Selasa, 9 April 2013

The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates


China formally charges former rail minister with graft

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 09:36 PM PDT

BEIJING (Reuters) - China formally charged former railways minister Liu Zhijun with corruption and abuse of power on Wednesday, state media said, the latest step in a graft investigation into the scandal-plagued railways.

Liu faces either a lengthy jail sentence or possibly death. How severely he is dealt with will be an indicator of how seriously new Chinese President Xi Jinping Xi takes his fight on corruption, one of the pillars of his new administration

Liu "practiced favouritism and carried out malpractice, misused his power and caused big losses to public property and the interests of the state and the people", the official Xinhua news agency said.

"The second intermediate Beijing court has already accepted the bribery and misuse of power case in accordance with the law and will chose a date for a trial," the news agency said.

"As a worker for the state, Liu Zhijun used his position to help others seek gain, illegally accepted wealth and assets from other people. The numbers involved were huge and the circumstances very serious," Xinhua added.

Liu took huge bribes and misused his position to help the chairman of an investment company get enormous illegal profits, according to previous accusations levelled by state media.

He has not been given a chance to defend himself in public.

China's sprawling railway system has faced numerous problems over the past few years, including heavy debts from funding new high-speed lines, waste and fraud.

The government has pledged to open the rail industry to private investment on an unprecedented scale

The ministry suffered a big blow to its image when a crash in 2011 between two high-speed trains killed 40 people.

Liu was sacked in February last year for "serious disciplinary violations" and expelled from the Communist Party three months later, in May. He had spearheaded an investment drive into the rail sector over the past decade.

Liu had successfully resisted a merger with the Ministry of Transport six years ago, but China announced in March that the ministry would be merged with the transport ministry.

Xi has made fighting pervasive graft one of the pillars of his new administration, warning the issue threatens the party's rule, though so far appears to have made little progress aside from netting a few lower-level officials.

While Liu's case attracted a lot of attention when it first broke, it has since been overshadowed by a much more salacious scandal involving the former party chief of Chongqing, the ambitious Bo Xilai.

Bo's downfall last year amid lurid accusations of murder and diplomatic intrigue unleashed division and uncertainty months before the party met to formalise a transfer of power to a new generation of leaders.

The government has yet to announce a trial date for Bo, or what charges he will face.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Michael Perry)

Copyright © 2013 Reuters

South Korea increases surveillance as North moves missile

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 08:31 PM PDT

SEOUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - South Korea said on Wednesday it has asked China, North Korea's only major ally, to rein in the hermit state and has raised its surveillance after the North moved at least one long-range missile in readiness for a possible launch.

A unit of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles is seen as an armored vehicle drives past at the Defence Ministry in Tokyo April 10, 2013. REUTERS/Issei Kato

A unit of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles is seen as an armored vehicle drives past at the Defence Ministry in Tokyo April 10, 2013. REUTERS/Issei Kato

Admiral Samuel Locklear, the commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific region, said the U.S. military believed North Korea had moved an unspecified number of Musudan missiles to its east coast.

An Obama administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters "our working assumption is that there are two missiles that they may be prepared to launch". That was in line with South Korean media reports.

The North has been threatening the United States and its "puppet" South Korea on an almost a daily basis in recent weeks, although the threats appear to be aimed partly at boosting internal support for young leader Kim Jong-un.

The Combined Forces Command in Seoul raised its "Watchcon 3" status, a normal defence condition, by one level in order to step up monitoring and increase the number of intelligence staff, a senior military official told the Yonhap news agency in the South on Wednesday.

"There are clear signs that the North could simultaneously fire off Musudan, Scud and Nodong missiles," Yonhap quoted an unidentified official as saying.

South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se told a parliamentary hearing in Seoul that he was working through diplomatic channels in an attempt to rein in Pyongyang.

"Through close coordination with China and Russia, the Korean government has been continuing to make efforts to persuade North Korea to change its attitude," Yun said.

China is North Korea's sole major ally, although it backed recent United Nations resolutions against Pyongyang, and Moscow was a supporter of North Korea as the Soviet Union.

UNKNOWN QUANTITY

Pyongyang has frequently tested short-range Scud missiles but the longer-range Musudan and Nodong missiles are an unknown quantity. The Musudan missiles are reckoned to have a range of roughly 3,000-3,500 km (1,865-2,175 miles).

The North has said it would target American bases in the Pacific, although it is not known whether the untested missiles have the range to do so.

"If the missile was in defence of the homeland, I would certainly recommend that action (of intercepting it). And if it was defence of our allies, I would recommend that action," Locklear told a Senate hearing in Washington.

Pyongyang has turned up its shrill rhetoric in recent weeks after the United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions for the impoverished state's third nuclear weapons test in February.

It has threatened a nuclear strike on the United States - something it does not have the capacity to carry out - and "war" with South Korea.

On Tuesday, it told foreigners in South Korea to leave the country to avoid being dragged into a "thermonuclear war". It previously warned diplomats in Pyongyang to prepare to leave.

The streets of Seoul, a city of 10 million people, bustled as normal on Wednesday morning as commuters travelled to work in sunny, spring-time weather. Foreign embassies in the capital of Asia's fourth-largest economy have played down the latest North Korean threats as rhetoric.

The North closed a money-spinning joint industrial park it operates with South Korean companies this week, putting at risk a venture that is one of its few sources of hard cash.

Analysts say the current tensions will likely last until the end of April, when joint U.S.-South Korean military drills end. The harsh rhetoric also precedes the first anniversary of Kim's formal ascent to power in Pyongyang.

The North has termed the drills "hostile" preparation for invasion by Seoul and Washington, who say the drills are regular annual exercises.

