Selasa, 6 Ogos 2013

The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro

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The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro

Lee: Even a 'baby bonus' won't help
Singaporeans going on longer trips to more exotic places
SCDF issues fire safety tips for Seventh Lunar Month

Lee: Even a 'baby bonus' won't help

Posted:

IF former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew were in charge of Singapore today, he would have introduced a baby bonus equal to two years of the average Singaporean's salary.

This would not be to boost the country's abysmal total fertility rate of 1.2. Rather, Lee would do it to "prove that super-sized monetary incentives would only have a marginal effect on fertility rates".

Writing in his new book (pic), One Man's View Of The World, Lee makes clear that he would offer this huge baby bonus for at least a year.

The experiment will "prove beyond any doubt that our low birth rates have nothing to do with economic or financial factors, such as high cost of living or lack of government help for parents", he says.

Instead, it is due to the transformed lifestyles and mindsets which the Government is powerless against, he argued in the 400-page book that was launched yesterday.

Declining fertility was the biggest threat to Singapore's survival, he said.

But, Lee adds: "I cannot solve the problem, and I have given up.

"I have given the job to another generation of leaders. Hopefully, they or their successors will eventually find a way out."

In a chapter on Singapore, he also said the suggestion that the "Stop at Two" population campaign of the 1970s played a part in bringing fertility rates down is "absurd".

Rather, falling fertility is a global phenomenon due primarily to women's emancipation and participation in the workplace, he said.

The chapter on Singapore is one of 11 in the new book, which focuses largely on foreign affairs.

Lee covers regions including the Middle East and superpowers such as the United States and China, as well as issues like the future of the global economy and climate change.

He writes candidly about his past encounters with many world leaders and impressions of countries, but the bulk of the book looks forward as he sizes up these countries' strengths, weaknesses and chances of success.

He returns to the issue of low fertility often, pointing to it as the reason Japan, a country he once considered "peerless", is now on what he calls a "stroll into mediocrity". — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Singaporeans going on longer trips to more exotic places

Posted:

FROM Turkey to Tibet – the travel bug has been biting Singaporeans harder than ever, thanks to low-cost airlines and a stronger currency.

Not only are locals travelling longer, they are also spending more by going to more exotic locations according to a straw poll conducted by the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (Natas).

Last month's survey of 20 outbound travel agencies here found that a Singaporean who booked a flight in the first seven months of this year went away for an average of seven days. It was only five days during the same period last year, said Natas chief operating officer Anita Tan.

Travellers are also paying between S$1,500 (RM3,840) and S$2,000 (RM5,120) for their package or free-and-easy booking, an increase of 20% from last year's figure.

This was due to more Singa-poreans putting more unusual destinations, including South Africa and Mongolia, on their itinerary, said Tan.

The Maldives has been particularly popular. Its blue waters have pulled in 50% more Singaporeans over the past two years, with arrivals this year hitting 5,084 according to the government there.

Another hot spot was Turkey, which welcomed 10,364 Singa-poreans in the first half of the year alone, 22% more than in 2011, despite recent protests there.

CTC Travel, one of the major agencies here, had also been selling twice as many packages to Tibet and Mongolia as compared to last year.

"The low-cost carriers have really fuelled interest," said Alicia Seah, the firm's senior vice-president.

Chan Brothers highlighted a 20% rise in packages to the Maldives and a 15% increase to South Africa. Online travel giant Zuji had reported that there were triple the number of bookings to Male and Hokkaido from Singapore, according to a sales report released yesterday.

Eileen Oh, head of marketing and communications at ASA Holidays, which had seen bookings to Hokkaido surge by 30% for travel from now till year-end, believes that the strong Singapore dollar has helped to make longer-haul trips more affordable.

Jean Chia, 33, has opted for a week in Hokkaido instead of her usual three-day getaway in Kuala Lumpur.

"I want a different experience," said the baker, who is paying S$7,000 (RM18,000) for the trip for three. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

SCDF issues fire safety tips for Seventh Lunar Month

Posted:

RESIDENTS are reminded to exercise greater caution when conducting religious rituals and activities during the Seventh Lunar Month which starts on Aug 7.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) in a statement on Tuesday provided a list of fire safety tips for residents.

Tips include: Burning incense paper only in incense burners or metal containers issued by the town council; placing burners on sturdy ground and a safe distance away from combustible material; checking the area for smouldering incense or embers.

It added that all fires should be completely put out before leaving.

In addition, all lighted materials should not be thrown onto any grass patches and fields. — The Straits Times / Asia News Net-work

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews

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The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews

Lighter side of life

Posted:

Double Oscar winner Denzel Washington relished the opportunity to tread new ground in 2 Guns.

Double Oscar winner Denzel Washington relished the opportunity to tread new ground alongside Mark Wahlberg in their new film 2 Guns, an action caper by Icelandic director Baltasar Kormakur.

