Jumaat, 14 Februari 2014

The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro

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The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro

Kejriwal quits as Delhi chief minister after 49 days
Three Indonesia airports reopen after volcano eruption
Thai riot police deployed to clear areas occupied by protesters

Kejriwal quits as Delhi chief minister after 49 days

Posted: 14 Feb 2014 10:02 PM PST

NEW DELHI, Feb 15, 2014 (AFP) - Firebrand anti-corruption champion Arvind Kejriwal was clearing his desk Saturday after quitting as Delhi's chief minister in a move that leaves him clear to lead his party into battle in a looming general election.

Only 49 days after his upstart Aam Aadmi ("Common Man") Party took power in the capital, Kejriwal resigned on Friday night when the country's two main parties combined to thwart his efforts to bring in a new anti-corruption bill.

Kejriwal, whose stunning breakthrough in the Delhi state elections in December highlighted public anger towards the political establishment, launched a blistering assault on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Congress party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in his resignation speech.

Newspapers said his decision to quit so soon after taking power appeared part of a wider strategy which would free Kejriwal to lead his party's campaign in a general election due by May.

The anti-corruption bill was the main plank of Kejriwal's manifesto in the Delhi state election, the first campaign that his party had ever fought.

Although Aam Aadmi only won 28 of the 70 assembly seats, it was able to take power after Congress agreed to give it backing from outside.

However Congress refused to support the Jan Lokpal bill, which included plans to set up an anti-corruption commission, in a vote Friday on procedural grounds.

In his speech to supporters on Friday, the 45-year-old accused Congress of reneging on an earlier promise to back the bill.

'Broken promises'

"Congress had promised us, in writing, that they would support the bill but when we tried to present it before the assembly today both they and the BJP came together to block it," Kejriwal said.

"This is the first time in India's history that both the BJP and Congress have come together... They have exposed themselves and shown their true face."

In his typically fiery address, the former tax inspector also accused the two parties of taking orders from Mukesh Ambani, India's wealthiest man who heads the giant Reliance Industries conglomerate.

The BJP is expected to win the national polls, but it will need support from smaller parties to clinch victory.

Although Kejriwal only formed his party a year ago, its remarkable showing in the Delhi election shocked the country's political establishment.

Congress, which has been badly damaged by a series of corruption scandals at national level, saw its number of seats slashed from 43 to just eight.

Aam Aadmi has said it plans to contest the national elections although analysts say it is unlikely to win much support outside major cities such as Delhi and Mumbai due to its lack of infrastructure and funding.

Newspapers said that Kejriwal's resignation represented something of a gamble for his party, with many of the voters who backed him in December unhappy at his decision to walk so soon.

"As AAP moves to launch an audacious Lok Sabha (parliamentary) campaign, the political greenhorn who humbled both Congress and BJP will also have to answer questions about its commitment to governance and if it has the vision to be a long-term player," said The Times of India.

The Hindustan Times said that Kerjiwal's resignation was part of a plan that would allow him to spearhead the general election campaign.

"The decision to quit is part of AAP's bigger strategy," the paper said.

"It hopes to paint the Congress and BJP as the villains of the piece who did not let his government fulfill its promises, and is banking on the people to bring it back to power on its own."

During his administration's brief time in office, Kejriwal unveiled a series of headline-grabbing initiatives, including a graft hotline aimed at stemming the rampant corruption of police and bureaucrats.

After shunning the usual official car and instead taking the subway to his swearing-in ceremony, Kejriwal then slashed electricity costs and announced free water supplies.

But while his elevation to one of the most important political posts in India was initially widely welcomed as a much-needed shock to the system, the former tax inspector has since come in for criticism over a series of stand-offs with the authorities.

The self-styled "anarchist" staged a sit-in on the pavement close to the national parliament last month, triggering chaos in the city centre, as part of a push to be given greater powers of control over the police.

In Delhi, the BJP will be given the opportunity to form an alternative administration before any decision is made on holding fresh elections.

The party is the biggest faction in the assembly, having won 32 seats in December.

Three Indonesia airports reopen after volcano eruption

Posted: 14 Feb 2014 09:14 PM PST

JAKARTA, Feb 15, 2014 (AFP) - Three airports in Indonesia reopened on Saturday while four others remained closed, officials said, after a volcanic eruption killed three people and forced mass evacuations.

Mount Kelud, considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes on the main island of Java, spewed red-hot ash and rocks high into the air late Thursday night just hours after its alert status was raised.

"The airport in Malang city in East Java province, and Cilacap and Semarang cities in Central Java province have reopened. There's no problem flying there now. We are now evaluating the status of other airports," Transport Ministry spokesman Bambang Ervan told AFP.