(Writing by David Chance; Editing by Paul Tait)


Related Stories:
Exclusive - Aid groups to suffer if EU sanctions North Korean bank

North Korea tensions prompt change in U.S. Air Force radar plans

Copyright © 2013 Reuters

South Korea raises surveillance as North moves missile

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 08:06 PM PDT

SEOUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - South Korea has raised its surveillance of North Korea after the reclusive state moved one or more long-range missiles in readiness for a possible launch, Yonhap news agency reported on Wednesday.

A unit of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles is seen as an armored vehicle drives past at the Defence Ministry in Tokyo April 10, 2013. REUTERS/Issei Kato

A unit of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles is seen as an armored vehicle drives past at the Defence Ministry in Tokyo April 10, 2013. REUTERS/Issei Kato

Admiral Samuel Locklear, the commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific region, said the U.S. military believed North Korea had moved an unspecified number of Musudan missiles to its east coast.

An Obama administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters "our working assumption is that there are two missiles that they may be prepared to launch". That was in line with South Korean media reports.

The North has been threatening the United States and its "puppet" South Korea on an almost a daily basis in recent weeks, although the threats appear to be aimed partly at boosting internal support for young leader Kim Jong-un.

The Combined Forces Command in Seoul raised its "Watchcon 3" status, a normal defence condition, by one level in order to step up monitoring and increase the number of intelligence staff, a senior military official told Yonhap on Wednesday.

"There are clear signs that the North could simultaneously fire off Musudan, Scud and Nodong missiles," Yonhap quoted an unidentified official as saying.

Pyongyang has frequently tested short-range Scud missiles but the longer-range Musudan and Nodong missiles are an unknown quantity. The Musudan missiles are reckoned to have a range of roughly 3,000-3,500 km (1,865-2,175 miles).

The North has said it would target American bases in the Pacific, although it is not known whether the untested missiles have the range to do so.

"If the missile was in defence of the homeland, I would certainly recommend that action (of intercepting it). And if it was defence of our allies, I would recommend that action," Locklear told a Senate hearing in Washington.

Pyongyang has turned up its shrill rhetoric in recent weeks after the United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions for the state's third nuclear weapons test in February.

It has threatened a nuclear strike on the United States - something it does not have the capacity to carry out - and "war" with South Korea.

On Tuesday, it told foreigners in South Korea to leave the country to avoid being dragged into a "thermonuclear war". It previously warned diplomats in Pyongyang to prepare to leave.

The streets of Seoul, a city of 10 million people, bustled as normal on Wednesday morning as commuters travelled to work in sunny, spring-time weather. Foreign embassies in the capital of Asia's fourth-largest economy have played down the latest North Korean threats as rhetoric.

The North closed a money-spinning joint industrial park it operates with South Korean companies this week, putting at risk a venture that is one of its few sources of hard cash.

Analysts say the current tensions will likely last until the end of April, when joint U.S.-South Korean military drills end. The harsh rhetoric also precedes the first anniversary of Kim's formal ascent to power in Pyongyang.

The North has termed the drills "hostile" preparation for invasion by Seoul and Washington, who say the drills are regular annual exercises.

(Writing by David Chance; Editing by Paul Tait)


Related Stories:
Exclusive - Aid groups to suffer if EU sanctions North Korean bank

North Korea tensions prompt change in U.S. Air Force radar plans

Copyright © 2013 Reuters

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio


Family affair

Posted: 10 Apr 2013 01:34 AM PDT

When it comes to dressing up, mother doesn't always know best.

SOME women worry about what they wear all the time. There are also those who don't really care how they look or present themselves to others because they are either insecure about their bodies, or they are overly confident and think that they can wear anything they want.

In the show You're Wearing That? (ITV Choice), host and stylist Luciene Salomone helps women in the United States to dress according to their body shape and to a certain extent, skin tone. Yes it does sound like just about any makeover show that's already on the air right now, but what's cool about this one is that it features two specific women – a mother and her daughter (or sometimes, daughters).

You're Wearing That? typically features a mother who's not too happy with her daughter's choice of clothes, and a daughter who's embarrassed by her mother's dress sense. Salomone listens to what each one has to say, or rather, complain about the other's wardrobe and then helps them understand their body shapes and the importance of cut and colour in clothes. Later, she takes them out shopping – mum and daughter have to get a few new items of clothing based on what Salomone has taught them.

Last week's episode featured American Idol alumni and R&B singer, Kimberley Locke, and her mother, Christine. Kimberley complains that her mother wears frumpy clothes all the time (her favourite are big T-shirts and pants with elastic bands) and that when she does make some effort to dress up, she chooses the most hideous floral tunics she can find and pairs them up with oversized pants.

Meanwhile, Christine, who is a breast cancer survivor (she previously had a mastectomy, and later underwent reconstructive surgery), thinks that her daughter's buttoned-up shirts are too stretched out in the chest area, and that her low-rise jeans do not give enough coverage.

It was quite a nice episode in that it gave us a chance to take a look at Kimberley's life – not much is known of her since her American Idol days way back in 2003, when she was placed third behind the geeky Clay Aiken and hefty winner, Ruben Studdard. It's quite a shame that her music career has, well, flopped (she released a digital EP last year but it didn't get much attention) because Kimberley's a good singer.

Speaking of things that flopped, Dracula: Dead And Loving It was on Cinemax last week. Director Mel Brooks' movie may have received really bad reviews when it came out in 1995, but watching it again made one realise the late Leslie Nielsen's comedic genius, and just how funny Peter MacNicol used to be. It's still a ridiculously silly movie, but it does have its charm and a few winning one-liners, too.

While we're on the subject of one-liners, "I like very much side boob" was something that I heard – and completely LOL-ed at – on Matthew Perry's hilarious Go On (Diva Universal) last week.

In hindsight, perhaps it's not that funny, but at the precise moment that the character Fausta (played by actress Tonita Castro) said it, you just can't help but laugh out loud. She was talking about a sweater that she had made for group counsellor Lauren (Laura Benanti) which had unusually large armholes. Yes, Fausta "like very much side boob".