Washington, 58, is renowned for heavyweight roles including anti-apartheid campaigner Steve Biko and Malcolm X. But he jumped at the chance to move to the lighter side, particularly as he was coming off the back of 2012's Flight, in which he played an airline pilot struggling with addiction issues.

"After Flight I was looking for something more fun," Washington said at the New York launch of the film, which opened in the United States last Friday.

Part comedy caper, part buddy movie, the film recounts the story of a DEA agent and a naval intelligence officer who start out investigating each other, but end up on the run together.

The actors also clicked off-screen.

"So, when I read the script and when I heard that Mark was involved I said, Ok, I can be safe cause I knew Mark is not just funny but he's also hard," Washington said of his co-star, who enjoyed major comedy success with his lead role in Ted.

"He allowed me to go for, you know, don't worry about being too silly or whatever. For me it was new territory. That's why I wanted to go out with someone who knows that territory better than I do."

Wahlberg was not surprised that Washington took to comedy with ease. "We've known each other for a while.

"What's surprised me is how willing Denzel was to just try everything. He has been very supportive with me."

Jar City director Kormakur said Washington was a comedy natural. "He had a lot of fun. Unfortunately, the world does not get the chance to see his funny side as much as it should." – AFP

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Buzz

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The Star eCentral: Movie Buzz

Lighter side of life

Posted:

Double Oscar winner Denzel Washington relished the opportunity to tread new ground in 2 Guns.

Double Oscar winner Denzel Washington relished the opportunity to tread new ground alongside Mark Wahlberg in their new film 2 Guns, an action caper by Icelandic director Baltasar Kormakur.

"After Flight I was looking for something more fun," Washington said at the New York launch of the film, which opened in the United States last Friday.

Part comedy caper, part buddy movie, the film recounts the story of a DEA agent and a naval intelligence officer who start out investigating each other, but end up on the run together.

The actors also clicked off-screen.

"He allowed me to go for, you know, don't worry about being too silly or whatever. For me it was new territory. That's why I wanted to go out with someone who knows that territory better than I do."

Wahlberg was not surprised that Washington took to comedy with ease. "We've known each other for a while.

"What's surprised me is how willing Denzel was to just try everything. He has been very supportive with me."

Jar City director Kormakur said Washington was a comedy natural. "He had a lot of fun. Unfortunately, the world does not get the chance to see his funny side as much as it should." – AFP

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates

Singapore drops contempt charges against cartoonist in return for apology
Japan government joining efforts to contain Fukushima toxic water
Obama 'disappointed' with Russia, calls embassy threat significant

Singapore drops contempt charges against cartoonist in return for apology

Posted:

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore has dropped charges against a political cartoonist in return for an apology for publishing comic strips deemed to be in contempt of court, an offence that could have landed him in jail.

Chew Peng Ee, known to followers of his "Demon-cratic Singapore" site on Facebook as Leslie Chew, had committed contempt "by scandalising the judiciary of the Republic of Singapore", the Attorney-General's Chambers said last month.

The charges stemmed from four cartoons Chew had published in 2011 and 2012, three of which were about the perceived unfairness of the courts when imposing punishment.

Some critics had described the charges as a sign that the long-ruling People's Action Party was becoming increasingly intolerant of opponents.

Prosperous, multi-racial Singapore, a key U.S. ally, has long taken a tough stand against criticism of the government, with leaders saying they need to protect their reputations.

But in Chew's case, the Attorney-General's Chambers had a change of heart.

"Following a request initiated by counsel for Mr Leslie Chew, the Attorney-General's Chambers has today agreed not to pursue the contempt proceedings against him if the comic strips in question are taken down, with an apology and undertaking prominently posted on the Demon-cratic Singapore Facebook page," the AG's office said in statement that was put up on its website late on Tuesday.

There are no set penalties for contempt of court in Singapore and the judge could have issued a warning or fine instead of a jail sentence.

(Reporting by Kevin Lim; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Japan government joining efforts to contain Fukushima toxic water

Posted:

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Japanese government is joining efforts to contain a buildup of radioactive water at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, as operator Tokyo Electric Power Co struggles to contain the problem, government officials said on Wednesday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the buildup of radioactive water at the plant was a very serious issue and that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would order the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which regulates Tepco and other power utilities, to significantly step up its role.

The ministry is considering requesting public funds for the cleanup, Suga told reporters. The Nikkei newspaper said the funds could be used to freeze the soil to prevent groundwater from leaking into the reactor buildings - a project with an estimated cost of up to 40 billion yen ($410 million).

An official from the country's nuclear watchdog told Reuters on Monday that the highly radioactive water seeping into the ocean from the plant was creating an "emergency" that Tepco was not successfully containing on its own.

Tepco has been widely castigated for its failure to protect the Fukushima Daiichi plant, 220 km (130 miles) northeast of Tokyo, from the massive 2011 tsunami and earthquake that led to the worst nuclear disaster in the world since Chernobyl.

