representatives explained to the public on how revenue for the city was generated and how the city plans on spending the budget allocated. Public concerns were also taken note of and it was included in the budget. Ahmad Fuad said his plate was full as City Hall has to be audited and there are procurement procedures which he has to oversee in addition to attending monthly meetings with the chief-secretary to the government.

THE Penang Development Corporation (PDC) was presented with a whopping RM500 million after it was named the implementation agency of the state’s Affordable Houses Fund. Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced that the state executive councillors, at its meeting yesterday, were the ones who arrived at a decision on the matter. “We hope this will put to rest accusations that the state government does not care for the welfare of Penangites,” he said at the PDC Chinese New Year gathering in Relau, yesterday. Since taking over the state in 2008, Lim said, the Pakatan Rakyat state government had approved the building of 11.596 houses under

the scheme, thus dismissing claims that the state did not build affordable homes for its people. “These approved housing projects range from low cost (RM42,000) to medium low cost (RM72,500) and are on both the island and mainland,” he added. The monies for the fund were a result of the privatisation of Bayan Mutiara by way of an open tender. “Under the previous administration, some RM600 to RM800 million of the people’s money was suggested to be spent on the relocation of its administration from Komtar to Bayan Mutiara. “We rejected this suggestion and instead opted for a privatisation project – a move that did not require a big expenditure but instead added to the state’s financial resources so we could allocate monies to run a social project such as

this,” Lim said in a statement issued later. In his speech, Lim said he hoped PDC could be an economic catalyst and implementer of social programmes in the country. “To achieve this, we must be courageous to practise innovative and creative approaches and to think outside of the box. “Another important aspect is the private sector’s cooperation to reduce development

DULY AWARDED: PDC general manager Datuk Rosli Jaafar (left) holding the mock cheque together with Lim

costs. Taking on the private sector as partner through open tender where you choose the most reasonable, best quality and best track record will be a benefit to us all. “The profits gained must go towards the social welfare of the people of Penang,” said Lim.

GEORGE TOWN

Nor Mohamed gets invite to debate tolls with Lim A FAIR debate between Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has been guaranteed by the Penang Pakatan Rakyat Youth Secretariat (Pemuda Penang), should the invitation be accepted. A group of 20 youths visited the minister’s service centre in Tasek Gelugor — where he is MP — to hand over an

invitation letter for the debate titled Will Malaysia go bankrupt should highway tolls be abolished yesterday. Director of the debate Syed Mikael Rizal Aidid said the invitation was accepted by one of Nor Mohamed’s officers. “We will hold three rounds per speaker with 10 minutes each and we will be fair in organising this event,” said Syed Mikael Rizal Aidid.

“Pemuda Penang would like to remind the people that highway tolls are to pay for the construction and improvement costs of highways. “However, to defend the collection of tolls at a time when the people are suffering with rising living costs is an unreasonable thing to do. “This is more so when the North-South Expressway raked in profits of 308 per

cent — the equivalent of RM18 billion — after deducting the project’s original cost of RM5 billion!” Syed Mikael said at the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) Chinese New Year gathering yesterday. For the minister’s convenience, the debate will be held at the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) Hall in Sungai Dua, Tasek Gelugor, tentatively on Feb 29.

THE MALAY MAIL

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

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NEWS

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

THE MALAY MAIL

NATIONAL We are open to anyone Datuk Jamaluddin Al-Amini Royal Perak Golf Club Berhad

SHAH ALAM

PETALING JAYA

‘Race-based fees not true’ Not all clubs practise policy as claimed by KGNS president By AZRIL ANNUAR and MEENA LAKSHANA mmnews@mmail.com.my

NOT all golf clubs practise a race-based membership fee policy as claimed by Kelab Golf Negara Subang (KGNS) president Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas (pic). A former committee member of the Royal Selangor Club (RSC) said the club did not practise a quota system on membership. “We are open to everyone and anyone. In fact, we have a substantial racial composition of Caucasians, Malays, Chinese and Indians,” he told The Malay Mail. “Even the Lake Club does not have this racial thing either.” The RSC member also said the club, established in 1884, boasted luminaries like the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, sultans, the prime minister, deputy prime minister and ministers as honorary members.

“The Sultan of Selangor is our patron. Nothing in our constitution states we must have a certain number of people as members,” he said. He said the quota system applied to KGNS as the land belonged to the government. “KGNS has a racial composition of Chinese, Indian, Malays and others,” he said. The RSC member also said members could only sell the membership to those of their own ethnic classification. “They also have a criteria where certain positions in the committee must be held by government officers,” he said. Kuala Lumpur Mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail, who is also the deputy president of Kelab Golf Perkhidmatan Awam, said there was no such policy practised by the club. “We only open our membership to civil servants,” he said, declining to comment further as a government servant could not discuss

such matters. Royal Perak Golf Club Berhad chairman Datuk Jamaluddin Al-Amini also said the club did not have such a policy. “We are open to anyone,” he said. The Malay Mail highlighted in a front page report yesterday the membership prices KGNS charged were according to race. The controversy erupted among social media users following the distribution of a photograph showing membership the price list which differed according to one’s ethnic background. Megat Najmuddin was, however, unapologetic about

the membership cost of joining the KGNS, claiming the policy was practised by all clubs and the KGNS, being private, enforced the policy after its executive council members agreed on it. KGNS charges RM35,000 to RM65,000 for Malays,

KGNS: Caught in the middle of a controversy

RM45,000 to RM80,000 for Chinese, RM60,000 to RM80,000 for Indians and RM40,000 to RM50,000 for “others” interested in joining the club.

SHAH ALAM

Ignore demand, those who have paid up loans told PKNS low-cost houses residents in Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara who recently received letters reminding them to settle defaulted payments or risk losing their properties, need not worry. Selangor executive coun-

cillor for housing, building management and squatters Iskandar Abdul Samad said the letters from the Selangor Housing and Land Board to residents over backdated bills were sent due to a computer error as the system broke down a

week ago. He, however, emphasised 25 per cent of the residents had defaulted on payments. “We have confiscated some houses in Kampung Kayu Ara before, that is why the residents were alarmed,” he said during a press confer-

ence after the state executive council meeting yesterday. “We have to take serious action because the debts have been dragging for too long.” Iskandar said those who have settled their payments

need not worry about losing their property. The Malay Mail reported yesterday low-cost house residents were alarmed when they received the letters despite settling their installments and securing the house grants years ago.

Selangor govt slams Syabas for stalemate on water issues THE Selangor government has criticised Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd’s (Syabas) stand on not approving future developments because of water crisis fears. Executive councillor for health, farm workers, poverty and caring government Dr Xavier Jayakumar said this was another “tactic” to pressure the state government to approve the Langat 2 water treatment plant project. “We have repeatedly stated we are not against the project but it was a matter of priority,” he said during a press conference after the state executive council meeting yesterday. “We want the federal government to solve the restructuring of the water distribution industry in the state.” According to a Bernama report, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui had said yesterday the anticipated 2014 water crisis in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya was feared to jeopardise upcoming projects as the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) and Syabas would not approve them should the problem be prolonged. He had said construction of the Langat 2 water treatment plant had been deferred because the Selangor government was not cooperating to resolve the issue. However, the Selangor government had previously stated water supply in the state was sufficient until 2019.

KUALA LUMPUR

Selangor garbage collection woes to end next month WOES over garbage collection and disposal in Selangor is expected to end by March. The Selangor government is in the midst of wrapping up the open tender process for the appointment of contractors tasked with garbage collection and disposal. Political Secretary to Mentri Besar Faekah Husin said yesterday the open tender process, which began in January, has ended and the state government is now se-

lecting competent and reliable contractors. “We have criteria that these companies must fulfill, including financial capability,” she told The Malay Mail. “All the contractors that have sabotaged the state government’s effort to handle solid waste management have been kicked out,” she said. She also said trouble-causing companies were not allowed to take part in the

open tender process. The state government had recently given the local councils the green light to sack contractors with poor performance while competent contractors have been given until the end of this month to carry out the tasks. The sabotage of the solid waste management take over is believed to have stemmed from contractors with poor performance that were sacked by local authorities.

The staff of these companies were accused of intimidating other contractors and preventing them from collecting and disposing garbage efficiently. The rogue contractors were also apparently responsible for dumping bulk, garden and domestic waste on street corners as a sign of protest. According to state weekly paper Selangor Times, disgruntled Shah Alam City Council contractors had

prevented other contractors in Shah Alam from entering certain areas to collect rubbish. The sabotage had reportedly affected five local councils. The Selangor government had taken over garbage collection and public cleansing responsibilities from concessaionaire Alam Flora Sdn Bhd since October last year. Meanwhile, the Selangor government is also mulling

over purchasing 300 to 500 lorry compactors to create a more efficient garbage collection and disposal system in the state, Faekah said. “We are negotiating the price with potential suppliers,” she said. “It is one of the priorities right now.” She also said Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad (KDEB), the investment arm of the state government, would be placed in charge of purchasing the compactors.

THE MALAY MAIL

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

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F • THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

NEWS

THE MALAY MAIL

NATIONAL There was nothing which warranted Mohd Hakimi Shamsul shooting Mohd Azizi Azri Aziz Nor Azlina Hashim seremban Magistrate

SHAH ALAM

SEREMBAN

Cop jailed for shooting teen

Family seeks help to find teenage daughter

Court rules no justification for opening fire at motorcyclist

By THASHA JAYAMANOGARAN thasha@mmail.com.my

A POLICE constable was sentenced to six months jail by the magistrate’s court yesterday for shooting a teenager without justification two years ago. Magistrate Nor Azlina Hashim ruled that she found no justification which warranted Mohd Hakimi Shamsul shooting Mohd Azizi Azri Aziz, 20. Nor Azlina allowed a stay of the sentence pending an appeal by the prosecution and raised the bail amount from RM3,000 to RM8,000 in one surety. Mohd Hakimi, 21, was charged with shooting Mohd Azizi without any justification, causing him injury, in Jalan Jelebu, near here, at 3pm on May 8, 2010. He was charged under Section 37 of the Firearms Act 1960 which carries a maximum two years jail or fine of RM5,000 or both. According to the facts of the case, the incident started

at a shopping mall in Jalan Datuk Siamang Gagap, near here, when a police patrol car with two personnel, including Mohd Hakimi, was chasing a group of motorcyclists which included Mohd Azizi Azri. The group dispersed with Mohd Hakimi going in the direction of Jalan Jelebu and the patrol car in pursuit. The policemen fired several warning shots, one of them from the gun belonging to Mohd Hakimi, hitting Mohd Azizi Azri in the stomach. Mohd Azizi Azri was arrested. Mohd Hakimi’s lawyer, Param Sundram, urged the court to impose a fine, saying this was his client’s first offence and that he had just started his job as a policeman at the time of incident. Deputy Public Prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, however, called for a

commensurate sentence as the accused had no strong grounds to fire the shot other than to stop Mohd Azizi Azri. — Bernama

SIX MONTHS JAIL: Mohd Hakimi Shamsul on his way to court yesterday

KUALA TERENGGANU

KUANTAN

Businessman almost blinded in acid attack

Drowning cases on the rise

A BUSINESSMAN was almost blinded when he was splashed with acid while having a drink with friends in Taman Uda, Dungun here on Tuesday night. State Criminal Investigation Department chief ACP K. Manoharan said Roslan Mat Nasir, 40, who lost part of his vision, and two friends were having a drink at a restaurant in the housing estate at 9.30pm. The three friends were having a business discussions when four men, one of them armed with a sword, lunged towards them, Manoharan said, yesterday. Manoharan said the shocked friends tried to flee, but one of the suspects gave chase and splashed acid on the victim’s face. Roslan, from Cheneh, Kemaman, was injured in his right eye and suffered burns to parts of his face. He is being treated at the

Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital. Roslan’s friend Mohd Zolkaini Sulaiman, 38, was burnt on his left cheek. He took outpatient treatment at the Dungun District Hospital. The other friend was unhurt. “Our investigations found the suspect was disappointed with Mohd Zolkaini over a business deal but the acid was splashed on Roslan,

UNINTENDED VICTIM: Roslan Mat Nasir at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital

who happened to be next to him. Manoharan said they have identified the four suspects and were tracing them. Meanwhile, Bernama’s visit to the HSNZ Burn Unit found Roslan to be in stable condition. — Bernama

MORE beach patrols will be conducted to reduce the alarming number of drowning cases. Kuantan OCPD ACP Mohd Jasmani Yusof said police took such incidents seriously. He hoped the Kuantan Municipal Council provided good rescue teams at beaches along Pantai Cherating, Sepat, Balok, Teluk Chempedak and Batu Hitam. “These teams should be provided with jet skis, four-wheel drives and other facilities,” he said after giving a briefing on drowning in Pahang yesterday. “These teams should be placed at watch towers permanently, especially during holidays. Warning signs should be raised.” Mohd Jasmani said there were six drownings, this month, five of them in Pantai Sepat. — Bernama

THE family of missing teenager Wan Athirah Wan Jasmeen (pic) is seeking the public’s help to find her. “Where are you Yeya? Come home, please,” pleaded Roslina Lazim, 49, whose daughter has been missing since Dec 7. The 18-year-old, fondly known as Yeya, was last seen by her friends leaving with a man in a white Perodua Myvi outside the University Teknologi Perak in Ipoh. Roslina, a retiree, said this was not the first time Wan Athirah has gone missing. The last time was in April, when she left home and only returned two days later. “We are heartbroken and worried for her safety. The first time around, she didn’t even explain herself and we didn’t expect it to happen again,” she said. Roslina said the family was running out of channels to find her and hope the public can help. “Her siblings have been monitoring her Facebook account daily but it has been inactive since her disappearance,” she said. “We sent her to Ipoh last month to continue her studies because it was what she always wanted.” The family, she said, were shocked when Yeya’s friend

contacted her informing them of the incident. “The night before, she SMSed me telling how much she misses the family and can’t wait to see us. It was really unexpected,” she said. Her father, Wan Jasmeen Wan Ali, 50, said they had even consulted a religious teacher who told them Yeya was under a spell and has no idea what is happening. “We will continue to pray for her safety,” he said, adding Yeya was a top scorer at her school who scored straight As in her SPM exams. Shah Alam police chief ACP Zahedi Ayob said police had yet to establish a motive for the case. “The case is classified under Missing Person’s and we are working closely with Ipoh police on this,” Zahedi said. Those with information are urged to contact Sergeant Zainal Hassan at 03-55202222.

KUALA LUMPUR

Govt okays Lynas licence THE Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) has conditionally approved a pre-operating licence for the controversial rare earths processing plant in Gebeng, Kuantan. The approval eases uncertainty for the Australian firm and its investors after speculation that the government was considering rejecting the licence over environmental concerns ahead of general elections expected within months. The plant will process rare earths mined in Australia at Lynas’ Mount Weld project. The operation is key to breaking China’s grip on the supply of rare earths metals, cru-

cial in several green products such as hybrid cars. “Based on the decision by the board, the temporary licence has been approved with conditions. If these conditions are not met, the temporary licence can be suspended or cancelled and subsequent applications for the licence will not be considered,” the atomic board and Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti) said in a joint statement. They added Lynas would be solely responsible for managing residue from the plant “which includes returning the residue to its original source if necessary”. — Reuters

THE MALAY MAIL

THURsDAY 2 februARY 2012

NEWS

Complainants have to submit their personal particulars and provide a detailed account of their complaint

Complaints referred by Hotline to the relevant parties would be published if there is no response in seven days

Complainants have to first file their complaints with the respective parties before contacting Hotline

After a complaint has been resolved, the complainant cannot demand nonpublication of the matter

your right to be heard

TEL: 019-2614948 (after 9pm)

By T.K. LETCHUMY TAMBOO and CHE’AZ

hotline@mmail.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR

FYI

Refund rejected for painful heels Buyer wants money back for barely-worn shoes but outlet sends insoles instead B. BEH was blown away when he laid eyes on a pair of stunning five-inch heels at a major shopping complex in the city. However, he didn’t know this particular pair of heels would bring him agony instead of pleasure. “On Jan 13, I bought a pair of heels from a Pedal Works outlet here. After purchasing them, I put them on for a test run,” he says. “To my horror, in less than half an hour, my feet and knees started to hurt excruciatingly.” BEH claims he felt the pain all the way from the balls of his feet, to the arch and the heel. While acknowledging that walking in five-inch heels is never a “walk in the park”, he feels the pain should not have been so intense, and adds he has been wearing high heels for a long time. “This is the first time I’ve been subjected to such torture when wearing heels,” he claims. BEH also alleges the pain was so unbearable he had to take the shoes off and replace them with flats. As the shop has a threeday return policy, BEH decided to return the heels on Jan 15. “The store’s website states the store will accept returns of merchandise purchased from its stores, with the exception of those which

have been abused or soiled through consumer’s neglect,” he says. However, the store refused to entertain his request. What irks BEH however, is that he could not return the pair as they had been worn. “Of course it has been worn. Had I not worn them for that short period of time, I would not have known the pain it caused.” Unsatisfied with the answer given by the store manager, BEH then sought the assistance of a superior staff but says he received the same reply. BEH says, to the senior staff’s credit, she offered him the option of inserting insoles to the heels but says that did nothing to ease the pain. He thus cannot understand why, as the consumer, he is being penalised for an unsatisfactory purchase that is not up to standards. “Moreover, the argument used by the store’s sales assistant that other customers who bought the same pair of heels did not complain does not immediately conclude that everyone is satisfied with their purchases.” BEH wants an explanation from the store on their return and exchange policy. PEDAL WORKS general manager Carol Teo acknowledges she received a call

3. Konsortium Expressway Shah Alam Selangor Sdn Bhd will close the emergency and motorcycle lanes along Shah Alam Highway, between Hicom Interchange and Seafield Interchange until July 26.

ONLINECOMMENTS

Dec 19 Question marks over kindy

from BEH on Jan 15 seeking a refund for his purchase of the shoes. Teo says: “Our company’s policy is to accept any returns within 14 days from the date of purchase within Malaysia or Singapore and 30 days outside the region.” However, she adds the products must not be worn or used and must be in the original condition as delivered to customers. “We reserve the right not to refund if the condition of the product is not satisfactory.” BEH, she states, wore the pair of shoes immediately

upon payment but when he returned it, it had “worn soles”. “It is subjective when a customer complains our shoes are uncomfortable. We are selling generic ladies shoes, not customised shoes. Generic means the shoes sizes or cut follows standard industry measurements.” Everyone has different feet size, shape, weight and walking style, which is why, Teo explains, all customers should try the shoes on and ensure they are satisfied before making a purchase. She stressed the store has tried to further help BEH by

NO WALK IN THE PARK: The heels that caused such excrutiating pain

asking him where the pain is located. “When he said the pain was towards the balls of the feet, we offered to send him insoles, an accessory to address this particular problem. “The insoles were sent out on Jan 16.” BEH confirms with Hotline that he received the insoles on Jan 17. However, he says he is still not satisfied with the reply given by the company.

refund policy. CHUNG says: “I contacted the merchant (the pet grooming centre) on Nov 4, well before the expiration date, and was told that all appointments were full. This is unfair.” CHUNG sent another email to LivingSocial asking them to either honour the voucher or issue him a refund. All was to no avail and once again his request was denied. “I think LivingSocial should protect their clients by asking the merchant to honour the purchase. The

merchant can be found selling the same packages on the same website and more customers may get disappointed,” he says. “I paid good money and made the call within seven days of the coupon’s expiration date to set an appointment and I did not get what I was supposed to.” He describes the situation as “unacceptable” and hopes to get a refund for his unused coupon. LIVINGSOCIAL MALAYSIA says they have contacted

THERE is no indication at all that the kindergarten plans to open illegally. They have submitted the paperwork and it is not against the law to do any painting or install playground equipment. — Eina NO law has been broken as yet. The by-law is simple — the kindergarten owner needs the consent of 10 immediate owners. — Hairi

KUDOS to Tan for highlighting issues such as these which are rampant. Sadly, the majority of our people choose to turn a blind eye to issues affecting others unless it affects them personally. — NoBiasHere

Dec 23 Council tows first-time offender’s car

Rallying for refund for unused voucher voucher which was on Nov 10,” he claims. CHUNG says he was advised to get a refund from LivingSocial. In order to get his refund, he emailed the company on Nov 10 and informed them he was unable to use the coupon before its expiration date as the pet grooming centre was fully booked. To his chagrin, LivingSocial denied his request for his money back. They explained they were unable to process his request as he had exceeded their the seven-day

1. The Selangor Economic Action Council has approved the RM46.8m project along Padang Jawa and Jalan Sungai Rasah to prevent flooding in the area. Works will be completed in two years. The project consists of building three retention ponds, a tidal gate, pump house and upgrading the drains and roads. 2. The Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) has announced that 12 kiosks at the Shah Alam Walk near Plaza Alam Sentral will pay a lower rental. Traders in Zone A and C will have to pay RM500 a month while Zone B will be charged RM700, compared with the current rental of between RM800 and RM1,200.

PETALING JAYA

CHUCK CHUNG feels he was treated poorly and unfairly when he was unable to redeem a discount coupon he purchased from an online deals website and denied a refund as well. CHUNG says he bought a few Everyday coupons from LivingSocial. “I bought two coupons from LivingSocial and decided to use one at a pet grooming centre. Upon making an appointment, I called the grooming centre on Nov 4, last year, and was told all bookings were full until the expiration of the

CHUNG and the issue has been resolved. Marketing director Irene Foo states: “LivingSocial Malaysia has a refund policy where we do not process refunds seven days prior to the expiry of the voucher.” However, as the company values its customer’s feedback, LivingSocial states it has agreed to refund CHUNG. When contacted, CHUNG confirms he received the refund. He is happy a solution was found and that the matter is over.

THE government should set up a system where all first-time offenders do not need to go to court or face jail time. That is the silly logic that Ronnie John wants us to subscribe to. — Anonymous JOHN, you should not have parked there. Can’t you read? Are you part of the Malaysians who can’t read statistic? Because in Malaysia, although the signs say no parking, you can see people parking right there and on top of that, double parking. I’m sad to say that we have lots of mentally-challenged Malaysians around. They can’t read, they park as if they can’t see the ‘no parking’ sign, the towing sign or the yellow line. They can’t park and pay RM1 although they drive huge cars. — ANONYMOUS

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

THE MALAY MAIL

OPINION

PAGE

EYE ON EDUCATION

Social media power not to be down-rated WRITERS’ BLOC with ... NOOR AZIMAH ABDUL RAHIM

THE Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (PAGE) wishes to congratulate The Malay Mail team on the relaunching of its newspaper, a newspaper which has impacted many of our lives, my life particularly, since reading newspapers as a child, and actually being invited to write in it is an accomplishment of sorts. And now that it is a paid morning paper, it means that there is no more a need to dash for it in the early afternoon in my neighbourhood, and many other neighbourhoods, I am sure, when it was a free paper. Furthermore, nothing beats holding a physical paper as opposed to reading it online, although some may disagree. For readers who are unaware of what PAGE is, we are a national education

COMMUNITY

watchdog, registered in 2010 but more importantly, formed by default in 2008, in the neighbourhood school canteen, when we found ourselves reluctantly championing the policy of teaching and learning science and mathematics in English, better known by its Malay acronym of PPSMI. We have made some impact by delaying the abolition of the policy but are still pursuing for it to remain as an indefinite option and will persist in asserting for it to be further improved. How we have been able to do this is not so intriguing

PAGE: Screenshot of their twitter account

but nonetheless mentionable. Whilst we hobbled, Malaysians, not only parents but grandparents, students and teachers unknown to us and who have later become friends, came in droves giving us support, mostly having met in cyberspace through Facebook, Twitter, emails, portals, blogs, Google, YouTube, Mozilla, sms, mms, the good ol’ trusted telephone, surveys, polls, and just as importantly, the press, good and bad. In short, the social media provided the very springboard

we so desperately required to get this far. The power of the social media cannot be underestimated. We have seen the Malaysian government lose its two-thirds majority in the last general election as a result of intense cyber-trooping. More recently, we witnessed the Arab spring uprising fuelled by Facebook and Twitter. In the United States, while social media traditionally raised political funding, it has now taken a new role of influencing lawmakers or, at the very least, just by keeping them in check. Through PAGE’s appointed state co-ordinators in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Ipoh and Sabah with associates in Selangor and Malacca and via an active online presence, the facebook group ‘1M Malaysians say Yes to PPSMI as an Option’, coupled with physical and online petitions, we have managed to garner a quarter of a million supporters to prove to the powers that

be the gravity of discontent on the ground with regards to the handling of PPSMI and the declining state of education in the country. Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM), which boasts of an online membership of 1.5 million, produced a national survey proving that the majority of rural parents believe that PPSMI will benefit their children. While PAGE remains apolitical, we will continue to be seen and heard in cyberspace, and it is our hope that the politicians who still make decisions on education based on what brings in the votes, will take heed of parents’ wishes. The people can no longer tolerate and accept the shoddy nature of government papers that get passed through as 'policy'. Systematic reform on the education system must take place in order to achieve the desired results. Our long term plan is to see improvements in the quality of teaching and

the culture of excellence being practiced in schools and the Ministry. The setting up of the Education Review Panel is a step towards the right direction. It shows that the Government is serious in tackling the issue to ensure that, with the right policies, the schools and pupils are not doomed to lag behind. We also wish to see concrete steps being taken to ensure that the education plans and policies are well managed and implemented so we do not fall into the same pitfall of haphazard implementation destroying good policy. The Government must be transparent and sincere in all aspects of making good the education in the country. Log in at www.pagemalaysia.org and sign up on our online petition ‘Malaysians/ Students for Science & Math in English as an Option’, join the group ‘1M Malaysians say Yes to PPSMI as an Option’ on Facebook and follow us @ PAGEMalaysia on Twitter.