In that same episode, blind guy George (Bill Cobbs) also had a memorable line. After his group therapy friends decided not to join him in his annual "I am still alive" celebration, George went off to Las Vegas all by himself to do all the things on his bucket list. Except, he didn't actually go to Las Vegas but stayed all alone at a motel and pretended to accidentally "butt-dial" his friends to show them that he's having a blast.

When it was time for him to go home, George calls Ryan (Perry) to pick him up, who then starts telling him about his problem – whether or not he's ready to start dating again. Without a pause, George gives this advice: "People say life is short. It's not, life is long. But when something right comes along, don't hesitate, just go for it."

> Check out The Doctors, a medical talk show on Li (Astro Ch 728) that features all kinds of medical problems that you wanted to know about but never bothered or were too scared to ask. The show's fourth season premieres this week. Also showing this week is Bindi's Bootcamp: Reboot on HyppTV's Discovery Kids. Find out if the late Steve Irwin's daughter has her father's talent when it comes to animals.

Culinary excellence

Posted: 10 Apr 2013 01:32 AM PDT

IMAGINE the world's most renowned chefs and culinary experts cooking up a storm in one big kitchen.

From April 16 to 26, chefs from around the globe will meet in Singapore for the prestigious 17th World Gourmet Summit. They include Matt Moran (Australia), Jean-François Piège (France), Gabriele Ferron (Italy), Yannick Alléno (France), Bo Lindegaard and Lasse Askov (Denmark) just to name a few.

Collectively, this group of food extraordinaires have been awarded a total of 14 Michelin stars. To find out what culinary wonders these chefs can create together, don't forget to tune in to Li (Life Inspired), the official TV channel for the World Gourmet Summit.

Li, Asia's first lifestyle HD channel, will bring you exclusive coverage of the event on two-minute vignettes called The Link. You can catch the entire kitchen drama as these international as well as Singaporean chefs work together to create a series of dishes inspired by the theme, "Artisans & The Art Of Dining".

Besides that, there will be one-on-one interviews with culinary heavyweight Joachim Koerper, a five-Michelin-star chef from Portugal who has cooked for Princess Caroline of Monaco, Academy Award-winning Swiss actor Maximilian Schell, and Paco Torreblanca, a pastry chef whose revolutionary cookbook earned him the Best Pastry Book Of The World title at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in 2006.

Hosted by Timothy Sangawa, the programme will also feature exciting happenings held throughout the event such as the one-of-a-kind Hearts On Fire Edible Fashion Show and the eye-opening, two-day long cooking demonstration exhibition, the Citibank Gastronomic Jam Sessions.

But if you want to do more than just witness these mouth-watering gourmet meals on screen, then head over to litvchannel.com as Li is sending two lucky viewers to Singapore to experience this culinary extravaganza. All you need to do is answer three simple questions and you might just get to taste those scrumptious dishes and rub shoulders with these esteemed chefs. So, what are you waiting for?

> Beginning in May, don't miss the World Gourmet Summit 2013 on The Link on Li (Astro B.yond Ch 728).

Web of fakery

Posted: 10 Apr 2013 12:51 AM PDT

The intrepid Spudniks venture online in search of the truth, to see if it's really out there.

I ENJOY changing my status updates on Google chat, and I like it when my friends on G-chat do the same. It's like a sneak peek into what they are thinking at any given time.

So, when someone's status update read "Massive Dynamics" my curiosity was piqued ...mainly because I, too, am currently watching Fringe and because I was unsure if the name of Nina Sharp and Dr William Bell's company is Massive Dynamic or Dynamics (interestingly both versions seem to make appearances throughout the show's five seasons).

So, like any good journalist, I googled it, and lo and behold, guess what I chanced upon? A very slick website – Massive Dynamic: What Don't We Do? (www.massivedynamic.com). It looked so real I had to read and reread everything to make sure it was fake. Okay, I'm not the sharpest tool in the box.

Massive Dynamic's mission? To provide the best quality products and services to improve human existence, to uphold the highest level of scientific excellence and research, and to spread the ideals of human advancement and global citizenship that the company was founded upon.

Okay that sounded a bit suspect, but the website is so cool, it even has a sitemap. And there is a career opportunities navigational bar which states there are currently vacancies for computational biologist, neuroprogrammer, senior risk analyst and kitchen operations staff. JJ Abrams, hire me please!

If you are at all unsure about the site's credentials, check out the "leadership" button and all your questions will be answered.

I'm not sure if there are any neat "secret" features on the site, but there are several websites and forums (in all timelines, I'm sure) available so fans don't just have to be observers, they can analyse and investigate for themselves – of course, this is all four or five years old by now and I am late to jump on the bandwagon. But, better late than never, right?

This initial find made me go in search of other fake websites. You'd be surprised how many pop up featuring Barney Stinson (go look up balloonexplorersclub.com and notafathersday.com).

There are also fake sites created in honour of specific episodes of 30 Rock, Breaking Bad and Seinfeld, all of which are funny but probably won't hold your attention for long.

Did you know there is a dundermifflininfinity.com (The Office) and that you can read all about bestselling author Richard Castle at richardcastle.net? I bet Indra would just love that right now.

Aah, viral online advertising campaigns – what will they think of next? – AMC

RICHARD Castle's website? Yeah, I'm on it. In fact, I go on it quite a bit.

The two best things about Castle are the writing (it's really clever and funny) and the characters and on this website, you get to enjoy the humour and fun of the character and the show just a little more.

It's pretty cool ...and a great marketing tool! If you keep fans happy, you get consistently good ratings, right?

Like Ann Marie, I love the How I Met Your Mother fake websites too.

The show's creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas not only put a lot of thought into these fake sites, they even hired a webmaster (Carl MacLaren) to create and maintain them so that they are authentically fake.

Check out Robin Sparkles' (that was Cobie Smulders' character Robin Scherbatsky's alter ego when she enjoyed brief fame with her pop hit – in Canada only – Let's Go To The Mall) MySpace page, for example (www.myspace.com/robinsparkles), which not only has her music videos uploaded but photographs and comments from fake fans (and real HIMYM fans too).