The utility has also been lambasted for its inept response to the reactor meltdowns and accused of covering up shortcomings.

"It is necessary for the country to step forward and offer support (to Tepco)," Suga told a regular news conference.

Abe, at a meeting of a government task force on the nuclear disaster, will instruct Trade and Industry Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to "take prompt measures" on the problem, Suga said.

($1 = 97.6050 Japanese yen)

(Reporting by Kentaro Hamada, Antoni Slodkowski, Mari Saito, Emi Emoto and William Mallard; Writing by Raju Gopalakrishnan; Editing by Edmund Klamann)

Obama 'disappointed' with Russia, calls embassy threat significant

Posted:

BURBANK, California (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama confirmed on Tuesday that he would go to Russia this fall for a G20 summit but said he was "disappointed" that Russia granted temporary asylum to former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden.

Speaking on NBC's "The Tonight Show" with host Jay Leno, Obama said Moscow sometimes slipped into a Cold War mentality, despite being cooperative with the United States on some issues, including counterterrorism efforts in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing.

Obama was not asked and did not mention whether he would attend a separate meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his Russian trip. That meeting was put in question after Moscow rejected U.S. pleas and granted Snowden a year's asylum. The White House has said it is evaluating whether a one-on-one with Putin makes sense.

Washington wants Snowden, who was in hiding in Hong Kong before flying to Moscow in June, to be sent home to face criminal charges including espionage for disclosing secret American internet and telephone surveillance programs.

"There have been times where they slip back into Cold War thinking and a Cold War mentality," Obama said of Russia.

"What I say to President Putin is, that's the past and ... we've got to think about the future. And there's no reason why we shouldn't be able to cooperate more effectively than we do."

During the interview, Obama also said the recent threat that caused the United States to close its embassies throughout the Middle East was significant.

"It's significant enough that we're taking every precaution," Obama said.

"It's a reminder that for all the progress we've made ... this radical, violent extremism is still out there," Obama said. "We've got to stay on top of it."

The U.S. State Department issued a worldwide travel alert on Friday warning Americans that al Qaeda may be planning attacks in August, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. It initially announced the embassy closures would be only for Sunday, then extended the closures of some by a week.

Asked whether the controversial surveillance programs helped lead to the intelligence that sparked the warnings, Obama said the programs were critical to counterterrorism work. But he said more needed to be done to assure Americans they were not being spied on themselves.

"We don't have a domestic spying program," he said. "What we do have are some mechanisms where we can track a phone number or an email address that we know is connected to some sort of terrorist threat."

The odds of dying in a terrorist attack were less than dying in a car accident, Obama said, and Americans should be careful but did not need to cancel planned vacations to places such as Europe as a result of the recent travel warnings.

LIGHTER SIDE

In lighter notes, Obama said he had invited his former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, to her recent lunch at the White House and described her as having a post-administration "glow."

"We have become genuinely close, and I could not have more respect for her," Obama said.

Asked by Leno whether the former first lady and potential 2016 presidential candidate had "measured the drapes" while she was there, Obama said no.

"Keep in mind she's been there before," he joked. "She doesn't have to measure them."

Obama also confirmed - more or less - a budding "bromance" with his former 2008 presidential rival, Republican Senator John McCain, who has been supportive of Obama's push to reform U.S. immigration laws.

"That's how a classic romantic comedy goes, right? Initially you're not getting along and then you keep on bumping into each other," Obama joked.

"John McCain and I have, you know, a number of philosophical differences, but he is a person of integrity. He is willing to say things regardless of the politics."

Leno also poked fun at Obama for having told a group of young people that broccoli was his favourite food.

"Me and broccoli, I don't know, we've got a thing going," Obama offered.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

On Cary Elwes’ Horizon
Female heroine in a burqa
Peter Capaldi is the 12th Dr Who

On Cary Elwes’ Horizon

Posted:

Cary Elwes is set to star in the sci-fi television drama, Horizon.

THE cast of the pilot episode for the new drama is beginning to come into focus. Horizon will be produced by Gale Anne Hurd, executive producer of the first three Terminator films as well as of the popular TV programme, The Walking Dead.

British actor Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride, Psych) has accepted a central role in the sci-fi drama, according to Deadline.com. The actor's character, a man with mysterious motives and dealings in Washington, struggles with the classic dilemma of whether to disobey authority or compromise his personal ethics.

Elwes will act alongside Mark Famiglietti (FlashForward), Taylor Handley (Vegas) and Meg Steedle (Boardwalk Empire) in the first episode of this show set during World War II and exploring elements of paranoia and conspiracy theory.

Commissioned by the USA Network, the pilot will focus primarily on the FBI secretary played by Irish actress Ruth Bradley (Primeval). The main character of the show decides to investigate the "Horizon" files in secret after her husband, a pilot, dies a suspicious death in the Pacific Ocean. Aliens, government conspiracy and Nazi spies are all expected to make an appearance in the new series.

