Selasa, 29 November 2011

The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates


Former Ivorian president arrives to face ICC

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 08:39 PM PST

ROTTERDAM (Reuters) - A plane carrying former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo, facing an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court, arrived at Rotterdam airport Wednesday, a Reuters witness said.

The Hague-based court, which is also pursuing Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir and investigating alleged crimes in Kenya, Libya and Central African Republic, has so far declined to comment on the warrant.

Gbagbo would be the first former head of state to be tried by the ICC since its inception in 2002.

The ICC opened an investigation last month into killings, rapes and other abuses committed during a four-month conflict triggered by Gbagbo's refusal to cede power to Alassane Ouattara in last year's Ivorian election. The conflict ended only when French-backed pro-Ouattara forces captured him on April 11.

The ICC's silence means there is as yet no information on what exactly Gbagbo is to be charged with.

The Ivory Coast plane landed at Rotterdam airport at 02:44 a.m. BT and entered a hangar, the Reuters witness said.

Gbagbo had been flown by helicopter Tuesday from remote Korhogo in northern Ivory Coast, where he had been under house arrest since his capture, and transferred on to a plane, Ivorian military officials said.

Copyright © 2011 Reuters

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NATO attack was blatant aggression - Pakistan army

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 08:21 PM PST

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A senior Pakistani army official has said a NATO cross-border air attack that killed 24 soldiers was a deliberate, blatant act of aggression, hardening Pakistan's stance on an incident which could hurt efforts to stabilise Afghanistan.

Student supporters of Islami Jamiat Talaba, a student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, hold a banner while shouting anti-American slogans during a protest in Peshawar November 29, 2011. The placard reads in Urdu "Attack on Pakistan's security and sovereignty is unacceptable." Pakistani relations are at one of their worst points in memory after the NATO strike that killed 24 Pakistani troops, but can recover, Washington's top military officer said on Monday. REUTERS/Khuram Parvez

In a briefing to editors carried in local newspapers on Wednesday, Major-General Ishfaq Nadeem, director general of military operations, also said NATO forces were alerted they were attacking Pakistani posts, but helicopters kept firing.

"Detailed information of the posts was already with ISAF International Security Assistance Force), including map references, and it was impossible that they did not know these to be our posts," The News quoted Nadeem as saying in the briefing held at army headquarters on Tuesday.

The NATO attack early Saturday shifted attention away from Pakistan's widely questioned performance against militants who cross its border to attack U.S.-led NATO forces in Afghanistan, and has given the military a chance to reassert itself.

On Tuesday, Pakistan pulled out of an international conference on Afghanistan, an angry riposte after the attack by NATO plunged the region deeper into crisis.

Islamabad's decision to boycott next week's meeting in Bonn, Germany, will deprive the talks of a key player that could nudge Taliban militants into a peace process as NATO combat troops prepare to leave Afghanistan in 2014.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday she regretted Pakistan's decision to boycott next week's international conference on Afghanistan but hoped to secure Islamabad's cooperation in future.

"Nothing will be gained by turning our backs on mutually beneficial cooperation. Frankly it is regrettable that Pakistan has decided not to attend the conference in Bonn," Clinton told a news conference in South Korea.

The army, which has ruled the country for more than half of its history and sets security and foreign policy, faced strong criticism from both the Pakistani public and its ally, the United States, after the secret U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

The al Qaeda leader had apparently been living in a Pakistani garrison town for years before U.S. special forces found and killed him in a unilateral operation.

Pakistanis criticised the military for failing to protect their sovereignty, and angry U.S. officials wondered whether some members of military intelligence had sheltered him.

The army seems to have regained its confidence, and anti-NATO protests suggest it has won the support of the public in a country where anti-American sentiment runs high even on rare occasions when relations with Washington are healthy.

Exactly what happened at the Pakistani posts along an unruly and poorly defined border is still unclear. NATO has promised to investigate.

A Western official and an Afghan security official who requested anonymity said NATO troops were responding to fire from across the border. Pakistan said earlier the attack was unprovoked.

Both the Western and Pakistani explanations are possibly correct: that a retaliatory attack by NATO troops took a tragic, mistaken turn in harsh terrain where differentiating friend from foe can be difficult.

Nadeem was adamant that all communications channels had informed NATO that it was attacking Pakistani positions.

"They continued regardless, with impunity," The News quoted him as saying.

(Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Sugita Katyal)

Copyright © 2011 Reuters

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China's sway runs deep in Myanmar's ancient capital

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 07:48 PM PST

MANDALAY, Myanmar (Reuters) - The stalls of Mandalay's biggest market are lined with Chinese-made clothes, appliances and cosmetics -- a clear sign of the grip Myanmar's giant neighbour has over the city.

"You think of me as Chinese, right?" said Xiao Wei, one of many ethnic Chinese merchants at the Zeigyo market in Mandalay, a bustling city and former royal capital in central Myanmar.

"When I am in China, no one believes I am a foreigner until they see my passport."

The Chinese influence has always been strong in Mandalay, perched beside the broad Irrawaddy River, 264 km (165 miles) southwest of the border with China's Yunnan province.

Ethnic Chinese families have lived in the city for generations and Chinese dialects are commonly heard. Many shop signs and advertisements are in Chinese.

But relations between the neighbours have not always been cosy. As elsewhere in Southeast Asia, an ago-old suspicion of China runs deep.

Anti-Chinese riots erupted in the 1960s and for years afterwards China supported communist guerrillas battling Mynamar's military government from northern hills.

But after the United States imposed sanctions on the country, also known as Burma, after a military crackdown on student-led democracy protests in 1988, Mandalay, and Myanmar itself, slipped deep into China's embrace.

Now many ordinary people feet stifled by that and analysts say Myanmar's rulers, including its military men who have officially handed power to a civilian government, want to loosen their dependence on China and balance out foreign relations.

That's why U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton should get a warm welcome when she arrives in Myanmar on Wednesday for a visit that could do more to end the country's isolation than any other diplomatic gesture in 50 years.

Clinton's trip follows a decision by U.S. President Barack Obama to open the door to expanded ties, saying he saw "flickers of progress" after reforms by the civilian government that took office in March.

While for many in Myanmar, from hardline generals to reformers and pro-democracy campaigners, China has become a symbol of angst, it is bound to remain hugely influential, no matter how warm relations with the United States might grow.