Sherlock fans might be interested to know that their favourite sleuth (is that too unsophisticated a term for the great Sherlock Holmes?) and his sidekick have actual blog sites? Check out thescienceofdeduction.co.uk and johnwatsonblog.co.uk.

And I've saved the best for last. Fans of Dexter will be thrilled to know that the search engine which Dexter uses to search for information about his potential victims is "real". Yup, check out www.netrangler.com.

Don't hope to actually be able to do any snooping of your own though.

Even though it appears to be an authentic search engine, it's a spoof.

I searched for "TV" and the top result for my search was an article entitled "Sarah Jessica Parker Is Not a Horse! She's a Human Being!" Click on the link and you get a fake report that is quite hilarious. Silly, but hilarious.

The site also boasts testimonials from "celebrity users" like the cast of Dexter as well as random celebrities like Frodo (whose quote is "one does not simply walk into Mordor, you first have to search for it on Netrangler").

I think it's great that show creators go the extra mile to develop the fake websites they mention on their shows.

So the next time you hear or see a character go onto a website online, check it out yourself. Who knows what you might find. – SI

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Business

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The Star Online: Business


KLCI advances, eye on crucial 1,700

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 06:50 PM PDT

Published: Wednesday April 10, 2013 MYT 9:50:00 AM

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's blue chips climbed in early trade on Wednesday, underpinned by gains in BAT, Petronas Gas and KL Kepong amid a firmer broader market as the FBM KLCI cast its eye on the crucial 1,700 level again.

At 9.32am, the KLCI was up 4.21 points to 1,694.48. Turnover was 176.96 million shares valued at RM119.24mil. There were 179 gainers, 116 losers and 166 counters unchanged.

Japanese stocks rose after the Topix Index yesterday climbed to the highest level since 2008 as the yen reached a three-year low against the euro, boosting earnings prospects for exporters, Bloomberg reported.

At Bursa Malaysia, consumer stocks were the top gainers, Nestle adding 60 sen to RM61.30 with 100 shares done, BAT up 46 sen to RM63.94, GAB and Dutch lady 10 sen each to RM18 and RM48.76.

TDM surged 32 sen to RM4.53 on its corporate exercise which include 22 sen a share tax-exempt dividend/

Index-linked PetGas rose 26 sen to RM19.18 and KLK 14 sen to RM21.44. MAS rose five sen to 85 sen on expectations of a turnaround in FY13.

CLIQ, which made its debut on Wednesday, down 4.5 sen to 58 sen with 13.65 million shares done. CLIQ-WA rose four sen to 16.5 sen and it was the most active with 40.69 million units traded.

Shangri-La fell six sen to RM5.12, Genting Bhd four sen to RM10.12, Time dotCom four sen lower at RM4.12.

 

Soros warns against more eurozone austerity measures

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 06:42 PM PDT

BOAO: The threat of deflation in the eurozone concerns US business magnate and legendary investor George Soros more than another round of potential economic crisis.

"Everybody now is looking for the next bubble. While you are looking for it, the crisis probably won't occur. Actually, the danger now is on the other side deflation and the eurozone is the perfect example.

"Everything (in the eurozone) is designed to fight the threat of inflation (but) what Europe is suffering from is deflation. The next crisis is coming from the opposite direction," he told bankers and business leaders in a dialogue-cum-luncheon during the Boao Forum for Asia here in southern China's Hainan province on Monday.

Soros has again expressed his concern over a debt-deflation spiral if European nations like Germany pushed for more austerity measures in the wake of the European sovereign-debt crisis.

He had said at the World Leaders Forum in the United States in February that austerity measures could lead to lower wages, layoffs and reduced consumer spending. He believed that this would possibly cause a recession in which the debt burden keeps growing.

When asked by former Australian Prime Minister and co-founder of the Boao Forum for Asia Bob Hawke if Soros also shares his sentiment that the world is short of outstanding leaders capable of making sensible political decisions when solving the economic crisis, Soros said tongue-in-cheek that Europe had actually seen a dominant leader in German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"She is really a powerful Iron Lady whose will cannot be resisted. The Cyprus crisis was a tremendous political victory for her. The problem is that she is leading the eurozone in the wrong direction.

"Also the problem is that different political leaders have different national interest. It is difficult to reconcile the national interests with the common interest. The eurozone is a practical demonstration of this," he said.

On China's economy, Soros said the country would have to change its economic growth model, not depend on exporting its goods and encourage household spending.

He warned that state-owned banks had accumulated tremendous debt and there were many problems in the Chinese banking system that need to be solved.

 

Elevating advertising image

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 06:36 PM PDT

PETALING JAYA: "Engagement" will be the key word for the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia (4As) in the next two years.

Newly-elected president Datuk Johnny Mun said during his two-year term, the 4As would focus on engaging with the institutions of higher learning, marketers and media owners.

"At the end of the day, we hope to elevate and propel forward the industry's image," he told StarBiz in an interview yesterday.

Mun said the new council members would engage with as many universities and colleges as they could and give career talks on advertising.

The 4As has started doing this. In February, the council went to SEGi University College in Sarawak and spoke to over 70 students, and last month the association, together with 95% The Advertising Academy, organised a forum attended by more than 100 academics and course administrators.

"We may hold workshops later. It is an opportunity for us to get talents from them, and it is a great opportunity for them to have real-life practitioners pointing them in the right direction," Mun said.

The 4As also wants to correct the myths that advertising was "almost a blue-collar job" and that the staff must work very late every day, he added.

Another big engagement project will involve the clients, i.e. the advertisers. Mun wants to advise them to use 4As member agencies because the agencies were consistent in training their staff.

Mun said that there were many levels of approvals for advertising work on the client side, and sometimes the junior to mid-level executives were not proficient enough to critique or appreciate a piece of work, hence second-guessing what their bosses wanted.