Now, hop along , if you will, to the real topic of my column — the media. Sifting through the newspapers and online portals yesterday, the findings of the Edelman’s 2012 Trust Barometer would have ranked high in terms of newsworthiness. But what got my attention was how the very same findings were given different treatments. One report, for example, went on the angle of how “just over half of the Malaysian public trusts the government”. Another report, on the other hand, went on the angle that Malaysia ranked ninth

among 25 countries involved in the survey. The findings were hotly debated online, and while I was not susprised at the findings or the predictable reactions, what I found incredibly interesting is that some vital points from the findings had been left out. The most glaring is the fact that the average level of trust in governments globally was 38 per cent. Surely, even if I believe that the government needs to improve all the time and listen to criticisms, telling earnestly the closest thing to the whole story is a fundamental function of a journalist. The first responsibility of a journalist is to readers, after all. Fairplay is a requirement for all journalists, no? In the same breath, the media was also badly hit; the survey revealed that only 46 per cent had faith in it. Some had left our the part that the global average for trust for the media is also the same as Malaysia’s. As a journalist of more than 20 years, I am all for

greater Press freedom and acountability. The advent of technology has expanded the landscape of journalism, and journalists are no longer those specifically trained for the industry. Every other guy is one nowadays. And that responsibility of telling not just the truth, but to be nonpartisan and objective, is also a collective one. As one columnist in a popular online portal aptly puts it: “May the media and public agencies in Malaysia learn to tell the truth and especially the whole truth of any matter, but we should not use statistics to tell only part of the story about an issue or concern. "Half-truths are not truths.” I concur. That said, the question that begs to be asked is why then is Ibrahim being exhaustively given acres and acres of media coverage? Will we ever find out the truth? Interesting one, don't you think?

LOVE, HATE, CULTURAL COLOURS

Will the truth really set us free? FOR THE RECORD By YUSHAIMI YAHAYA

AH, Ibrahim Ali (pic). That man — again. You don’t quite know where to put your finger on the Perkasa chief. Love him, hate him, or really, really loathe him, the bespectacled veteran politician seems to have an inherent ability to get the attention he seeks. Several journalist colleagues of mine, at a teh tarik session recently, were unanimous in that Ibrahim Ali is great fodder for controversial stories. You don’t say... Ibrahim is different things to different people. Some hate his very sight, others feel that he speaks his mind when some dare not say what they really feel inside. Some accuse him of speaking for the administration, others say the administration dislikes him as he is not doing the powers-that-be any favours. Unfazed, he claims neutral-

ity. Only he knows the truth; but what we do know is that with Ibrahim, you just do not know what to expect next. Undoubtedly, he is a oneman circus. A spotlight-hogging showboater. A political chameleon. Admittedly, a pretty shrewd one, too. If not, how else do you explain his durability in Malaysian politics? He knows how to stay relevant. The man is a survivor. Ibrahim Ali is so colourful that he may very well end up being a successful TV show host if he wanted to; Not that I think any TV station daring enough to make him one — never mind his ability to accord overnight “celebrity” status to simple, plain white envelopes. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has distanced his government from the “white packet” faux pas but his detractors were quick to train the collective accusing finger at the premier. Damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t. You get the picture. Set aside the noise, and the lesson from this episode

should not be lost. As Ah Jib Gor puts it, it serves as a reminder that we need to have a deeper understanding and increased sensitivity to the cultural taboos, not just of the Chinese, but to everybody else. Naturally, religious sensitivities must also be respected. I do not buy the excuse of Perkasa running out of red ang pow packets. It’s simply befuddling if one considers that it would have taken more effort to get those white envelopes than to find free red packets abundantly available during Chinese New Year.

YUSHAIMI YAHAYA is group editorial advisor. Banter with him at yushem@mmail.com.my

THE MALAY MAIL

thursday 2 FEBRUARY 2012

opinion

NEW YORK

putinisation of russian foreign policy

Moscow re-asserts itself against West Being Frank By Colum Lynch

WITH the United States and its allies pressing President Bashar Assad to step down, the Arab League last week issued a detailed plan for a political transition in Syria. The plan was welcomed by the Obama administration, and Arab leaders quickly said they would refer it to the United Nations. A day later, Russia had its say: Not a chance. "This is an effort from the Arab League, if I understand correctly, to sort of already put a pre-cooked solution on the table," said Vitaly Churkin, Moscow's envoy to the United Nations. "I understand that the attitude of Damascus to that has been negative." The response doomed any hope of a quick resolution at the United Nations to bring greater pressure to bear on the Syrian government, but it also fell into a familiar pattern by which Moscow has shown a growing willingness to challenge the US and its European partners on a range of issues. In recent weeks, Moscow has sought UN scrutiny of possible crimes by Nato during its air campaign in Libya, and even called for investigations into organ sales in Kosovo, a close ally of the West. Most notably, Moscow has obstructed any effort to increase pressure MISSOURI

on Iran. Asked in an interview whether Russia would ever support a UN resolution imposing economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic, Churkin said: "No chance, no chance, no chance ... ever." Critics say Moscow's tough line at the United Nations reflects what one senior council diplomat described as "the Putinisation of Russian foreign policy". Other analysts say Russia is trying to reassert its authority in the council following a period in which the US and Europe prevailed in the handling of several major crises, engineering the downfall of former Ivory Coast leader Laurent Gbagbo and, more recently, of Gaddafi in Libya. "The Russians looked diminished in the first half of 2011 and the strategy is to show, one, they are prepared to act as a spoiler, but, two, they can also lay out a more proactive agenda," said Richard Gowan, an expert on the United Nations at the New York University Center for International Cooperation. The US and its European partners have responded to Russian aims by mounting a campaign to isolate it at the United Nations, and portraying Moscow as an obstacle to the democratic changes sweeping through the Middle East. This past week, for example, the US, Britain, Ger-

many and France publicly rebuked Syria's arms suppliers, a veiled reference to Russia, for continuing to sell weapons to Damascus. "It is glaringly obvious that transferring weapons into a volatile and violent situation is irresponsible and will only fuel the bloodshed," Britain's UN envoy, Mark Lyall Grant, told the Security Council. Russia is coming under mounting pressure to break with Assad from the Arab League, which sent a delegation to the Security Council on Tuesday to press its case for a political transition that would require the Syrian leader to step aside. Meantime, Morocco, acting on behalf of a group of Western and Arab governments, has introduced a draft resolution endorsing the Arab League initiative calling on states to follow the Arab organisation's example by imposing sanctions on Syria. The Russians have responded coolly. The high-level diplomatic gamesmanship is playing out as violence continues to spiral in Syria, forcing the US to prepare for the possible closure of its embassy and the evacuation of its diplomatic personnel. UN officials estimate more than 5,400 civilians have been killed, mostly at the hands of government security forces, since protesters took to the streets earlier last year. Russia's stance under-

scores the strength and depth of its relationship with Assad's regime, which is not only a recipient of Russian arms but also host of a Russian naval base. The crisis in Syria also has provided Moscow with an opportunity to show it is a more reliable ally than Western powers, particularly the United States, which is seen by many in the region as having abandoned one of its closest allies, former Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak. "If you have good relations with a country, a government for years, for decades, then it's not so easy to ditch those politicians and those governments because of political expediency," Churkin said. "We are stronger on our allegiances than others." Tensions between the West and Russia have spilled over into a series of highly personal attacks at the United Nations. Last month, US Ambassador Susan Rice derided Churkin's appeal for a new probe into possible Nato killings as a "cheap stunt" aimed at distracting attention from the killing in Syria. Churkin fired back, saying that Rice's "dictionary of expletives must be replaced by something more Victorian". Rice's press spokesman posted a tweet with an altered picture of Churkin on the head of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Asked if he was trying to

Bashar Assad: Has an unshakable ally and arm's supplier in Russia — AFPpic

change the subject from Syria, Churkin acknowledged that the Security Council has been the scene of "games of distraction," but he said Russia's concerns about the Libya mission were legitimate, asserting that the killing of civilians during the NATO campaign was "a real issue." Russia, along with Brazil, China, India and South Africa, believe "it would be extremely dangerous if" the West continues to be "carried away by this regimechange idea," he said. In Syria, Russia has pursued a complicated diplomatic strategy to shore up the regime, joining China in vetoing the Westernbacked resolution threatening sanctions against Da-

mascus, and introducing its own resolution. That resolution, now stalled, sought to focus the Security Council's energy on backing a political settlement between the Syrian government and the opposition, and cutting off military supplies to the opposition. Under the resolution, Assad's army could still be armed. Asked if Russia's ongoing arms sales to Assad's government was perhaps undercutting his government's effort to pursue a political settlement, Churkin said: "We are not doing anything which is contrary to international law. Other than that, we don't have to give any explanation to anybody." — The Washington Post

speeding up economic recovery

Write off world's debt to restart global growth By Paul Kedrosky

THE best way to restart global growth is with debt. We need both more and less of it. Bear with me here. We need less debt now: Developed-world debt is holding the recovery back. Individuals are cutting what they owe as fast

as they can, especially in the United States and Europe, and governments aren't picking up the difference. After briefly loading up on debt — in part because of stimulus, but now mostly because of bailing out broken banking systems — they now have the deleveraging bug, too. Cash diverted to paying off bills must come from somewhere, however, and

that somewhere is consumption. With the US and Europe together accounting for half of global GDP and with consumption making up 70 per cent of US GDP, we have a math problem: No matter what innovations are introduced, no matter what entrepreneurial ideas are tried, there aren't enough customers for the US to export its way out of the self-imposed austerity that

comes with deleveraging. Consumer demand is the most precious product in economic life, and the US normally demand's biggest provider, is rationing its supply. A deleveraging US consumer is not reconcilable with a speedy global economic recovery. So, here we are. We need to get deleveraging done quickly if we are to restart the global economy. We can't wait until China

becomes a country of consumers, and we definitely can't wait until the developed world works through the massive overleveraging of its real estate, the root cause of the current malaise. We need a debt jubilee: an organised and massive deleveraging in the developed world. Call it First World debt relief, if you will. A jubilee alone won't restart growth — for that we

will eventually require, among other things, more consumer debt. Capitalism needs debt and always will, and the lesson of bankruptcy is that lenders come back quickly afterward. But first we need a fresh start, and we need it now.

Paul Kedrosky is senior fellow at the Kauffman Foundation

THURsDAY 2 februARY 2012

THE MALAY MAIL

opinion

WASHINGTON | FACING THE dragon

New Pacific strategy aimed at China Pentagon officials maintain a “light footprint” plan

By Craig Whitlock

TWO decades after evicting US forces from their biggest base in the Pacific, the Philippines is in talks with the Obama administration about expanding the American military presence in the island nation, the latest in a series of strategic moves aimed at China. Although negotiations are in the early stages, officials from both governments said they are favourably inclined toward a deal. Discussions have been intensified in Washington prior to higherlevel meetings in March. If an arrangement is reached, it would follow other recent agreements to base thousands of US Marines in northern Australia and station navy warships in Singapore. Among the options under consideration are operating navy ships from the Philippines, deploying troops on a rotational basis and staging more frequent joint exercises. Under each of the scenarios, US forces would effectively serve as guests at existing foreign bases. WASHINGTON

The sudden rush by many in the Pacific region to embrace Washington is a direct reaction to China’s rise as a military power and its assertiveness in staking claims to disputed territories, such as the energy-rich South China Sea. “We can point to other countries: Australia, Japan, Singapore,” said a senior Philippine official involved in the talks, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the confidentiality of the deliberations. “We’re not the only one doing this, and for good reason. We all want to see a peaceful and stable region. Nobody wants to have to face China or confront China.” The strategic talks with the Philippines are in addition to feelers the Obama administration has put out to other Southeast Asian countries, such as Vietnam and Thailand, about the potential for bolstering military partnerships. The Pentagon already has about 600 Special Operations Forces members in the Philippines, where they advise local troops in their fight with rebels affiliated with al-Qaeda. But the talks underway between Manila and

Washington potentially involve a much more extensive partnership. Officials in the Philippines, which has 7,107 islands, said their priority is to strengthen their maritime defences, especially in the vicinity of the South China Sea. They indicated a willingness to host US ships and surveillance aircraft. Although the US military has tens of thousands of troops stationed at long-standing bases in Japan, South Korea and Guam, as well as the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, it is seeking to solidify its presence in Southeast Asia. Some of the world’s busiest trade routes pass through the South China Sea and the nearby Strait of Malacca. Instead of trying to establish giant bases reminiscent of the Cold War, however, Pentagon officials said they want to maintain a light footprint. The distinction is critical in the Philippines, which kicked the US military out of its sprawling naval base at Subic Bay in 1992 after lawmakers rejected a new treaty. Along with the nearby Clark Air Force Base, which the Pentagon abandoned in 1991 after

a volcanic eruption, Subic Bay had served as a keystone of the US military presence in Asia for nearly a century. Manila and Washington signed a subsequent agreement that allows US forces to visit the island archipelago or deploy there periodically while remaining under US legal jurisdiction. The constitution of the Philippines forbids foreign military bases without a treaty. Philippine officials said they favour allowing the United States to deploy more troops or ships, as long as they rotate periodically or are considered temporary. Temporary, however, can still mean a long time. The 600 US Special Operations Forces members in the Philippines have been on the southern island of Mindanao since 2002, and there is no firm timetable to withdraw them. The number of port visits by US Navy ships has soared in recent years. The Philippines recently acquired a cutter from the US Coast Guard and is seeking two more of the ships to boost its naval forces. It also wants to buy F-16 fighter jets from Washington. In interviews, neither Philippine nor Obama administra-

changing fortunes: The former US military base at Subic Bay in the Philippines may be back as keystone of US military presence in Asia — AFPpic

tion officials would rule out a return by US ships or forces to Subic Bay. The harbour is now a thriving economic hub and free-trade zone, so any US military presence would pale in comparison to the old days. Even a small, visiting US force in the Philippines would send a strong signal to Beijing. Although Washington has said it is not trying to contain China’s rise as an economic and military superpower, Obama announced a new military strategy this month in which the Pentagon will “rebalance” its armed

forces toward the Asia-Pacific region in the aftermath of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some advocates said the shift in emphasis to Asia was long overdue given its economic importance and China’s rise. “I don’t really see this as a pivot. ... What I see now is a return to a necessary normal,” said Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific Affairs. “The presence of the United States has become the essential ingredient for stability.” — The Washington Post

STRUGGLING POST-COLONIal NATIONS

Countries seek meaning to new found independence By Joshua E. Keating

IT IS hard to find countries that are nostalgic for colonialism, at least among those that were on the receiving end of it. At the same time, it is hard to escape the impression that some countries had a worse time of it than others. The former British Empire includes rising power India and Africa’s most stable and prosperous countries — Botswana, Ghana, and South Africa. France’s former dependencies in Africa and Southeast Asia, from Ivory Coast to Cambodia, editorial

don’t seem to have fared nearly as well in the post-colonial era. Some, such as historian Niall Ferguson, have even argued for the positive legacy of the British Empire, seeing the Pax Britannica as an era not merely of imperialist expansion but also of “spreading liberal values in terms of free markets, the rule of law, and ultimately representative government”. But beyond anecdotal observations, is there any evidence that the type of colonialism determined the way former colonies turned out? Were the bloody post-independence civil wars of Angola and Mozambique, for example, a legacy of Portuguese colonialism, or

were competition for resources and the Cold War more to blame? How would the recent histories of Algeria and Vietnam have differed if France had let them go peacefully? Stanford University PhD candidate Alexander Lee, with Professor Kenneth Schultz, looked at Cameroon, a rare country that includes large regions colonised by separate powers, Britain and France, and then united after independence in 1960. The only country with a similar history is Somalia, where it is understandably difficult to get economic data after more than three decades of war. The results? There may be

something to that British-legacy theory: Lee and Schultz found that formerly British rural areas of Cameroon today boast higher levels of wealth and better public services than those in the formerly French territory. To take one example, nearly 40 per cent of rural households in the British provinces examined have access to piped water, while less than 15 per cent on the French side do. This could suggest that the British colonial system, which had what Lee calls “greater levels of indirect rule and the granting of locallevel autonomy to chiefs”, was more beneficial — or at least less damaging — than the

more hands-on French model, which involved a “greater level of forced labour”. It is by no means clear, however, that any brand of colonialism was good for the colonised. Harvard University economist Lakshmi Iyer has found that in India, regions that were under direct British rule have lower levels of public services today compared with those where local leaders retained some level of power; these “native states” include today’s high-tech business hubs of Hyderabad and Jaipur. As for Latin America, a forthcoming paper by economists Miriam Bruhn of the World Bank and Francisco Gallego

of Chile’s Pontificia Universidad Católica found that areas where colonialism depended heavily on labour exploitation have lower levels of economic development today than places where colonists were less closely involved. (In this context, the grim legacy of Belgium’s King Leopold II — who ran his vast territories in today’s Democratic Republic of the Congo as a brutal personal plantation — doesn’t seem so surprising.) In the end, to paraphrase Henry David Thoreau, it seems the best colonist was the one who colonised the least. Joshua E. Keating is an associate edi-

tor at Foreign Policy

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KUALA LUMPUR SMASH AND GRAB ROBBERIES

EPF NOT A SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANISATION

Reject harmful proposals IT was recently reported that “some RM1.5 billion will be channelled from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to finance the special funding scheme for the sale of houses in public housing programmes in Kuala Lumpur”. Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin (pic) said the funds will be given to the Federal Territories Foundation to help some 20,000 eligible tenants. He added that "the scheme, announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, will help those who are eligible to buy public housing units but are unable to obtain loans from banks because they are retired or do not have a steady income”. Datuk Raja Nong Chik added that "these loans will be repaid over a period of JOHOR BARU

15 to 25 years… there will be an interest charged, but it will be much lower than current housing loan interest rates charged by banks." We support the government’s measures to put in place low-cost and affordable housing schemes to help put a roof over the head of poor Malaysians. However, such programmes must not be financed by the EPF whose mission is to maximise returns with the lowest possible investment risk to protect the hard-earned retirement income of 11 million working Malaysians. On EPF’s own website, it says that “the EPF is Malaysia’s national provident fund that aims to provide financial security for its members’ retirement purposes. The fund is committed to preserving and growing the savings of its members in a

prudent manner in accordance with best practices in investments and corporate conduct.” The EPF is not a lender of the last resort for the poor and neither is it a social welfare organisation. By utilising RM1.5 billion of Malaysian workers’ monies to lend to house-buyers who are unable to secure financing from commercial banks will only jeopardise their retirement funds. Datuk Raja Nong Chik tried to allay fears that EPF could be at a losing end if the buyers default on their loans, by giving an assurance that “the loan is secure as it is guaranteed against the housing unit itself”. However, if the housing unit is indeed a credit-worthy collateral, why can’t commercial banks take it as a collateral? Why are EPF funds being mobilised to give housing loans?

Instead of using the EPF, the government should make full use of existing institutions such as Bank Rakyat or even Malaysia Building Society Bhd (MBSB) by channelling special allocations to them via the social welfare and housing funds approved in the annual federal government budget for the purpose of providing soft loans

Cops should watch more TV to learn to those in need. By setting a precedent for EPF to be used as “social welfare”, the EPF could in future be further abused to finance political programmes to win votes under the guise of the same. It is a slippery slope that will jeopardise the future savings of Malaysian EPF members. We call upon the government to source its own funds for the housing programme and not direct EPF to fund its social welfare schemes. We also call upon the Board and Investment Panel of the EPF to thoroughly review the scheme to ensure that it is the workers’ interest which is being prioritised and reject proposals which may harm the financial returns for our workers.

GOING by the current spate of "smash-and-grab" cases reported in the press, it wouldn’t take a CSI sleuth to figure out how robbers know their victims are carrying huge sums of cash in their cars. All indications point to an inside-job and if the cops have not figured out that one yet, then they need to watch more TV programmes involving forensic science. Firstly, haul in the teller that handled the victim's transaction. Then, grill the officer that approved the release of said funds. If those attempts prove futile, then we can all assume the robbers came equipped with astute telepathic and mindreading skills.

TONY PUA PETALING JAYA UTARA MP

YHTO NAINIF KUALA LUMPUR

KUALA LUMPUR SUGAR SUBSIDY

BURIAL SITE DESECRATION

Development should be achieved without infringing on orang asli rights THE Malaysian Bar is concerned over recent reports of the desecration of two Orang Laut of Seletar burial sites in Kampung Bakar Batu and Kampung Sungai Tenom, near Johor Baru. These sites are located within the Iskandar Malaysia development area, which is under the purview of the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (Irda), a government statutory body. This is yet another blow to the ancestral land rights of, and respect for, the orang asli. As a traditional fishing community, the Orang Laut of Seletar have historically occupied the coastal mangrove areas of Johor as their ancestral land. This area is the subject of continuing encroachment by the Johor government and occupation by entities, including Irda, as it is now prime land amidst rapid development. Through the years, the Orang Laut have consistently maintained the areas they occupy and forage (both on land and sea) are ancestral

areas. The authorities have paid scant regard to this. As such, these Orang Laut have lost much of their land and their livelihood has been seriously diminished, if not completely wiped out, through decimation of the mangrove swamps and pollution of the coastal seas. Many of these Orang Laut live in abject poverty amidst thriving development on their lands, from which they do not benefit. Government agencies have failed the Orang Laut of Seletar. In the days leading up to Chinese New Year, a sizeable area of burial grounds shared by the Orang Laut of Seletar communities of Kampung Bakar Batu and Kampung Sungai Temon were reported to have been desecrated and destroyed by contractors purportedly under the purview of Irda. Police reports were quickly lodged, appeals were sent to the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) and work temporarily halted. It is incumbent upon the federal government to pro-

tect and safeguard their way of life. Development goals for Iskandar Malaysia must be carried out in a sociallysustainable and caring manner, with the utmost respect for their rights. These are principles the government agreed to when it voted in favour of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007. The government also voted in favour of the concept of “free, prior and informed consent” of the indigenous peoples on any policies or projects that may affect their livelihood. Indeed, the incidents involving Kampung Bakar Batu and Kampung Sungai Temon are by no means isolated affairs. There appears to be a systemic pattern of rampant encroachment of orang aslioccupied areas throughout Malaysia, both in the peninsula as well as in Sabah and Sarawak. The continuous violation of the land rights of the orang asli is a breach of their fundamental liberties. It has to stop. The Malaysian Bar calls

The sweet side of the govt’s stand

derstood and appropriately addressed, in an inclusive, and environmentally- and socially-sustainable, manner. We strongly urge the government to join us in preserving the way of life of the orang asli as a living national treasure and civilisational heritage.

I believe the government’s action and policy on sugar is inconsistent. On the one hand, the government urges the people to reduce sugar consumption but on the other, it provides more subsidy for sugar. Why should the government encourage more sugar consumption when they know excessive consumption is detrimental to health? It was also reported Malaysia is the world's eighth highest sugar consumer and the fourth highest in Asia. For the sake of our health, let's be rational. The best way to reduce sugar consumption is through education and price mechanism. Forget the subsidy. The money should be put to better use like helping the hardcore poor or providing industrial training for the underprivileged and less educated.

CHRISTOPHER LEONG VICE-PRESIDENT, MALAYSIAN BAR

PHILIP WONG KUALA LUMPUR

LINK TO OUR PAST: The orang asli represent a heritage-rich link to Malaysia's past— FILEpic

upon the federal and state governments to immediately observe a moratorium on proposed development on land and other areas claimed by indigenous peoples, pending the completion of the National Inquiry into the Land Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Malaysia currently being undertaken by Suhakam. Once its report is ready by September, the full scale of the issue can be properly un-

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

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Business

LISBON

SEOUL

BEIJING/RIO DE JANEIRO

BERLIN

Portugal tests debt market with T-bills

LG returns to profit on handset sales

Valemax ban strains China-Brazil ties

Germany shines in power output

Treasury bills issued overnight in a test of its ability to raise short-term funds as Lisbon seeks to wade through eurozone crisis amid skepticism

World’s No 2 TV maker swung to a profit in the fourth quarter as its latest smartphone model helped its ailing handset unit post a small profit

Move to protect Chinese oceanfreight industry frays vital source of the raw materials needed to sustain world’s second-largest economy

Unexpected drop in prices due to fierce competition from China has made solar generation cheap in world’s biggest green energy market

 PAGE22

 PAGE23

JOHOR BARU

KUALA LUMPUR

MVNO primes Celcom growth Strategy in place to capture 2% of total mobile market by 2015 By Andrea Mathew andrea@mmail.com.my

TELCO giant Celcom Axiata Bhd aims to grow its mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) business to 10% of its total revenue by 2015, making this its main growth strategy for the next six years. Celcom chief executive officer Datuk Seri Shazalli Ramly said: “We want to be pioneers in the MVNO segment and

for those markets where we do not have enough expertise we will opt to form partnerships. MVNOs will be our key growth strategy up to 2015. “Our MVNO relationships can be categorised as wholesale, thus providing satisfactory profit margins. Our MVNOs penetrate new markets for us and generate new revenue streams for Celcom, with volumes that justify them as an effective growth strategy for Celcom moving forward.” Up to September last year, Celcom’s MVNO business con-

tributed 5% of total revenue amounting to RM200 million. Celcom now holds at least 50% share of total MVNO’s locally. “Our aim is for our MVNOs to capture at least 2% of the total mobile market by 2015.” Celcom currently has five MVNOs under its brand — Merchant Trade for Bangladeshi, Nepalese and Indian migrant workers, Red Tone for business men, Tune Talk for AirAsia fliers, XOX targeted at Chinese entrepreneurs and the latest being the Smart

Pinoy for Filipino migrant workers in Malaysia. In February last year, Celcom entered into a memorandum of understanding with Telekom Malaysia Bhd on a strategic collaboration to provide fixed and mobile solutions covering High Speed Broadband services via wholesale long term lease for Celcom’s network and MVNOs. Since the launch of its first MVNO, Celcom has seen over 1.2 million subscribers to their niche services.