Chinese money is financing new ports, highways and dams across the resource-rich country of 50 million people. Those projects underpin more than $14 billion (8 billion pounds) of pledged Chinese investment for the fiscal year ending in March, making China by far the biggest investor in Myanmar.

But in a sign Myanmar wants a little less of China, President Thein Sein in late September halted construction of a $3.6 billion dam being built by China in northern Myanmar because of public anger over its impact downstream on the Irrawaddy, seen as a holy river.

OPPORTUNITIES IN ANCIENT CAPITAL

Once home to English writer George Orwell, Mandalay was heavily bombed during the Japanese occupation in World War Two. When Allied forces re-took the city in 1945, snipers fought running battles in the grid-like streets.

The city, under the shadow of Mandalay Hill and a giant Buddha statue at the top, was home to Myanmar's royal court until the last king was deposed and exiled by the British in the 1880s.

Though the monarchy was banished, Mandalay remained the centre for Buddhism and about 60 percent of Myanmar's monks are said to live in the city.

It also provides an insight into China's sway over Myanmar.

Shops in the ancient monastic centre are packed with Chinese businessmen, many of them seeking their fortune in jade and other gemstones dug from Myanmar mines.

Wang Yihong, from China's Jiangxi province, said he had invested $1 million in a gold mine about 150 km (100 miles) from Mandalay.

"There are definitely business opportunities," the 51-year-old businessman, puffing on a cigarette, said at Mandalay airport after arriving on a flight from China's Kunming city.

"Burma is rich in resources and China needs these resources."

According to official figures, there are 400,000 ethnic Chinese in Mandalay province, including 70,000 in the city, but researchers said the real number could be much higher because many Chinese have registered themselves as Burmese.

Whatever their numbers, it's clear that the Chinese, whether newly arrived or residents for generations, are better off than ethnic Burmans. It's the Chinese own villas on the outskirts of the city and visit its upmarket shops.

Chin Han, a motorcycle taxi driver dressed in a traditional Burmese sarong, said he could make a better living if he spoke a Chinese language.

"I'm making $200 a month now, but if I could speak Chinese, I think I could make at least $300 a month," he said, waiting for customers in the shade of a tree.

"That's why I've sent one of my sons to learn Chinese. Chinese people are really hard workers, while we Burmese people spend too much time on tea and drinks, and even pray. Maybe we should learn something from the Chinese."

GEMS FOR SALE

In the city's gem market, sellers are often indigenous Burmese wearing sarongs and slippers. Chunks of the milky green stone are on display at stand after stand.

The buyers are usually Chinese, wearing trousers and shoes, who sit at long flat tables, checking the jade with small flashlights and bottles of water with a little holes in the top to wet the stones and judge quality.

Once a deal is made, a bundle of kyat, Myanmar's currency, is exchanged.

"We buy the jade here but the processing here is not good enough, so we take the jade to Guangzhou to process and resell," said a Chinese merchant from Guangdong province near Hong Kong, who only gave his family name Li.

There are 10 Chinese schools in Mandalay.

Feng Huaiwei, an administrator at one of them, said he had suffered discrimination for many years.

"Things for Chinese here are getting much better," he said. Behind him, Chinese proverbs hung from the wall, and there were notices inviting students to join winter camps in China.

While Mandalay is peaceful, distrust of China and the Chinese simmers.

Dan Na, a 32-year-old woman chatting with friends at a temple, said she did not respect the Chinese even if they were more prosperous.

"They are not Buddhists, not Christians, they just make money," said Dan Na, wearing thanaka on her face, a yellowish-white cosmetic paste made from ground bark.

Speaking broken English, Dan Na said she sold fruit on the streets for a living but she took comfort from her religion.

"I believe in Buddha and my next life will be great."

(Writing by Raju Gopalakrishnan; Editing by Dean Yates and Robert Birsel)

Copyright © 2011 Reuters

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The Star Online: Business

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The Star Online: Business


FBM KLCI continues up trending at noon

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 08:40 PM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: The benchmark FBM KLCI gained 11.67 points to 1,454.87 at 12.30 p.m. today with turnover of 685.7 million shares valued at RM614.9mil.

There were 306 counters up, 304 down and 278 remained unchanged.

The top three gainers were Nestle that increase 40 sen to RM51.80, Genting went up 30 sen to RM10.80 and Petronas Gas gained 24 sen to RM13.24.

For the heavyweights, Maybank chalked up 13 sen to RM8.15, Tenaga gained 11 sen to RM5.55 and MISC lost 4 sen to RM5.88

According to HwangDBS Vickers Research with Wall Street finishing mixed last night (its key equity indices posted changes of between -0.5% and +0.3% at the closing bell), it reckoned the local bourse could surrender parts of its gains chalked up yesterday.

"The bellwether FBM KLCI which hit a high of 1,458.0 before pulling back subsequently to settle at 1,444.72 yesterday will probably show a negative bias ahead. There is a possibility that the benchmark index will back off from its immediate resistance level of 1,445 ahead.

"Among the stocks that may succumb to selling activity today include those companies that have just announced disappointing quarterly earnings last evening such as Proton, WTK and BIMB," it said in a market preview report today.

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Philippines' posts $487.3 mln Oct budget deficit

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 07:19 PM PST

Published: Wednesday November 30, 2011 MYT 11:19:00 AM

MANILA, Nov 30 (Reuters) The Philippines said on Wednesday its budget deficit in October was 21.257 billion pesos ($487.32 million), wider than the previous month, and bringing the 10month shortfall to just 25 percent of the full year target.

The fiscal shortfall for the first 10 months of the year was 74.251 billion pesos, against a deficit of 270.302 billion pesos a year earlier.

The government has said it expects to end the year with a budget deficit of at least 2.6 percent of GDP, below the target of 3 percent of GDP or 300 billion pesos, despite a commitment to increase spending in the final three months of the year.

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China GD Power says to invest in $3 bln hydropower plant

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 07:12 PM PST

Published: Wednesday November 30, 2011 MYT 11:13:00 AM

SHANGHAI, Nov 30 (Reuters) China GD Power Development's majorityowned subsidiary will invest in a 19.26 billion yuan ($3 billion) hydropower project, the firm said in a statement on Wednesday.