"We want to have seminars or workshops on how advertisers can get the best out of their communications partners. This is something we want to emphasise a lot this year as well."

In the past, such talks were not done in an organised manner, and agencies and clients might have their own private discussions. "This time the association wants to take a lead. And it won't be a one-off thing, as there are new people coming into the industry every year."

He said the 4As also planned to engage more with the heads of media companies. "It is a way of expanding revenue and pushing the envelope further for the clients."

One project that Mun hopes to take off during his term is the creation of a think-tank comprising industry veterans.

"A lot of people working with multinational agencies retire at about 60 years old. There is still plenty of knowledge to tap. Maybe we can form a think-tank group which we can outsource to government departments, SMEs (small and medium-sized agencies) or colleges that need their inputs and knowledge," he said.

On the upcoming Putra Brand Awards organised by the 4As, he said it used a different sample of 6,000 consumers each year but the brands which consistently came up on top were the same. "This shows that if you continue to invest in your brands, your brands will continue to be top of mind among consumers," he said.

This year, for the first time, the programme will honour the consistent gold winners as "Putra Brand icons".

Mun, who is also CEO of mid-sized agency Krakatua Sdn Bhd, served as an ordinary council member for six years and vice-president for two years before being elected president uncontested at last week's AGM. All the council members are the same except from Draftfcb.

"For continuity of projects, it's so simple because they're basically the same people whom I worked with previously," Mun said.

 

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Sports

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The Star Online: Sports


Tiger roars into Masters seeking end to major drought

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 05:49 PM PDT

AUGUSTA, Georgia: Tiger Woods, favored to win this week's 77th Masters and take his first major title since 2008, says he would have won a couple more Masters crowns the past few years had he putted better.

World No. 1 Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the all-time record of 18 major titles won by Jack Nicklaus, has not won the Masters since taking his fourth in 2005 and has not won any major since the 2008 US Open.

But Woods has won three times this year, his 77 career titles only five shy of Sam Snead's all-time record, and has displayed clutch putting skill in triumphs at Torrey Pines and last month at Doral and Bay Hill.

"I feel comfortable with every aspect of my game," Woods said. "I feel that I've improved and I've got more consistent and I think the wins show that."

Except for last year when he shared 40th, Woods has been a contender at Augusta National since he last won a green jacket, finishing sharing third in 2006, second in 2007 and 2008, sharing sixth in 2009 and sharing fourth in 2010 and 2011 when his infamous sex scandal and injuries hampered his bid.

Asked if he would have had a a couple more Masters victories had he simply putted better over the undulating greens of Augusta National, Woods replied, "Absolutely."

"I was there ball-striking-wise a few years through that stretch where I hit it pretty well, but just didn't make enough putts. I was there on Sundays with a chance, and unfortunately just didn't get it done.

"You have to make your putts. You have to make the majority of the putts inside 10 feet and you've got to be just a great lag putter."

Woods said his 2005 triumph, which came when he beat Chris DiMarco with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff, felt like a long time ago.

"I put myself in the mix every year but last year," Woods said. "It's not like I've been out of there with no chance of winning this championship.

"Not real happy with the fact that I haven't won more. I've been in the mix and just haven't gotten it done.

"But the whole idea is to give myself opportunities and as of right now I'm tied for second on the all-time win list here, so that's not too bad, either."

There's a sense that his top rival this year will be Rory McIlroy, who played the past two weeks to round his game into shape, particularly his swing. A second-place effort at last week's Texas Open boosted McIlroy's confidence.

"When I don't play my best, it's when I get into bad habits in my swing," McIlroy said. "Whenever my golf swing is where I want to be, that's when I produce results and that's what I've seen has started to happen over the past few weeks."

The Northern Irishman, who saw Woods vault past him to take the World No. 1 ranking last month for the first time since October 2010, hopes to add a green jacket to a major haul that includes the 2011 US Open and 2012 PGA Championship.

He's not worried that Woods is showing his best form in years.

"Doesn't make a difference to me at all," McIlroy said. "I'm here to concentrate on myself and play my game and try to shoot the best score that I can. It really doesn't matter what anyone else does.

"If I can do that, I know I'll have a good chance."

Defending champion Bubba Watson, who has not won since taking last year's Masters, considers Woods the man to beat.

"If you're No. 1 in the world, I think you should be the favorite," Watson said. "It would be kind of weird if he's the underdog and he's No. 1 in the world. He's playing the best. That's all you need to look at."

The last time Woods won back-to-back events just ahead of Augusta as he has this year was in 2001 when he won Bay Hill and the Players Championship before a Masters win completed the "Tiger Slam" of four major triumphs in a row.

"We all know what he is capable of doing," Australian Adam Scott said. "He has got the runs on the board for that.

"(But) he is far from running away with it. He has returned to No. 1 but that is just a number. It's not a foregone conclusion."

Three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson hopes to make a charge as well, having won earlier this year at Phoenix and taken the green jacket in 2004, 2006 and 2010.

"Even at times where he has not played his best, you know what he's capable of, and so you're always looking at his score," Mickelson said of Woods.

"You're always worried about him making that big run the way he has always done throughout his career, and now that he's doing it and winning tournaments in such a dominating fashion, it does have the feel of what we expect to see from Tiger." -AFP

Bleumink expects low scores in title defence

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 04:07 PM PDT

PETALING JAYA: Australian Luke Bleumink is looking forward to a successful title defence at the PGM-Maybank Johor Masters, which begins today, despite being short of tournament sharpness.

The 27-year-old Bleumink headlines the RM200,000 Asian Development Tour (ADT) event at the challenging Johor Country Club.

Others in the fray include current Order of Merit leader James Bowen of the United States, local favourite Nicholas Fung, Taiwan's Hsieh Chi-hsien, who was fourth on the Merit list last season, and ADT winner Ryan Bulloch of Australia.