Perlis promotes its mangoes in Singapore THE Paya Area Farmers Organisation, in collaboration with the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority, will market the Harumanis and Perlis Sunshine mangoes to Singapore in May. Perlis Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Committee chairman, Sabry Ahmad said for a start, more than five tonnes of these mangoes would be sold at Mustafa Centre and in 27 supermarkets owned by Sheng Siong Group. “We market this Perlis icon to attract Singaporeans to visit Perlis,” he told report-

ers in conjunction with a mission to promote Harumanis and Perlis Sunshine to Singapore yesterday. Sabry, who led the delegation, said Harumanis and Perlis Sunshine would be sold at S$10 (RM24.20) per kg. Besides that, products made from both mangoes such as cordial and chips would also be marketed to the island state, he said. He also said Harumanis and Perlis Sunshine had entered the Japanese market, with the first shipment of 800kg two years ago. — Bernama

MELBOURNE SELANGOR

Spyder Roadster may see price drop SUPERBIKE lovers can expect a price drop of about a third for the BRP CAN-AM Spyder Roadster, which will be locally assembled and distributed by DRB-Hicom Bhd. Group chairman Datuk Syed Mohamad Syed Murtaza said: “We secured not only the rights to distribute the Spyder but also the rights to assemble them locally to ensure that these superbikes are more affordable for Malaysians. “The Spyders are assembled in our manufacturing and assembly facility, according to industry standards and our corporate consciousness for quality. The roadsters will be exclusively distributed by our subsidiary USFHicom Bhd.” The locally-assembled Spyder was launched by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday. “The semi-automatic Spyder is suitable for disabled riders, women and new riders. Its three-wheel feature also provides a safer ride compared to conventional bikes,” explained

Syed Mohamad. The bike, produced in Canada and dismantled in Australia, is available in two models — the Roadster Sports for customers who enjoy an active riding position and a sporty design and Roadster Touring, for long distance riders. The Spyder comes with a 998cc Roadster Sports and Roadster Touring Rotax engine installed with five speed gearbox, automotive-derived Boschengineered stability that integrates anti-lock brakes, traction control and stability control, plus dynamic power steering and digital encoded security. USF-Hicom has secured over 50 bookings of Spyder mix model variance through the prelaunch sales campaign. The company hopes to achieve total sales of 360 units of Spyder mix models for 2012/13, capturing 10% of the market in its first year alone. The price is from RM103,800 to RM129,000 for the sports version and RM134,800 to RM159, 290 for the touring variant.

DRB-Hicom subsidiary Motosikal Dan Enjin Nasional Sdn Bhd (Modenas) has also invested RM2 million for 16 dealers throughout Malaysia with 15 of them providing after-sales services. Modenas assembles these bikes at its factory in Gurun, Kedah. — Andrea Mathew

BORN TO RIDE: (from left) Syed Mohamad and Dr Ahmad give the thumbs-up for the Spyder, accompanied by DRB-Hicom group managing director Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil Jamil, deputy inspector general police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar and Iqbal at the launch — Pic: Shahir Omar

Australian dollar to remain high for years AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Julia Gillard yesterday warned the Aussie dollar would likely remain at a high level for years as it came to be seen as a “safe haven” amid global turmoil. The currency has soared past parity with the greenback on the back of Australia’s commodities boom and relatively high interest rates over the past two years, reaching its highest levels since it was first floated in 1983. Gillard said as European economies suffered — with even traditional currency strongholds such as Switzerland affected — “for the first time in history Australia is being referred to as something of a global ‘safe haven’. “It’s a striking development in our economic history that in a period of global uncertainty, the Australian currency is holding its value,” the prime minister told an Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce lunch in Melbourne.

“What is certain is our dollar is likely to remain relatively high for years to come.” The commodities-linked Aussie had a stellar run against the greenback in 2011, breaking through 110 US cents in July. Gillard said there was growing evidence that the strong dollar — which first breached parity with the greenback in October 2010 — was best explained by confidence in the economy. “It’s well known that Asia’s demand for our mining output — together with the domestic investment to expand our mineral capacity — has lifted demand for our currency, with its value up almost 60% against the US dollar since 2009. “There’s another driver: investors looking to the Australian dollar as a substitute for betting directly on growth in our region — especially in China.” — AFP

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THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

NEWS

SPOTLIGHT Music is the sensory input that stays with us the longest. We can filter out images, concepts and moods, but somehow music remains Josh Rabinowitz Grey Worldwide advertising agency

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KUALA LUMPUR

CANNES

Ads bloom with right music

Chomping for charity

Many brands have made music a key part of identity, a prime example is Apple WHAT kind of tune will make someone want to buy a bar of soap, a painkiller or a condom? That was the question facing ad agencies who flocked to this week’s MIDEM global music market in search of catchy sounds for their next big brand campaigns. Many artists were long reluctant to see their work and image associated with a brand or product — until the record industry crisis of the past decade turned the music landscape upside down. Suddenly artists started seeing working with a big

brand as a new source of revenue, and a valuable way of reaching new audiences. On the advertising side of things, perceptions have changed too, explained Tara Austin of the Ogilvy agency, who travelled to the Riviera gathering to audition artists for the next Dove cosmetics campaign. “It has become a well-established fact that the easiest way to get good scores is to ensure you have a track you are certain your audience will enjoy,” Austin said. “It will compensate for many other shortfalls.”

She explained that evidence has shown brands can benefit by using sound to create an all-round “experience” that consumers can identify — whether or not they like the song in question. Josh Rabinowitz of the Grey Worldwide advertising agency said: “Music is the sensory input that stays with us the longest. We can filter out images, concepts and moods, but somehow music remains.” Many brands have made music a key part of their brand identity, a prime ex-

LONDON

ample being Apple and its tie-ups with artists from Feist to Yael Naim. Each product launch from the IT giant has a tune to match, always following a similar set of parameters: a warm sound, polished production standards, folksy vocals and simple melodies. “They have clearly chosen only to use fresh, new music and unknown artists,” explained Austin, part of a bid to portray themselves as “innovators who are forever bringing their audience something different.” — AFP

RAWANG

Alza SR variant launched

MISLEADING: The two-page ad for Revitalift featuring Weisz

Britain bans L'Oreal magazine promotion BRITISH regulators banned a magazine advertisement for an anti-aging moisturiser by L'Oreal on Wednesday after upholding a complaint that the image of the model, actress Rachel Weisz, was misleading. The two-page ad for Revitalift Repair 10, which appeared in September, featured a black and white close-up photograph of Weisz and a list of the 10 properties of the cream, including reducing the appearance of wrinkles. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said it had upheld a complaint by Jo

Swinson, a lawmaker for the junior government coalition partners, the Liberal Democrats, and a campaigner on improving body image. "Although we considered that the image in the ad did not misrepresent the luminosity or wrinkling of Rachel Weisz's face, we considered that the image had been altered in a way that substantially changed her complexion to make it appear smoother and more even," an ASA ruling said. "We therefore concluded that the image in the ad misleadingly exaggerated the performance of the product

in relation to the claims 'Skin Looks Smoother' and 'Complexion Looks More Even'." L'Oreal said cosmetics firms were entitled to present their product in the best possible light, adding that Weisz had been professionally styled and made up and photographed under ample light and with a soft focus. Swinson welcomed the ruling, under which L'Oreal must not publish the ad in its current form again, saying: "The beauty and advertising industries need to stop ripping off consumers with dishonest images." — AFP

THE latest variant of the compact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) the Perodua Alza, dubbed the Perodua Alza Smart Ride (Alza SR), is now available for viewing and booking at all Perodua's 178 showrooms nationwide. The new variants are priced at between RM53,013.50 and RM56,513.50 in Peninsular Malaysia, they come in three colours — glittering silver, ivory white and a new colour, mystical purple. The Alza SR is aimed at young families who want a flexible compact MPV with sedan features, ideal for those who want the extra space for daily usage as well as for balik kampung trips. Perodua managing director Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh said the Alza model is the most preferred multi-purpose vehicle with 81,000 units sold to date, since its launch in November 2009. For customers who prefer the mounted handbrake feature, Perodua has also made it available in the automatic variant of the Alza SR. Others will also welcome the separate front seats type instead of the bench type in the automatic variant. Aminar said Perodua targets to sell about 400 units of the Alza SR monthly. This would be in the region of 13% of Alza’s monthly sales.

By Andrea Mathew andrea@mmail.com.my

THERE's only two weeks left for the McDonald’s Chinese New Year “Prosperity Gives Back” campaign, which will run till Feb 15. Every Prosperity Burger meal purchase will see 10 sen donated to a local charity within which the McDonald’s restaurants operate. McDonald’s Malaysia man-

aging director Sarah Casanova said: “McDonald’s has always been committed to bringing benefit to local communities in all our operations worldwide and in Malaysia, the Prosperity Gives Back campaign is one of the ways we reach out to make a difference to the lives of those in need,” The Double Prosperity Burger meal includes a choice of either double chicken or beef Properity burger, Twister Fries and Prosperity McFizz.

KUALA LUMPUR

Internet will help extend SME reach to consumers SMALL and medium enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to leverage on Internet usage as there are still untapped areas to benefit from, said Google Malaysia country manager, Sajith Sivanandan. He said these untapped potentials would help the country leapfrog the development via the SMEs. "Since innovation is the engine of growth, the first step in uncovering the potentials of the Internet is to lower any barriers to innovation," he said at a media briefing on the report, "Online and Upcoming: The Internet's Impact on Aspiring Countries". Sajith said the Internet economy held the key to Malaysia's future growth. "To continue on this trajectory, SMEs doing business online is crucial." He said the Internet has grown to become a major Malaysian industry and one that contributed more to gross domestic product

(GDP) than US or China. "The Internet contributed 4.1% of Malaysia's GDP in 2010, or US$9.75 billion (RM29.64 billion) out of US$238 billion." Earlier, Deputy Minister for Information Communication and Culture, Datuk Joseph Salang said online presence would enable businesses to reach out to not just the 17.5 million Malaysian users but also the two billion people globally. He said currently, only 100,000 Malaysian SMEs had websites out of the 700,000 doing business. "This is just a drop in the ocean when we consider that we have another 600,000 SMEs that do not have web presence." Salang said the Internet was the most cost-efficient way to test local products on the world stage and reach new markets. "It is something the SMEs should really capitalise on." — Bernama

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Business It’s quite encouraging that LG’s handset business has finally turned around. However, it’ll be hard to imagine a stellar turnaround Greg Noh HMC Securities analyst

LISBON

NEW YORK

Phone leasing plan mooted Customers will get to upgrade annually while telcos save up to 60% costs TELECOM consultant TMNG Global is pushing a phone-leasing service with the promise that it could cut wireless operator’s phone costs by up to 60% and allow consumers to upgrade their phone annually instead of every second year. US service providers currently pay hefty subsidies to smartphone makers so that consumers get phones with a discounted price tag in exchange for signing up for a two-year contract. However, this means that consumers are stuck with the same phone for two years and carriers have to shoulder big upfront costs for the subsidy, which analysts say can be as high as US$400 (RM1,215) for an Apple Inc iPhone. As an alternative, Over-

land Park, Kansas-based TMNG is offering to manage a phone-lease service under which operators would collect a fee of say US$20 a month from subscribers for renting the device instead of charging them an upfront fee to buy the phone. Subscribers would return the phone at year-end in exchange for a new one. As much as 50% of the price of a smartphone could be recouped if it is returned by the subscriber and resold after just a year, according to Tom Murphy, a marketing executive at TMNG. And since phone manufacturers are under pressure to develop new phone models at an ever increasing rate, it would be in their interests to put a new device in consumers’

hands every year instead of every second year. With this in mind, phone makers that wanted to participate could reduce the subsidy price by offering a discount to the upfront cost, Murphy said. “It’s very attractive for the handset makers.” With both of these factors — the phone resale and a manufacturer discount — Murphy estimated that phone subsidies could be cut by 50% to 60% for operators. While carriers don’t tend to disclose the subsidy for specific devices, Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc made no secret of the fact that iPhone subsidies were the reason for their massive declines in wireless profit margins this quarter. Sprint Nextel is expect-

ed to show similar trends when it reports results on Feb 8. “The biggest value in this is the subsidy reduction,” according to Murphy, who said he expects to be able to announce the first carrier customer for the service this year. He declined to give details except to say that one carrier is further along in moving toward this model than others. While lease arrangements are not typical for the cellphone market, Murphy said that he expects them to become more prevalent as carriers look to cut subsidies and consumers want to avail of an increasing choice of smartphones. UK carrier 02, owned by Telefonica, started leasing the latest iPhone in December. — Reuters

SEOUL

LG returns to profit on handset sales SOUTH KOREA’s LG Electronics Inc, the world’s No 2 TV maker, swung to a profit in the fourth quarter as its latest smartphone model helped its ailing handset unit post a small profit after six consecutive quarterly losses. LG reported yesterday an October-December operating profit of 23 billion won (RM62.1 million), versus a consensus forecast of 64 billion won profit by Thomson Reuters. That compared with a loss of 246 billion won a year ago and a 32 billion won loss in the preceding quarter. LG’s handset business posted 9.9 billion won in operating profit, marking a sharp improvement from a 262 billion won loss a year ago and a 140 billion won loss in the third quarter. “It’s quite encouraging that LG’s handset business has finally turned around,” said Greg Noh, an analyst at HMC Securities. “The profit figure is very small, but earnings will improve going forward as its massive restructuring is finally having some bottom-line impact and its Optimus LTE

model is selling well. However, it’ll be hard to imagine a stellar turnaround.” The turnaround was helped by solid sales of its Optimus LTE model, which runs on Google’s Android platform and is LG’s most popular smartphone with one million sold since its October debut. The firm said handset shipments dropped to 17.7 million in the fourth quarter from 21.1 million in the preceding quarter, as it reduced less profitable feature phones. Its weak results underscore the growing dominance of Apple and Samsung Electronics Co, which has roiled traditional handset stalwarts such as Nokia, Motorola Mobility and HTC Corp. Apple and Samsung together control nearly half of the global smartphone market, according to industry data. LG trails Nokia and Samsung in handsets and competes with Samsung, Sony Corp and Panasonic Corp in flat-screen TVs. LG’s mobile business has been its biggest capital sinkhole, losing nearly US$1 billion since the second quarter

Portugal tests debt market with T-bills Portugal will sell €1.5 billion (RM5.9 billion) in treasury bills (T-bills) overnight in a test of its ability to raise short-term funds after a recent surge in its long-term bond rates raised fears it may be forced to follow Athens and seek a new bailout. The sell-off in Portuguese bonds in the past two weeks has sent yields and the cost of insuring the country’s debts to record highs, testing Lisbon’s resolve as it grinds through its worst economic crisis in decades and imposes sweeping austerity. Any sign that it can still raise short-term financing in markets would be positive, suggesting it may not need to extend terms or ask for more bailout money than its current €78 billion lifeline from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. Analysts said they expect the country to be able sell the full amount of 3- and 6-month bills, although yields may rise slightly from the last auction on Jan 18. “I think demand will remain strong as the country is issuing short-term debt, which is not very influenced by a rise in long-term yields,” said Filipe Silva, debt manager at Banco Carregosa. “The full amount should be issued and even if the rates rise it won’t be a big problem issuing all of it as

has been done in the past.” On Jan 18, Portugal issued €2.5 billion in treasury bills, with the average yield on 3-month bills at 4.346% and 4.74% for 6-month bills. Overnight, the country will auction 3- and 6-month bills. “I don’t expect big changes from the last auction,” said Rui Constantino, economist at Santander in Lisbon. “It (the auction) may calm some nerves.” Concerns over Portugal have grown ever since Standard & Poor’s downgraded its debt to ‘junk’ status earlier this month, putting it in the same category as only Greece in the eurozone. That and the uncertainty surrounding Athens’ efforts to restructure its debt has fuelled growing worries over Portugal, with some economists saying it could eventually have to restructure its debts as well. But the government insists that it has no intention of extending or asking for a new bailout to top up the existing one, sticking to its strategy of meeting strict budget goals and reforming its economy to boost confidence. The austerity demanded by the bailout, including salary cuts for civil servants and across-the-board tax hikes, has already sent Portugal into its worst recession since the 1970s and left unemployment at its highest level in decades. — Reuters

TOKYO

BRIEFS FAST-SELLING: Models show off the Optimus LTE model, which is credited for the firm’s handset unit posting a small profit after six consecutive quarterly losses

of 2010 and the company announced a near US$1 billion cash call late last year, mainly to prop up its floundering handset division. LG said it aimed to raise 2012 sales by 6% to 57.6 trillion won. Its TV business returned to a profit of 150 billion won, helped by strong sales during the year-end holiday period in the crucial US market. TV makers are grappling with weak consumer demand and cut-throat competition and hope that premium products with slimmer designs,

powerful chipsets and crisp displays will revive growth this year after a flat 2011. Sony warned in November of a fourth consecutive year of net losses for the financial year to end-March, with its TV unit alone set to lose US$2.2 billion on falling demand and a surging yen. LG, one of few profitable TV makers, plans to raise TV sales by up to 17% to 35 million this year and is betting on premium models such as 3D sets and Internet-enabled TVs boost profitability. — Reuters

Sharp cuts profit forecast to zero on weak demand JAPAN’s Sharp Corp posted an 86% drop in nine-month operating profit yesterday and cut its full-year profit forecast to zero, struggling with intense competition in the TV business in a weak global economy. The manufacturer of Aquos LCD TVs reported an AprilDecember operating profit of ¥9.14 billion (RM364.5 million) versus ¥66.51 billion in the previous ninemonth period. Sharp had been expected to post more resilient results than Japanese consumer electronics giants Sony Corp and Panasonic Corp, which

report later this week, aided by strength in large-screen TVs and a 10th-generation LCD panel plant. For the financial year to March, Sharp cut its operating profit forecast to zero from ¥85 billion. That compared with the ¥68.6 billion consensus forecast of 23 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters. It also forecast a ¥290 billion net loss for the full year. Sharp’s shares have fallen 25% since the start of last year, compared with a 14% drop in Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei average. — Reuters

THE MALAY MAIL

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

NEWS

Business China’s attitude is pretty amazing when you consider that Vale went against its own government that wanted the ships built in Brazil and decided instead to build them in China BERNARDO LOBAO STUDIO INVESTIMENTOS STEEL AND MINING ANALYST

BRIEFS BERLIN

Germany shines in power output Economies of scale and fierce competition from China have made solar energy really cheap THERE is a bright side to the plunge in solar panel prices that has brought down some US and German manufacturers which relied too heavily on subsidies for green energy — solar power costs have fallen faster than anyone thought possible. The falls in prices for photovoltaic components, pushed down by economies of scale and fierce competition from China, have made solar nearly as cheap as conventional sources in Germany’s electricity grid. The boom in Germany, the world’s biggest photovoltaic market with 24,000MW of installed capacity, has also helped to drive down costs worldwide, making solar a

more viable and accessible alternative to fossil fuels in places ranging from India and the Middle East to Africa and North America. The unexpectedly rapid drop in global solar prices has nevertheless hit some equipment makers hard - producers like Solyndra in the US and Solon in Germany that failed to keep pace and ended up in bankruptcy protection. The demise of Solyndra, which had got US$535 million (RM1.6 billion) in loans from the US government, is sometimes cited by sceptics as evidence of the dangers associated with supporting the industry with incentives. They argue subsidies waste public money.

“Everyone’s missing the real story and it’s amazing how brain dead some people are,” said Jeremy Rifkin, an adviser to the German government and European Union on climate change and energy security. “It’s absolutely a positive thing that solar prices are dropping faster than anyone thought they could. It’s actually a great success,” the US economist said. Germany is the biggest market for solar power despite its heavy clouds and northern latitude. A robust legal framework that forces utilities to buy solar power at abovemarket rates has more than negated these disadvantages, turning Germany into the

SHANGHAI | RIO DE JANEIRO

world’s top testing ground for photovoltaic energy. It has added 14,000MW capacity in the last two years alone and now has 24,000MW in total - enough green electricity to meet nearly 4% of the country’s power demand. That is expected to rise to 10% by 2020. Germany now has almost 10 times more installed capacity than the US. Germany’s governmentmandated “feed-in tariff” is the engine of growth. Martin Jaenicke, head of environment policy research at Berlin’s Free University, noted solar power is the world’s most abundant source of energy. “People sometimes call solar power expensive. But once the capital equipment is

paid off, it’s an unbelievably cheap source of energy. Ideally, subsidies eventually eliminate themselves and that is exactly what is happening in Germany.” Tom Mayer, chief economist of Deutsche Bank, said it was reasonable to support the sector before. “Now that the technology is mature, high subsidies are no longer needed.” Rifkin, the US economist, said: “Germany is leading the way. Solar prices will keep falling. Grid parity is going to be reached in many countries between now and 2015 and that’s a good thing. I don’t think the world will need any more subsidies for solar by 2020.” — Reuters

NUREMBERG

Valemax megaship ban strains China-Brazil ties CHINA banned a giant new class of ship from its ports on Tuesday, a move that checks efforts by mining giant Vale SA to cut the cost of shipping iron ore to its largest market and risks straining trade relations with Brazil. China’s trade ministry said it forbid the berthing of Vale’s 400,000-deadweighttonne (dwt) “Valemax” vessels and other giant freighters, to protect its own ocean-freight industry. This action comes at a time when benchmark shipping rates have fallen by twothirds since October, slashing revenue for shipowners a worldwide. As the world’s second-largest and sixth-largest economies increase their ties, China and Brazil have clashed over ironore, shoes, aircraft, toys, automobiles, pesticides, clothing and the right to own Brazilian farmland in recent years. China overtook the US to become Brazil’s largest trading partner in 2009, and Brazil is a vital source of the raw materials and food needed to sustain the world’s second-largest economy. China is concerned that soaring prices for soybeans, iron ore and other raw materials will put it too much at the

mercy of commodity exporters, while Brazilian industry says cheap Chinese manufactured goods unfairly compete with local industry. Vale is the world’s largest iron ore miner, accounting for more than a quarter of all seaborne trade in iron ore, the main ingredient in steel. China is the world’s largest steelmaker. The giant ships are central to Vale’s efforts to compete with Australian miners BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto , whose mines are closer to China, the biggest iron-ore consumer. China’s decision suggests Vale may have made an unwise and costly investment in one of the most talked-about shipbuilding ventures of the past decade. No Chinese ports have regulatory approval to receive dry bulk carriers of more than 300,000 tonnes. The Dec 28 arrival of the Berge Everest, a 388,000 dwt Valemax, in China’s port of Dalian carrying Vale ore from Brazil was probably a bureaucratic fluke, shipping sources said. The Berge Everest was the first Valemax to visit a Chinese port. Vale and shipping company partners with longterm contracts are building 35 of the Valemax giants for

an estimated US$4.2 billion in Korean and Chinese shipyards. “This is really weird especially since most of them have been built or are going to be built in China,” said Bernardo Lobao, steel and mining analyst at Studio Investimentos, a Rio de Janeiro-based investment fund. “This is a real tug-of-war and China is playing very tough,” he added. “China’s attitude is pretty amazing when you consider that Vale went against its own government that wanted the ships built in Brazil and decided instead to build them in China to please its steelmaking clients.” With Beijing keeping its ports closed to Valemaxes, the Rio de Janeiro-based miner will have to rely on a costlier transshipment hub in the Philippines and Malaysia to ensure its megaships, each costing around US$110 million, remain employed. The transhipment center’s costs are unlikely to outweigh the savings from using the Valemaxes, Lobao said. The Malaysia centre will be able to stock 60 million metric tons, about a fifth of the firm’s annual output of 300 million tonnes, starting in 2014. — Reuters

German toy fair beckons FUN TIME: Two children, identified only as Luca and Dominica, play tabletop soccer during the preview of the international toy fair in southern Germany. Around 2.700 exhibitors from 62 countries are showing off their newest products at the international toy fair which opened its doors yesterday. — AFPpic

SHANGHAI

China raises foreign quotas CHINA granted US$600 million (RM1.8 billion) in quotas to foreign institutional investors in January, nearly a third of the amount awarded in 2011, reflecting Beijing’s desire to boost foreign participation in its capital markets as the pressure of hot money inflows eases. The rapid increase in Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII) quotas, which some analysts expect would

double this year to more than US$40 billion in total, could also lend support for China’s sluggish stock market. China’s foreign currency regulator granted US$100 million of quota each to six foreign QFII investors, including the Monetary Authority of Singapore and BMO Investments Inc, as of Jan 20, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) said on its website. — Reuters

Tougher rules for cement makers BEIJING: China’s environment ministry is planning to launch stricter rules regarding nitrogen oxide emissions from cement plants, a policy change that an industry representative warned could wipe out a third of the industry’s total net profits. China had previously said it plans to cut the cement industry’s overall nitrogen oxide emissions, a key cause of acid rain and photochemical smog, by 10% by 2015. China is the world’s largest cement producer, with some 3,000 plants producing two billion tonnes annually. Beijing announced earlier that it wants to shut at least a third of the country’s cement plants by 2015. — Reuters

Islamic index for Australia SYDNEY: Islamic financing wealth manager Crescent Wealth yesterday launched a new index that will screen Australian Stock Exchange-listed companies for compliance with Islamic investment principles. The Thomson Reuters Crescent Wealth Islamic Australia Index, which covers 143 equities with combined market capitalisation of more than US$160 billion, excludes banks, companies with high levels of debt or leverage such as property trusts, and other stocks that conflict with these principles. It is weighted toward resources and energy firms and includes mining heavyweights BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto. — Reuters

Morgan Stanley eyes Indonesia JAKARTA: Morgan Stanley is finalising a deal to buy a brokerage seat in Indonesia from PT Tiga Pilar Sekuritas to enable it to tap growing financial markets in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy, sources said yesterday. A full broking licence, which is awaiting regulatory approval, will allow Morgan Stanley to cover the secondary side of sales and trading as well as research in a G20 economy that was recently lifted by rating agencies to an investment grade, said the sources who have direct knowledge of the deal. The deal appears to have trumped efforts by Goldman Sachs, which was initially in talks with Tiga Pilar last year. Lack of progress with Goldman led Tiga Pilar’s owners to start discussions with Morgan Stanley. — Reuters

LIFESTYLE&ENTERTAINMENT

TRAVEL&LIVING

DAILY SCENES: (from left) Shoes spill overto the corridors along the ‘shoe street’ in the Old Quarter. A man sits and wait for customers to purchase his calligraphy while streetside haircut happens just next to him. Motorbikes will usually try to pack on everything, balancing pretty well.