GD Power, a unit of stateowned Guodian Corp, said investment in the Houziyan hydropower project would be made via Dadu River Hydropower Development Co Ltd, in which it has a 69 percent stake.

When completed, the Houziyan hydropower plant located in Sichuan province will have a generation capacity of 1,700 MW capacity.

GD Power in August said it would issue 5.5 billion yuan of convertible bonds to help fund five hydropower projects and 11 wind power projects.

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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio


CBS and FOX take top honors in November sweeps

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 08:33 PM PST

LOS ANGELES (Reuters): CBS won the November television sweeps period for the 11th straight year but Fox took the honors with the 18-49 year-old age group most coveted by advertisers, according to ratings data on Tuesday.

ABC finished second to CBS in terms of overall viewers, thanks partly to the success of its Emmy-award winning comedy "Modern Family". But there was little joy for NBC, which came last again among the leading four TV networks despite featuring a slew of new comedy and drama shows.

The November sweeps are one of four periods each year in which detailed viewing habits are measured across the United States and used by local TV stations to set advertising rates.

Fox said it had boosted its 18-49 ratings by 13 percent - the biggest of any network - compared to November 2010 to give it a victory in the audience group for only the second time.

Fox said its win among those younger viewers was fueled by new comedy "New Girl", reality show "The X Factor" and pricey dinosaur drama "Terra Nova". In terms of overall viewers, Fox finished in third place.

CBS, which boasts hit comedies "Two Broke Girls" and "Two and A Half Men" along with veteran crime shows "NCIS" and the "CSI" franchise tends to attract older viewers. But the network finished second in the 18-49 demographic for the November sweeps, behind Fox and ahead of female-friendly ABC.

NBC, which has revamped its management and prime-time line-up since being taken over by cable giant Comcast in January, saw a five percent decline in overall viewers during November sweeps.

NBC axed its much talked-about new drama "The Playboy Club" after just three episodes in October, along with new comedy "Free Agents".

The network's hopes for its "Prime Suspect" remake have also foundered and production of the crime drama has been suspended pending a decision on the show's future.

CBS is part of CBS Corp , Fox is a unit of News Corp , ABC is part of Walt Disney Co. and NBC is majority-owned by Comcast .

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Janet Hsieh shares her experience of hosting reality show

Posted: 30 Nov 2011 03:18 AM PST

Taiwanese-American TV host Janet Hsieh shares the thrills and spills of hosting TLC's Fun Taiwan Challenge.

Fancy exploring the hidden corners of Taiwan and sampling its exotic delicacies while meeting the people and learning the culture? And, while you're at it, how about playing some games on a TV show for a chance to win a cash prize of NT$1mil (RM105,129) at the end of your adventure.

Often compared to Amazing Race and Survivor, the show in question is titled Fun Taiwan Challenge. A spin-off of the popular Taiwan series Fun Taiwan, it is US lifestyle channel TLC's first made-in-Taiwan reality challenge series and is produced in partnership with the Taiwan Tourism Board (TTB). The show started off with 15 contestants aged 21-31 from eight different countries. Chosen from over 3,000 applicants, the 15 well-travelled contestants hail from Australia, Belgium, Estonia, Germany, Philippines, Romania, Britain and the United States.

Hosting this exciting show is the vivacious Janet Hsieh, who even joins the contestants in undertaking the daredevil tasks as they experience the various facets of Taiwan.

Hsieh, 31, enthused that hosting Fun Taiwan Challenge was a bag of laughs but being a judge was in itself a major challenge for her.

"When you have to do eliminations with the contestants, you have to distance yourself as much as possible. Because, in the end, there can only be one winner.

"So, after every episode when we had to do the eliminations, it was really emotionally difficult to have to send someone back home," said the Taiwanese-American TV host last week in a teleconference with journalists from Malaysia, Phillippines and Singapore.

Hsieh also had a hand at developing some of the tasks and challenges.

"A lot of the challenges, I've done personally, but we've added a twist to give them a different kind of experience during filming.

"In the episodes airing this week, the tasks given are really physically challenging. During the Penghu challenge in episode seven, the contestants were shocked when we gave them their task. Everybody's jaw dropped when they heard what the challenge was."

So, what was the challenge? Hsieh said you have to tune in to find out.

So who maps out the contest and puts together the challenges?

"We form a team, the producers and the crew, and test out the challenges beforehand. But, sometimes, the contestants will complete the tasks faster or slower than scheduled, so on-site I have to make quick decisions there and then," Hsieh shared about her own input on the set.

Having already traversed the country as the host of the popular travel series Fun Taiwan, Hsieh is constantly surprised that she can still find new places to explore.

"Sometimes, I think I must have seen it all, but yet there's suddenly a new corner to discover. For example, Hualien on the east coast of Taiwan, a place which I love and go for personal trips as well. For the challenge there, we went to this place called the Green Trail. It was gorgeous!"

Each new episode sees the contestants taking on a different challenge and then facing the unwelcome prospect of being eliminated at the end. Winners of each task, however, are rewarded with fine food and luxury accommodation for their efforts.

The first four episodes of the show have taken Hsieh and the contestants to Taipei, Taroko National Park, and Green Island. Later episodes will take them to Kaohsiung, Pingdong, Penghu, Tainan, Alishan, Taoyuan, Sun Moon Lake, and Miaoli.

Born and raised in Houston, Texas, as Janet Josephine Hsieh Yi-fen, the bubbly TV host states in an online bio that she is 100% Taiwanese. Calling herself a "professional traveller and lifelong student of the world", Hsieh has travelled to over 35 countries and lived in six different countries.

Hence, the effervescent lass speaks five languages fluently: English, Taiwanese (Hokkien), Mandarin, Spanish and French. The Spanish and biology major also loves to read (everything from autobiographies to Freakonomics), and is currently reading four books at the same time, including The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and The Alchemist.

"I've read The Alchemist a hundred times already. So, I'm reading it in Spanish right now. Because, I've read it so many times before, it's easier to read it in a second language." (The Alchemist or O Alquimista is an allegorical novel originally written in Portuguese by Paulo Coelho and published in 1988.)

Apart from devouring books, Hsieh is also a published author and she is already coming out with her third book – in English this time. Her first two books – Traveling With 100 Toothbrushes and Backpacking To The Future – were published last year.