After The Princess Bride in 1987, followed by several TV projects, Cary Elwes made his film comeback with Saw in 2004. — AFP Relaxnews

Female heroine in a burqa

Posted:

Pakistan's Burka Avenger is set to go global.

Pakistan's new cartoon superhero who fights bad guys disguised in a flowing black burka is set to go global, her creator told AFP, with plans afoot to broadcast the show in 60 countries.

The Urdu-language animation Burka Avenger, showing the adventures of a mild-mannered teacher who uses her superpowers to fight local gangsters trying to close down the girls' school where she works, hit Pakistani TV screens last month.

The kids' action-comedy struck a chord in a country where Taliban militants have prevented thousands of girls from going to school in the northwest and attacked activists campaigning for their education.

The man behind Burka Avenger, pop star Haroon Rashid, said he had been overwhelmed by the response.

"The reception has been absolutely phenomenal, beyond our expectations," he said.

"We were making this little animated TV series for Pakistan but it seems like the whole world wants to know about the Burka Avenger."

A TV distribution company in Europe has been in touch with a view to translating the show into 18 languages, including English and French, and screening it in 60 countries, Rashid said.

The issue of girls' education in conservative, militant-plagued northwest Pakistan hit world headlines last October when Taliban gunmen shot teenage activist Malala Yousafzai.

Malala, who campaigns for the right of girls to go to school, survived the attack and last month delivered a powerful speech at the UN in New York.

Rashid said Malala was a "real life superhero" for her courage and said the attack on her had come as they prepared an early episode of Burka Avenger.

"We were all stunned because we were working on the exact same story about a little girl who stands up to the bad guy who tried to shut down her school," he said.

"I had never heard of Malala before then – it was like life was imitating what was on our screen while we were developing."

Nearly half of all children in Pakistan and almost three quarters of young girls are not enrolled in primary school, according to UN and government statistics published late last year.

Jiya, the teacher and cartoon's protagonist, transforms into a burka-clad all-action heroine skilled in martial arts to fight against "ignorance and tyranny" in the fictional village of Halwapur.

Armed only with books and pens, she takes on the wicked Baba Bandook and his henchmen, who include Vadero Pajero, a corrupt politician – something adult Pakistanis are all too familiar with.

There has been lively debate in Pakistan's English language press about whether Jiya's choice of disguise is a sign of empowerment or promotes something used to oppress women.

But Yousaf Ejaz, the show's artistic director, said the inspiration came from his childhood.

"I was a big fan of Batman, and my grandmother, she had a burqa," he said.

"So back in the childhood when she was away, we would steal her burqa and act like Batman, wearing that burqa: 'I am Batman, look at me!'

"So it was one of the inspirations that kicked in when I was talking to Haroon about early ideas of the Burka Avenger." — AFP Relaxnews

Peter Capaldi is the 12th Dr Who

Posted:

The Time Lord has found its new Doctor in the cult sci-fi series.

Doctor Who will next be played by World War Z star Peter Capaldi, who was the odds-on favourite to take the BBC's storied sci-fi character into its 12th generation.

The BBC on Sunday announced its replacement for Matt Smith as the titular lead during a live show that began at 7pm London time and was broadcast live in the United States. Smith announced he was giving up the role after four years last June, starting a wave of speculation among fans of the British sci-fi staple as to whose body Time Lord would inhabit next.

London oddsmakers were quick to take bets on who would next hold the Sonic Screwdriver, a secret reportedly only revealed to 10 people before its announcement.

Capaldi was such a strong front-runner that bookmakers suspended betting on the The Thick Of It star when he became a 5/6 favourite.

Many speculated that the 12th Doctor would be the first to be a woman or a minority; Idris Elba had been named as a contender (though his film career is far along enough now) along with Ben Daniels, Rory Kinnear and Daniel Rigby.

The series which has been running in one form or another (with some hiccups along the way) since 1963 is a major part of British culture and is the very definition of "cult hit" in the United States and around the world. — Reuters

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The Star Online: Business

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The Star Online: Business

KLCI falls in early trade, banks weigh
Australia's High Court Dismisses Challenge To Mining Tax
Trading ideas: Puncak Niaga, Kinsteel, Faber

KLCI falls in early trade, banks weigh

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's FBM KLCI fell in early trade on Wednesday on some mild profit taking on banks including AMMB and Public Bank in the shortened trading session.

At 9.04am, the KLCI was down 4.99 points to 1,779.45. Turnover was 35.63 million shares valued at RM29.45mil. There were 77 gainers, 73 losers and 118 counters unchanged.

Petronas Gas fell the most, down 20 sen to RM20.72 while Petronas Chemicals shed seven sen to RM6.56. However, Petronas Dagangan rose 18 sen to RM27.50.