Untangling the paradox An ancient history, a colonial legacy and a modern outlook. Sumitra Valliappan gets captivated by Asia’s grand old dame BY SUMITRA VALLIAPPAN sumitra@mmail.com.my

IMAGINE a city where the old Asia blends with the dynamism of a new Asia, where an eclectic mix of medieval and modern exist in harmony. Welcome to the not-soquaint-but-still-charmingenough city of Hanoi, a city of Parisian grace and Asian pace as the Lonely Planet succinctly puts it. As I land at the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi after a two hour long journey from Ho Chi Minh city, I’m greeted with a thick smog-like air at the airport. It definitely isn’t winter but why does the weather look so gloomy, I remember asking myself. Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam has a fascinating blend

of the East and West with Chinese influence as a result of centuries of dominance. Enchanting French designs still linger from its colonial past and is still largely unspoiled with architecture dating back to its pre-colonial era. It definitely feels like a whole new different country to me, having come from Saigon where I was working and living then. The 45 minute to an hour cab ride into the city center took me through acres after acres of paddy fields, passing through the red river and eventually arriving at the hotel. Fares from the airport into the city would cost you anything from VND250,000 - 300,000 (about RM60). Some meter taxi owners in Hanoi will attempt to negotiate a flat fee

MUST TRY: (clockwise from left) ‘Cha Ca La Vong’ sizzles on the table in a delectable dill sauce, accompanied by fresh herbs and served with noodles and crushed nuts. The ever famous ‘Ca Phe Sua Da’, best enjoyed anytime of the day. Look for the tastiest ’Bun Cha’ located in an alley just off the north side of Hang Bac Street between Ma May and Ngo Pha Loc

in advance rather than use the meter. If you have a fair idea of how far you’re going to or how much you’re willing to pay, this is probably a good idea. If the driver refuses, turn around and walk away. It might change his mind. Don’t panic, it’s all part of the expected negotiation process. It is also common for the drivers of some of the less reputable taxi companies to ‘fix’ their meters to run faster hence running up a high bill very fast. I would recommend using the Mai Linh taxis, popular for its reputable service. Without any idea where to head to after checking into the hotel, I decided to hop onto the backseat of a xe om (motorbike taxi) to check out the Old Quarter after hearing all my friends

fro it. be cor usu offe it’s roa cou neg ting tha sho VN Ma dol to h to usu if I wa don be sist Th cat

m Saigon speak fondly of Motorbike drivers can found on virtually every rner in Vietnam. They are ually more than willing to er anyone a ride, even if s just half a block down the ad — for a minimal fee of urse. Always remember to gotiate a fare before getg onto one. Bear in mind at a typical 10 minute ride ould cost no more than ND15,000 to VND20,000. any will gladly accept US llars with some offering hang around to drive you your next destination. I ually keep the same guy I’m comfortable with the ay he rides his bike. If you n’t wish to use him again, clear or else he might int on waiting for you. he Old Quarter is loted near the Hoan Kiem

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

Luxury jungle retreats

Tiles go green

Kubrick gets attention

Take a drive to Seremban to find these hidden gems

Introducing the certified ecofriendly MML Oxida

Criterion releases DVD on two of this US film director’s earliest movies

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THE MALAY MAIL

TOP 10 MUST DO WHEN IN HANOI 1. Ho Chi Minh complex which includes the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Museum, and the President’s Palace 2. Shopping and bargaining in Hanoi’s infamous Old Quarter 3. Temple of Literature 4. Hoan Kiem Lake in the early morning and evening 5. Museum of Ethnology 6. Watch a water puppet show

7. Try a beer on the street-side, a type of local beer called bia hoi 8. Have pho (noodle soup) for at least one of your breakfasts 9. Cyclo ride through the French Quarter 10. Visit the late night flower market

OLD MEETS NEW: (clockwise from top) Three schoolgirls ride their bicycles with the view of the Hoan Kiem Lake in the background. An old man carries on painting in the Old Quarter, oblivious to his surroundings. Expect to ﬁnd many interesting propaganda posters from kitschy shops like this.

SLEEPY HOLLOW: (top) A cyclo rider rides past a temple looking to give rides to tourists. Beware of the scams they usually come up with such as offering to take you around town and then slapping a huge amount for their ‘hard work’

GETTING THERE Flying into Vietnam’s capital city Hanoi takes you 4 hours and many tour operators can organise a short weekend trip if you are pressed for time. National carriers Malaysia Airlines and budget airline Airasia flies 3 times daily to Hanoi. Ticket price starts from as low as RM400 (not inclusive of tax). A 4D/3N trip will give you ample of time to fit in a good mix of tourist sites, shopping and dining. Just what you need after a long week at the office.

lake and has the original street layout and architecture of old Hanoi. The city consisted of only 36 streets or more at the start of the 20th century. Each street then had merchants and households specialising in a particular trade such as silk, jewelery and the arts. The street names still reflect these specialisations such as Bat Su (china bowls), Cha Ca (roasted fish) and Hang Dau (shoes and sandals). A night market near Dong Xuan market in the heart of the Old Quarter opens for business ever Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening giving you endless varieties of clothing, souvenirs and food to choose from. After all that walking through little alleys and the hustle and bustle of traders along the Old Quar-

ter, I decide to take a break from it all and find myself a quiet little cafe to have a glass of iced cold Ca Phe Sua Da (pronounced as ‘kafe-sure-da). The famous Vietnamese coffee which is made with finely ground Vietnamese-grown dark roast coffee individually brewed with a small metal French drip filter into a cup containing about a quarter to a half as much sweetened condensed milk is then stirred and poured over ice. For those serious coffee lovers, you might want to make a pilgrimage to Trieu Viet Vuong St which is located a couple of kilometres south of Hoan Kiem Lake and just north of the Vincom shopping center. Often referred to as Hanoi’s ‘coffee street’, you’ll find a slew of cafes where Hanoians while away

the hours sipping strong cups of Ca Phe. As I soak up the chaos and the endless honking of the bikes around the Hoan Kiem lake after a long day, the sun starts to set and I’m left adrift in my own world again - wondering what is it with Vietnam’s charm that keeps luring me

but yet still makes me feel like an outsider all at once. The city might not appeal to everyone though as I’ve had people tell me that they just couldn’t wait to get out of Hanoi and some who just want to spend all their time whiling away and getting acquainted with the city.

VIETNAM TRAVEL VISAS TRAVELING to Vietnam? Unless you are are from a visa-exempt country then you should and must read this. Some countries that need a visa include: Canada, US, Australia, New Zealand, France, UK, Germany and Spain (this list is definitely not complete, please check). Vietnam is the only country in the Southeast Asian circuit that you ‘cannot’ get the traditional visa-on-arrival.

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

LIFESTYLE&ENTERTAINMENT

THE MALAY MAIL

LIVING Luxuryurbanspas

EmbunSeri Beauty and Spa in Shah Alam Inspired by the rituals and traditions of Eastern cultures, this spa offers guests a truly Asian experience. There are modern rejuvenating facial treatments, stimulating body polishes, nurturing envelopments, romantic bathing ceremonies and therapeutic massages. Trained and certified beauty therapists will pamper you with products which uses only natural ingredients designed for your well-being and to deliver good results. No 445, Level 4, Block 6, Laman Seri Business Park, Jalan Persiaran Sukan, Seksyen 13, Shah Alam

Spa Village Kuala Lumpur at The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur This stylish spa provides a uniquely secluded urban environment for you to rejuvenate and relax. It offers a mix of the world's most sophisticated therapies integrated with the healing practices of the region, ranging from the most traditional of Malay methods to the one-of-its-kind Sensory Room designed to soothe and heighten your awareness. Spa Village Kuala Lumpur blends ancient practices with the modern, using natural local ingredients to provide blissful relaxation and recovery. 168, Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur

A stay in the jungle

NATURAL SERENITY (clockwise, from the top): Breathtaking view at Awan Mulan; The Dusun’s Berembun House; The River pool at Awan Mulan; and Emas House at The Dusun

The Dusun and Awan Mulan in Negri Sembilan is merely a short journey from KL By Sophia Halim sophia@mmail.com.my

Jentayu Spa by Sheila Majid in Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur Known as KL's little secret, this spa is a total sensory experience founded by singer-actress Sheila Majid. Their exotic treatment range combines the wisdom and allure of ancient health and beauty traditions, to renew your body, mind and spirit. The exotic aromas of spices and fragrant blooms, and the gentle sounds of soothing music, will bathe your senses and lull you into a state of relaxed bliss. Products used are natural and homemade according to traditional recipes from Indonesia and Malaysia. Jentayu Spa Sheila Majid is mainly a ladies spa. However, men are allowed if they come with their spouses or lady partners. No 11, Jalan Gelenggang, Bukit Damansara, KL

THERE is a little-known valley of orchards, Orang Asli villages and jungle called The Dusun, situated in the Berembun Forest Reserve in Seremban, Negri Sembilan, a little piece of paradise away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The Dusun was developed over a 25-year period with a mission to protect Malaysia's jungles and support the Temuan people, an indigenous community whose lifestyle also depends on the preservation of their jungle. Visitors to The Dusun will

experience a natural environment, shaded by mature trees, where all living things — including the guests — are treated with equal respect. Visitors can also mingle with the Temuan people and discover their way of life. The Temuan are jungle experts and a walk-and-talk with any elder is a unique window into their world. Within the Reserve, visitors can take a 45-minute trek to Batang Penar, a pristine rush of pools and waterfalls. A place for peace, privacy, and space, The Dusun offers Malay kampong-style chalets on stilts are unique and each is out of sight of the other. Houses are built to catch the wind and they

feature elements of both Malay and Orang Asli in its design. The Dusun offers different room packages, starting at RM300. Drive a little further and you'll discover another haven on the hills in Jelebu, Negri Sembilan — Awan Mulan, a home within the jungle, with stilt houses sitting on a hill slope overlooking a lush valley and green forests. It is the perfect escape to re-energise and be inspired. Named partly in dedication to the owner's canine companion, the name Awan Mulan, or Mulan's Cloud, derives from the mists of the valley which manifests after

rain. The valley looks like an ethereal ocean of mist with a floating house on stilts sailing through eternity. Visitors can take a walk in the forest, go to the river for a swim, or camp overnight in the forest. Or you can just sit back on the wooden decks and watch the mist rising from the valley below. Awan Mulan offers different rooms and chalets to suit your visit and budget without compromising the beauty of its surroundings, with room packages also starting at RM300. Jelebu is only a 90-minute drive from Kuala Lumpur, and is also accessible by KTM commuter train.

THE MALAY MAIL

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

LIFESTYLE&ENTERTAINMENT

living

Malaysia's first 'green' tile Introducing the certified eco-friendly MML Oxida MML Tiles, a subsidiary of Malaysian Mosaics Berhad, recently saw one of its products being awarded the Green Label certification by the Singapore Environment Council (SEC). The product, called Oxida, marks the first eco-friendly tile in Malaysia and reaffirms the brand’s track record as an innovation leader. Oxida is a porcelain tile that is manufactured from recycled materials. As part of the certification process, the product was assessed thoroughly for its eco-friendly features by independent accredited laboratories. It was officially certified as a ‘green’ product by the SEC once it had met all the stringent requirements under the Green Label’s Building Materials category. “Clearly, the benchmark for the Green Label certification is high. This goes to show that

MML is focused on developing new and innovative products that are not only of the highest quality but are also able to minimise their impact on the environment in tangible ways,” said Ron Delaney, managing director of Malaysian Mosaics Berhad (MMB), which manufactures MML products.

According to Delaney, ‘green’ building materials is a growing trend amongst end-users and property developers. “Malaysian consumers are both discerning and environmentally-conscious. At the same time, industry participants, from developers to architects, are driven to incorporate

The magic of compost Compost is basically the equivalent of the good stuff in soil (humus) that sustains plant life. It helps the soil retain moisture, assists with the formation of good soil structure and provides nutrients. So much of what we send to landfill consists of materials that could be used in our garden. By setting up your own compost pile you'll not only be helping your garden, you'll be helping the planet in other ways. The best conditions when provided will allow the composting process to happen much faster than it does in normal natural conditions. Whereas everything just chucked in a pile may take a year or two to break down and sometimes with undesirable results; intensive composting can be completed in just a couple of months. Here are some simple things you can do for more effective composting. 1.Don’t throw away your kitchen scraps — add them to the compost pile. Kitchen scraps are typically high in nitrogen, which helps heat up the compost pile and speed up the composting process. 2. Don’t let the compost completely dry out. A compost pile needs moisture to keep the composting process active. 3. Don’t keep your compost too wet so that it gets soggy

sustainable elements into their plans as certifications like the Green Building Index typically enhances the value of developments,” he said. MML Oxida comes in five variations, namely, Naxos, Madras, Rojo, Gris and Musgo. These tiles are highly durable and with a long lifespan of at

least 50 years. It also facilitates good health and hygiene as it is easy to clean, does not release any volatile organic compounds (VOC) and is hypoallergenic. The tiles also require minimum maintenance and comes in a variety of colours, patterns and sizes to meet any taste and style.

Award winning travel agencies 1. Agoda.com Awarded Best Accommodation website in Asia for 2008 at the inaugural TravelMole Web Awards for Asia, Agoda.com is dedicated to providing the lowest available hotel prices in every destination world-

wide. Available in 37 different languages, Agoda.com aims to make travel more accessible to

everyone by making it fast, easy and affordable to find great deals on hotels worldwide. With staff operating across the globe, Agoda is able to combine local knowledge and connections with world-class technology to provide the best hotel deals on the web. Become a fan of Agoda on Facebook to receive special offers and extreme bargains of at least 50 per cent off, exclusive to Facebook fans.

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By Sophia Halim sophia@mmail.com.my

RECYCLING: Put thrash to good use by taking simple steps to create compost for your garden

and starts to stink. Just as too dry is bad, too wet is also something that you should avoid. 4. Too much of any one material will slow down the composting process. If you have all leaves, all grass clippings or an overload of any other single type of material, it can throw off the balance of the pile. In general, it’s good to keep a mix of green and brown material. ADD Newspaper, cardboard,

eggshells, vegetable scraps, cuttings, hair, manure from herbivores, leaves, sawdust, coffee grounds and filters, tea leaves — basically any plant material that that's not too thick. AVOID Dog and cat droppings, fish, meat and dairy products, weeds, grease and oil. The reason for avoiding most of these is that there is a disease risk and rodents and other animals may be attracted.

TRENDY: (left) The Naxos, one of MML’s Oxida tile variations, is highly durable with a long lifespan, lasting a minimum of 50 years; (right) The Gris tile facilitates good health and hygiene as it is hypoallergenic and easy to clean

3. Wotif.com Travelers with will be spoilt for choice as Wotif.com offers great rates across a broad range of accommodation of hotels, motels, apartments, bed and breakfasts, guest houses, hostels, pubs, farmstays and backpackers in more than 66 countries. Keep an eye out for the deals with a little blue stripe and

LIFESTYLE&ENTERTAINMENT

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

THE MALAY MAIL

SHOWBIZ INBRIEF

‘The Killing’ helped Kubrick get Hollywood’s attention Criterion releases DVD of this US film director’s earliest movies

Demi Moore embarrassed by breakdown The actress who split from husband Ashton Kutcher in November amid speculation he had cheated on her was hospitalised last week, suffered a seizure and is said to be struggling with anorexia and substance abuse, and been the focus of so much scrutiny. Demi is a follower of Kabbalah — a mystical offshoot of Judaism — and the faith believes her troubles are a ‘gift’ which she can learn and grow from.

CINEMA visionary Stanley Kubrick got his start directing low-budget crime thrillers. The Killing, newly restored on a Criterion DVD, is one of the best. This 1956 film was Kubrick’s third feature. In 1950 he quit his job to direct short films and then raised the money to make Fear and Desire (1953) a micro-budget war movie starring a very young Paul Mazursky a film that Kubrick later disdained, and Killer’s Kiss (1955), a poverty-row film noir about a boxer and a dame that is also included in the Criterion collection. Killer’s Kiss, which Kubrick also edited and photographed, contains some extraordinary Weegee-like

images of Times Square, downtown Manhattan and the old Penn Station. It also features a much-copied fight sequence set in a manikin factory, with flailing body parts impeding the killer’s pursuit. These features were the equivalent of student training films for Kubrick. He was making feature films outside the studio system long before the indie movement took off in the 1990s. But he also wanted into the system. The Killing was shrewdly designed to be his passport to the big leagues at a time when Hollywood was busy churning out crime noirs. The film’s narrative structure, in which the unfold-

Scarlett Johansson dating advertising executive

LEGENDARY: (left) A scene from ‘The Killing’ and (right) a shot of Stanley Kubrick on one of his film sets

ing of the robbery keeps rewinding to pick up the stories of its various protagonists, confused audiences and probably accounted for its commercial failure. Seen today, the film seems almost avant-garde. The only flaw is the film’s stentorian voice-over narration, with its echoes of The March of

Time and Dragnet. The Killing had in spades what his earlier films lacked: a meaty story and sharp dialogue. Kubrick was known even back then as a world-class control freak. Although he hired the great cinematographer Lucien Ballard for The Killing, Kubrick insisted

on setting up the shots and the lighting to the point where Ballard refused to attend the screening of dailies. Ballard was renowned for his work with Marlene Dietrich on The Devil is a Woman and would subsequently shoot The Wild Bunch. — The Washington Post

The Avengers star is said to have been secretly romancing a freelance creative director for the last six months, and they were spotted canoodling together in Manhattan, New York over the weekend. Scarlett and her new lover were also spotted having a cozy dinner with three friends at a restaurant in the city’s Bowery Hotel. Meanwhile, Scarlett and her ex-husband, Ryan Reynolds who split in 2010 after two years of marriage have put the home they used to share together in Los Angeles up for sale.

Yo-Yo Ma goes live with top blue grass players While French-American cellist Yo-Yo Ma enjoys stepping away from the classics, he thought his latest venture, blending his instrument with blue-grass masters, might produce the sort of mess known as a ‘goat rodeo’. “The question at the beginning was, can someone do a project like this, and the answer is no,” Ma, 56, said with a laugh during an interview last month at a New York recording studio. “We did it just because we thought that it could be good.” The Goat Rodeo Sessions went to No. 1 on Billboard magazine’s classical crossover chart upon release in

October and is still holding steady at No. 3 this week. It also grabbed the No. 1 slot on the blue-grass charts for 12 weeks, falling to No. 2 last week. The chart success nudged the musicians behind Goat Rodeo to reunite before a live audience this week at the House of Blues in Boston. They include mandolin player Chris Thile, fiddler Stuart Duncan, bassist Edgar Meyer and vocalist Aoife O’Donovan. “We weren’t planning on this being a hit,” Ma said. “Someone said that what we’re doing is genre-proof. I thought that was an interesting comment because we felt

that way about it.” Goat Rodeo, which peaked at No. 18 on Billboard’s Top 200 album charts, is one of the best selling recordings of Ma’s three-decade career. The Harvard University graduate said that although the public and fans associate him with classical music, he isn’t limited to that genre. His iPod has blues, Celtic and Persian tunes on it as well as classical works. His past recordings include edgy collaborations with jazz vocalist Bobby McFerrin, Brazilian pianist Helio Alves and a Mongolian throat singer in his Silk Road ensemble. — The Washington Post

Lady Gaga buys home in London The Born This Way singer has purchased an apartment in the Fitzrovia area of the UK capital so that she no longer has to stay in hotels when she comes to the city. The property is in a luxurious new development which is not yet complete. This area of London has become a popular destination for celebrities in recent years. Perhaps Gaga bought the apartment to share with her boyfriend , Taylor Kinney. — BANG Showbiz

THE MALAY MAIL

thursDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

LIFESTYLE&ENTERTAINMENT

ENTERTAINMENT movie previewS

horoscope

Azura

The Grey

1 Hour 38 Minutes Director: Aziz M.Osman Cast: Neelofa, Shahz Jaszle, Afdlin Shauki

1 Hour 34 Minutes Director: Joe Carnahan Cast: Liam Neeson, James Badge Dale, Dermot Mulroney

CAPRICORN

War Horse 2 Hours 20 Minutes Director: Steven Spielberg Cast: Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson and David Thewlis

AQUARIUS

In Alaska, an oil drilling team fight for their survival after a plane crash strands them in the middle of nowhere. With out them knowing, they become preys to a pack of vicious bloodthirsty wolves who see them as intruders. John Ottway (Liam Neeson leads) leads the group to battle their injuries and the merciless Alaskan weather with only a few days to escape the icy elements and the pack of rogue wolves on the hunt. A race against time they must get prepared for the ultimate challenge.

War Horse tells an epic adventure and a story of loyalty and hope which begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert Narracott (Jeremy Irvine), who tames and trains him. Follows their extraordinary journey after Joey is sold to the cavalry and sent to the trenches of World War One. Despite being too young to enlist, Albert joins the army which takes him out of England and across Europe as the war rages on to save his friend.

TV HIGHLIGHT

HBO Astro Ch 411 7:40 pm Starring Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz Directed by Cameron Crowe

Widow Shen Manting lives with her three daughters, the eldest, Yuhuan (Tian Hairong), middle child Yuxuan (Zhao Ziqi), and the youngest Yuqi (Alina Zhang). They are dragged into power struggles, money and relationship problems and have troubles pulling themselves out.

NICK JR HyppTV Ch 132 1:00 pm & 7:05 pm Series: Little Kingdom Somewhere hidden amongst thorny brambles is a little kingdom of elves and fairies.The Little Kingdom is home to Princess Holly and her best friend Ben Elf. Along with their friends, Ben & Holly have lots of magical fun and exciting adventures playing together in the Little Kingdom.

ARIES

David Aames, a handsome, wealthy and charismatic New York City publishing executive, appears to lead a charmed life. But despite his enchanting existence, he seems to be missing something. One night, David meets the girl of his

dreams and loses her by making one mistake. After a car accident that hideously disfigures his face, David finds himself on a mind-bending search for his soul and discovers the precious, ephemeral nature of true love.

FOX CRIME HD HyppTV Ch 164 9:05 pm Series: Cops

Astro Wah Lai Toi Astro Ch 311 10:30 pm The Fortune Buddies

Adopting the Cinema Verite style of documentary filming, Cops depends completely on the police with more officers and the footage shot as it happens to tell the story. From the crazy and bizarre to the seriously dangerous, it never fails to surprise, startle and entertain!

MAX Astro Ch 412 10:20 pm Hard Luck

Out of desperation; Luk, Fook and Sau decides to busk at Mongkok's Sai Yeung Choi Street by performing the impossible of wrestling on concrete! What happens next?

Crime & Investigation Network Astro CH 732 10:00 pm Forensic Investigators: Marshall

Lucky is an ex-dealer on the path of going straight when he finds a stash of stolen drugs and meets Cass, a middle-aged housewife with a violent streak.

Queensland Cat Protection Society president Kathleen Marshall was found dead in her Brisbane veterinary surgery in March 1998. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d been stabbed over 50 times and left to bleed to death. Hosted by Lisa McCune (pic), Forensic Investigators looks at the tireless work of detectives, and the scientific procedures that helped solve this intriguing murder.

MARCH 21 - APRIL 19

If you feel you've lost the key to your success, hunt around for a duplicate one! Instead of being discouraged by obstacles and disagreements, give plenty of thought to what other people are telling you. A senior colleague recognises your potential and is trying to push you in the right direction. APRIL 20 - MAY 20

Trying to emulate someone you admire will only suppress the beautiful person you are inside. In all situations, it is OK for you to just be yourself and to stay true to your dreams. You have to remember that your skills and talents will make a big impression on people in power.

TV PICKS

SCREEN RED HyppTV Ch 180 10:00 pm Series: Precious Daughters

FEB 19 - MARCH 20

Grudges and grievances towards others could be holding you back from making the best of your current situation. Find it in your heart to forgive a friend or loved one who has recently let you down. When they say they're sorry they mean it and they're unlikely to repeat the mistake.

TAURUS

Vanilla Sky

JAN 20 - FEB 18

You will know you have been able to help someone when they call you insightful and say they have a better perspective after talking to you. It is time now to help yourself through being more organised about your future. Remember it's not the plan that's important, it's the planning.

PISCES

Azura is story about a teenage girl who lives with her aunt, Yusni, after the passing of her parents in the tragic Min and Mekah tunnel incident in 1990. She works hard to achieve her dream and managed to enter a prestigious university. Azura who loves France and its art, meets Zed, a fellow student in her French class and they fall in love. Facing various challenges from Zek's parents, the two then elope to London to be married. But what will happen to the couple in the end?

