The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro
The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro |
- 20,000 rally in Phnom Penh
- Jailed for graffiti mischief
- McDonald’s: No lizard, burger is 100% chicken
| Posted: PHNOM PENH: Thousands of Cambodians, many holding lotus flowers symbolising peace, joined a mass protest in the capital Phnom Penh in a last-ditch bid to challenge Prime Minister Hun Sen's disputed election win. Around 20,000 demonstrators, some carrying placards and ribbons with "my vote, my life" written in Khmer, gathered in Democracy Park yesterday to demand a probe into allegations that voter fraud denied the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) victory in July's election. The protest, which was one of the largest opposition demonstrations in recent years, comes as final results are expected to end the CNRP's legal options to overturn the result. The CNRP has alleged widespread rigging in the election in which Hun Sen's long-ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) claimed victory.  Thousands of Cambodians, many holding lotus flowers symbolising peace, joined in the protest. — AFP Opposition leader Sam Rainsy again rejected the polls result yesterday, vowing further peaceful demonstrations unless an independent probe into alleged voter fraud is called. Opening his address to the colourful rally with a prayer, Rainsy said it was an "historic day" and called for "justice for the voters". Rainsy, a French-educated former banker, was excluded from standing in the polls despite a recent pardon for criminal convictions that he maintains were politically motivated. According to preliminary results from the National Election Committee (NEC), the CPP won 3.2 million votes to the CNRP's 2.9 million. The NEC is expected to rule that the CPP won the election when it declares the final results today. The country's Constitutional Council said on Friday that it had reviewed the CNRP's complaints about the polls and had broadly rejected them. The comments failed to deflate protesters who converged in the capital for several hours yesterday. "I came to demand justice. Our votes have been stolen ... the victory of the people has been stolen," said Uy Sarouen, 54, in a frequently heard complaint. Experts say the opposition's legal options are running out. "The chances of the opposition succeeding in its demands are proportional to the number of supporters joining the demonstration," independent political analyst Lao Mong Hay said before the rally. — AFP |
| Posted: HE had sprayed the word "Anarchy" at the inline skating park in Bishan with a circle around the first letter of the word. Muhammad Ashraf Alias, 29, told police that this was a symbol that meant "to destroy everything". He also admitted that he "hated everything in life" and that he "felt good" in committing mischief. In a district court on Friday, the former dishwasher changed his tune and said that he regretted his actions. He pleaded guilty and was jailed for three-and-a-half-months. He had sprayed the graffiti at the Bishan Harmony Park at 8.45pm on June 8. He then went to the street soccer court at Ang Mo Kio Avenue1. There, he wrapped newspaper around the can of spray paint that he had used earlier and set fire to it in a rubbish bin. The next day, he was back for more mischief-making. A jogger saw him spraying graffiti at the soccer court and called the police. There was also a smouldering rubbish bin nearby. On seeing the police, Muhammad Ashraf tried to flee on his bicycle but was nabbed after a short chase. He also admitted to police to finding and misappropriating a wallet at Tai Seng MRT station in early June and spending the S$20 (RM51.50) contained in it. A report from the Institute of Mental Health stated that Muhammad Ashraf knew it was wrong to commit these acts. He said that he wanted attention and for "his voice to be heard". The report further stated that he was not of unsound mind and that he was fit to enter a plea. He could have been jailed for up to a year and fined for each act of mischief. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network |
| McDonald’s: No lizard, burger is 100% chicken Posted: PRELIMINARY laboratory test results have indicated that a McDonald's Sausage McMuffin burger which allegedly contained a lizard is "100% chicken". A photo of the half-eaten burger with what looks like a lizard tail sticking out of it went viral on the Internet this week, but the fast-food chain said yesterday that it was actually a chicken's blood vein. "The vein is white in colour because of the halal slaughtering process, where blood had to be drained," said McDonald's senior communications manager Kevin Lim. Food that is labelled halal is prepared in compliance with Islamic rules. Lim added that the laboratory report has been shared with relevant authorities such as the National Environment Agency. The restaurant's chicken sausage patties are made from minced dark and white chicken meat that is imported from Malaysia. "We have also traced back the product's production process and no product from the same batch had any quality issues reported," he said. "Please rest assured that we make no compromises when it comes to the safety of our food." The Straits Times reported on Friday that McDonald's had collected the half-eaten burger from the customer who posted the photo on Facebook. The sample was then sent to a laboratory for testing. The customer, known only as Sandy Sand on her Facebook page, had said that the burger was bought from the Ang Mo Kio drive-through branch when she posted it at noon on Wednesday. McDonald's later issued an apology for her experience. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network |
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