Among the banks, BIMB lost 14 sen to RM4.80, Public Bank and AMMB fell six sen each to RM17.24 and RM7.96.

Faber Group continued to attract strong interest after hitting limit-up on Tuesday, gaining nine sen to RM2.43.

Sime Darby edged up seven sen to RM9.59 with 100 shares done, BHIC added seben sen to RM2.54 as it staged a turnaround in its financial performance. IJM gained five sen to RM5.73 with 100 shares traded.

Australia's High Court Dismisses Challenge To Mining Tax

Posted:

CANBERRA: Australia's High Court found a controversial profits tax on iron ore and coal mines was constitutional on Wednesday, a major victory for the government that introduced the tax in July 2012 at the height of a China-led mining boom.

The High Court challenge against the tax was led by Australia's number three iron ore miner Fortescue Metals and its boss Andrew Forrest, who argued the tax discriminated against mining states and interfered with the rights of state governments to impose royalties.

But in a unanimous decision, the full bench of the High Court dismissed Fortescue's challenge to the Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT).

"The Court held that the treatment of state mining royalties by the MRRT Act and the Imposition Acts did not discriminate between States and that the Acts did not give preference to one State over another," the court said.

The tax was negotiated by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard with global miners BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Xstrata, now Glencore Xstrata.

The latest figures show the mining tax, which starts once profits on a project reaches A$75 million, will raise only A$4 billion in its first four years, well down on the government's initial A$10 billion estimates.

Australia's conservative opposition, favoured to win elections on September 7, has promised to scrap the tax if it wins power.- Reuters

Trading ideas: Puncak Niaga, Kinsteel, Faber

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR: Hwang DBS Vickers Research expects Puncak Niaga, Kinsteel and Faber Group to see trading interest on Wednesday where the market is on a half-day session.

The research house said in terms of news flows, the industrial production index (IPI) report for June was due for release this afternoon.

HDBSVR said on the corporate scene, of probable interest were Puncak Niaga, which secured a Petronas contract for a pipeline replacement project, but the contract value was not disclosed.

As for Kinsteel, it plans to raise funds by undertaking a private placement of up to 10% of paid-up share capital at an issue price to be determined later.

Faber's shares was expected to continue to see active trading after jumping by 30% on Tuesday in response to its proposed acquisition of new businesses from its major shareholder.

Overnight on Wall Street, key US equity indices fell between 0.6% and 0.7% at the closing bell on concerns that the US Federal Reserve might start to slow down its bonds purchase program soon following the announcement of buoyant economic indicators.

"The poor external sentiment could spill over to our Malaysian bourse, which is on a half-day session today. Its benchmark FBM KLCI is expected to back off from the 1,785 resistance line as trading slows ahead of the long festive break," it said.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Nation

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The Star Online: Nation

Backhoe driver found guilty of killing fortune teller
Penang CM declares two shophouses, fixed deposit and shares as assets
Liow: Chinese NGOs hoping MCA will be represented in Cabinet

Backhoe driver found guilty of killing fortune teller

Posted:

ALOR SETAR: A 55-year-old backhoe operator was sentenced to be hanged for murdering his estranged wife in Taman Saga here, last year.

Judicial Commissioner Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab also sentenced Wong Ban Chong to eight years' jail for causing grievous hurt to his wife's foster daughter at the same time and place.

The High Court found that Wong, in his defence, had failed to raise any reasonable doubt to the charges made against him.

Wong was charged with murdering fortune teller Ung Siew Lin, 47, and voluntarily causing grievous hurt to Chng Sheue Mei, 28.

The crime was committed at a house in Taman Saga, Jalan Alor Mengkudu, at 12.17am on Feb 17, 2012.

Both cases were jointly heard before Justice Mohd Zaki.

The judge said that the accused, in his defence which was given under oath, had told the court that he only went to the house to meet his wife.

He said that Wong had called Ung to come out and discuss their marital problems but Ung refused. He then proceeded to break into the house by forcing open the back window of the kitchen.

Wong told the court that he was only defending himself with a parang because Chng had kicked him to the ground and both she and Ung were beating him up.

Mohd Zaki said the court found that Wong had failed to prove that he was defending himself.

This was based on the testimonies given by his three daughters, who were all in their 20s and present at the scene.

He added that the daughters who were inside the house during the incident told the court that Wong had aggressively broken into the house via the kitchen window.

The witnesses also said that they were scared and had run to the porch to save themselves.

However, Wong continued to pursue them and then attacked their mother.

Based on the overall evidence of the case, there was no doubt that the injuries that caused Ung's death had been caused by Wong, said Mohd Zaki.

Penang CM declares two shophouses, fixed deposit and shares as assets

Posted:

GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, state executive councillors and state Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen on Tuesday made public their assets.

Copies of the declaration of assets of the 11 exco members, including Lim, and 19 assemblymen were distributed to reporters during a press conference in Komtar.