Recently, she also had the opportunity to perform with the National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan at the National Concert Hall.

"It was a dream come true to be able stand on the stage and perform Carmen on the violin. Next, I'll be performing violin with Taiwanese pop stars A-Lin and Christine Fan," shared Hsieh who started playing the violin when she was five, and wanted to be a concert violinist when she was 13. In the early 1990s, she even played at the White House and toured Europe (playing in France, Netherlands and Germany) with the Texas Young Virtuosos.

Hsieh, who had earlier served a stint as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in a fire department in Taipei, shared that she had "wanted to work as a volunteer doctor with Doctors Without Borders". But, she now finds her role on TV to be more suited to highlighting issues that matter and she is taking it further by accepting a small part in a drama that will commence shooting in February.

To see Hsieh in action, tune in today for episodes five and six, shown back-to-back. Episode five sees the contestants visit the Love River in Kaohsiung, where the indigenous-themed challenges include solving different types of crossword puzzles in addition to engaging in traditional temple rituals and making paper umbrellas.

In episode six, the contestants have to memorise the names of a variety of tribal costumes as well as work in teams to conquer physical challenges like hauling and weighing tunas in Pingdong.

Fun Taiwan Challenge airs on TLC (Astro Ch 707) every Monday at 8pm with repeats every Wednesday at 2pm.

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Fashion passion

Posted: 30 Nov 2011 12:56 AM PST

The Li highlights in December are as stylish as they come.

GET ready for a swinging year-end festive season treat with the best style shows on the Li channel (Astro706). Dizzy up on the fashion runway. Meet the iconic designers, experience the backstage frenzy at fashion shows, relive the adrenalin-rush lifestyles of the fashion gurus, take in the human angles of this buzzing industry and watch the fashionistas take flight on the catwalk. Check out what is in store.

The Day Before: Proenza Schouler (S1) (Dec 4, 10pm) – Enjoy an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at one of the greatest high fashion houses in an all-access documentary by French director, cinematographer and fashion maven Loïc Prigent.

Waltz through studios, ateliers and PR offices in a race against time just 36 hours prior to the debut of the Fall '09 ready-to-wear runway show by Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough. They are the young visionaries behind the edgy and elegant Proenza Schouler label, which was named after their mothers.

In this full frontal fashion documentary, New York's frenetic hustle and bustle is amplified a thousand times over in the frenzied backstage scenes at Proenza Schouler. The dynamic Hernandez-McCollough duo pack serious heat with their fiery passion and deep involvement with even the finest details of their fashion show.

For Hernandez and McCollough, every creation is an absolute labour of love that they would jointly delint, fuss over and send off as the models sashay out to an awestruck audience. After all, it's high stakes season as the Proenza Schouler Fall 2009 show cost a whopping US$180,000! This fine frenzy translates into a fashion feast like no other as captured through the lens of Loïc Prigent!

Named the "next generation of American talent" by the New York Times – which garners praise for its willingness to experiment with fabrics and acute ability to reinterpret classic cuts and designs for a modern audience – the award-winning creative force that is Hernandez and McCollough combined will leave you riveted by their endless energy, striking symmetry and synergy, and absolute dedication to perfection.

The Day Before: Fendi by Karl Lagerfeld (Dec 11, 10pm) – Unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to influential designer Karl Lagerfeld's most feverish and personal moments during the final 36 hours leading up to his major runway shows. Delve into Lagerfeld's exciting experience as the creative director of Italian high fashion house Fendi in this dramatic time when creativity and commerce come together.

Featuring the frenetic hours before the Fendi Fall 2009 fashion show in Milan, there's no shortage of Italian screams and luxurious visions such as private jets. Loic Prigent, who has really taken the whole fly-on-the-wall fashion documentary concept by the horns these past few years, focuses more on the characters involved in the creation of fashion rather than the clothes in making the show, but there are hardly any full-on temper tantrums despite the last-minute circumstances.

Yet that doesn't mean that emotions aren't strained and that tensions don't run high. Lagerfeld tries to relieve stress with the amusing house tradition: an annual employee fashion show.

This documentary also features brief interview sessions with Lagerfeld and Carla Fendi, the chairman of the board of directors of Fendi.

Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton (Dec 18, 10pm)– The Louis Vuitton line has long been the desire of all women around the globe. The name behind the great Louis Vuitton creations is the brilliant Marc Jacobs, who is widely regarded as the most influential designer of his generation and recognised as one of the most original minds in haute couture in these modern times. French filmmaker and director Loïc Prigent brings you an intimate insight into the fashion world through his lens as he takes us into the everyday life of Marc Jacobs in this documentary.

This witty portrait follows Jacobs as he balances his demanding roles, namely as the first American designer to be creative director of venerable French fashion house Louis Vuitton, and his own eponymous American line.

Jacobs is disarmingly pleasant to watch, with seemingly unlimited access to the workshops and houses. The film does a good job of explaining how and why he and his designs are so successful, featuring him in meetings, preparing collections and at high-profile shows.

This film is also specific in its focus – it is about an artist and his process. Jacobs has a knack for sizing up the zeitgeist and then one-upping it. A master of the mash-up, his references are wide-ranging, always in flux, and often unlikely.

Vivienne Westwood – Do It Yourself! (Dec 25, 10pm) – Get up close and personal with the iconic, flame-haired fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, an audacious artist and activist who was the forefront of the punk movement in mid-1970s London. Many decades on, her brand of non-conformist punk style has remained relevant, inspiring generations of young designers after her.

The documentary, filmed between 2009 and 2010 in London and Paris by the filmmaker-writer duo of Letmiya Sztalryd and Jean-Marie Sztalyrd, provides an intimate portrait of the irrepressible and irresistible tour de force that is Vivienne Westwood.

With her penchant for deconstructing fashion, only to reinvent the same piece in a wildly different and exciting way, Westwood embodies the true revolutionary spirit of punk. Defying societal conventions, she runs her fashion empire all year, actively dislikes taking time off, and wears towering high-heeled shoes at every opportunity.

The documentary also sheds light onto her working relationship with husband Andreas Kronthaler, who plays the pivotal part of artistic director in her fashion empire.

Watch their preparations for the big shows in Paris – with playful arguments over everything from fabrics to choice of music for runway shows – and learn how their different working styles ultimately come together to produce groundbreaking, critically-acclaimed collections.