Seven airports - including those serving international flights in Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Solo and Bandung - were forced to close Friday due to thick ash that blanketed eastern Javanese cities.

Ervan said the airports in Bandung and Surabaya are expected to reopen later Saturday, while the airport in Solo may reopen Monday and the one in Yogyakarta on February 18.

On Friday villagers in eastern Java described the terror of volcanic materials raining down on their homes, while AFP correspondents at the scene saw residents covered in grey dust fleeing in cars and on motorbikes towards evacuation centres.

The volcano spewed grey smoke some 3,000 metres (9,850 feet) into the sky on Saturday, National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said, but added that "volcanic activity showed a slowing trend".

Transport Ministry director general of aviation Herry Bakti said the authorities "will continue to monitor the movement of ash in the air via satellite".

"We were informed by the volcanology agency this morning that no more powerful eruptions are expected. So it is safe to fly and flights can resume. We will issue an update via notice to airmen," he told AFP on Saturday.

Three people were killed and around 200,000 people were ordered to evacuate following the eruption, though some families ignored the orders and others have returned home, with just over 75,000 now in temporary shelters, officials said.

The 1,731-metre (5,679-foot) Mount Kelud has claimed more than 15,000 lives since 1500, including around 10,000 deaths in a massive eruption in 1568.

It is one of 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a belt of seismic activity running around the basin of the Pacific Ocean.

Earlier this month another volcano, Mount Sinabung on western Sumatra island unleashed an enormous eruption that left at least 16 dead and has been erupting almost daily since September.

Thai riot police deployed to clear areas occupied by protesters

Posted: 14 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

BANGKOK: Thousands of riot police were deployed in the Thai capital to clear areas occupied for weeks by opposition protesters, tearing down makeshift barricades around the besieged government headquarters.

The operation in Bangkok marked an unexpected shift in tactics by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's government after months during which the demonstrators have often appeared to be more in control of the city than the authorities.

Apparently emboldened by dwindling protester numbers and the failure of the opposition to have a recent election nullified by the courts, the government attempted to regain the upper hand by reclaiming key state buildings.

Police with shields and riot helmets, some carrying rifles, met little resistance as they re-took areas around Government House, which Yingluck had been unable to use for about two months.

Security forces removed protesters' tents and ripped down their makeshift defences built from barbed wire, sandbags and piles of rubber tyres, according to reporters.

But it was unclear if the operation was a success as demonstrators were later seen rebuilding barricades. Police also pulled back from an occupied government complex in the north of the city before they could clear the area.

Thailand remains deeply divided more than seven years after a controversial military coup ousted then-premier Thaksin Shinawatra – Yingluck's brother.

The kingdom has been periodically rocked by mass demonstrations by rival protest groups broadly allied or opposed to the tycoon-turned-politician, who wooed rural voters with policies such as affordable healthcare and micro-loans.

Thaksin is hated by many southerners, middle class Thais and members of the Bangkok elite who see him as authoritarian, corruption and a threat to the revered monarchy.

The deployment of security forces revived memories of a bloody crackdown on mass pro-Thaksin "Red Shirt" rallies in 2010 under the previous government, using armed troops backed by armoured vehicles.

Unlike on that occasion, when scores were killed, there were no serious injuries in yesterday's operation, which targeted an area of the government district where few demonstrators remained, rather than the main rally stages in the heart of the commercial district.

Labour Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, responsible for overseeing a state of emergency imposed in the capital, said officials would return to work at Government House on Monday.

He said sling-shots, illegal drugs and bomb-making materials were discovered at the rally site.

"Protesters – you should return home," Chalerm said in a televised national address from the government headquarters.

"If you're still stubborn we will gently enforce the law," he added.

"The police are ready to disperse protesters but the prime minister told us not to use force to avoid loss of life." — AFP

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates

Venezuela frees some student protesters, unrest continues
Colombia army report says there was no spying on peace talks
Niger extradites former Gaddafi intelligence official to Libya

Venezuela frees some student protesters, unrest continues

Posted: 14 Feb 2014 08:15 PM PST

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan authorities freed 25 student protesters on Friday pending trial and said that 74 others arrested after this week's deadly political turmoil would be processed within hours.

Demonstrators gathered in various cities as they have done since Wednesday. In a more affluent part of eastern Caracas, police used teargas and water cannons to clear a square of about 1,000 protesters, some of whom lit fires and threw stones at the security forces.

The protesters also briefly blocked a major highway nearby, denouncing President Nicolas Maduro over a litany of grievances including the repression of demonstrations since three people were shot dead this week following an opposition-led march.

Speaking at a televised event in the city centre alongside top officials from the ruling Socialist Party and pro-government sports stars and entertainers, Maduro said he would not let the protesters cause chaos by closing important arteries.