Lim said the details of the assets included properties, investments and motor vehicles as of May 5 this year.

According to the asset declarations Lim has two shophouses in Malacca, RM308,368 in fixed deposit and shares/unit trust in eight companies but the assemblyman with the most properties in Penang is probably Phee Boon Poh.

Phee, who is state Exco member, has eight properties including joint properties and some of them are in Halminton, New Zealand.

He jointly owns houses (inherited) and land in Hamilton, an apartment in Pantai Molek, Butterworth, a house in Taman Dalia, a shophouse in Bandar Mutiara (inherited), land in Teluk Air Tawar, penthouse in Bagan Ajam and bungalow land in Batu Kawan.

Phee, who is Sungai Puyu assemblyman from DAP, also hold shares in 24 companies and unit trust shares in six companies.

In comparison, Lim has a shophouse which is a joint property which was bought for RM435,000 and another shophouse which was bought for RM530,000.

He settled the RM300,000 loan for the first shophouse and RM350,000 loan for the second shophouse last year. He does not own any vehicle.

State exco member Lim Hock Seng of the DAP is listed as owning a house in Seberang Jaya, flat in Mutiara Perdana, flat in Vista Perdana, shop house in Jalan Raja Uda and factory in Permatang Pauh (both joint properties and two pieces of land in Teluk Air Tawar.

Datuk Salleh Man, the state PAS commissioner and Permatang Pasir assemblyman, on the other hand, does not own any property or shares.

He owns a motorcycle and Toyota Corolla Altis which he bought for RM5,000 and RM118,000 respectively.

Datuk Abdul Malik Abul Kassim of PKR does not own any properties or shares.

Abdul Malik, who is state Exco member and second term Batu Maung assemblyman, is listed as having a Proton Tiara, Honda CRV and Ford Ranger which he bought for RM36,000, RM143,000 and RM32,000 respectively.

Lee Khai Loon of PKR, who is first term Machang Bubuk assemblyman, does not own any property.

He has 10,254 units of Amanah Saham Wawasan 2020 shares and fixed deposit of RM41,990.

Sungai Pinang assemblyman Lim Siew Khim of the DAP, who was elected in the recent general election, only owns a flat and a Proton Wira car which she bought for RM50,00 and RM43,000 respectively.

She took a RM45,000 loan and RM23,000 loan to buy the flat and car respectively.

Sungai Bakap assemblyman Maktar Shapee of PKR owns an inherited land in Seberang Prai Selatan and a Proton Persona car which he bought for RM60,000.

He does not have any other property, shares or unit trust shares.

The declarations would be uploaded to the state's official website at http://www.penang.gov.my/ on Wednesday.

Liow: Chinese NGOs hoping MCA will be represented in Cabinet

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR: Chinese non-governmental organisations are still hoping that MCA will overturn its decision of not holding any government post after losing badly in the 13th general election, said MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

He said the issue had been brought up by the NGOs at the 'Interaction on MCA Reformation and the Future of the Chinese Community' dialogue at Wisma MCA on Tuesday.

Speaking after chairing the three-hour dialogue attended by representatives from 58 Chinese NGOs including trade, industry and education sectors, Liow said: "They had expressed their views and viewed that MCA could help the Chinese community to solve many issues affecting them and have a pivotal role in helping the government to formulate policies for the good of the country. As such, they feel that it is only right that the MCA must be represented in the Cabinet."

They also discussed current issues affecting the Chinese such as education, business and security, he added.

Liow, who is heading MCA's transformation committee, said despite facing strong rejection from the Chinese community, MCA would continue to engage and work closely with the community to win back their support.

He said feedback from the dialogue as well as other meetings with the Chinese community will be used to formulate a clear transformation blueprint for the party.

MCA has stood by its resolution in the 2011 and 2012 party general assemblies not to accept any government post if it performed worse than the 12th general election.

MCA only won seven parliamentary and 11 state seats in the last general election which was twice as bad as it did in the 2008 general election. - Bernama

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

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The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

Old-time favourite

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James Hong is the go-to guy for Asian roles in Hollywood.

YOU'VE seen him before in many movies and television shows, even though he's rarely the star of any. However, as the go-to guy for many Asian characters (mostly Chinese, of course), James Hong is a familiar face in American productions.

He also has a familiar voice, distinguishable mainly for his Chinese-American accent – it's not a put-on accent, he really does speak like that – and his high-pitched tone.

Born on Feb 22, 1929 in Minnesota, United States, Hong began his showbusiness career in the 1950s as a voice actor, dubbing Asian films into English. He also started taking on small acting roles, until hitting it big with the popular TV series The New Adventures Of Charlie Chan. From then on, Hong has never looked back.