Visit her legendary London shop, World's End and take a nostalgic trip as she recounts how her do-it-yourself influences stemmed from her childhood. – Compiled by Azhariah Kamin

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The Star Online: Sports

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The Star Online: Sports


Johnson has surgery on right knee, out until January

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 06:47 PM PST

LONDON (Reuters): American world number five Dustin Johnson is expected to be sidelined until at least early January after having knee surgery on Tuesday, his manager said.

The big-hitting Johnson, a five-times winner on the U.S. PGA Tour, had experienced pain in his right knee since July and underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage damage.

"All is well - no worries! Feelin' good...or is that the meds!? Appreciate all the support but it's all pretty minor stuff," Johnson said on his Twitter feed.

Earlier in the day, Johnson's doctor said in a statement: "His prognosis is excellent and we expect a quick and speedy recovery."

Johnson's manager, David Winkle, said the American was likely to be on crutches for a week before resuming his normal practice routine in late December before competing again by early to mid-January.

Johnson won his fifth PGA Tour title at The Barclays in August, triumphing by two shots in an event cut to 54 holes because of Hurricane Irene.

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Phelps predicts records will tumble in new swimsuit

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 06:45 PM PST

NEW YORK (Reuters): The bodysuit war that reduced the 2009 swimming world championships to farce and effectively turned the sport into a battle of technology could erupt again on Wednesday when Michael Phelps takes to the catwalk to launch a new outfit for next year's London Olympics.

Phelps was bitterly opposed to the now-banned swimsuits that were used in Rome two years ago, refusing to wear them because he believed they aided buoyancy, but he is getting ready to promote a new space-age suit.

More than 40 world records were set during the championships, setting off howls of protests, and Phelps, who said he considered quitting the sport, was vindicated when the sport's world governing body FINA agreed to ban them and place a limit on technology.

However, with the start of the London Olympics less than eight months away, Phelps will join fellow Americans Ryan Lochte and Natalie Coughlin on Wednesday to unveil the latest suit they will wear in London.

Makers Speedo say it is both revolutionary and innovative and will produce a flood of world records at the Olympics.

Before 2009, not all scientists who tested the suits were convinced they provided any real benefits but the claims, which are sure to trigger another technology war with rival suit makers, have nevertheless been a marketing dream for sponsors.

For most of the swimmers, the controversy is no more than a storm in a teacup. World records never last long in swimming and Phelps believes all the records set in the now-illegal suits are also doomed to tumble.

"Records are always made to be broken, in my eyes that's not a question," Phelps told Reuters in an exclusive interview marking the launch of his appointment as the global face of head&shoulders anti-dandruff shampoo.

"If people want to work hard and do it then they will do it. There are still people who have that desire to be the best they can and they will find it. It can be done." NOT UNTOUCHABLE

Phelps currently holds the world record for three individual events - 100 and 200 metres butterfly and 400m individual medley.

The 14-times Olympic gold medalist also once held the 200m freestyle and 200m medley marks but lost them both at Rome in 2009. He was beaten by Germany's Paul Biedermann in the freestyle and Lochte in the medley.

Lochte went on to lower his record even further at this year's world championships in Shanghai, proving that the records from Rome could be bettered.

"People have got to get out of their heads that these records are untouchable," Phelps told Reuters.

"Everything is possible. That's something I have learnt in my career. There are no limits if you want to go out and do it then you just go out and do it.

"If you have that thought process, that you think you can do it, then you can do it. You're going to see a lot of fast swims and hopefully we're going to see a lot of new records in the next year and I think we will."

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Sherwood offers rich reward for Tiger and guests

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 06:44 PM PST

THOUSAND OAKS, California, (Reuters): For the 18 players vying for supremacy at this week's $5 million Chevron World Challenge, merely competing in the Tiger Woods-hosted event is confirmation of a successful year.

With the notable exception of four-times champion Woods, who has not won a tournament for more than two years, every other player in the invitational field at Sherwood Country Club is ranked in the world's top 50.

While the title at Sherwood is unofficial, the Challenge offers official world ranking points and the player who finishes last on Sunday is guaranteed a cheque for $140,000.

"I played a pro-am here maybe five years ago, and I watched my dad (Jay) play the event," American Bill Haas told reporters on Tuesday while preparing for Thursday's opening round.

"I remember he was saying this should be one of your goals ... to get here one day, so it's a great feeling for me to be inside the ropes playing this event. Hopefully I can make it back here in the future."

Haas earned his first World Challenge spot after a career-best PGA Tour campaign highlighted by victory at the season-ending Tour Championship along with FedExCup honours and its $10 million bonus.

"I had an unbelievable finish there, and the way the points all worked out for me to win the FedExCup was pretty amazing," Haas said of his lucrative windfall at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

Since then, the 29-year-old has kept busy, playing in the Australian Open, representing his country at the Presidents Cup and also competing in China.

"It seems the better you play, the less off-season you have," the world number 22 said with a broad grin. "But these are all good problems to have.

"If I could play these (events) every year, I don't know if I care to have an off-season. These are pretty special tournaments to be in." Fellow American Keegan Bradley, who won his first major title at the PGA Championship in August, agreed with Haas.

PLAYING HONOUR

"It's just an honour for a player like me to be in a field like this with players like Tiger, Nick Watney and some of the other guys," Bradley said. "It's really cool.

"I've watched this tournament a bunch of times. I watched it every year pretty much. At the beginning of the year, I would never have thought I'd be here playing.

"Before the PGA (Championship), I wouldn't have thought I would have been here playing. This week is a fun experience for me, and I'll really, truly enjoy it."

This week will be an especially significant one for Woods as he seeks to win his first tournament since the 2009 Australian Masters.

A year ago, he was seemingly perfectly poised to end his title drought when he began the final round with a four-shot lead over U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland.

However, 14-times major winner Woods surrendered his advantage before losing to McDowell in a playoff.

"It was a great week, even though I didn't win," Woods said of his crushing loss. "I putted awful starting out ... then I lost my swing in the middle part of the round, and pieced it back together again piece by piece.

"I was proud of that. I was very committed coming in, and hit some really, really good shots coming in, which was good."