Bleumink secured his maiden professional victory in Johor by two shots last year, winning with a seven-under 281 aggregate after a closing round of 71.

After missing out on an Asian Tour card at Qualifying School in Hua Hin, Thailand earlier in January, Bleumink, who turned professional in 2010, has played in only two domestic events in Melbourne.

"It's a weird feeling coming back to defend. I haven't played too much golf this year but I am feeling good about the game," he said.

"The golf course is in good condition and I think it's playing a bit easier this year as it was very fast and firm when I won there. I expect scores to be better this week."

After seeing countrymen Scott Hend and Wade Ormsby triumph on the Asian Tour over the past few weeks, Bleumink believes that the ADT is the best route to the region's premier Tour, which is celebrating its milestone 10th season this year.

This year, the ADT, which was launched in 2010, will offer Official World Golf Ranking points for the first time.

This is seen as a major boost for the development of the game in Asia.

Malaysia's Nicholas, who will lead the local assault, will be eager to launch a title charge after coming close on several occasions to a first ADT win. He finished runner-up at the last ADT stop at the PGM Northport Glenmarie Masters in Kuala Lumpur last month.

The top three players on the ADT Order of Merit at the end of the season will earn an Asian Tour card for next year.

Thailand’s Thaworn wants to go one up on his compatriots

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 06:02 PM PDT

Asian Tour No. 1 Thaworn Wiratchant is aiming to become the first Thai golfer to make the cut in all four rounds at the Masters after receiving a special invitation to play in this week's event.

The 46-year-old Asian Tour veteran star won three times last year and became the oldest player to win the Order of Merit on the circuit. Thaworn now has 17 international victories.

Countrymen Thongchai Jaidee, Prayad Marksaeng and Sukree Onsham have previously competed at Augusta National, but Thaworn hopes to do what none of them managed and reach the last two rounds.

"I'll try to make the cut. That would be the goal," Thaworn said. "If I don't make it, then I want to ensure that I had played my best. The players at the Masters are all good players and it is a very challenging golf course."

Thaworn's prior major appearance was at the 2006 British Open where he shared 31st. But he made an impression last month at Doral with a pair of 69s in a World Golf Championship event before settling for a share of 53rd place.

Thaworn has worked on his long irons to cope with the 7,435-yard Augusta National layout but knows the undulating greens will provide their own test.

"From what I've seen, you have to be good in every department, especially around the greens, which are very fast and tricky," Thaworn said.

"I'm sure it will be really challenging."

Thaworn has received some advice from Prayad as well as 2007 Masters winner Zach Johnson.

"Some of the advice has been very helpful, but I will adjust my routine accordingly," Thaworn said. "If I miss the cut, I may get criticism but if I make the cut, the story may change. This is natural. I accept that." — AFP

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GE13: Kemaman PKR vice chief Kamarudin Chik to contest Kemaman seat

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 09:51 AM PDT

Published: Wednesday April 10, 2013 MYT 12:52:00 AM

KEMAMAN: PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced the candidate for Kemaman parliamentary seat in Terengganu.

Kemaman PKR vice chief and businessman Kamarudin Chik, 47, was named as the candidate for the seat.

GE13: Perak PAS unveils candidates for two state assembly, two parliamentary seats

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 08:45 AM PDT

SITIAWAN: Perak PAS unveiled its candidates for two state assembly and two parliamentary seats.

Of the four candidates, two were new faces - Lumut PAS Muslimah chief Rohawati Abidin who will replace Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin to contest the Pasir Panjang state seat and former Bukit Aman CID director Datuk Fauzi Shaari, who will stand in the Larut parliamentary seat.

Perak PAS commissioner Abu Bakar Hussain, who made the announcement Tuesday, also named Nazri Din for the Kubu Gajah state seat and Idris Ahmad, replacing Mohammad Nizar to stand in the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat.

Abu Bakar said this during a ceramah at Kampung Permatang, Pasir Panjang, here on Tuesday.

Nazri will be contesting the Kubu Gajah seat for the second time while Idris contested and lost in Jerlun in 2008.

Mohammad Nizar will stand in the Changkat Jering state seat, as announced during a ceramah in Air Kuning late last month.

Abu Bakar also said that PAS would be contesting 22 state seats and seven parliamentary seats.

"We will announce the remaining candidates together with PKR and DAP on Apr 18," he said.

i>For more election stories, please visit The Star's GE13 site

GE13: Anwar announces candidates for Pekan and Bera parliamentary seats in Pahang

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 08:33 AM PDT

KUANTAN: PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced the candidates to contest the Pekan and Bera parliamentary seats in Pahang.

PKR supreme council member Fariz Musa, 43, was named as the candidate to go up against Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Pekan while central elections secretariat chief Zakaria Abdul Hamid, 48, will be contesting in Bera.

Pahang PKR chief Datuk Fauzi Abdul Rahman had earlier been announced as the Indera Mahkota candidate while lawyer Murnie Hidayah Anuar will contest Paya Besar.

Meanwhile, former Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh will be defending her seat.

i>For more election stories, please visit The Star's GE13 site

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

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The French fest returns

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 03:42 AM PDT

FANS of French cinema, art and culture, take note. Alliance Française de Kuala Lumpur (AFKL) and the Embassy of France to Malaysia with the support of the Institute Francais are proud to present the 12th edition of The French Art and Film Festival (FAFF).

The FAFF will take place between April 25 and May 12 in Kuala Lumpur and from May 16 to May 26 in Penang.

The movies will be screened at GSC Movies' International Screens – Pavilion, Mid Valley Megamall and 1 Utama in the Klang Valley, and Gurney Plaza in Penang. It will feature 15 of the latest offerings in French cinema. Selections include three Juliette Binoche films, animated fairy tale Kerity la maison des contes (Elenor's Secret) and Comme Un Chef (The Chef) starring Jean Reno.

French art aficionados can also look forward to a photography exhibition featuring the works of Françoise Huguier and two street theatre sessions. There will also be a wine tasting session and a French market that showcases some of the best culinary and lifestyle products the country has to offer.