The 84-year-old actor has appeared alongside many of Hollywood's top stars including Jack Nicholson, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Bacon, Faye Dunaway and Danny Glover. Hong has so far appeared more than 500 times in TV shows and movies, making him one of the most hardworking actors around. This year alone, Hong's film projects include Blunt Movie, The Lost Medallion: The Adventures Of Billy Stone and R.I.P.D, which is currently showing in Malaysian cinemas.

Here are some of the more memorable films that feature Hong.

Big Trouble In Little China (1986)

Character: Lo Pan

What it is: This John Carpenter-directed movie stars Kurt Russell and sees Hong as Lo Pan, the bada** immortal sorcerer living in San Francisco. Big Trouble In Little China is a favourite among lovers of cheesy films and those who admire Carpenter's work.

James Hong moment: When "dark magic" comes out of his eyes.

Blade Runner (1982)

Hong as Chew, the eye maker in Blade Runner.

Character: Chew, the eye guy

What it is: A cult favourite among sci-fi lovers, Blade Runner is perhaps director Ridley Scott's most talked-about movie. Well, after Alien, that is. Set in the distant future (although 2019 doesn't seem so distant now), the movie stars Harrison Ford as a former "blade runner" – special agents trained to capture and destroy human-like robots banned from Earth – who returns to the force to hunt down a group of escaped robots. Hong plays the guy who manufactures the robots' eyes.

JH moment: When Chew meets Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) and checks out his eyes ... before getting scared of his own creations.

Wayne's World 2 (1993)

Character: Jeff Wong

What it is: The sequel to Wayne's World, this film sees Wayne (Mike Myers) and Garth (Dana Carvey) trying to organise a rock festival. At the same time, Wayne also has to prove his worth to Jeff Wong, the father of his girlfriend Cassandra (Tia Carrere). Yes, Hong played Carrere's father in the movie.

JH moment: When Jeff meets Wayne and he challenges him to a good ol' fashioned kungfu battle. He also walks down some steps ... on his hands. A stuntman probably did it, but the whole scene is hilarious!

Airplane! (1980)

Character: Japanese General

What it is: The crew and some of the passengers of a commercial airplane gets seriously ill during a flight and there is only one person around who can land the plane. However, he has problems of his own. This over-the-top, silly movie is very funny, but you do need to watch it with an open mind and without any expectations.

JH moment: Hong's scene in this movie lasts all of three seconds, but he kills it.

James Hong plays the voice of Mr Ping in the Kung Fu Panda movies.

Kung Fu Panda (2008) and Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

Character: Mr Ping the noodle-selling goose

What it is: In this sequel, Po the "Dragon Warrior" starts to get flashbacks of his long-forgotten childhood. At the same time, he has to ward off a narcissistic peacock from taking over the land and getting rid of all the warriors.

JH moment: Hong reprises his role as the voice of Mr Ping, the father of Po the panda. The scene where Ping is forced to tell the story of how he found Po is quite touching. Hong's voice turns into a softer tone, which fits the scene perfectly.

More penguins coming our way

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Benedict Cumberbatch and John Malkovich in new animated movie.

In a casting coup, DreamWorks Animation has set Benedict Cumberbatch and John Malkovich to voice new characters in its spin-off The Penguins Of Madagascar, TheWrap has learned.

The animated movie, which features the penguins from DreamWork's Madagascar franchise, is scheduled for release on March 27, 2015. An individual familiar with the project tells TheWrap that Malkovich will voice the film's charming villain, while Cumberbatch will voice a high-ranking animal CIA agent hot on his trail. (Cumberbatch has often been jokingly described as "looking like an otter" so perhaps he will play one in the movie?)

Simon J. Smith (Bee Movie) is directing from a script by Michael Colton and John Aboud. Lara Breay (Megamind) is producing, while executive producers include Mireille Soria, Tom McGrath and Eric Darnell, all of whom are responsible for the original Madagascar trilogy.

The Penguins Of Madagascar has already spawned a successful Nickelodeon TV show, a straight-to-DVD movie and a comic book written by David Server and Jackson Lanzing. — Reuters

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Lifestyle: Arts & Fashion

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The Star Online: Lifestyle: Arts & Fashion

What's eating the arts?

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In the first of a three-part series on the state, role and future of the performing arts in Malaysia, we examine some of the fundamental issues that make it a niche and struggling field.

FOR the longest time, there has been something missing in Malaysia's performing arts scene: an advocacy movement.

As aptly summed up by actor and director Jo Kukathas: "Artists aren't always the best people to negotiate with government or corporations. What we need is an intermediary."

In many countries, arts advocacy groups are common.

Malaysia could do with more individuals or independent organisations working to source funding for artists, says Kukathas.

And so enters Low Ngai Yuen, and the current incarnation of Kakiseni.

Kakiseni was founded by Kathy Rowland and Jenny Daneels as an online platform to facilitate dialogue between artists. Low volunteered to carry on after they left in 2011.

Kakiseni, now headed by Low, has its own office, manned by a small army of bright and passionate individuals.