Woods looked in good shape on a glorious sun-splashed afternoon at Sherwood on Tuesday as he crisply struck golf balls on the practice range watched by his coach Sean Foley.

While a long-awaited victory this week would not count as official, it would certainly validate the encouraging form he recently displayed in Australia during that country's national open and at the Presidents Cup.

It would also give him a welcome jolt of confidence for his 2012 campaign as he bids to put behind him the bitter memories of his struggles for fitness and form over the last two years with his private life in tatters.

He has an impressive track record at Sherwood, where he last triumphed in 2007, and a fifth success in his own tournament could well be on the cards for Sunday.

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The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

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Made in Petaling Street

Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:31 AM PST

James Lee's latest film features some interesting talents from Malaysia and Singapore.

WHAT enters your mind when Kuala Lumpur's Petaling Street is mentioned? Tourists and locals thronging a bustling street? The famous Hokkien mee and the herbal tea? Or the pirated DVDs and the counterfeit goods?

Through the lens of Malaysian filmmaker James Lee Thim Heng (of The Beautiful Washing Machine fame), the famous tourist location has been turned into a centre of intrigue and mystery. Set in 1908, Lee's latest venture sees heroes of different backgrounds – Japanese spies and kung fu-fighting eunuchs – vie for a long-lost hidden treasure.

Along the way, an ordinary Hokkien mee seller Shi Du Yao (played by Singaporean actor Mark Lee), his wife, Zhung Li Chun (Yeo Yann Yann) and her cousin-in-law, Liu Kun (Namewee), get dragged into the treasure hunt.

That's the premise of Lee's Petaling Street Warriors, a RM3mil comedy that also boasts lots of action which is choreographed by Hong Kong director Ma Yuk Sing (of The Storm Warriors and A Chinese Ghost Story remake fame).

Petaling Street was chosen as the setting because of its historical value and iconic status, said scriptwriter Lim Boon Siang.

"It holds a significant historical value for Chinese immigrants and there are interesting anecdotes related to the famous street. For example, apparently Chinese revolutionary Sun Yat Sen (who played an instrumental role in the overthrow of China's Qing dynasty) stayed there before.

"Most of us only see it as a place selling pirated DVDs! Hopefully this movie will remind moviegoers about its history," Lim explained.

At a recent press conference to promote the film, it was apparent to all present that there was an unmistakable chemistry between leading stars Lee and Yeo, who had worked together in the Singaporean movie Being Human last year.

"I'm not very used to her two 'volcanoes'," Lee joked, referring to the two water bags Yeo had to stuff into her clothes to create a busty image for the role.

"They used cold water to prepare the water bags at 5am every day!" Yeo revealed about her rather "toilsome" costume regime. "Once I was doing a fight scene and one of the bags fell out from my sleeve and into my hand!"

Though they play husband and wife in the film, the duo share no kissing scenes.

"Although Yann Yann wanted to kiss me badly, I had turned down such scenes, because I was too scared that she might fall in love with me," joked Lee, to which Yeo laughingly replied: "I already have."

Instead, Yeo got the opportunity to get somewhat "intimate" with local actress Chris Tong, who plays Xiao Ju, a mysterious beauty armed with martial arts skills.

"I think I fell in love with Chris after shooting one particular fight scene!" Yeo quipped about Tong, who played her sister in 8TV drama series A Time To Embrace.

The fight scenes were apparently so intense that Yeo and Tong ended up with bruises all over their bodies and had to use make-up to cover them up.

"It was certainly a challenge. I lost 2kg shooting just one scene, which lasted 12 hours," said 34-year-old Yeo, the winner of the Best Actress award at Ntv7's Golden Awards last year.

While Yeo thanked Ma for stretching their potential and "making us look good in the fight scenes", she admitted that she's a little "scared" of him.

Lee interjected: "Don't be fooled by Ma's gentle looks," he said, adding that the fight choreographer often "scolded" the cast on set.

Ma, who turned down two other China productions to do Petaling Street Warriors, adopted a quick-paced shooting style.

"The cast coped really well. They did 90% of their stunts by themselves," Ma said.

Despite his tough-as-nails approach, Ma enjoyed whipping up mouth-watering dishes for the cast and crew, according to co-director and producer Sampson Yuen.

"He cooked porridge and boiled herbal tea. He also brought fruits and local delicacies like Ipoh's salted chicken. He's got a tough-guy exterior (when directing the cast), but then at other moments, he's almost like a woman," said Yuen, laughing.

Petaling Street Warriors features a plethora of vibrant characters. Among them, Ma Fu Yi, a Chinese eunuch highly skilled in martial arts.

Though he looked effortlessly cool playing the role, Frederick Lee (the younger brother of MediaCorp star Christopher Lee) admitted that he's very nervous.

"Every aspect is new to me. I'm excited but worried at the same time, because it's something I haven't done before," said the 35-year-old, who has starred in local TV series like The Iron Lady and Glowing Embers.

For this debut film role, Frederick referred to different sources for inspiration.

"I heard Guns 'N' Roses on the radio and it struck me that maybe frontman Axl Rose's voice is the kind of voice I should go for. But I still ended up doing repeated takes, as it was hard to control my voice and remember the lines at the same time," he said.

Apart from all the fight scenes and the action, the movie also promises to provide lots of laughs and some interesting extras. There's even a talking parrot, which sent the production crew into panic one day when it disappeared from the set!

"It flew off and did not return. The crew tried to look for it and only found it in a tree nearby the next day. So we had to redo the scene," said Lee.

Having starred in hit movies like Money No Enough 2 and Ah Long Pte Ltd, funnyman Lee, who started his showbiz career under Jack Neo's tutelage, was impressed by the scale of production of Petaling Street Warriors.

"The kind of sets, costumes and the extras used, as well as the action scenes and the director's style, are all different. I'm honoured to be part of this. Through the use of camera angles and lighting, we are portrayed as action heroes, even though we really are not," he said.

He also enjoyed working with the local talents. "Malaysian actors work very hard and put in a lot of effort into enhancing their roles. They end up stealing the scenes sometimes," he said.

The cast and crew hope that the movie will showcase what both the Malaysian and Singaporean filmmaking industries have to offer.