DEC 22 - JAN 19

Changes that are now going on aren't just affecting your life but your beliefs, opinions and values. Capricorns are typically constant in their ways but occasionally circumstances force you to re-evaluate your life and everything you believe in. Not easy but such experiences will make you stronger.

National Geographic Channel Astro Ch 553 9:30 pm Mad Scientists: The Moon Jumper John teams up with the Needhams, an entire family of creative garage inventors in Reno, Nevada. Together, they design and build a remarkable contraption called the Moon Jumper. Their collaboration is a celebration of family and old-fashioned ingenuity.

GEMINI

MAY 21 - JUNE 20

You have a way of inspiring others to want to learn even in a dull classroom environment. Your enthusiasm about your interests will rub off on all who are around you. Travel is favourably linked with the social side of your life or a journey could be work-related.

CANCER

JUNE 21 - JULY 22

Take full advantage of a tip someone in the know puts your way. They've been working hard on your behalf so you won't want to let them down. While you're feeling inspired, you should make a determined effort to pursue a special goal. It is time to follow your dreams.

LEO

JULY 23 - AUG 22

You strive to be a successful leader; don't ever let your ambition to become that person be diminished. You are brimming with confidence and energy and you have it in your power to win other people's support through a positive blend of enthusiasm, firmness and charm.

VIRGO

AUG 23 - SEPT 22

Get a medical check-up if you can't seem to shake off a feeling of being constantly tired and exhausted. If you exercise regularly, eat healthily and can see no reason why you're lacking in energy, seek the help of a professional. A change of scenery is highly recommended.

LIBRA

SEPT 23 - OCT 22

Feelings within existing relationships deepen; you attract attention wherever you go. If you are single, someone is sending you sexy signals. Now is the time to let them know you feel drawn to them and you are interested. Pleasing romantic developments will put the sparkle back into your eyes.

SCORPIO

OCT 23 - NOV 21

Studying new subjects will help you learn more about yourself and your relationships. Working with a mentor who understands your learning style and recognises your capabilities will soon have you moving up the career ladder. Conversely, you could find you've a talent to help others succeed.

SAGITTARIUS

NOV 22 - DEC 21

An artificially imposed relationship where you were thrown together for a business experiment or to help out a friend of a friend could turn into something significant. You might be opposites in character but you are getting on extremely well! You balance each other's strengths and weaknesses.

thursday 2 february 2012

NEWS

THE MALAY MAIL

world

TAMPA (Florida)

NEW YORK

LONDON

WASHINGTON

Romney wins big in Florida

Showdown at UN

Pakistan helping Taliban, says Nato

Tape sheds new light on JFK assassination

Mitt Romney trounced main rival Newt Gingrich in Florida’s primary, putting himself in a commanding position to win the Republican nomination and take on President Barack Obama

Western powers and the Arab League demand immediate United Nations action to stop Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s “killing machine,” but Russia refused to give its support

Pakistan’s security services are secretly aiding Afghanistan’s Taliban, who assume their victory is inevitable once Western troops leave, a secret Nato document says

Long-lost audio recordings of the aftermath of president John F. Kennedy’s assassination have been made public, captivating historians and stirring fascination about that fateful day

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MELBOURNE

PHNOM PENH

Notorious jailer awaits verdict Kaing Guek Eav oversaw the deaths of 15,000 people at a notorious torture prison A Khmer Rouge jailer who oversaw the deaths of 15,000 people at a notorious torture prison will learn his fate tomorrow when Cambodia’s UN-backed court issues its final judgment in the landmark case. Kaing Guek Eav (pic) — better known as Duch — was sentenced to 30 years in 2010 over his role in the late 1970s as head of the feared S-21 prison where starving inmates suffered horrific abuse including electric shocks and having their finger nails pulled out. Hundreds of Cambodians are expected to flock to the court tomorrow to hear whether the one-time maths teacher’s appeal for an acquittal was successful, or if judges will side with the prosecution and hand down a harsher punishment.

If the original verdict is upheld, Duch, 69, could be freed in under 18 years because of time already served. This would be to the dismay of many victims of the brutal regime, which wiped out nearly a quarter of Cambodia’s population through starvation, overwork and execution in a bid to create an agrarian utopia. “He must die in jail,” said prominent Khmer Rouge survivor Chum Mey, 81, one of just a handful of people to make it out of S-21 alive. “If he is not jailed for life, the court has no value, no justice at all because he killed so many people.” Duch was the first Khmer Rouge cadre to face the international tribunal, set up to bring justice after the deaths of up to two million

people during the regime’s 1975-79 rule. Led by Pol Pot, who died in 1998, the communist movement emptied the capital Phnom Penh when they took power and S-21, a former school in the heart of the city, became the centre of the regime’s security apparatus. Duch prided himself on keeping meticulous records, leaving behind a huge archive of photos, confessions and other evidence documenting inmates’ final terrible months. After being tortured, thousands of prisoners were taken to a nearby orchard for execution. The jailer was found working as a Christian aid worker in the Cambodian jungle in 1999 and has been detained ever since. He was formally

arrested by the tribunal in July 2007. During his nine-month trial Duch repeatedly apologised for his role at S-21, also known as Tuol Sleng prison, but he surprised the court in his closing statement by asking to be acquitted. And during his appeal last March he told the court he only survived the brutal regime because he “respectfully and strictly followed the orders” and said he should be released because he was not a senior regime leader. Prosecutors said the shock decision to ask for a full acquittal showed he “lacks real, sincere remorse for what happened” and demanded a life term, to be commuted to 45 years for time spent in unlawful detention before the court was established. Trial observers say it is ex-

tremely unlikely Duch will go free. “I don’t think anyone wants that to happen,” said Anne Heindel, a legal advisor to the Documentation Centre of Cambodia, which researches Khmer Rouge atrocities. The conclusion of the case will be broadcast live on television in Cambodia, a nation still traumatised by the Khmer Rouge atrocities that touched virtually every family. — AFP

LONDON

Britain sends new warship to Falklands Britain said on Tuesday it was sending a new stateof-the-art warship to the Falklands, but insisted the deployment was routine despite rising tensions over the islands’ sovereignty. Defence ministry officials said the decision to send HMS Dauntless to the South Atlantic Ocean was long planned. The Type 45 destroyer is due to head out on her maiden voyage in the coming months to replace the smaller Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose. The Falklands dispute is sensitive as the 30th anniversary of the war between Britain and Argentina approaches. Buenos Aires denounced what it called “militarisation’ of the dispute”.

“The Argentine Republic rejects the British effort to militarise a conflict which the United Nations has said on multiple occasions should be resolved through bilateral negotiations,” a foreign ministry statement said. Prime Minister David Cameron angered Argentina last week, accusing it of “colonialism” over the British overseas territory which Buenos Aires claims belongs to Argentina, leading Argentine President Cristina Kirchner to accuse Cameron of portraying her country as “violent” in the dispute. Foreign Secretary William Hague played down the deployment of HMS Dauntless. “There’s nothing unusual, it doesn’t reflect any change.

Renewed tensions: Argentine activists hold posters reading “Out Nato of the Falklands” in front of the British embassy in Buenos Aires on Jan 24 — AFPpic

“We keep a garrison on the Falkland Islands, and aircraft there. Royal Naval ships frequently visit the area.” “We will always be in a position to defend the Falklands, not that we are aware of any threat to the Falkland Islands at the moment.” Argentina’s then-ruling junta launched an invasion on April 2, 1982. Britain restored its control following a 74-day war which cost the lives of 649 Argentine and 255 British troops. Tensions over the anniversary have been raised by the

announcement that Prince William, Queen Elizabeth II’s grandson and the second in line to throne, will soon spend six weeks on a deployment to the Falklands as an air force search and rescue helicopter pilot. Argentina expressed dismay over the

deployment of William “in a conqueror’s uniform”. In London, Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne told parliament that Argentina had been trying to build an “economic blockade designed to try and hurt the Falkland Islanders”. — AFP

Bus employees get ‘stunning’ bonus An Australian bus operator has stunned his employees by handing out Aus$15 million (RM48 million) in thank you bonuses, with workers saying yesterday they were overwhelmed by his generosity. Ken Grenda, 79, sold his family-run company after 66 years and decided to put a chunk of the profits into the pockets of his employees for their hard work and loyalty. Many of his 1,800 workers thought their banks had made an error when they discovered thousands of dollars in their accounts, the Herald Sun reported. They received an average A$8,500 (RM27,200) although some got bonuses as high as A$100,000 (RM320,000). “A business is only as good as its people, and our people are fantastic,” Grenda said. “This is to recognise that. We have had people here who are second generation, and one fellow in the same job for 52 years.” Vernon Franklin, a driver at the company for five years after moving to Melbourne from India, said he was blown away by the gesture. “I was overwhelmed with the generosity of Mr Grenda,” he told Channel Nine. “I think we are losing a great man.” Iain Beberidge, who has worked with the Melbournebased company for 15 years, said the appreciation the employees felt was not all about the money. “Ken looked after his employees, he treated them like family,” he said. “Every time he comes past the depot, he shakes everyone’s hands, and says ‘g’day’.” The company has been bought by another transport operator, Ventura, with all staff reportedly keeping their jobs. — AFP

THE MALAY MAIL

thursday 2 february 2012

NEWS

world This individual and his conduct do not reflect the quality of the teachers who work so hard for the students John Deasy LA Unified School District Superintendent

LOS ANGELES

HONG KONG

HK group slams ‘invaders’ from mainland Ad demands government action to stop ‘locusts’ coming to the city A group of Hong Kongers published a newspaper ad yesterday insulting mainland Chinese as “locusts” and demanding the government take action to stop their “infiltration” into the southern city. The full-page advertisement in widely-read Apple Daily is the latest in a slew of incidents suggesting mounting anger in Hong Kong about the political and economic influence of mainland China in local affairs. It features an enormous locust overlooking Hong Kong’s skyline with the words “Hong Kongers have had enough!” and “This city is dying, you know?” Online group Golden Fo-

rum funded the page-11 ad with donations from users of its Internet chat service. The group “strongly demands ... a stop to the unlimited infiltration of mainland Chinese couples into Hong Kong,” it said in the ad, referring to the thousands of mainland women who come to Hong Kong to give birth every year. Many Hong Kongers also dislike the shadowy role that Beijing plays in local politics, along with the flashy displays of wealth by mainland Chinese tourists who are coming to the city in increasing numbers to splurge on luxury goods. Last month Italian clothing chain Dolce & Gabbana

apologised to the people of Hong Kong for allegedly discriminating against them in favour of wealthy mainland shoppers. The “Anti-Locusts” campaign follows remarks by a Chinese professor calling locals of the former British colony “bastards”, “dogs” and “cheats”. Kong Qingdong said Hong Kong people were “used to being the dogs of British colonialists — they are dogs, not humans”. Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under the One Party Two Systems arrangement giving it limited autonomy and enjoys civil freedoms not seen on the mainland.

The professor was furious at a video that went viral online showing Hong Kongers scolding a mainland girl for flouting rules against eating on the city’s subway trains. A recent survey found that more than 79 percent of Hong Kong people identified themselves as Hong Kongers instead of Chinese. More identified themselves as “Asians” than as citizens of the People’s Republic of China. A senior central government official criticised the University of Hong Kong’s poll as “illogical”, saying respondents should have been asked if they saw themselves as “British citizens” or “Chinese citizens”. — AFP

Teacher held in grim ‘semen abuse’ case A former teacher has been arrested for allegedly taking photos of blindfolded and gagged students with roaches on their faces and spoons of semen to their mouths, US police said yesterday. Mark Berndt (pic), 61, who taught for more than 30 years at an elementary school in east Los Angeles, faces multiple charges of committing lewd acts on nearly two dozen children, prosecutors said. “I am sickened and horrified by the behavior of Mark Berndt,” said LA Unified School District Superintendent John Deasy after 23 criminal counts were filed involving 7-10 year-old children allegedly abused between 2008 and 2010. “This individual and his conduct do not reflect the

quality of the teachers who work so hard on behalf of the students in the Los Angeles Unified School District,” he said. Berndt was removed from teaching duty as soon as the allegations surfaced in January 2011, after more than 40 photos of children in a classroom, with blindfolds and tape covering their mouths, were reported. Berndt had his arm around the children or a hand over their mouths, said a LA Sheriff’s Department statement. Some of the photos “depicted girls with what appeared to be a blue plastic spoon, filled with an unknown clear/white liquid substance, up to their mouths as if they were going to ingest the substance,” it said. — AFP

BEIJING

First step to democratic village vote

Sudan Bedouins free Chinese workers

Villagers in China whose rebellion against local officials last year grabbed the headlines kicked off a key process yesterday that will see them hold their first-ever open, democratic elections. Residents in Wukan in the wealthy southern province of Guangdong won rare concessions after they faced off with authorities for more than a week in December in a row over land and graft, including pledges to hold free village polls. China — a one-party state where top leaders are not elected by the people — nevertheless allows villagers across the country to vote for a committee to represent them. But Wukan residents said their leaders had never before allowed these polls to go ahead in an open fashion, and instead selected members of the village committee behind closed doors. But yesterday they were due to openly select an independent election committee that would supervise their first democratic village poll due next month. “The election committee is being elected to supervise

Deal over land grabs: Villager leader Lin Zulian (left) talks with journalists after meeting with a senior government official as they reached an agreement over illegal land grabs and the death in custody of a local leader in Wukan, Guangdong Province on Dec 21, 2011 — AFPpic

next month’s village election,” a villager surnamed Chen said by phone. “Wukan has never held village elections, this will be the first ever democratic election in Wukan.” Zhang Jianxing, a villager close to the local government, added Wednesday’s vote was “part of the process to hold open, transparent and fair elections.”

The election committee will be made up of 11 villagers who will not be allowed to run for next month’s election, according to the official Xinhua news agency. The concessions won by Wukan residents are seen as a rare victory for protesters in authoritarian China. They had protested for months in autumn last year against their allegedly cor-

rupt leaders, whom they accused of abusing their power to profit from land in the village. But it was not until detained community leader Xue Jinbo died in police custody in December after allegedly being beaten that their anger boiled over, prompting a tense, drawnout stand-off with police and officials. — AFP

China said yesterday that 25 Chinese workers kidnapped by Egyptian Bedouins demanding the release of their Islamist relatives had been released. The incident comes days after 29 Chinese nationals in Sudan were captured by rebels who attacked their camp in the volatile South Kordofan state, where they were involved in a road-building project. They have still not been released. “I can confirm that all 25 people have been released. Right now they are being taken care of by the Egyptian government and are staying in army accommodation,” the assistant to the Chinese ambassador to Egypt told AFP. “They are all well, with no injuries,” the Cairo-based assistant, said over the phone. He refused to give details of how the workers were released. The Chinese nationals — technicians and engineers who work for a militaryowned cement factory in central Sinai — were abducted on Tuesday on their way to work, an Egyptian

security official said. The protesters who seized them were demanding the release of five Bedouins held in connection with an attack on the tourist resort of Taba in 2004, part of a series of bombings claimed by an Islamist group. They said the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which took power last year when a popular uprising ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, had repeatedly promised to release the Bedouins. The official Xinhua news agency said the workers had been freed by their abductors, but gave no further details of any negotiations. “We had expected the problem to be solved in one or two days, but it was settled so quickly,” one 25-yearold worker surnamed Pan told Xinhua, adding the embassy had managed to keep in touch with them through text messages. China’s foreign ministry on Wednesday warned Chinese companies and personnel working abroad to be on their guard after a similar incident in Sudan. — AFP

thursday 2 february 2012

NEWS

THE MALAY MAIL

world It is now clear that this will be a two-person race between the conservative leader and the Massachusetts moderate Newt Gingrich in Orlando, Florida

WASHINGTON

TAMPA (Florida)

Romney takes Florida with big win

Road to presidential polls 2012

In commanding position to win Republican nomination and take on Obama Mitt Romney trounced main rival Newt Gingrich in Florida’s primary yesterday, putting himself in a commanding position to win the Republican nomination and take on President Barack Obama. The margin of victory — 46 per cent to 32, with almost all the roughly two million votes counted — dealt a bitter blow to former House speaker Gingrich, who faces a Herculean task to turn the race around. Gingrich, 68, shocked the party establishment when he thumped Romney, 64, in South Carolina earlier this month, but his support sank fast in the larger and more diverse state of Florida, and Romney now has all the momentum. Romney’s thumping win in the Sunshine State also demonstrated his strength

in a key general election battleground, and he used his victory speech to urge Americans to evict Obama from the White House in November. “Mr. President, you were elected to lead. You chose to follow, and now it’s time for you to get out of the way,” he said, to chants of “Mitt! Mitt! Mitt!” from hundreds of supporters in a packed Tampa ballroom. “President Obama wants to fundamentally transform America and make it something perhaps we wouldn’t recognise. I want to restore to America the values and principles that made us the hope of the Earth.” The victor fired a warning shot at Democrats who have been salivating over the increasingly caustic tone of the Republican campaign — marked in Florida by the

constant stream of personal attacks flying between Romney and Gingrich. “A competitive primary does not divide us, it prepares us and we will win,” Romney said. “When we gather back here in Tampa seven months from now for our convention, ours will be a united party with a winning ticket for America.” The economy seemed to be on the minds of many voters in Florida, including businessman Paul Jackson, who said he voted for Romney. “I voted for him because I think he has the best chance of beating the president — the current president. I don’t agree with everything that he stands for, but I need to see a change that satisfied my selfish needs as a small business owner,” he said. Florida has been badly hit

Victory smiles: Romney and his wife Ann greet supporters gathered inside the Tampa Convention Centre after his win yesterday — AFPpic

by the “Great Recession” wrought by the 2008 financial crisis — unemployment is close to 10 per cent and the state was at the epicentre of the housing bubble. Many residents have seen their homes repossessed or have mortgages now worth more than the value of

their homes. Gingrich is desperate for Rick Santorum, who was running third yesterday on 13 per cent, to quit, as he believes the former Pennsylvania senator’s conservative support would swing behind him and allow him to usurp Romney. — AFP

ORLANDO (Florida)

Gingrich vows to battle on Newt Gingrich (pic) put a positive spin on his crushing defeat yesterday in the Florida Republican primary, vowing to use “people power” to beat wealthy rival Mitt Romney for the party’s presidential nod. Former Massachusetts governor Romney won Florida with some 46 per cent of the vote according to early returns, tallying a double-digit lead over Gingrich. Trailing far behind were rivals Rick Santorum and Ron Paul.

“It is now clear,” Gingrich told a crowd of supporters, “that this will be a two-person race between the conservative leader Newt Gingrich and the Massachusetts moderate.” Romney and his supporters heavily outspent Gingrich in Florida, and were able to portray the former speaker of the House in ads as an unreliable Washington insider. Gingrich, who lacks Romney’s campaign infrastructure and has a smaller

campaign war chest, was undeterred. “We’re going to have people power defeat money power in the next six months,” Gingrich told the crowd. “We are going to contest every place, and we are going to win, and we will be in Tampa as the nominee in August,” Gingrich vowed, referring to the Republican convention where the nominee will be chosen. Gingrich then turned on his putative rival, Barack

Obama, warning that if the president is reelected “it will be a disaster” for the country. “If he can have a record this bad ... and still get reelected, you can’t imagine how radical he’ll be in his second term,” Gingrich said, insisting that the 2012 vote was “the most important election of your lifetime”. Gingrich also urged fellow conservative Santorum, who won about 13 per cent of the Florida vote, to drop out of the race. — AFP

JERUSALEM

Netanyahu claims win in primary vote Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed victory in yesterday’s primary vote of his rightwing Likud party over his sole rival, the hardline settler Moshe Feiglin. “I thank you for the confidence and the renewed support that you have given me,” Netanyahu said in a public address before the official results were announced.

In an earlier statement, Netanyahu had congratulated his party on the conduct of the vote, saying: “Today, the real Likud won. We proved that our strength is our unity. We will continue to lead the country in a responsible way ... for the good of all Israelis.” Sources close to Netanyahu said he may have taken as much as 80 per cent of the vote.

Final results were expected to be announced today. Media put turnout at about 48 per cent of the 125,000 party members registered to vote. Netanyahu’s surprise decision to move the vote forward to December sparked speculation about whether he would also bring forward general elections scheduled for around November 2013. — AFP

Triumphant: Netanyahu, accompanied by his wife Sara, after casting his ballot on Tuesday — AFPpic

Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney yesterday romped to victory over his rival Newt Gingrich in the key Florida presidential primary, while ex-senator Rick Santorum and congressman Ron Paul were left trailing. The four are vying for the chance to take on Democratic President Barack Obama — who should win his party’s nomination with little to no contest — in the Nov 6 election. The following is a calendar of election events leading up to the presidential polls. Dates are subject to change. 2012 • Feb 4: Nevada, Maine caucuses • Feb 7: Colorado, Minnesota caucuses, Missouri primary • Feb 22: Republican debate in Arizona • Feb 28: Arizona, Michigan primaries • March 1: Republican debate in Georgia • March 3: Washington caucus • March 5: Reagan Library debate, Simi Valley, California • March 6: “Super Tuesday,” a potentially decisive day with primaries in more than 10 states, including Massachusetts, Texas and Virginia • March 10: Kansas, US Virgin Islands caucuses • March 13: Alabama, Mississippi primaries, Hawaii caucus • April 3: Maryland, Wisconsin, Washington DC primaries • April 24: Primaries in five states including New York and Pennsylvania • June 5: Primaries in five more states including California • Aug 27-30: Republican national convention in Tampa, Florida • Sept 3-6: Democratic national convention in Charlotte, North Carolina • Oct 3: First presidential debate in Denver, Colorado • Oct 11: Vice presidential debate in Danville, Kentucky • Oct 16: Second presidential debate (town hall format) in Hempstead, New York • Oct 22: Third and final presidential debate in Boca Raton, Florida • Nov 6: Presidential and congressional elections 2013 • Jan 20: Presidential inauguration — AFP

THE MALAY MAIL

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

NEWS

WORLD I’ve actually travelled in Australia and it’s sometimes difﬁcult to make connections. I don’t think anyone should read anything into that HILLARY CLINTON US SECRETARY OF STATE

SAIDNAYA

NEW YORK

Showdown at UN

‘Divine intervention’ saves Syrian convent

Russia resists US charge to stop Assad regime’s ‘killing machine’ only possible but also necessary,” he said. Speaking to reporters later, he hinted at compromise, saying: “We can produce a text which would be useful in a way which would help the Arab League to play its key role.” France also held out the possibility of a successful UN resolution and said that diplomats would pursue talks. “This is not completely impossible and there is a chance of bringing the viewpoints together,” Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said. The key sticking point appeared to be the Arab League call for Assad’s speedy departure. The draft resolution, which was introduced by Arab League member Morocco, calls for the formation of a unity government leading to “transparent and free elections.” It stresses that there will be no foreign military intervention in Syria as there was in Libya, helping to topple Muammar Gadaffi. — AFP

WESTERN powers and the Arab League yesterday demanded immediate United Nations action to stop Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s “killing machine,” but Russia refused to give its support. The wrangling at the United Nations came as fighting sharply escalated between Assad’s security forces and rebels, with activists saying more than 5,400 people have died in a 10-month-old uprising. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, backed by her French and British counterparts and Qatar’s prime minister, led the charge for a tough UN resolution that calls on Assad to end the bloodshed and hand over power. “We all know that change is coming to Syria. Despite its ruthless tactics, the Assad regime’s reign of terror will end,” Clinton told the UN Security Council. “The question is: How many more civilians will die before this country is able to move forward?”