FAFF 2013 is presented by Martell, with TNT Express, Crown Worldwide, BNP Paribas, Intermovers, DCNS, Lafarge, Escatec, Total, L'Occitane, The Westin Kuala Lumpur, Air France and MFCCI as partners.

For more information, log on to www.faff.com.my.

Killing your idol

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 03:41 AM PDT

In Codename: Jackal, a professional assassin has to kill her favourite K-pop idol. This proves to be the hardest assignment of her career.

WELL-LOVED by K-pop fans for his good looks as well as vocal and dance talent, South Korean heart-throb Kim Jae-joong (also known as Yeong-woong or Hero) initially started off as a member of South Korean boy band TVXQ and then joined another boy band JYJ.

It isn't often that fans get to see him get down and dirty, grovel and groan, break down and become a total wreck. But now, Kim, who was named best new actor at the 2012 MBC Drama Awards for his role in Dr Jin, will surprise fans with his new movie – the action comedy titled Codename: Jackal, also known in Korean as Jakalyi Onda (literally meaning The Jackal Is Coming).

Released in South Korea late last year, this movie is directed by Bae Hyoung-jun (Too Beautiful To Lie, 2004) and produced by Nomad Film. The movie, which has been sold to six countries – Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei, became the talk of the town in South Korea for Kim's side-splitting comedic performance.

In the movie, Kim plays Choi Hyun, the country's top celebrity. But his days are numbered as Bong Min-jung (Song Ji-hyo), a top-notch killer, has been hired to kill Choi as her final assignment before retirement.

The fun begins after Bong succeeds in abducting Choi. It turns out that she is a big fan of the handsome Hallyu star, making her rather sloppy and careless with the knife. Quite alarmed, Choi pretends he is not the arrogant, stuck-up celebrity. First order of the day: hide his six-pack abs.

Meanwhile, a detective Chief Ma (Oh Dal-soo) and an FBI-trained special agent Captain Shin (Han Sang-jin) go on a stake out at a hotel after they receive information on the whereabouts of Bong.

Events spiral out of control when Choi's sponsor, Angela, (Kim Sung-ryoung) also goes to the hotel to look for the guy.

Code Name: Jackal will be showing at GSC International Screens starting April 11.

Hit and runaway success

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 03:39 AM PDT

Singer turned actor, Sein tries his hand at directing.

WITH his boyish good looks, most of us know him as singing sensation Sein of Ruffedge, and lately as drama actor. Now Sein, whose real name is Syed Hussein Syed Mustafa, is all set to wow fans with his directorial debut in the gangster flick Langgar.

Langgar tells the story of Nizam (Adi Putra), who seeks justice for the death of his beloved pregnant wife, Aina. It is Nizam's solemn promise to himself that everyone involved in the rape-murder must be wiped from the face of earth.

In his quest, Nizam is introduced to Radzi (Nam Ron) and his gang by Khairul (Bell Ngasri), an old friend. Nizam joins Radzi's gang as a debt collector. Among the names listed in the file are Aina and her father, under debtors who have failed to pay. Nizam is now convinced that he is on the right track for his revenge.

Directing big names such as Nam Ron, Adi Putra and Hans Isaac was no small feat for 30-year-old Sein, but he took it all in stride.

"I remember when I was told the names of the cast members, I was very excited and nervous, of course," Sein said.

"But I was also very enthusiastic because it was a great opportunity to be given the best (actors) for my directorial debut."

Budgeted at RM1.7mil, the movie also features other big names such as Khir Rahman, Zul Huzaimy, Natasha Hudson and Nadia Heng.

Sein added that all the actors were professional during filming and supportive of him as a director.

"As you know, I started my career in this industry with a passion in music and later acted in some dramas. Now I have a bunch of experienced actors and actresses to back me up in my very first cinematic production. They are one of the main reasons why I was so motivated to give my best to the film. I only have one word to describe this – grateful!"

Sein also added that his colleagues Isaac and Nam Ron, who have directed movies as well, gave him some pointers during the filming of Langgar which took 37 days to complete. "Hans and Nam Ron were very helpful to me throughout the shooting. They provided me creative ideas that made the whole filming process much easier than I expected."

He also expressed relief as only two scenes were cut by the Film Censorship Board (LPF), although Langgar is classified as 18 PL.

Being a first-time director was hard enough but as Sein found out, filming an action flick made it even more challenging.

"My biggest challenge while filming was time management. I had to crack my head to handle different aspects of the production and try to complete the shooting on schedule.

"I remember I couldn't wait to step onto the film set during the first day of shooting. It's my first movie anyway," recalled Sein. And now that the movie is ready for release, Sein is understandably nervous and excited.

"But most of all, I'm thrilled to have these great figures from the industry to help make this film possible. People like Hans, Nam Ron, Khir Rahman and Zul Huzaimy had helped me since they are experienced directors. I respect them a lot."

For lead actor Adi Putra working with new director Sein was no different from working with more established directors.

"The protocol on movie-making is all the same. As an actor, my job is to deliver what Sein needed from me the best I possibly could," said the 32-year-old actor.

"My character Nizam is a guy who can't accept the fact that his wife and unborn child were brutally murdered by a group of gangsters. The way he is handling his anger and grief is to turn it into revenge; to kill every single man who is responsible for his wife's death. In his focus to exact revenge, he gets involved in the world of gangsters, which then gets him deeper in the underworld. For actor-director Nam Ron, 44, working with Sein was a pleasant experience.

"I decided to be a part of Langgar because it has an interesting storyline. And the thing about working with a young director like Sein is that he has so much energy (during filming)," Nam Ron said.

"While working on the film, he gave more than 100 % commitment. He basically did what most directors would do (while directing) which was - he ate and slept with the movie in his mind. You know, he was a bit psycho, but a nice kind of psycho, really," Nam Ron joked.