"The moviemaking business in the region is thriving. More filmmakers are shooting their movies here, for example, (Dante Lam's) The Viral Factor (which was partially shot in Kuala Lumpur). Hopefully, through Petaling Street Warriors, we can show foreign filmmakers that our movies can be as good as theirs," said Lee, expressing confidence in seeing the movie collecting more than RM8mil at the box office in Singapore and Malaysia.

It's also likely that Petaling Street Warriors will be shown in Taiwan, said Yuen, who is now in talks with foreign distributors. "Though the story is set in Malaysia, foreign viewers can still appreciate Petaling Street Warriors for its action, fast-paced delivery and relatable premise," he concluded.

Petaling Street Warriors starts showing in cinemas nationwide tomorrow.

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'Beginners,' 'Tree of Life' win Gotham Film Awards

Posted: 28 Nov 2011 11:02 PM PST

NEW YORK: Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life" and the Christopher Plummer film "Beginners" shared the top prize for best feature film on Monday at the Gotham Awards, a key event for independent movies which also marks the start of the film-awards season culminating in the Oscars.

The honors for "The Tree of Life," a mystical period drama starring Brad Pitt, and "Beginners," which stars Ewan McGregor as a man whose elderly father (Plummer) comes out of the closet, scored upset victories.

Alexander Payne's "The Descendants," a well-reviewed Oscar front-runner which stars George Clooney in a family drama set in Hawaii, was nominated in three categories but won none.

Instead "Beginners," directed by relative neophyte Mike Mills, also won best ensemble performance at the New York-based awards, co-hosted by Edie Falco and Oliver Platt.

Mills lauded his cast, singling out Plummer by saying there was "no good reason for Christopher Plummer to believe in me. But he did."

The best documentary honor went to "Better This World," about two boyhood friends from Texas accused of attempting to bomb the 2008 Republican convention.

The Gotham Awards are held annually by the Independent Feature Project, a nonprofit organization founded in 1979 that supports independent filmmaking. The awards provide a focus on the year's top independent movies heading into award season.

Felicity Jones took the prize for breakthrough actor for her work in "Like Crazy," playing a British student separated from her American boyfriend after her visa expires.

Dee Rees won the breakthrough director award for her debut non-documentary feature, "Pariah," about a New York City African-American teenager confronting her sexual identity.

"Girlfriend" won the audience award, while "Scenes of a Crime," the story of a man appealing a life prison sentence, was named best film without a distribution deal.

Special tribute awards were given to Charlize Theron, Gary Oldman, "A Dangerous Method" director David Cronenberg and Fox Filmed Entertainment CEO Tom Rothman.

Films and performances singled out at the Gothams often reflect those nominated for Independent Spirit Awards, another key set of honors for indie movies organized by Los Angeles-based group Film Independent, which announces its annual nominations for the year's best on Tuesday.

Last year's top Gotham winner, "Winter's Bone," an ultra-low-budget indie that cost about $2 million, went on to score four Oscar nominations including best picture.

Presenters at the awards included Alec Baldwin, Stanley Tucci, Melissa Leo and Tilda Swinton.

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Jamal surprises fans at PWTC

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 02:48 PM PST

SINGER Jamal Abdillah set many hearts a-flutter when he surprised fans by turning up at the PWTC in his signature dark sunglasses and perfectly coiffed hair.

He was promoting his latest album, Raja Pop II, which will be officially launched in January and features hit songs from the 50s and 60s.

"I made this album because there are songs that people rarely hear," he said yesterday.

The trim and fit 52-year-old also posed for fans.

Jamal was at a booth selling his mugs, T-shirts, posters and CDs. It is one of over 200 booths set up for the Umno general assembly.

One fan, Noor Lizam Kassim, 43, said he seized the chance to buy Jamal's latest album and was surprised to see the singer there.

"Jamal is Malaysia's Tom Jones or Eric Clapton.

"He has such an evergreen voice, there is no Malaysian artiste that can challenge him," he said, adding that his favourite song was Kenangan Tak Bisa Dilenyapkan (Memories Cannot Be Erased).

Another thrilled fan Azura Azmi, 40, said she had been waiting for him to arrive since spotting his merchandise booth.

"He is amazing. I've loved his songs since I was a teenager.

"There is no one like him," she said.

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Pro-BN bloggers upload videoclip of Nga’s remark against Zambry

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 02:48 PM PST

PETALING JAYA: Pro-Barisan Nasional bloggers have uploaded a videoclip which appeared to show Taiping DAP MP Nga Kor Ming calling Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir a "metallic black person".

The videoclip can be seen at Rocky's Bru (www.rockybru.com.my) and www.stopthelies.my.

Police reports have also been lodged against Nga on his remark.

MCA deputy youth chief and Perak Youth chief Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said Nga's comments served to highlight the racist attributes of the opposition party.

"DAP may claim to be multi-racial, but Nga's chauvinist remark is a Freudian slip.

"Do refrain from adopting racist descriptions against any community and emulate MCA in our multi-racial outreach and service to all Malaysians irrespective of ethnicity," he said in a statement yesterday.

In Ipoh, about 20 non-governmental organisations from Buntong have lodged police reports against Nga and demanded for him to apologise.

Spokesman S. Jayagopi said Nga had made an insulting remark not only to Dr Zambry, but also to all dark-skinned citizens.

"Being a state assemblyman, Nga should know better than to use use racist and derogatory words," Jayagopi said after lodging the report at the Buntong police station here yesterday.

Malaysian Indian Association president Dr G. Krishnan said Nga had forgotten about the support the Indian community had given to the party during the 2008 general election.

Kinta Indian Association vice-president N. Loganathan said Indians who had been supporting DAP should be embarrassed.

All Malaysia Indian Progressive Front chairman S. Vasu said Nga should publicly apologise to Dr Zambry and the Indian community.

In Kuala Lumpur, MIC central working committee member S. Vellpaari said Nga should resign if he refuses to apologise to Dr Zambry and the Indian community.

Vellpaari, who is the Sungai Siput elections operations director, had been among the first to tweet since the issue was raised in the Perak state assembly last week.

He said DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang had kept mum to his question on what action the party planned to take against Nga.

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Recognise UEC to woo Chinese, says deputy minister

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 02:46 PM PST

UMNO supreme council member Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah believes that the best way to win Chinese votes in the general election is to recognise the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC), reported Nanyang Siang Pau.

The daily quoted him as saying that "the lack of confidence" in the relevant departments was the reason why UEC was still not recognised in the country.