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani, speaking on behalf of the Arab League, said Assad’s regime had “failed to make any sincere effort” to end the crisis and believed the only solution was “to kill its own people.” “Bloodshed continued and the killing machine is still at work,” he said. But Russia, a longstanding ally of Assad and one of the regime’s top suppliers of weapons, declared that the UN body did not have the authority to impose such a resolution. China voiced

WASHINGTON

NEW YORK

Ways to skin Iran

Clinton: Lavrov did not snub me

SANCTIONS and diplomacy may yet persuade Iran to give up its nuclear programme, as its leaders have shown a rational “cost-benefit approach” in their calculations, senior US officials said. They suggested yesterday that military conflict with Iran was not inevitable, despite soaring tensions with Tehran and a war of nerves over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. “We judge Iran’s nuclear decision-making is guided by a cost-benefit approach, which offers the international community opportunities to influence Teheran,” Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. He said economic sanctions were taking a toll and described a worsening rift between Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. — AFP

RUSSIAN RESISTANCE: Churkin speaks at the United Nations Security Council meeting in New York yesterday — AFPpic

US SECRETARY of State Hillary Clinton yesterday dismissed suggestions that her Russian counterpart snubbed her over the Syria crisis, saying it was difficult to reach him in Australia. US officials said Clinton tried unsuccessfully to reach Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for two days ahead of yesterday’s UN meeting, where Moscow opposed a resolution calling on Syrian President Bashar alAssad to quit. Asked if Lavrov was refusing to speak to her, Clinton said: “I’m going to be speaking with Sergei Lavrov. He is travelling in Australia.” “I’ve actually travelled in Australia and it’s sometimes difficult to make connections. I don’t think anyone should read anything into that,” Clinton told reporters at the United Nations. The east coasts of Australia and the United States have a time zone difference of 16 hours.

support for Russia’s position. Moscow’s ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, argued that Syria should “be able to decide for itself” and said the Council “cannot impose the parameters for an internal settlement. It simply does not have the mandate to do so.” However, the tone of the debate was measured and Churkin said that the latest version of the resolution “gives rise for hope.” “We hope that the Council will come to consensus on the Syrian issue, as is not

NO SNUB: US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has denied that she was snubbed by her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov (right), when she tried to contact him in Australia — AFPpic

State Department spokesman Mark Toner said that Clinton tried in vain for the last two days to call Lavrov, but also said that Deputy Secretary of State William Burns spoke to his Russian counterpart Mikhail Bogdanov about a range of issues, including Syria. Russia, a longstanding ally of Assad, has said that the Security Council does not

have authority to force out a country’s leader. The draft resolution, backed by the Arab League, calls on Assad to step down ahead of talks on Syria’s future. Human rights groups say that Assad’s forces have killed more than 5,000 people as they try to crush the latest in a series of uprisings in the Arab world against authoritarian leaders. — AFP

SHELL STRUCK: Syrian soldiers accompany journalists on a guided government tour of the Sednaya Monastery to view damage caused to the convent during a shelling on Tuesday — AFPpic

DIVINE intervention prevented a shell that pierced the walls of a Syrian convent from detonating, swears the mother superior of Our Lady of Saidnaya, a spiritual retreat near Damascus. “The Virgin Mary stopped the shell from exploding with her own hands,” said Mother Verone, who interpreted the close call as a divine message that “God is watching over sacred places” amid the unprecedented unrest rocking Syria. The sound of explosions and gunfire from nearby towns echoes around the normally tranquil convent. The nuns say the blasts come from the neighbouring towns of Rankus and Talfita, focal points of a military operation to purge the outskirts of Damascus of army deserters and rebels. “I saw a flash of light coming from the hill opposite the convent and then heard the explosion,” said a young law student who is a resident. “I didn’t imagine that it could be a shell. I only understood that one had landed very near us once I heard the explosion and left my room,” she added. Over the hills lies the besieged town of Rankus, with a population of 25,000, where the army this week spared no effort to uproot

rebels. Regime forces on Tuesday began blowing up houses in the protest hub, 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Damascus, said an activist on the ground. Founded in 547 AD, the convent of Our Lady of Saidnaya, is a leading Antiochian Orthodox nunnery which overlooks a mountain village of the same name, just 35 kilometres (22) miles from Damascus. The convent includes a school for orphans, whose costs are covered by private donations, according to a brochure distributed by the complex. The nunnery is a major pilgrimage centre and lies not far from the villages of Jabadin and Maalula, where people still speak Syriac, the modern version of Aramaic, the language of Christ. The Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch has its seat in nearby Damascus. President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which claims to have the public’s support in what it labels is a security campaign against “terrorists,” has ramped up its operations in recent days, in an apparently calculated move that banks on Russia’s support and cracks in the international community. — AFP

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

NEWS

THE MALAY MAIL

world We are open to diplomacy with North Korea but there are a very clear set of steps necessary Kurt Campbell US Assistant Secretary of State

BRIEFS

20 insurgents killed in air attack PESHAWAR: Pakistani jets pounded militant hideouts in the northwestern tribal area early yesterday, killing at least 20 Taliban insurgents, security officials said. The jets targeted hideouts in the tribal Orakzai district and at least four compounds were hit, they said. — AFP

AFP, Yomiuri in photo linkup TOKYO: Agence France-Presse (AFP) and the Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan’s largest newspaper, yesterday launched a new photo partnership giving AFP’s clients a wider coverage of Japan. The Yomiuri will feed a daily selection of its best photos into ImageForum, the AFP photo database, which will be available to the agency’s subscribers, AFP Asia-Pacific director Eric Wishart said. — AFP

LONDON

Nato: Pakistan helping Taliban Insurgents assume victory is inevitable once Western troops leave, says leaked report Pakistan’s security services are secretly aiding Afghanistan’s Taliban, who assume their victory is inevitable once Western troops leave, a secret Nato document says, according to reports yesterday. The leaked report — seen by The Times newspaper and the BBC — was compiled from information gleaned from insurgent detainees and was given to Nato commanders in Afghanistan last month, the media reports said. The State of the Taliban document claims that Islamabad, via Pakistan’s ISI intelligence agency, is “intimately involved” with the insurgency. The BBC said the report was based on material from 27,000 interrogations of more than 4,000 captured Taliban and AlQaeda operatives. “Pakistan’s manipulation of

the Taliban senior leadership continues unabatedly,” the report said. Taliban captives revealed how Islamabad was using a web of intermediaries and spies to provide strategic advice to the Taliban on fighting Western coalition troops. “The government of Pakistan remains intimately involved with the Taliban,” the report said. “ISI is thoroughly aware of Taliban activities and the whereabouts of senior Taliban personnel. Senior Taliban leaders meet regularly with ISI personnel, who advise on strategy and relay any pertinent concerns of the government of Pakistan. “ISI officers tout the need for continued jihad and expulsion of foreign invaders from Afghanistan.”

However, there was little evidence from the detainees that Islamabad was providing funding or weaponry. Kabul, which accuses Islamabad of supporting the 10-year Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan, put relations on ice after the September murder of its peace envoy Burhanuddin Rabbani, which one Afghan minister blamed on Pakistani spies. The Times quoted the report saying the Taliban’s “strength, motivation, funding and tactical proficiency remains intact”, despite setbacks in 2011. “Many Afghans are already bracing themselves for an eventual return of the Taliban,” it said. “Once (Nato force) ISAF is no longer a factor, Taliban consider their victory inevitable.” The US Department of Defence said it could not com-

ment on the report but set out its fears about Pakistan and its influence in Afghanistan. “We have not seen the report, and therefore cannot offer comment on it specifically,” Pentagon spokesman George Little said. “We have long been concerned about ties between elements of the ISI and some extremist networks.” US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta “has also been clear that he believes that the safe havens in Pakistan remain a serious problem and need to be addressed by Pakistani authorities.” The report said there had been unprecedented interest in joining the Taliban cause in 2011 — even from members of the Afghan government. “Afghan civilians frequently prefer Taliban governance over

the Afghan government, usually as a result of government corruption,” it was reported saying. It said the Taliban was deliberately going soft in some areas to encourage Nato troops to leave faster, while doing local deals with the Afghan forces who take over. Some in the Afghan security forces collaborated with the Taliban, selling arms and sharing intelligence, the report said. The Times, in an editorial, said Pakistan was “actively hindering reconciliation” between the Taliban and Kabul with a “systematic effort” to destabilise President Hamid Karzai’s government. “The ISI emerges from this document looking considerably more villainous, even, than the Taliban itself,” it said. — AFP

SEOUL

WASHINGTON

US ready for diplomacy with N. Korea

US denies plans for floating commando base

The United States is open to diplomacy with North Korea’s new leaders but they must improve frosty ties with South Korea and show seriousness about nuclear disarmament, a senior US diplomat said yesterday. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said the North must take “necessary steps” before any revival of long-stalled six-party nuclear disarmament talks. “We are open to diplomacy with North Korea but there are a very clear set of steps necessary,” he said. The US and its allies Japan and South Korea “are still waiting to see whether the new government in North Korea is prepared to take the necessary steps”, Campbell told reporters. He did not elaborate. The US and its allies have repeatedly called on the North to shut down its uranium enrichment plant — which experts say could be reconfigured to make weapons — before the nuclear negotiations can resume. Campbell, speaking after talks with South Korea’s nuclear envoy Lim Sung-Nam, also stressed that Pyongyang must make peace with Seoul if it wants a better relationship with Washington. He said he and Lim “under-

Leading the way: This undated picture released by North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency on Jan 28, shows leader Kim Jong-un (front) watching a demonstration by players of the Western Area Aviation Club in Pyongyang — AFPpic

scored again very clearly that the road to these improved relations runs through Seoul for North Korea”. The North has stressed that its policy remains unchanged after the death of longtime leader Kim Jong-Il on Dec 17, and the takeover by his youngest son Jong-Un. It has vowed never to deal with “traitors” in the South’s conservative government, accusing them of failing to respect a mourning period for the late leader. China, the North’s economic prop and sole major ally, moved

quickly to give its backing to the young and untested Jong-Un after his father’s sudden death. It also ordered swift deliveries of rice and fuel to the impoverished state in a gesture of support for the son, according to a Japanese media report. Campbell urged China to share its thoughts on the new leadership: “We want them to share with us more their perspectives and their plans.” The nuclear talks grouping the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States were last held in December 2008. Pyongyang walked out in

April 2009 and tested its second atomic weapon a month later. The US and North Korea met twice last year to try to restart the negotiations. A third round was reportedly scheduled in Beijing but Kim’s death put the process on hold. The North wants the six-party talks, which have dragged on since 2003, to resume unconditionally. The United States and its allies say the North must show it is serious about scrapping its nuclear operations, notably by shutting the enrichment plant. — AFP

A top US admiral has denied media reports that an aging warship will be serving as a floating base for special forces in the Gulf, saying the vessel would instead be used to help clear mines. The USS Ponce, a 1970sera amphibious transport ship, is undergoing an overhaul to support naval forces in the Middle East, said Admiral John Harvey, US Fleet Forces command chief, told reporters yesterday. Its primary mission is not to serve as a “mothership” for elite commandos, as reported by the Washington Post and other news outlets. “I think they put two and two together and got 22,” Harvey said when asked about the reports. “It is not going over there as a special operating forces Deathstar ... Galactica coming through the Gulf,” Harvey said, referring to a sci-fi television series. The upgrades to the USS Ponce grew out of a standing request from US Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East, to help with efforts against potential mines in

the Gulf, Harvey said. Iran has threatened to shut down the strategic Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for US and European sanctions. In the 1980s, Teheran relied on mines to disrupt shipping in the area during its war with Iraq. The Ponce can carry MH53 helicopters and support patrol craft, the admiral said. Such aircraft and vessels are often used by special forces. Confusion about the Ponce’s mission may have been the result of a call for private bids to carry out the improvements to the ship, he said. The procurement documents included references to upgrades that would make some spaces accessible to special operations forces. Harvey said the revamped Ponce should be ready to sail to the Gulf by June. The Navy hopes to develop a new line of ships in the coming years that would serve as floating bases, and the altered Ponce could serve as a “bridge” to the new vessels, Harvey said. — AFP

THE MALAY MAIL

thursday 2 february 2012

NEWS

world This tape shows exactly where Curtis LeMay was DOUGLAS BRINKLEY KENNEDY HISTORIAN

BERLIN

WASHINGTON

Crucial discovery on JFK assassination Recording expected to captivate historians about fateful day Long-lost audio recordings of the aftermath of president John F. Kennedy’s assassination have been made public, captivating historians and stirring fascination about that fateful day. Almost 50 years after the Nov 22, 1963 assassination, a two hour and 22 minute reel was found among the personal effects of JFK’s senior military aide, Major General Chester Clifton, who died in 1991. The reel contains more than 30 minutes of previously unheard footage of conversations on board Air Force One as Kennedy’s body was being transported back to Washington from Dallas. It includes new code names

and incidents, including a private conversation by the head of the Secret Service, Jerry Behn, about where to take the body and plans for where the First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, would be taken. There is also an urgent effort by an aide to Air Force chief of staff Curtis LeMay, a well-known hawk and Kennedy critic, to reach Clifton; and attempts to locate various congressmen from Texas. The material was acquired by the Raab Collection, a rare documents dealer based in Philadelphia, who donated a digitised copy to the National Archives, made public at gpo. gov/fdsys. Experts say the tapes will

stir debate among conspiracy theorists, especially about LeMay, a major Kennedy adversary whose name was conspicuously missing from an edited version of the original tape. “People have always wanted to know where was Curtis LeMay on the day Kennedy was shot and there have been mixed messages about it. This tape provides exactly where he was,” Kennedy historian Douglas Brinkley told CNN. The Raab Collection is looking to sell on the original box and tape — which has a label reading Radio Traffic involving AF-1 in flight from Dallas, Texas to Andrews AFB on November 22, 1963

— for US$500,000 (RM1.5 million). “As Americans have looked to the history of the Kennedy assassination in search of answers, somewhere in an attic there existed a tape, made years before the only known surviving version, of the conversations on Air Force One on that fateful day,” vice-president Nathan Raab says in a sale flier. “This longer, more complete tape is a crucial discovery, and a landmark piece of American history.” The recording is a longer, unedited version of audio produced by the library of president Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy after the assassination. — AFP

WASHINGTON

Oldest known croc had shield-like head The oldest known species of crocodile had an armourplated head and a body half the length of a subway car, according to research released yesterday by US scientists who identified the now-extinct creature. Nicknamed “Shieldcroc” for its impressive head plate, the aquatic reptile swam in the waters of Africa some 95 million years ago and is the newest discovery of an ancient crocodile species, said the study in the journal PLoS ONE. University of Missouri anatomy professor Casey Holliday identified the croc, Aegisuchus witmeri, by studying a fossilised partial skull specimen that was first discovered in Morocco. The croc’s shield was likely used as a way to intimidate foes, attract mates and even control its head temperature, researchers said. Its head was considerably flatter than other known species of crocodile. Given the creature’s relatively thin jaws, Shieldcroc mostly ate a diet of fish, and probably did not use his armored head as a

Armour-plated head: This illustration by Henry Tsai, courtesy of the University of Missouri shows the Aegisuchus witmeri “Shieldcroc” — AFPpic

fighting weapon but rather as camouflage. “We believe Shieldcroc may have used its long face as a fish trap,” said co-author Nick Gardner, an undergraduate researcher at Marshall University in West Virginia. “It is possible that it lay in wait until an unsus-

pecting fish swam in front of it. Then, if it was close enough, Shieldcroc simply opened its mouth and ate the fish without a struggle, eliminating the need for strong jaws.” An analysis of the croc’s head size compared to other known creatures led the team to believe it

likely boasted a 1.5m long head and a nine metre long body. The croc would have shared the Earth with the many dinosaurs that thrived during the Late Cretaceous Period in the Mesozoic Era, which has been referred to as the “Age of the Dinosaurs.” — AFP

Bismarck’s voice recording found The only known voice recording of powerful German chancellor Otto von Bismarck (pic), who died in 1898, has been found and authenticated, a German researcher said yesterday. The wax cylinder phonograph recording was made in 1889 by an associate of Thomas Edison, Adelbert Wangemann, at Bismarck’s home, Stephan Puille from the University of Applied Sciences in Berlin said. “According to me and I have a certain experience, these are really original recordings,” said Puille, who along with Patrick Feaster of Indiana University “identified these cylinders which were thought to have disappeared.” The New York Times first published the news, saying the recordings had the “Iron Chancellor” reciting “snippets of poetry and songs in English, Latin, French and German,” including lines

from the French national anthem. “Bismarck ends the recording with some advice, apparently for his son Herbert, ... to live life in moderation,” it said. The cylinders were found in Edison’s laboratory in 1957 but research work on them only began in 2005. — AFP

LOS ANGELES

Another tribute for ‘The Artist’ Silent movie The Artist was given yet another Hollywood award yesterday — though this one not from the Oscars or Golden Globes organisers, but from city fathers in Tinseltown itself. The cast and crew of the French-directed movie received the “Made in Hollywood” honour from the Los Angeles City Council, in the form of local councilman Tom LaBonge. “Thank you for The Artist, you made the picture in our town. Your director is a very special director ... we salute him today,” said LaBonge, handing over the first “Made in Hollywood Award.” The black-and-white film, a tribute to the silent movie era, has won a string of awards and nominations over the last month or two, and is nominated in 10 categories for the Oscars on Feb 26. Director Michel Hazanavicius said he was “touched” by the municipal Holly-

Thank you for The Artist, you made the picture in our town. Your director is a very special director ... we salute him today Tom LaBonge LOS ANGELES CITY COuncilman

wood award. “It’s truly from the city of Los Angeles. It’s strange but I am really touched. I’m not from here, but I realise after doing it how important it is for people to work here, in their town,” he said. — AFP

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

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thursday 2 february 2012

LOCAL

THE MALAY MAIL

SPORTS I want him (Zulfadli Zulkiffli) to play in the All-England next year ZULKIFFLI SIDEK FATHER AND COACH

KUALA LUMPUR

OHIO I SQUASH I Cleveland Classic

Revenge on Nicol’s mind

Zulfadli’s father targets son for top 100 finish by year-end

World No 1 sets up rematch with Massaro

ZULKIFFLI SIDEK, the father-cum-coach of world junior champion Zulfadli Zulkiffli, hopes to send his son to more international competitions to improve his ranking. Zulkiffli hopes by competing in a number of elite tournaments, Zulfadli will be able to improve his ranking from the current No 124 to finish among the top 100 by year-end. Zulfadli’s father, who is a fulltime coach at the Kuala Lumpur Racquet Club (KLRC), will send his son to the German Open on Feb 28-March 4 and the Switzerland Open on March 13-18. “I’m not setting a lofty target for Zulfadli in the

tournaments but my target is for him to improve on his ranking by putting up good performances,” he said. Zulkiffli, 48, said improving his son’s ranking was important since only the top 100 players will be invited to the prestigious AllEngland championships. “I want him to play in the All-England next year,” he added. Depending on how Zulfadli performs in Germany and Switzerland, Zulkiffli will then decide if his son should go and play in others. “It would be pointless to send him to too many tournaments if his performance does not show improvement,” he said. — Bernama

SEPANG I MotoGP

Lorenzo back with a loud bang

NICOL: Beaten by Massaro last year but is looking to set things right in the final today

MALAYSIAN squash queen and world No 1 Nicol David gets the chance to redeem herself against England’s Laura Massaro in the 2012 Cleveland Classic final today.

Last year, she was defeated by Massaro in her quest for her first Cleveland Classic title. Nicol, 28, booked her berth in the final when she beat Ireland’s Madeline Perry in the

semifinals at the Cleveland Racquet Club in Ohio, United States this morning. Nicol took only 31 minutes to beat Perry 11-3, 11-4, 11-6.

World No 4 Massaro, also did not face a tough challenge in her semifinal match when she defeated homester, Amanda Sobhy 11-9, 11-5, 11-6 in just 28 minutes. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR

WTA wildcards known next week By VIJHAY VICK vijhayvick@mmail.com.my

THE national wildcard entries for the WTA Malaysian Open will be finalised by next Thursday. National coach Deen Heshaam Abdullah said preparations have been going well and it was now crunch time for those in the elite programme. “They have been in the programme since December. I’ll be conducting trials next week to determine who gets the two wildcards,” said Heshaam. National No 1 Jawariah Nordin, who has sour ties with the Lawn Tennis Association of Malay-

Jawariah: Not on good terms with LTAM

sia (LTAM), will also take part in the trials. She was invited by LTAM and Heesham expects her to be topseeded.

“She is among the frontrunners in women’s tennis here. We also invited last year’s participant S. Theiviya but she hasn’t replied.”

According to Heshaam, Alyssa Boey, Adelle Boey, Ti Jia Wei, Aslina Chua and Choo Lyn Yuen have all been working hard in training. It is likely that Jawariah will take one wildcard with the rest competing for the other. “Lyn Yuen is showing great potential in training now and could be the one to watch. The 16-year-old has also beaten Jawariah Noordin,” he added. The Malaysian Open is at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Club on Feb 27–March 4. Among the notable names who will play on the hardcourt are Marion Bartoli, Venus Williams, Jelena Dokic and Peng Shuai.

SPEED DEMON: Lorenzo during testing at SIC on Tuesday

YAMAHA rider, Jorge Lorenzo, announced his return to the MotoGP by setting the best lap time after the first test session at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) on Tuesday. Lorenzo had missed the final three races last year due to a finger injury sustained in Australia. He set a trail-blazing 2:01.657 aboard the YZR-M1 on lap 19, with Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa in second, 0.346s behind after 44 laps. Cal Crutchlow, aboard Yamaha Tech, was third after setting a time of 2:02.221 with Ben Spies finishing above Valentino Rossi, making his long awaited debut on the new Ducati Desmosedici GP12. A damp track in the morning had the riders waiting to make first contact with the track, until late morning when all but defending champion, Casey

Stoner made their first laps aboard their 2012 machines. Stoner went on to finish 14th with a time of 2:07.163, though the Australian did remark upon inspecting his new ride that changes made to the bike since the test in November were impressive. After two months off the track, the MotoGP paddock was back in action as the first official Test of 2012 began at the Sepang International Circuit. In attendance were the factory teams getting underway with development work on the new 1000cc bikes in addition several new teams contesting MotoGP CRT machines. The three-day pre-season test offers a first glimpse of the new 1000cc MotoGP bikes as manufacturers initiate their first official test of the year on the 2012 machinery. Testing commenced on Jan 31 and will end today.

THE MALAY MAIL

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

LOCAL

SPORTS We should be more organised. What if something major had happened? ONG KIM SWEE HARIMAU MUDA A COACH

KUALA LUMPUR i FOOTBALL

KUALA LUMPUR

Big bucks for Safee Striker pens extension but will be putting his future at risk NATIONAL hitman Safee Sali secured a RM2million contract when he committed to a two-year extension with Indonesia’s Pelita Jaya FC yesterday. However, the big bucks will not mean a thing if the Indonesia FA (PSSI) and the Indonesian Super League (ISL) do not sort out their differences by the end of next month. Fifa had, in a letter to PSSI in December, instructed the Indonesian national body to put their house in order or they will deem the ISL illegal. This will lead to a blanket ban for all the players in the ISL, ruling Safee out from even playing for the Malaysian national team. Safee, who turned 28

MALAYSIAN MILLIONAIRE: Safee has agreed to a lucrative contract extension with Pelita Jaya

on Sunday, is still in his prime and remains the

top striker in the country. If he is banned from donning the national colours, it will certainly dent the nation’s chances in international tournaments, including the Asean Cup which will be hosted by Malaysia later this year. Malaysia are the defending champions, with Safee the topscorer at the 2010 edition with five goals. Safee’s contract with the Indonesian club includes lucrative bonus packages, commercial endorsements, a house, a car and a personal driver. The club also agreed to bear Safee’s travelling expenses to Malaysia and his taxes. This lays to rest speculation of Safee returning

to Malaysia due to the turmoil in the Indonesian football circle. There were also claims that Safee could play in Thailand or enjoy stints with Greek club Panathinaikos or Turkish side Galatasaray. “Safee wishes to thank the Malaysian media and the FA of Malaysia who have been monitoring developments between PSSI and ISL,” said Safee’s manager Zakaria Rahim. “He hopes to do well with Pelita Jaya and will return to the national team whenever needed.” Pelita Jaya is in seventh spot in the ISL with 14 points from 10 matches. Safee has so far scored six goals for the Karawangbased team.

PETALING JAYA

Players’ appearance at adidas event raises eyebrows A PICTURE of several members of the Harimau Muda team, in full adidas gear, promoting the new adizero f50 has rubbed several people the wrong way. Nike are the attire sponsors of the national football team, including the Harimau Muda squads. Mailsport learnt that Nike were “not informed” of the players heading for the adidas function in Damansara recently. It was learned there were several calls made to the FA of Malaysia (FAM) soon after the picture was published in a local English daily on Tuesday. Sources say there are “now efforts to conduct an internal inquiry”. Harimau Muda coach Ong Kim Swee was non-committal as he left with the team for Manama yesterday ahead of their Olympic qualifying match against Bahrain on Sunday. Nike Malaysia sports marketing manager Ernest Rodriguez, however, downplayed the matter. “We spoke to the general secretary (Datuk Azzudin Ahmad). We’d like to think

Where were the medics? By Haresh Deol haresh@mmail.com.my

R. SURENDRAN dislocated his shoulder, was forced to walk from the pitch to the car park and was taken by a Selangor official to the Kelana Jaya Medical Center for further treatment. There were neither medical officers nor an ambulance on standby to assist the Selangor striker as the main Olympic team played Selangor in a friendly match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday. The match ended in a goalless draw. In fact, no officials - with the exception of the National Sports Complex’s security guards were spotted at the stadium when fans made their way to the media area, even managing to get up close with the players on the pitch. The match was hosted by the FA of Malaysia (FAM) but the Olympic squad were mistakenly referred to as Harimau Muda B on the reserves bench located to the left of the pitch. In contrast, Armed Forces hosted Singapore club Balestier Khalsa at the PJ Stadium on the same day and they had two doctors and two ambulances on standby.

Olympic coach Ong Kim Swee was clearly taken aback by the apathy shown. However, he was thankful none of his players suffered serious injuries as they left for Manama for an Olympic qualifying match against Bahrain on Sunday. “I’m surprised and this is no laughing matter,” said Kim Swee. “We should be more organised. What if something major had happened?” However, Kim Swee was quick to thank Selangor for the match. “We needed to play matches and thankfully, Selangor agreed to play us. The Harimau Muda A team need to build on their match fitness as they have not played any competitive matches since the league ended last year.” However, Kim Swee was confident his lads would put up a better show against the Middle Eastern team. Malaysia enjoyed a 2-0 lead in their first encounter against 10-man Bahrain, only to lose 3-2. “The chances are very slim and some have brushed us off but I told the players that we need to still give our best. If we beat Bahrain, the group will be wide open. There is still hope,” he added.

KUALA LUMPUR

Satianathan: We need to gel faster By VIJHAY VICK vijhayvick@mmail.com.my

of it as a non-issue,” said Ernest. “The Harimau Muda name was used but not all of the Harimau Muda players were present at the function. Also, those who attended are not personally contracted to Nike. “If players like Muslim Ahmad and Safiq Rahim were at the function, then it would have been an issue. “We can’t control what appears in the media. If Harimau Muda was mentioned, there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Meanwhile, adidas Malaysia brand manager Bryan Gee stressed the players were merely guests at the event. “We invited the coach and the team as we are introducing the new technology of our boots and would like to share with them,” explained Bryan. “We did it in good faith. The last thing we want to do is to offend anyone.” The adizero f50 weighs 165g and is the lightest boot in its class. It incorporates several adidas technologies including

NO BIG DEAL: The photo above, taken at an adidas event, was deemed to have caused controversy between the national team and their kit sponsors Nike. However, both Nike and adidas have downplayed the issue

Sprintweb and Sprintframe that promote stability and balance during high-speed movements. The national team were sponsored by adidas in the past before Nike took over the role in 2007. The contract between Nike and FAM was renewed last year and will last till 2015.