Isaac, 42, whose recent directorial effort Lawak Ke Der 2 released in March, stars as Jimmy, one of the gangsters in Langgar, The handsome actor praised Sein for his professionalism and courageous attempt on the action genre.

"Throughout filming, Sein showed his passion and seriousness. This is his story and, as professional actors, our job is to help him with his work and we never questioned him. We understand that we must put our egos aside and give our full support to a new director in this industry," Isaac said.

Langgar will be released in cinemas nationwide on April 11.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

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Metro Watch

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 06:51 AM PDT

LANE CLOSURE

There will be a temporary lane closure and traffic diversion from now till Wednesday, from midnight till 5am, at Jalan Pandan 1, heading towards the MRR2 and Maluri/ Jalan Shamelin, to facilitate super-structure works for the Sungai Besi Highway Link Project. Those heading towards Taman Shamelin Perkasa from the MRR2 are advised to use Jalan Pandan 3 and Jalan Pandan 2 and exit to Jalan Pandan 1. Those heading towards the MRR2 from Maluri/ Shamelin Perkasa are advised to use Jalan Pandan 2 and Jalan Pandan 3 and exit to Jalan Pandan 1. For enquiries, call Besraya's infoline at 11 800 88 0999.

TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT

New Pantai Expressway Sdn Bhd (NPESB) is carrying out configuration works at the PJS traffic lights intersection, NPE Expressway. The reconfiguration is to improve traffic flow in the area, particularly during peak hours. Motorists are advised to adhere to the road safety signages and speed limit. For details, call NPE's infoline at 1 300 88 1010.

DHAMMA TALK

There will be a Dhamma talk entitled To Conquer Oneself is a Greater Task than Conquering Others this Friday at 8pm at the Buddhist Maha Vihara, 123 Jalan Berhala, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. Ven Dr Sangharatana Thera, who is actively involved in working among the untouchable community in India, will be delivering the talk. For details, contact the Vihara office at 03-2274 1141, email rogleestar@gmail.com or visit www.buddhistmahavihara.com

PUBLIC FORUM

Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur (PHKL) will be organising a public forum called Towards Better Diagnosis & Cure for Allergy this Saturday from 9am-12.30pm at Dewan Pantai, Block C, Ground Floor, PHKL. Admission is free. To register, call 03-2296 0773 (Ms Hema)/ 03-2296 0610 (Rahyu).

ZUMBA CLASS

Pink Ribbon Wellness (L) Foundation (PRWLF) has started a free Zumba class for cancer survivors held at 8am every Saturday at Wisma Life Care, No.5 Jalan Kerinchi, Bangsar South, Kuala Lumpur. The one-hour class is also open to the public at RM10 per person per session. For enquiries, call 03-2242 3121 (Lillian Leng)/ 012 229 0520 (Jenny Tan)/ 019 618 5913 (Su Bee Kim).

HEALTH TALK

Tropicana Medical Centre will be having a free public health talk on The Danger of High Blood Pressure on April 20 from 10am-1pm at Level 7, Auditorium, Tropicana Medical Centre, 11, Jalan Teknologi, Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya. Admission is free. To RSVP, contact 03-6287 1068 (Ami)/ 018-211 6789 (Huda), or email your full name and contact number to huda@tropicanamedicalcentre.com

FREE CLASS

A free two-hour class called Why Am I Unsuccessful? Sick? Under-standing Karma will be held at 8pm today and April 16 at Losang Dragpa Centre, 1, Jalan 17/21F, Section 17, Petaling Jaya. For details, call 03-7968 3278.

Grant for tennis programme raised to RM20,000

Posted: 09 Apr 2013 06:51 AM PDT

HONG KONG-based Action Sports Foundation has increased its grant to the PJ Club tennis programme for the underprivileged.

PJ Club tennis section convenor Gopi Pillay said the foundation's chief executive officer Ahmad Khan was impressed by the coaching programme at the club and decided to double the grant to RM20,000 for the 2013 season.

"Action Sports Foundation came on board to support the programme last year with a contribution of RM10,000. This year, we have extended the programme by providing tuition classes to children.

"Ahmad was happy to see the children making progress in tennis. He also wants to see them excel in their studies. With the foundation's contribution, we will be able to assist more children," said Gopi.

PJ Club, one of the pioneer clubs in Petaling Jaya, initiated the training programme for residents from Lighthouse Children Welfare Home in 2007.

About 30 children from the home in Bangsar have been training under coaches S.N. Syed Omar and former international P. Selvarajoo. Several members, including former hockey international K. Balasingam who played for Malaysia in the 1975 World Cup, are also involved in the programme.

Training sessions are held on weekends. The children are provided with breakfast as well as tennis equipment.

Programme chairman A. Asokumar said they had seen a significant change in the children's attitude.

"The children have shown tremendous progress in tennis. The coaches have drawn up mid-week training sessions for them. Six of them are also playing in the monthly medal competitions organised by the Selangor Tennis Association (STA).

"Hopefully, they will get the chance to realise their potential. On our part, we are committed towards making the programme a success, with support from well-wishers and sponsors," said Asokumar.

The impressive players — Kevin Steven, P. Misalini, S. Rebecca, Christopher Yong, P. Timothy and Nicholas Yong — were also presented with the Rising Star award. Christopher, a Form Five student, has proven to be an excellent student as well and scored seven As in the PMR two years ago.

Asokumar said Christopher has shown his potential in tennis and studies.

"We want to help not only him but also the other children excel in their studies," said Asokumar.

Ahmad, who was in Malaysia for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey competition in Ipoh, said the Asian Sports Foundation would continue to support the tennis programme for the underprivileged.

"We have similar programmes for hockey and cricket in Hong Kong. In Malaysia, we are committed towards this tennis programme. The volunteers have shown that they care for the less fortunate. We were informed that some of the children have shown excellent results in their studies as well.

For more details on the programme, contact PJ Club at 03-7956 9991.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my
 

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