A set of government-funded grant schemes, mentor-mentee programmes and even a 10-day festival packed with free shows, art installations, forums and workshops, are the result of over two years of hard work.

Lobbying takes persistence, of which Low – a tenacious workaholic and irrepressible theatre activist – has shown an admirable amount.

"It took me about a year before I was invited to the right meetings," she laughs.

Getting to know people and sitting in on round table sessions gave her the chance to raise issues about the performing arts industry.

The formula is such: find out from practitioners what their problems are, and then be the bridge that champions those issues.

So what are the issues? They are indeed numerous and interconnected, and it begins with a lack of awareness.

The fact that few are aware of theatre means a limited audience attends performances; there is a perception that theatre is only for "certain types" of people.

Perhaps this explains why many Malaysians tend not to have a thriving and prolific performing arts scene in their list of top priorities, and why we compare so poorly with other countries when it comes to patronage and government funding for the arts.

Ticket sales, even when a show plays to full houses, generally only cover about 40% of production costs.

The Kakiseni Arts Festival is a 10-day festival packed with free shows, art installations, forums and workshops, the result of over two years of hard work. Here, the En La Lona troupe from Argentina wheels its way along Jalan Bukit Bintang as part of the 2013 festival's street parade.

Attention-grabbing: The Kakiseni Arts Festival is a 10-day festival packed with free shows, art installations, forums and workshops, the result of over two years of hard work. Here, the En La Lona troupe from Argentina wheels its way along Jalan Bukit Bintang as part of the 2013 festival's street
parade.

"It's about scalability," explains Low. "The work you put up will only run for a certain amount of time, so if your ticket sales cover that particular show, it doesn't help you cover your next show."

The remaining half needs to come from external funds – your philanthropists, your government grants, your corporate sponsors etc, she adds.

Not having those alternative sources of funding means that anyone who decides to put on a show faces the risk of struggling to recoup their investment.

Sometimes, actors and crew offer their services for free; often, they get paid a minimal amount.

This, in turn, has obvious implications for the sustainability of theatre companies.

For many years, these financial risks and sacrifices have meant that Malaysian theatre today largely survives on an ad hoc basis.

Each new project brings on a whole new set of financial challenges and worries. This tough environment does nothing for the incubation and development of new talents – the uncertainty and lack of room for professional commitment inhibits the natural progression from amateur to professional.

Asked what constitutes a healthy performing arts industry, Low replies: "A healthy arts scene is one that grows every single year – from the number of performances to audience numbers, to the number of new artists coming in.

"It also entails a good mix of quality shows, re-staging of old as well as new works, traditional and experimental as well as serious and light-hearted performances."

As such, Malaysia's performing arts scene has been in stagnation.

Few original productions see the light of day, many performances feature the same old talents, serious drama or experimental works are few and far between, and productions are mostly frequented by niche audiences.

Does anyone make a profit?

Low laughs again. In most cases, the situation is very far from even "struggling to break even", she says. This is the reality of Malaysian theatre.

Related Stories:

Thrive or fly a systemic issue

The life of an artist is about scraping by

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Metro: Central

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Dumex recalls some baby formula

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DANONE Dumex has initiated a precautionary recall of some batches of its products following concerns over a whey protein bacterial contamination that can cause botulism.

In a statement released yesterday, the infant formula giant said that their supplier Fonterra had informed them that one of their ingredients had a "potential quality issue".

The products recalled: Mamil Gold PreciNutri Step 2 After 6 Months Follow-up Formula in both 900g and 1.6kg packet sizes. — The Straits Times/ Asia News Network

BA boss cleans plane toilets, too

Posted:

WHEN he is not busy running British Airways' South-East Asia operations, Robert Williams is serving meals and cleaning toilets on planes.

Appointed in March as the region's Singapore-based general manager, the Briton, who leads a team of 25, is also a trained cabin crew member.

Once in about three months, he hangs up his "boss" hat and dons his navy blue cabin crew suit.

He said in a recent interview at his United Square office in Thomson Road: "I spend all my time telling people they should fly with us because that's my job.

"Surely I should know what it is that we are delivering for the core part of our product, which is in the air.

"Serving as cabin crew gives me a real understanding of what the customer is going to get on board and what the differences are between the products and services that we offer in each cabin."

Being in the air also means leaving his boss badge behind. And yes, he cleans toilets, too.

Williams is one of about 600 British Airways staff who have opted to be part of the airline's Inflight Customer Support Programme, which was launched in 2010 to forge rapport and understanding among employees.

Ground staff who are keen and get selected undergo the full five-week cabin crew training and serve on actual flights.

To comply with British civil aviation rules, they need to fly at least once every 90 days and sit a three-day course and test once a year.

Williams, 34, who has completed 15 to 20 flights, thinks the programme is a great idea. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

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The Star Online: Metro: South & East

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The Star Online: Metro: South & East

Dumex recalls some baby formula
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