"I have asked that the Government recognise UEC since the 1980s. I have no problem with that at all. "If the Government can recognise Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) as the entry requirement for public universities, why can't it also recognise UEC, which is similar in standard to the A-levels and is recognised by renowned foreign universities? This is not logical," said Saifuddin who is also Deputy Higher Education Minister.

He said he has brought up the matter at the Umno supreme council meeting but there had been no progress.

"I believe the relevant departments haven't built confidence enough to recognise UEC.

"However, if these UEC graduates return from their tertiary education at world-famous universities, their university qualifications will be recognised by the Government too.

"The question is, why do-world renowned foreign universities recognise UEC but not our Government?" he asked.

Saifuddin said if the Government could resolve the issue as soon as possible, it would bring great benefits and help Barisan Nasional gain support from the Chinese community. Most importantly, he said, it would also solve the brain drain problem that Malaysia has been facing.

He also said Chinese voters needed to be treated fairly.

"It is insufficient if we just have the 1Malaysia slogan.

This concept will ensure that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is accepted by the Chinese community but it does not mean that they can accept Umno," he said.

Other News & Views is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this > sign, it denotes a separate news item.

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The Star Online: Metro: Central

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Metro Watch

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 02:21 AM PST

LICENCE RENEWAL

Premises owners in the Subang Jaya municipality can renew their 2012 licences from now till Dec 31 at the MPSJ headquarters in USJ 5 or MPSJ branch offices at Bandar Puteri Puchong and Serdang from Dec 1 onwards. Payment can be made by cash, cheque or my@mpsj with credit card. MPSJ will take stern action on those who fail to renew their licences. For details, call the Licensing Department at 03-8026 3176/ 3177/ 4321 or visit www.mpsj.gov.my.

INNER STRENGTH

The Brahma Kumaris Malaysia will hold a talk on Developing Inner Strength To Face Challenges by BK Anthony Strano on Dec 4 from 7pm to 9pm at Teratai/ Kenanga/ Seroja meeting rooms in Kelab Darul Ehsan, Jalan Kerja Air Lama, Taman Tun Abdul Razak, Ampang, KL. Admission is free. For details call Soon 012-208 0731, Indra Devi 012-217 3247 or Sandiran 012-202 6625. Enquiries email to kualalumpur@my.bkwsu.org.

TEXTILE TALK

National Textile Museum will hold a talk themed Indian Trade Textiles and Southeast Asian Court Culture tomorrow at 10.30am at Galeri Saindera, Level 1 and the speaker John Guy is the curator of South and Southeast Asian Art in the Department of Asian Art and at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Admission is free. Call Syahrul or Nor Asmah at 03-2694 3457/ 4345.

FUN FAIR

Desa Amal Jireh (Rumah Faith and Eagle's Nest), homes for the underprivileged, orphans and destitute old folks will hold a charity sale as well as a food and fun fair from 9am-3pm on Dec 3 at the Tajireh multi-purpose hall, Lot 340, Jalan Broga, Semenyih. Those wishing to contribute items can deliver them directly or call 03-8724 5153/5158.

REUNION DINNER

The Class of 1971 of Dharma Insti-tute at 6th mile Jalan Puchong will be having a reunion on Dec 4 from noon at Armada Hotel in Petaling Jaya. All students and teachers who had taught the class are invited. For details, call Pong Hoong Guan at 012- 206 5926 or Gillian Fernandez at 017-878 2027.

SIGN LANGUAGE

YMCA Kuala Lumpur is holding a Sign Language course for the deaf as a form of communication. Also 500 vocabulary signs, finger spelling and information about the deaf culture will be taught. Classes commences tomorrow from 7.30pm to 8.30pm, once a week. Call Eeyong at 03-2274 1439 ext 117.

STUDENTS' REUNION

Calling all students of SK Sultan Sulaiman II, Kuala Terengganu (batch 1985-1990) to celebrate and rekindle old friendships on Dec 24 at 7.30pm at the Felda Residence, Kuala Terengganu. Call Rizal Adnan at 019- 955 1897 or Tengku Azrawati 019- 339 9729.

CALENDARS ON SALE

Shelter Home is having their annual sale of beautiful desk top calendars for 2012 themed "Children are precious gift from God" priced at RM10 each to raise funds. For details call Edwin or Brian at 03-7955 0663 or via website at www.shelterhome.org.

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Stench not from factory

Posted: 29 Nov 2011 02:21 AM PST

I am writing with regard to the StarMetro article "Stench in Semenyih" that appeared on Nov 22. I work part-time for the company that provides the RRC-WTE technology that is used at the plant, so am very familiar with the recycle energy plant in question and am quite concerned that you may have misled your readers.

First of all, Taman Desa Mewah is about 5km from the plant so it is not possible for the smell to reach there. The raw waste is sprayed with a deodorising enzyme as soon as it arrives and the company follows a strict regime of odour control to ensure that the smell does not drift into the locality.

The waste that fuels the power plant is burnt at over 800 degrees Celsius, so there's absolutely no way that the smell is coming from the chimney.

The company constantly checks the quality of the emission as does the Department of Environment (DOE) and it has always been found to be well within DOE-approved standards.

With regard to the trucks going through Kampung Sungai Lalang, the company built a separate access road that by-passes the village. The road that runs through Kampung Sungai Lalang is in such poor condition, with large potholes, that the garbage trucks would find it virtually impossible to use.

I suppose it is possible that an occasional truck mistakes the turn off and drives through the village but it certainly isn't the norm. Your article implies that it's standard practice.

The one thing I will agree with your article is that there is often a stench along Jalan Sungai Lalang as I have smelt it myself, but I am also sure that it is not coming from the RESB plant. It is too far away from the plant and the smell disappears when you approach the turn-off for the plant.

I do think it is possible that there is an illegal garbage dump somewhere near the industrial area that abuts Taman Desa Mewah, which may account for the foul smell reported by the residents there.

The RRC-WTE technology being employed at the plant is helping to conserve the environment and improve public health by eliminating the need for landfills.

Furthermore it is supplying energy to the national grid and has created jobs in the area. Preventing waste fron being sent to a landfill also helps to reduce global warming by eliminating the landfill gas, methane, from the atmosphere.

Mary Maguire
Semenyih

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