ARMED FORCES have all the talent they need to dominate the Premier League. However, coach B. Satianathan admitted their players had yet to gel. Dubbed the Manchester City of Malaysia, they have signed an array of talent as they bid to win promotion to the Super League. “As a team, we have the required experience to do so but we need to gel faster,” said Satianathan. “I have no other major concerns with my boys. I’m glad they have the fighting spirit and are willing to work hard.” The former national and Kelantan coach is surprised by the performances of Amiridzwan Taj Tajudin, Rueben Thayaparan and Abdul Rashid Mahmud. “The other players clearly rubbed off on them. They

improved fast because they were surrounded by good players. This shows the depth we have,” he added. Armed Forces, who were the early favourites to win the Premier League, find themselves in fourth place after four games. Satianathan refused to be drawn into panic mode, citing their performance in the 2-0 win over Baliester Khalsa FC in a friendly on Tuesday. “On paper, the Singapore side was stronger but we held our own despite missing five players, who were with the national team.” Among the five players, Venice Elphi Danny Kaya was called up for the first time. At 28 years of age, the Kuching-born corporal was a late bloomer in the sport. “He has the talent but lacks experience. He has the ability to beat players. All he needs is exposure.”

thursday 2 February 2012

world

THE MALAY MAIL

SPORTS Every team and player is rated by how they do in Test, which is the highest level. It is a Test victory which matters to real cricket lovers Sunil Gavaskar Former India captain

BRIEFS

Sutil convicted for night club brawl MUNICH: Former Force India F1 driver Adrian Sutil (pic) was found guilty of grievous bodily harm by a Munich court yesterday and given an 18-month suspended sentence and US$262,300 (RM797,391) fine for a night club brawl in China last year. The 29-year-old German, who has yet to find a race seat this year, was found guilty of injuring Eric Lux, chief executive of Renault F1 team owners Genii Capital, in a Shanghai nightclub after the Chinese Grand Prix, Judge Christiane Thiemann said. — Reuters

Fofana in team to face Italy PARIS: Uncapped Wesley Fofana (pic) has been named in the France team to face Italy in the opening game of the Six Nations at the Stade de France on Sunday. Centre Fofana will partner Clermont teammate Aurelien Rougerie in a team featuring 12 players from the World Cup squad that reached the final against hosts New Zealand last October. The powerful Louis Picamoles will start as number eight at the expense of Imanol Harinordoquy. — Reuters

NEW DELHI I CRICKET

KARACHI i CRICKET

Ready for an English bashing Pakistan will whitewash England in third Test, says Afridi PAKISTAN’S former captain Shahid Afridi feels the team is capable of handing out a 3-0 whitewash to world No 1 England given the way it dominated the first two Tests. Pakistan enjoy an unassailable 2-0 lead over the English. “Pakistan will complete a clean sweep in the third Test. They can whitewash England,” Afridi told reporters at a function to launch the autobiography of former chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed. The all-rounder Afridi said Pakistan enjoyed a psychological hold over the English batsmen. “I see this series as the best opportunity for Pakistan to win the series 3-0,” he said. Afridi will join the team for the one-day and Twenty20 matches against England from next week. Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman denied Pakistan’s success over England was a big surprise, saying the team achieved the 2-0 lead through sheer hard work. Rehman starred in his team’s 72-run win in the second Test in Abu Dhabi by claiming

a career-best 6-25 to bundle England for 72 in the second innings — their lowest in all Tests against Pakistan. That gave Pakistan an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series with the last match in Dubai today. Pakistan won the first Test by ten wickets, also played in Dubai. Rehman, 31, said: “We won because we have worked really hard before the series and in the two Test matches,” said Rehman, who has 12 wickets in two Tests, while his spin partner Saeed Ajmal has 17. Rehman said he has received brilliant support from Ajmal, who took ten wickets — including a career-best 7-55 — in the first Test. The brilliant spinning show have raised both Ajmal and Rehman in the International Cricket Council rankings. Ajmal is second while Rehman has jumped to ninth — the first time in 23 years that two Pakistan spinners are in the top ten. — Agencies

afridi: Captained Pakistan in the World Cup last year — AFPpic

Gavaskar keeps faith in Dhoni FORMER India captain Sunil Gavaskar feels Mahendra Singh Dhoni is still the best bet for India’s captaincy and wants the Board Of Control for Cricket In India (BCCI) to wait for some time before zeroing in on the candidate who might take over from him in future. Criticised for his unimpressive captaincy and performance in Test cricket, Dhoni has offered to quit the leadership role in the longer format of the game if the BCCI feels there is a better replacement waiting in the wings. However, Gavaskar feels there is nothing to hurry and Dhoni is still the best bet for the job. “Dhoni must have felt deeply the 4-0 loss of India. So what he wanted to say is that he is ready to play under a captain if the BCCI can get one, and that is exactly what you expect from a team man like him,” Gavaskar told NDTV. Asked if the 0-4 Test loss against Australia will be forgotten if India do well in the One day Internationals (ODIs), Gavaskar said: “No, I don’t think it’s likely to happen. Every team and player is rated by how they do in Test, which is the highest level. It is a Test victory which matters to real cricket lovers.” — Agencies

London i Tennis

Murray to skip Davis Cup tie Costly blunder for Qatar football ZURICH: Qatar’s hopes of winning a spot in this year’s Olympic football competition has been dealt a blow after FIFA overturned a draw in Oman for fielding an ineligible player, awarding the home side a 3-0 victory. The Nov 27 Olympics qualifier ended in a 1-1 stalemate but Qatar’s Abdelaziz Hatim should not have been on the pitch in Muscat. The Qatar Football Association has been fined £4,825 (RM23,086) while the team have now slipped to third place in Group A with two points. — Reuters

BRITAIN will have to do without their one world class player in their Davis Cup tie against Slovakia later this month after Andy Murray’s decision to skip the clash in Glasgow. The world No 4, beaten by Novak Djokovic in a brutal five-set epic in the Australian Open semifinals last week, has decided to rest some niggling injuries on medical advice. “I’m gutted to miss out on the Davis Cup having really enjoyed playing last year, but as it’s only the start of an important season, which includes

the Olympics in London, it’s probably a sensible decision,” Murray said in an Lawn Tennis Association statement. “My focus in 2012 is on performing well in the Grand Slams and the London 2012 Olympics. I look forward to playing in the next Davis Cup tie later in the year.” Britain will rely on singles players James Ward, ranked 155, and Dan Evans, ranked 296, for the Euro/Africa Group 1 first round against the Slovaks with Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins playing doubles. — Reuters

Murray: Beaten by Djokovic in gruelling semifinal in the Australian Open — AFPpic

THE MALAY MAIL

thursday 2 february 2012

world

SPORTS Every player who was mentioned in the ‘Asiagate’ report, regardless of how many matches played, are suspended and will only be cleared by the ethics committee Jonathan Mashingaidze ZIFA chief executive

HARARE I Football

ROSARIO l WOMEN’S HOCKEY I CHAMPIONS TROPHY

Rampant Dutch march on Paumen’s double makes her all-time topscorer in tournament history DUTCH Maartje Paumen contributed two goals in Holland’s 4-1 win over Japan at the Argentina FIH Champions Trophy and became all-time leading scorer in Champions Trophy history on 23 goals. The Holland extended their unbeaten streak in Champions Trophy competition to nine matches after defeating Japan in their last match in Pool A. This victory is their longest run without defeat since a ninematch streak between 20062008. Having lost all three pool matches here, Japan finish last in the table. It took the Dutch not even six minutes to open the scoring. Kim Lammers picked up a pass coming from Sabine Mol and scored her second goal of the tournament to lift her career to 20 Champions Trophy goals. Two minutes later the Dutch won a penalty corner which was converted by flicker Paumen scoring her first goal at the tournament and equaling German Nadine ErnstingKrienke as all-time top scorer on 22 Champions Trophy

goals. After Japan failed to score from three penalty corners, Akane Shibata finally put her team on the score-board. It was Japan’s first goal against the Dutch in Champions Trophy history as well as their first field goal since Kaori Fujio scored in a 3-3 draw versus China in 2008. Paumen scored again in the 44th minute when she flicked in the Dutch’s third penalty corner in this match, while Lammers got her second 10 minutes from through a field goal to lift her total to three at Rosario 2012. The win places Holland top of Pool A. Britain finished second due to their goal difference despite defeating China 3-1. Germany surprised by winning Pool B after beating New Zealand 3-1, while Argentina had to settle for second place in their pool after a 2-2 draw with Korea. The host and world champions face China in today’s quarterfinal, Holland play New Zealand, Germany take on Japan and Britain meet Korea. — Agencies

FAVOURITE: Paumen (left) vies for the ball with Japan’s Akane Shibata during their match yesterday — AFPpic

Zimbabwe suspend 80 players for alleged matchfixing THE Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) have suspended 80 players, including the core of the national team, on suspicion of being linked to a matchfixing scandal involving Asian betting syndicates, state media reported yesterday. ZIFA have set up an independent ethics committee to probe alleged matchfixing they believe took place in matches the national team played in Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand in 2007. “Every player who was mentioned in the ‘Asiagate’ report, regardless of how many matches played, are suspended and will only be cleared by the ethics committee,” ZIFA chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze told the Statecontrolled Herald. “For now, they are not eligible for selection in any national duty commitments,” Mashingaidze added. The player suspensions are set to affect Zimbabwe’s bid to qualify for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, whose qualification matches start this month. Zimbabwe face Burundi on Feb 29 in the first qualifier. — Reuters

Rosario

LONDON i Formula 1

McLaren play down Pure engine talk MCLAREN played down contacts with Formula One’s planned new engine maker Pure yesterday amid lingering speculation about the Mercedes-powered team’s future supplier. “McLaren has had absolutely no contact with Pure for many months,” a McLaren spokesman said. “Moreover, the contact we did have with Pure, many months ago, was of an entirely informal nature, and was merely a courtesy gesture.” Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Pure, led by Jacques Villeneuve’s (pic) former manager and team boss Craig Pollock, had been sounded out as possible replacements for Mercedes after a new V6 1.6 litre turbo

engine is introduced from the start of 2014. McLaren’s former shareholders Mercedes have sold their stake in the team since buying 2009 champions

Brawn GP and renaming them Mercedes GP. The Mercedes deal allowed McLaren free engines until the end of 2012 and then a supply until at least 2015 at the going rate of around €8 million (RM31m) a year. McLaren have also been linked to Honda, who powered them to titles with the late Brazilian Ayrton Senna and Frenchman Alain Prost between 1988 and 1992, but the team said in November those reports were wide of the mark. McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale said at the time that the team, who have champions Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton as their drivers, were entirely focused on the relationship with Mercedes. — Reuters

Korea make Argies sweat for draw TOURNAMENT favourites Argentina drew 2-2 with gritty Korea yesterday and the world champions are now second in Pool B. “Both teams played very well tonight. We had to slow down the pace as they run a lot. And I think we did that and played a good match,” said Argentina captain Luciana Aymar (above). — Agencies

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

WORLD

THE MALAY MAIL

SPORTS We’re keeping our heads on our shoulders. I’ll be happy when we’ve reached our objective FRANCOIS ZAHOUI IVORY COAST MANAGER

MALABO | FOOTBALL | AfricaN Cup of Nations

Ivory Coast wary of ‘no-hopers’ Guinea The game will be difficult against the co-hosts, they’ve got nothing to lose, says Zahoui IVORY COAST, with a perfect first round of three wins from three matches, are wary of the team that awaits them in Sunday’s quarterfinal, surprise qualifiers Equatorial Guinea. The Africa Cup of Nations co-hosts, in their competition debut and with their mix of naturalised players, stunned Senegal 2-1 to clinch the runners-up spot in Group A after their opening 1-0 defeat of Libya. They lost their closing game 1-0 to table toppers Zambia. Ivory Coast in contrast topped Group B with defeats of Sudan and Burkina Faso, with their second XI seeing off Angola on Tuesday to top the table. On paper this quarterfinal looks like a mismatch, with Ivory Coast ranked the best team on the continent and 16th in the world while their opponents, rated no-hopers before battle began, come in a lowly 42nd and 150th respectively. Assessing the potential banana skin that awaits them on Sunday, Ivory Coast manager Francois Zahoui said: “We’ve come here to play six ‘finals’

and we expect to suffer in each of them. “The game will be difficult against the co-hosts. “They’ve got nothing to lose. We are going to remain focused because our objective is to win and to go as far as possible.” Asked if he was relieved to have made it into the last eight Zahoui replied: “The relief will come when we win the title.” Ivory Coast are looking to shed the unwanted tag of ‘chokers’ earned after they were stopped in the semi-finals by Egypt in 2008 and by Algeria in the quarter-finals in 2010. Their only title came back in 1992. Zahoui said: “If we don’t make it to our destination all that we will have achieved will count for nothing. “We’re keeping our heads on our shoulders. I’ll be happy when we’ve reached our objective which is to provide plelasure to the Ivorian people. “We want to make it and we won’t be satisfied with a couple of wins, that doesn’t count for anything.” Against Angola Zahoui opted

to give nine of his ‘’reserve’’ players a run out, with the only regulars in the starting line-up being centrebacks Kolo Toure and Souleymane Bamba. Kolo Toure, older brother of 2011 African Footballer of the Year Yaya Toure, captained the team in the absence of Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou was grateful for the rest after limping off against Burkina Faso last Saturday. Reflecting on his decision to switch his personnel Zahoui said: “I’ve always said that I’ve come here with 23 players and that’s why after each match we organise friendlies (for the reserves) against local teams to improve our choice. “I’m going to have problems in choosing but I prefer to have that type of conundrum than not at all. “That’s a problem for the coach, it’s going to provide me with some sleepless nights.” Discussing whether he was going to stick with his 4-4-2 formation against Equatorial Guinea he commented: “It’ll be up to me not to get the tactics wrong for our next match. The system depends on the players who carry it out.” — AFP

results & STANDINGS Group c Gabon 1 Tunisia 0 Niger 0 Morocco 1 P W D L F Gabon* 3 3 0 0 6 Tunisia* 3 2 0 1 4 Morocco 3 1 0 2 4 Niger 3 0 0 3 1

A 2 3 5 5

Pts 9 6 3 0

F 5 3 4 3

A 3 2 4 6

Pts 7 6 4 0

F 5 4 4 2

A 0 4 5 6

Pts 9 4 4 0

Group A

Zambia* Equatorial* Libya Senegal

P W D L 3 2 1 0 3 2 0 1 3 1 1 1 3 0 0 3 Group B

P W D L Ivory Coast* 3 3 0 0 Sudan* 3 1 1 1 Angola 3 1 1 1 Burkina Faso 3 0 0 3 Group D

SQUEEZED: Angola’s defender Airosa Marco Ibraim Da Sousa taps Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure in Malabo yesterday morning

P W D L F A Pts Ghana 2 2 0 0 3 0 6 Guinea 2 1 0 1 6 2 3 Mali 2 1 0 1 1 2 3 Botswana 2 0 0 2 1 7 0 * Denotes qualified for quarter-finals

LIBREVILLE

BATA

Belhanda goal spares Morocco blushes

Zambia expel midfielder Mulenga for breaking curfew

YOUNES BELHANDA’S goal 11 minutes from time earned Morocco a 1-0 win over Niger yesterday in an African Nations Cup tie involving two Group C teams already eliminated. It was the last game of the tournament for both nations who finished behind group winners Gabon, the co-hosts, and Tunisia. Morocco were one of the pre-tournament favourites but have suffered a major crisis of confidence less than six months before launching their World Cup qualifying campaign. They gave another poor performance yesterday that will not bode well for the future of coach Eric Gerets. Former Belgium World Cup player Gerets said beforehand that he viewed the match with Niger as a chance to start again after their opening defeats by Tunisia and Gabon. Morocco dominated posses-

COMING THROUGH: Morocco’s captain Traoui (right) vies with Niger’s goalkeeper Saminou Kabar (left) at the Stade de l’Amitie

sion, their skilful midfielders cleverly interchanging passes but also overelaborating and showing indecision.

The only goal came when Marouane Chamakh, looking suspiciously offside, put Belhanda in for a sliding finish.

Niger created the best opportunities in front of a small crowd at the 45,000-capacity Libreville stadium. — Reuters

ZAMBIA have kicked winger Clifford Mulenga (pic) out of their African Nations Cup squad for a breach of team rules, the country’s football association said yesterday. Mulenga broke a curfew, along with three other unidentified players, after Zambia’s win on Sunday over Equatorial Guinea in their last group match. While the trio apologised, Mulenga, with a reputation for being headstrong, did not. “The coach has made it very, very clear why he had made that decision and it is in the interest of teamwork and unity and that cannot be compromised,” the association’s press officer Erick Mwanza told reporters in Bata, where Zambia are preparing for their quarterfinal against Sudan on Saturday. Mulenga had only made a

fleeting appearance at the tournament as a late substitute on Sunday, when Zambia beat the co-hosts 1-0 in Malabo. — Reuters

THE MALAY MAIL

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

thursday 2 february 2012

WORLD

THE MALAY MAIL

SPORTS Jong Tae-se has the profile we were looking for, excellent in the air and a natural goalscorer Volker Finke Cologne sporting director

BRIEFS

NAPLES | FOOTBALL | SERIE A

Napoli innovate, not imitate ... we don’t model ourselves on Barcelona or any other side, says Mazzarri NAPOLI coach Walter Mazzarri has stressed that the Serie A outfit do not model their game on Barcelona or any other team. The Partenopei trainer admitted that the Champions League holders’ style is a benchmark, but added that he sees himself as an innovator, and is always looking to develop his own style. “We know what kind of system works best for our team and we’re trying to develop that as much as we can. We don’t model ourselves on Barcelona or any other side,” Mazzarri was quoted as saying on the official FIFA website. “Barcelona, who are mak-

ing history right now, have a winning mentality and that’s the image they’re projecting to everyone. A lot of other clubs have studied the way they play, and their style is a benchmark for everyone. “I see myself as an innovator. I’m an Italian coach but I advocate a flexible style of football that isn’t based on just the one system. In any case, it’s not the system that counts but the mindset, the movements and the selection of players according to their position on the pitch.” Napoli currently sit seventh in the Serie A table with 29 points from 19 games. — Agencies

Pep unsure over Barca stint

LISTEN UP: Mazzarri (left) issues instructions to Andrea Dossena during the Serie A match against Genoa CFC — GETTYpic

MILAN I SERIE A

Milan land Brazilian forward AC MILAN have signed young Brazilian forward Lucas Roggia (right) according to Internacional president Giovanni Luigi. The 21-year-old, who was out of favour at the Porto Alegre-based club, has joined for a year with the view to gaining European experience before returning.

The Italian champions also raided Swiss lower league team Chiasso to bring back Nigerian forward Kingsley Umunegbu, who had only left in the summer, and signed Austrian striker Philipp Prosenik from Chelsea. Chievo have signed centreback Dario Dainelli, who has come under fire from

madrid

fans recently, on loan from Genoa until the end of the season. Cesena have let Algerian forward Abdelkader Ghezzal leave on loan for Spaniards Levante with Argentine Mario Santana joining on a similar deal from Napoli. Lazio and Cesena have undertaken a midfield swap with Antonio Candreva moving to the Italian capital and Simone Del Nero heading in the other direction. Argentine goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo has moved to Catania on loan from Lazio with an option to making the move perma-

MADRID: Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said yesterday he has still not decided whether or not to prolong his contract with the European champions beyond the end of the current season. I’ll decide about the (contract) extension and when I do, I’ll tell the president (Sandro Rosell) and (sporting director) Andoni (Zubizarreta),” Guardiola said at a Press conference. “But I’ve not decided yet. When I know, they’ll know too.” Guardiola, 41, has been Barca coach since 2008, during which time he has led the Catalan club to 13 major honours, including three Primera Liga titles and two Champions League crowns. — AFP

Albertazzi returns to Milan

nent at season’s end. Catania brought in two more players on loan, Chilean midfielder Felipe Seymour from Genoa and Torino’s Nigerian striker Osarimen Ebagua. The Sicilians also bought Brazilian left-back Wellington Teixera, known as Tom, from Uberaba,

who play in the Brazilian fourth division. Meanwhile, they have let Argentine defender Pablo Alvarez leave to join Spain’s Real Zaragoza. Fiorentina have let midfielder Gianni Munari leave to join Serie B Sampdoria on a permanent deal. — AFP

MILAN: Italian defender Michelangelo Albertazzi has returned to his parent club AC Milan after his loan spell with Getafe was cut short by the Spanish club yesterday. “Michelangelo Albertazzi has reached an agreement with Getafe... and has therefore completed his loan spell with the Madrid team,” Getafe said on their website. The 21-year-old centre-back, an Under-20 Italy international, failed to make a single league appearance for coach Luis Garcia’s side after joining the club on a season-long loan deal at the beginning of the campaign. — AFP

Monaco coach probed

BERLIN I BUNDESLiGA

Cologne replace Podolski with N. Korean ace

Fernando dazzles for Bilbao WITH a brace from Fernando Llorente (pic), Athletic Bilbao earned a 2-1 victory over Copa Del Rey surprise outfit Mirandes in the first-leg of their semifinal clash yesterday at the Estadio Anduva. Athletic’s star striker gave his side the advantage with a header and earned the victory with a well-placed strike ending an efficient individual run. Ander Lambarri gave his side hope for the second-leg next week with an injury time strike, but the top flight side are in a strong position to reach the final. — Agencies

NORTH KOREAN international striker Jong Tae-se signed for Bundesliga side Cologne on Tuesday from second tier Vfl Bochum as a replacement for injured German star Lukas Podolski. The 27-year-old cost the buying club around €500,000 for a five-month contract with them and covering the six months that remained on his contract with Bochum accord-

ing to Cologne sporting director Volker Finke. “Jong Tae-se has the profile we were looking for, excellent in the air and a natural goalscorer,” said Finke. Podolski, who has scored 15 of Cologne’s 28 Bundesliga goals this season, will be out for between three to four weeks after injuring his left ankle in the 4-1 defeat by Schalke 04 on Sunday. Jong, born in Nagoya in

Japan of a North Korean father and South Korean mother, signed for Bochum after the 2010 World Cup finals where he stood out from the rest of his teammates where they failed to get a point scoring just one goal — albeit against Brazil 0 — and conceding 12. This season he has scored four times, including a hat-trick against Ingolstadt, and Bochum lie ninth in the second division. — AFP

PARIS: Monaco’s Italian coach Marco Simone is the subject of an investigation over allegations he racially abused an airport worker. The alleged incident occurred on August 15 when the former footballer was at Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris for a flight. According to French television channel M6, Simone repeatedly insulted a member of airport staff after being asked to stop his child from playing in front of a woman who was being transported through the airport in a wheelchair. The airport worker made a complaint to border police the following day. — AFP

Chelsea

THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2012

THE MALAY MAIL

Arsenal

Aston Villa

Blackburn Rovers

Everton Bolton Wanderers

WORLD

Fulh

SPORTS QPR are certainly a club that are looking to forward BOBBY ZAMORA NEW QPR SIGNING FROM FULHAM

Arsenal

Chelsea Blackburn Rovers

Aston Villa

Everton Bolton Wanderers

Manchester City

Manchester Unit ed

Fulham

Newcast

Liverpool

LONDON | FOOTBALL | ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Who’s in and who’s out at YOUR club Arsenal

Arsenal

Aston Villa

Blackburn Rovers

Bolton Wanderers Manches ter City Fulham

Manchester Unit ed Liverpool

Chelsea Everton Every Premier League deal of the January transfer window

THE January 2012 transfer window has closed after another deadline day filled with clubs frantically trying to sign the player that will fire them to the title, get them into Europe or just keep them up. Here’s our handy guide to who YOUR side has signed...

Chelsea

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● Chelsea

Everton

Aston Villa

Blackburn Rovers

Outs: Bobby Zamora (QPR, undisclosed) Bolton Wanderers

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● Arsenal Ins: Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls, Aston Villa loan), Thomas Eisfield (Borussia Dortmund, undisclosed).

Blackburn Rovers

Vito Mannone (Hull, loan), Sead Hajrovic (Barnet, loan), Luke Freeman (Stevenage, undisclosed), Daniel Boateng (Swindon, loan), Sanchez Watt (Crawley, loan), Gavin Hoyte (AFC Wimbledon, Chelsea loan), Ryo Miya- Everton ichi (Bolton, loan). Chelsea

Fulham

Sunde

Liverpool

Outs: Alan Smith (MK Dons, loan), James Tavernier (MK Dons, loan).

Outs: Nyron Nosworthy (Watford, undisclosed), Ryan Noble (Derby, loan), Blair Adams (Northampton, loan), John Egan Arsenal Aston Villa ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● (Crystal Palace, loan), Trevor Carson (Hull, loan), Jordan Cook (Carlisle, loan), Louis Laing (Wycombe, loan), Liam Noble (Carlisle, free).

Norwich City Sunderland

Fulham Fulham

Chelsea

Aston Villa

Ins: Jordan Ibe (Wycombe, undisclosed) Liverpool Outs: Danny Wilson (Blackpool, loan), Liverpool Martin Hansen (Viborg, undisclosed).

Arsenal

Chelsea Everton

Everton Fulham ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● Queen s Park Rangers Stoke City

Fulham

Liverpool

undisclosed), Keith Andrews (Blackburn, free).

Outs: JoeBlac Mattock loan), Bolton W kburn (Portsmouth, Rovers Chris Wood (Bristol City, loan), Lateef Elford-Alliyu (Tranmere, loan), Roman Bednar (Blackpool, free), James Hurst (Chesterfield, loan), Romaine Sawyers Wolverhampton (Shrewsbury, loan). Wanderers

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

Swansea

Arsenal

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

Aston Villa

Bolton Wanderers

Manchester Unit ed Newcastle United Queen s Park Rangers Stoke City

Everton

Queen s Park RangersNorwich CityStoke City

Arsenal Aston Villa Blackburn Rovers Bolton Wanderers ter City BlackburnManches ed Newcastle United Norwich City Aston Manches Villa Rovers ter UnitBolton Wanderers Tottenham Hotspur West Bromwich Albion Wigan Athletic ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

Arsenal

Manchester City Outs: Emmanuel Frimpong (Wolves, loan),

Newcastle United

Park Rangers Stoke City Ins: Wayne Bridge Sunde rland City, loan), Swansea Ins: Jack Grimmer (Aberdeen, undis- Queen Ins: sPapiss Demba Cisse (Freiburg, undis(Manchester Ins : Scott Allan (Dundee Utd, undisFulham Liverpool Tottenham Hotspur West Bromwich Albion Wigan A Manches ter City ter Uni Norwich closed), Lasse VigenManches Christensen (FCt ed closed). Newcastle United SotiriosCity Kyrgiakos (Wolfsburg, loan). closed), Liam Ridgewell (Birmingham,

Midtjylland, undisclosed), Pavel Pogrebnyak (Stuttgart, undisclosed)

Arsenal

Bolton Wanderers

Blackburn Rovers

Aston Villa

Everton

Bolton Wanderers

Blackburn Rovers

Fulham

Live

Liverpool

Ins: Gylfi Sigurdsson (Hoffenheim, loan), Sunderland Swansea Wolverhampton Rory Donnelly (Cliftonville, undisclosed), Wanderers Darnel Situ (Lens, £250,000), Josh McEachran Curtis Obeng Aston Villa(Chelsea, loan),Blac kburn Rovers (Wrexham, Evertonundisclosed). Fulham

Tottenham Hotspur West Bromwich Albion Wigan Athletic Blackburn Queen Roverss Park Rangers Bolton Wanderers City Sunderland Swansea Ins: Tim Ream (New York RedStoke Bulls, undisclosed), Ryo Miyaichi (pic) (Arsenal, loan), Arsenal Marvin Sordell (Watford, undisclosed). Chelsea

Bolton Wanderers

Liverpool

Everton Fulham Outs: Lee LucasChelsea (Burton, loan), Thomas Butler (released), Craig Beattie (released), Manchester City Manchester Unit ed Newcastle United Norwich City David Cotterill (released), Danielter Alfei (Wr(Southend, loan). Arsenal Aston Villa Blackburn Rovers Bolton Wanderers Manchester City Manches Uni t ed Newcastle United Norw exham, loan). Ins: David Pizarro (Roma, loan). Ins : Jonny Howson (pic) (Leeds, undisManchester City Manchester Unit ed Newcastle United Norwich City ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● closed), Ryan Bennett (Peterborough, Wolverhampton Manchester City Manchester Unit ed Newcastle United Norwich City ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● OutsTottenham : Kieran Trippier (Burnley, undis-Bromwich undisclosed). Hotspur West Albion Wigan Athletic Wanderers closed), Harry Bunn (Preston, loan),Wolverhampton Tottenham Hotspur West Bromwich AlbionChris Chantler Wigan(Carlisle, Athletic undisclosed), Wanderers Outs: George Francomb (Hibernian, loan), Everton Fulham Liverpool Arsenal Aston Villa Blackburn Rovers Bolton Wanderers Loris Karius (Mainz, undisclosed), Alex Korey Smith (Barnsley, loan), Oli Johnson Chelsea Everton Fulham Liverpool Nimely (Coventry, loan), Ben Mee (Burn(Oxford, free). ley, undisclosed), Nedum Onuoha (QPR, Manchester City Manchester Unit ed Newcastle United Norwich City undisclosed), Wayne Bridge (Sunderland, ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● loan), Frederic Veseli (Manchester United, Queen s Park Rangers StokeCity City Sunde rland Swansea Manchester City Manchester Unit ed Newcastle United Queen s Park Rangers Stoke Sunde rland Swansea undisclosed). Ins: Gary Cahill (Bolton, undisclosed), Queen s Park Rangers Chelsea Everton Fulham Liverpool Stoke City Sunde rland s Park RangersSwansea Queen ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● Stoke City Sunderland Swa Kevin de Bruyne (Genk, undisclosed), Patrick Bamford Forest, un- Stoke City Queen s(Nottingham Park Rangers Sunderland Swansea disclosed). Manchester City

Outs: Gary Cahill (Chelsea,

Manchester Uniundisclosed), t ed Newcastle United Jack Sampson

Norwich City

Outs: Nicolas Anelka (ShanghaiArsenal ShenAston Villa Chelsea Blackburn Rovers EvertonBolton Wanderers Fulham Liverpool Manchester City Manches ter Unit ed Newcastle United Norwich City Newcastle United hua, undisclosed), Norwich City Rhys Taylor (Rotherham, loan), Josh McEachran (Swansea, Ins: Federico Macheda (Manchester Wolverhampton Queen s Park Rangers Stoke City Sunderland Swansea loan), Albion Ben Gordon (Kilmarnock, loan), Tottenham Hotspur West Bromwich Wigan Athletic Wanderers United, loan), Taye Taiwo (AC Milan, loan), Wolverhampton Sam Walker (Yeovil, loan), Alex (Paris St Nedum Onuoha (Manchester City, unTottenham Hotspur West Bromwich Albion Wigan Athletic Wanderers Germain, undisclosed), Philipp Prosenik Wolverhampton disclosed), Samba Diakite (Nancy, loan), (AC Milan, undisclosed), Kevin de Bruyne Tottenham Hotspur West Bromwich Albion Wigan Athletic Wanderers Queen s Park Rangers Stoke City Sunderland Djibril Cisse (Lazio, undisclosed), Bobby Wolverh (Genk, loan), Milan Lalkovic (ADO Den Wolverhampton Ins: Jean Beausejour (pic) (Birmingham, Zamora (Fulham, undisclosed). Tottenham Hotspur West B romwich Albion Wigan Athletic Wan Haag, loan). Tottenham Hotspur West B romwich Albion Wigan Athletic Wanderers City Bolton Wanderers Manches ter UniRovers t ed Newcastle ted Norwich City undisclosed). Astonter Villa Blackburn BoltonUni Wanderers Aston(Shamrock VillaArsenal Rovers Ins: Enda Stevens Rovers, BlackburnManches Outs : Matthew Connolly (Reading, loan), undisclosed), Robbie Keane (Los Angeles ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● Outs: Nouha Dicko (Blackpool, loan). Martin Rowlands (released), Petter VaaGalaxy, loan). gan Moen (released), Bradley Orr (BlackChelsea Everton Fulham Liverpool Queen s Park Rangers Stoke City Sunderland Swansea Outs: Fabian Delph (pic) (Leeds, loan), ElManchester City burn, undisclosed). Manchester Unit ed Newcastle United Norwich City ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● Wolverhampton Stoke City Sunde rland Swansea liot Parish (Cardiff, undisclosed), Nathan Tottenham Hotspur West Bromwich Albion Wigan Athletic Wanderers ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● Delfouneso (Leicester, loan), Shane Lowry (Millwall, undisclosed).

Manchester Unit ed

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

Everton

West Bromwich Albion

er City

Ins: YagoTottenham Falque (Juventus, undisclosed), Hotspur West Bromwich Albion Louis Saha (pic) (Everton, loan), Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn, free). Queen s Park Rangers

Chelsea

Wigan Athletic

Ins: Anthony Modeste (Bordeaux, loan), Marcus Olsson (Halmstad, free), Bradley Blackburn Rovers Orr (QPR, undisclosed). Outs: Jason Roberts (Reading, undisclosed), Keith Andrews (West Brom, free). ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● Manchester Unit ed

Manchester City

Stoke City

Sunderland

Swansea

Fulham Liverpool Ins: Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy, Outs: Harry Kane (Millwall, loan), Ryan Ins: PaulFulham Scholes (free agent), Frederic Ve- Liverpool Tottenham Hotspur Everton Bromwich Albion Wigan Athletic Manches ter City Manchester Unit ed Newcastle United Norwich CityWest Mason loan), Darron Gibson (Manchester United, (Millwall, loan), Andros Townsend seli (Manchester City, undisclosed). Wolverhampton undisclosed), Nikica Jelavic (Rangers, unIns: Nil (Leeds, loan), David Button (Doncaster, Wanderers Queen Park DarRangers Stoke City Sunde Swansea disclosed), Steven Pienaar (Tottenham, loan), rland Dean Parrett (Yeovil, loan), Yago Outs: Federico Macheda (QPR,sloan), loan). Outs: Danny Pugh (Leeds, undisclosed), Falque (Southampton, loan), Tom Carroll ron Gibson (Everton, undisclosed), Joshua Tom Soares (Hibernian, loan), Michael (Derby, loan), Adam Smith (Leeds, loan), King (Hull, loan), Mame Biram Diouf (pic) Outs : Aristote Nsiala (Accrington, loan), Tonge (Barnsley, loan), Ryan Brunt (TranJohn Bostock (Sheffield Wednesday, Bolton Wanderers (Hannover, undisclosed), Danny DrinkwaJames Wallace (Stevenage, loan), Diniyar mere, loan), Florent Cuvelier (Walsall, loan), Kudus Oyenuga (St Johnstone, ter (Leicester, undisclosed), John Kofie Bilyaletdinov (Spartak Moscow, undisloan), Ben Marshall (Leicester, undisloan), Vedran Corluka (Bayer Leverkusen, (Royal Antwerp, loan), Ravel Morrison closed), Louis Saha (Tottenham, undisclosed), Danny Higginbotham (Nottingloan), Sebastien Bassong (Wolves, loan), (West Ham, undisclosed), Scott Wootton closed). ham Forest, loan). Wolverhampton Steven Pienaar (Everton, loan). (Nottingham Forest, loan).

Tottenham Hotspur West Bromwich Albion Wigan Athletic Wanderers Queen s Park Rangers ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● Stoke City Sunde rland Swansea ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● Newcastle United Norwich City

Manchester Unit ed

West Bromwich Albion Newcastle UnitedTottenham Hotspur Norwich City

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● Wigan Athletic

Wigan Athletic

Wolverhampton

Ins: Eggert Jonsson (Hearts, undisclosed), Wanderers Emmanuel Frimpong (Arsenal, loan), Sebastien Bassong (Tottenham, loan). Outs: David Davis (Chesterfield, loan), Sam Winnall (Inverness, loan), Adlene Guedioura (Nottingham Forest, loan), Andy Keogh (Wolves, undisclosed), Sam Vokes (Brighton, loan), Jamie Reckord (Scunthorpe, loan), Matt Doherty (Hibernian, loan). ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

Wolverhampton Wanderers

THURsDAY 2 februARY 2012

WORLD

THE MALAY MAIL

SPORTS It’s normal that he is taking his time. The confidence is there and we believe a lot in this player ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS Chelsea manager

yesterday’s RESULTS

LONDON

‘Your time is running out’

Everton 1 Manchester City 0 Manchester United 2 Stoke City 0 Swansea City 1 Chelsea 1 T. Hotspur 3 Wigan Athletic 1 W. Wanderers 0 Liverpool 3

Standings P W D L F A Pts M. City 23 17 3 3 60 19 54 M. United 23 17 3 3 56 21 54 T. Hotspur 23 15 4 4 44 25 49 Chelsea 23 12 6 5 41 26 42 Liverpool 23 10 8 5 28 21 38 Arsenal 22 11 3 8 39 33 36 N. United 22 10 6 6 32 30 36 Stoke City 23 8 6 9 23 35 30 Everton 23 8 5 10 23 26 29 Nor. City 22 7 8 7 32 36 29 Sunderland 22 7 6 9 29 24 27 A. Villa 22 6 9 7 26 29 27 S. City 23 6 9 8 24 28 27 Fulham 22 6 8 8 28 31 26 W. B. Albion 22 7 4 11 22 31 25 Q. P. Rangers 22 5 5 12 22 37 20 B. Wanderers 22 6 1 15 28 47 19 B. Rovers 22 4 6 12 33 45 18 W. Wanderers 23 4 6 13 25 43 18 W. Athletic 23 3 6 14 20 48 15

Villas-Boas growing tired of Spaniard ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS warned Fernando Torres he is running out of chances after Jose Bosingwa’s injurytime goal rescued Chelsea. Bosingwa’s hopeful crossshot deflected off Neil Taylor to steal a point just as former Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair’s first half stunner looked to have sent the Blues tumbling to a new low. But on the day it emerged that Roman Abramovich has sunk £1billion into his Chelsea dream, the biggest single lump of that investment once again failed to fire.

Torres marked his first anniversary as a Chelsea player since his British record £50million move from Liverpool with a display sadly symptomatic of the past 12 months. It is now 17 appearances since Torres’ last goal for Chelsea, more than four months since his last Premier League strike, with the drought now stretching well beyond the 1,000minute mark reached in the first quarter of last night’s match. Once again, Torres did

not have a single shot and while Villas-Boas tried not to criticise the Spaniard, the signs for him were ominous ahead of Didier Drogba’s return from Africa Cup of Nations duty within the next fortnight. Villas-Boas said: “It’s normal that he is taking his time. The confidence is there and we believe a lot in this player. “We have to persist with him and he helped the team with his movement, lay-offs and passing.” — Daily Mirror

STILL BLANK: Chelsea’s Fernando Torres (right) plays a pass in front of Swansea City’s Steven Caulker at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea — AFPpic

LONDON

Chelsea have cost Abramovich RM5b

Hughes: The sky’s the limit for QPR

ROMAN ABRAMOVICH’S (pic) Chelsea experiment has cost the Russian more than £1 billion (RM5b), it has been confirmed. Just hours before the transfer window shut and Andre Villas-Boas side played at Swansea, Chelsea picked a good day to bury bad news as they announced another huge financial loss. The Stamford Bridge outfit happily trumpeted “record turnover” of £222.million for the year to the end of June 2011. But the key figures were a loss of £67.7m, down slightly on the 2010 numbers but still meaning Abramovich has lost £630m since buying the club from Ken Bates in 2003. When the decision of the Russian billionaire to convert £340m of loans into

equity is taken into account, it means Abramovich has spent around £970m. That figure, though, comes before this season’s signings of Juan Mata, Romelu Lukaka, Thibaut Courtois, Raul Meireles, January’s captures of Gary Cahill and Kevin De Bruyne — some £70m — irrespective of the actual source of the £13m compensation pay-off to secure Villas-Boas’ exit from Porto. It means Abramovich’s funding of the Stamford Bridge club has gone through the £1billion barrier, explaining the club’s insistence that it was seeking to meet UEFA’s Financial Fair Play provisions designed to prevent clubs from running huge losses. Transfer fees, such as the British record £50m capture

of Fernando Torres a year ago, are “amortised” — in simple terms, divided by — the entire length of the player’s contract. The latest figures put greater pressure on Villas-Boas to secure a Champions League place and the £40m-plus of income that goes with it. — DM

QPR have completed the signing of Bobby Zamora from west London rivals Fulham, the club have announced. The 31-year-old has been regularly linked with a January move away from the Cottagers and has now completed a deadline-day move to Loftus Road. QPR have confirmed Zamora has signed a twoand-a-half-year deal for a fee Press Association Sport understands to be worth £6million-plus (RM30m). “QPR are certainly a club that are looking to go forward,” Zamora told his new club’s official website, www. qpr.co.uk. “That’s something that I’m looking forward to being a part of. “I got on really well with

One Cymru. And as Spurs messiah Redknapp was rewarded for his race across town from Southwark crown court, where his trial on tax evasion charges continues, the manager and his flock were united in celebration: ‘Arry’s got Bale. Redknapp enjoyed the floor show, performing a lit-

tle jig in his technical area as Tottenham: “I kept dancing around like a two-yearold — it was good to get on my feet again, I’ve been sitting down all week. “Bale was amazing again. He’s an amazing talent, unstoppable when he’s in that mood. And the fans were great, I really appreciated it.” — DM

LONDON

Busy Harry’s got Bale BOY wonder Gareth Bale (pic) fired Tottenham back in the title race — and Harry Redknapp was dancing in the dark instead of sitting in the dock. It might be the Chinese Year of the Dragon in 2012, but every year is the year of the dragon for proud Welshmen. After Bale had bagged his

10th and 11th goals of the season, Redknapp hailed his “unstoppable” winger as Spurs closed the gap to five points on leaders Manchester City. In a north London parish where the hymnbook includes seventies anthem Nice One Cyril, it should be adapted in appreciation of Bale’s talents — Nice

the manager at Fulham. We all grew to like Mark (Hughes). I think that will be the case here. He’s looking to take the club forward. “I think this was the right time for me to have a fresh challenge. I had some great experiences at Fulham. Going to a European final is special. But this is a new challenge for myself and I’m thoroughly looking forward to it.” Zamora has cost an initial £4.5million which will rise depending on performance, and he will wear the number 52 shirt at QPR but is not eligible to feature against Aston Villa tomorrow night. “The ambition of the club was certainly a drawing factor as well,” the striker added. — DM

Fixtures Saturday Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers Norwich City v Bolton Wanderers Q. Park Rangers v W. Wanderers Stoke City v Sunderland W. Bromwich Albion v Swansea City Wigan Athletic v Everton Manchester City v Fulham Sunday Newcastle United v Aston Villa Chelsea v Manchester United Monday Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur

BRIEFS

Dalglish praises fantastic, professional display LONDON: Kenny Dalglish hailed Andy Carroll after a rare goal helped him prove a point at Molineux. Carroll scored only his fifth Premier League goal since his £35million (RM175m) move to Anfield exactly a year ago. It is also just days after Manchester City leaked details of a swap with Carlos Tevez. Liverpool boss Dalglish said: “We don’t need to justify rumours. Andy scored a great goal and Craig Bellamy was fantastic. I said before the game that we weren’t close to anything (transfers). People must think we lie when we’re trying to be truthful.” Talking about his team’s efforts on the night, Dalglish added: “I’m proud of a very professional, high-quality performance. It was a fantastic reaction after the two quality cup performances. “We’ve had a good performance, good progress in the cup competitions and the way the players have responded after the Bolton defeat is a credit to themselves.” Wolves boss Mick McCarthy admitted this defeat increased the pressure on him. There were protests by fans afterwards calling for money to be invested in players rather than stadium development. — DM

THE MALAY MAIL

thursday 2 february 2012

NEWS

SPORTS It is significant, but we are early doors. I always say March is an important month — and we have City in April SIR ALEX FERGUSON man utd manager

BRIEFS

MANCHESTER | football | english premier league

A significant night

Arshavin could still leave Arsenal within days LONDON: Arsenal misfit Andrey Arshavin did not leave on deadline day but could still say farewell to the Emirates this winter. Mega-rich Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala have made a move to take him back to his homeland - and the transfer window there does not shut until Feb 24. That means Anzhi can still sign him, and Arsenal may consider allowing the 30-year-old to move on once Gervinho returns from the African Cup of Nations. However, Arshavin has insisted the only Russian club he’d sign for is the one he left to join Arsenal - Zenit St Petersburg. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has publicly supported Arshavin, but privately the club may be willing to consider offers of above £6m as he only has 18 months left on his contract. — DM

Man Utd keep composure to find their footing SIR ALEX FERGUSON felt Manchester United made a “significant” step to reclaiming the title as they went level on points with archrivals Manchester City. United took advantage of City’s surprise loss at Everton to triumph at home to Stoke with penalties in either half. Javier Hernandez netted first in the 38th minute before Dimitar Berbatov made it 2-0 in the 53rd minute. Ferguson said: “We kept our composure and were very patient. We have won with two penalties but the manner in which we have played our football was the most important thing. “It is significant, but we are early doors. I always say March is an important month — and we have City in April.” Former Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson was Everton’s match-winner against City after his recent move from Old Trafford, and Ferguson smiled: “It was all part of the plan.” Fergie handed a debut to keeper Ben Amos with David De Gea and Anders Lindegaard

3652/12

0641 6494 7791

COMING TROUGH: Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini (2nd right) vies with Manchester City’s Micah Richards (right) at Goodison Park — AFPpic

among 11 crocked stars. The United boss, who hopes to have Wayne Rooney, Nani and Ashley Young back for Sunday’s trip to Chelsea, was pleased with Hernandez. He added: “I thought he did well. His form has come back

and his training has been very very good. “It is just getting the opportunity because Danny Welbeck has been playing so well.” Potters boss Tony Pulis rued referee Mike Jones decision to award two penalties.

Pulis moaned: “We killed ourselves with a penalty just before and a penalty just after half-time. “Alex will be chuffed to bits. United have done it before and they usually get stronger after Christmas.” — Daily Mirror

0925 7019 4319 2369 8393

9519 9168 9973 6241 6881

1356 7459 3885 4721 8604 3165 8210 1666 1686 3442

RM7,359,835.38 0641 6494 0641 7791 6494 7791

MANCHESTER

Mancini: Blame me for loss to Everton ROBERTO Mancini saw Manchester City’s title bid shackled, and afterwards offered the stunning admission: It was all my fault. On a night marred by a bizarre handcuff protest, the Italian conceded he shackled his side by training ground mistakes that ultimately cost victory. “I made mistakes, and it is an admission from me that I got it wrong — sometimes it is possible to make mistakes,” he said afterwards. But the Italian insisted that despite the devastating defeat at Everton which blows the title race wide open, the errors he made will not hand Manchester United the Premier League crown. A pulsating game was eventually decided by former United midfielder Darron Gibson’s fierce strike, but not before a demented fan had chained himself to the City goal, to make a bizarre protest against budget airline Ryanair. Gibson spent seven years at Old Trafford trying to give Unit-

01.02.12

HOW NOW? Mancini is under further stress

ed fans something to cheer, and he achieved that last night with a goal that had the supporters of his former club chanting his name. It means the two Manchester titans are level at the table’s summit, but even though defeat at Goodison was a devastating blow to the Eastlands club, Mancini insisted it wouldn’t be terminal, despite taking full responsibility.

Mancini said: “We didn’t prepare properly for this game. Maybe I thought it would be easier against Everton than it was. I should have known it is never easy coming here. “We played well against Tottenham and won three games in the Premier League. Everton were without three or four important players, and maybe we didn’t prepare properly, which was my mistake.

“But defeat is not important, because we are still top, and there are 15 games remaining, so we have time (to win the title). All the players played well, I have no complaints with them, and I think I have to learn from my mistake. I will not sleep tonight!” Everton boss David Moyes also had a fruitful evening. As well as securing a 150th Premier League victory as a manager — and one he says was among his most satisfying — he also potentially brought in two new players. Speaking afterwards, Moyes insisted his side are now firmly back on track. “That was something wasn’t it? That’s as good as it’s been here for a long, long time,” he said. Gibson, who scored his first goal for Everton following his £2million switch from Old Trafford was delighted with the winner: “I think that will help me settle in, any goal is good, but one against a team at the top of the table is even better.” — Daily Mirror

6494 0641 7791 0641 7791 6494 RM303,721.33

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5 8 2 8 8 2 8 2 8 4 3 1 9 2 1

4 4 4 4

3 1 9 2 3 1 9 3 1 3

3 1 9 2 1 9 2 9 2 2

1 1 1 1

7 38 39 48 57 58 RM11,019,756.04 11 29 36 40 43 51 RM12,609,655.90 6 14 19 20 22 33 RM3,792,063.68

SQUASH

FOOTBALL

Now for the ﬁnish

We have our own style

Nicol Ann David thrashed her semifinal opponent to set up a final date in the Cleveland Classic against her conqueror last year

Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri says they are nothing like Barcelona and he doesn’t have a problem with that

 PAGE38

 PAGE40

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2012

41

HOCKEY I CHAMPIONS TROPHY I MAARTJE PAUMEN: Has scored an astonishing 23 goals LONDON l FOOTBALL I EPL

Don’t push it, Torres

SEOUL I ICE SKATING

The death knell may soon sound for Chelsea’s Fernando Torres. The Spaniard came up blank again yesterday morning against Swansea City. Manager Andre Villas-Boas may now be forced to pull the plug on his striker. 46 Fan cuffs himself to posts at Everton Play was delayed in Everton’s English Premier League match against Manchester City at Goodison Park this morning after a spectator invaded the pitch and handcuffed himself to a goalpost. The man emerged from the crowd with just under five minutes remaining until half-time and shackled himself to the frame of City keeper Joe Hart’s goal. After a hold-up which resulted in five minutes of first-half stoppage time, he was released and led away by police. Everton confirmed on their official website, evertonfc.com: “Bolt-cutters were used to remove the offender, who was roundly booed as he was escorted from the ground. “It transpired that the supporter is a known professional protester, allegedly protesting about an airline’s recruitment policy. He was arrested by Merseyside Police, who are now dealing with the matter.” Everton went on to win the game 1-0 with a deflected strike from Darron Gibson. — DM

Yu-na is Asia’s sexiest SOUTH KOREA’S figure skating champion Kim Yu-na (right) has been named Asia’s sexiest sportswoman. Also known as the ever-elegant “Ice Queen,” Yu-na took the spotlight after her recent Winter Olympics win. Donning a sparkly royal blue number, she showed off her svelte figure in a world record-setting performance. It’s easy to see why she was an instant media darling. Brilliant athleticism aside, her infectious smile won the world over in a heartbeat. Born on Sept 5, 1990, Kim began skating at the age of 7. In August 2010, Forbes magazine listed her as one of the highest-paid female athletes in the world, with annual earnings of US$9.7 million (RM30m). Kim was rated one of the world’s 100 most influential people in 2010 by TIME Magazine. In second spot is India’s chess grandmaster, Tania Sachdev, followed by China’s volleyball player Xue Chen.

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