"I'm not going to allow it. Enough! We will unblock them legally, and we won't let them block any more," he said. "The people have a right to their lives. How can four little crazy guys come along and try to close highways?"

The protesters who gathered in Caracas' Altamira Square, a heartland of past opposition activism, say they will defy the president's ban on demonstrations until he resigns.

They blame Maduro for complaints ranging from high inflation and shortages of basic products to widespread corruption and one of the worst murder rates in the world.

Maduro, a 51-year-old former union activist and bus driver, accuses his foes of seeking a coup against him similar to one that briefly toppled his predecessor Hugo Chavez in 2002.

However, there is no sign the demonstrations threaten to oust him, nor that the military, whose role was crucial to Chavez's 36-hour unseating, will turn against the president.

The protests could give Maduro a chance to unite competing factions in the Socialist Party, split the opposition where many moderates oppose the street tactics, and distract the public's attention from economic problems. He has called on supporters to march "for peace" in the capital on Saturday.

Venezuela's state prosecutor said late on Friday that 25 people were freed pending trial out of 99 people arrested nationwide in connection with the violence of the last two days. The other 74 would be processed in the coming hours, it said.

LOPEZ TAUNTS MADURO

Hardline opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, whom the government calls the "face of fascism" and the intellectual author of the violence, remained in his Caracas home on Friday despite a judge's arrest warrant for him, colleagues said.

He says peaceful marches organized by his Popular Will party have been infiltrated by provocateurs and attacked by militantly pro-government gangs known locally as "colectivos."

The 42-year-old U.S.-educated economist taunted the president via Twitter: "@NicolasMaduro: don't you have the guts to arrest me? Or are you waiting for orders from Havana?"

Maduro's foes view him as a stooge of Cuba's communist government whose leaders lack Chavez's charisma and are driving the economy to ruin by sticking with failed socialist policies.

It was not immediately clear why police had not acted on the warrant, though such a move could fuel further protests.

Congress head Diosdado Cabello tweeted that the "fugitive" Lopez had tickets for a Saturday flight to Bogota, but gave no evidence of that. "You're not going to escape, coward," he said.

Lopez has for two weeks been urging Venezuelans onto the streets in a campaign dubbed "The Exit". He insists he only wants to promote legal change, such as Maduro's resignation or departure via a recall referendum, using peaceful protests.

But the tactic has split the opposition coalition, and a radical rump of masked demonstrators have been starting fires, throwing stones and damaging buildings.

Armed, pro-government "colectivo" groups have also joined the fray, with bands of motorcyclists roaming Caracas. A colectivo leader was among the three shot dead on Wednesday.

Sixty-six people have been injured in violence around the nation this week, authorities say.

'LINE OF FIRE'

Venezuela's leftist allies around Latin America sent Maduro messages of solidarity over what they termed "coup" plans. The European Union called for calm and dialogue.

David Smilde, a sociology professor at the University of Georgia who has studied Venezuela for 20 years, said both sides deserved censure for their handling of this week's events.

"Leopoldo Lopez's calls for peaceful mobilization are disingenuous when his acts seem to be intentionally creating the conditions for unintended violence. He is effectively putting student protesters in the line of fire to further what he sees as the interests of the country," Smilde blogged.

On the other side, the government should be reining in violent groups, he added. "Public security is the government's responsibility and they are coming up tragically short."

As users took to the country's most popular social network, Twitter, to blame their rivals, some subscribers to a state-run telecoms company, Cantv, reported problems loading images.

Opposition supporters quickly accused Cantv of seeking to censure images of the demonstrations, but the company denied on Friday that it was responsible for any technical faults.

"The servers for this application, which provide services worldwide, are not located in this country," Cantv said.

(Additional reporting by Daniel Bases in New York, and Girish Gupta, Brian Ellsworth, Andrew Cawthorne and Diego Ore in Caracas; Editing by W Simon, Meredith Mazzilli and Lisa Shumaker)

Colombia army report says there was no spying on peace talks

Posted: 14 Feb 2014 06:55 PM PST

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Peace talks between Colombia's government and Marxist FARC rebels were not spied on by military intelligence, the army's Inspector General said in a report on Friday that disputed such claims made by a weekly news magazine.

President Juan Manuel Santos ordered the investigation after a report by the respected magazine Semana said members of the military had intercepted the text messages of the government team negotiating with guerrilla representatives in Havana, Cuba.

The FARC has said separately that its own delegation was also spied on.

The investigation is preliminary to a full judicial inquiry into the spying allegations that will now begin.

The government has been involved in peace talks with the FARC for 15 months to seek an end to a conflict that mushroomed out of land conflicts five decades ago and that has gone on to kill more than 200,000.

Despite the magazine's allegations, the peace talks have continued undisrupted, and negotiators reported advances this week towards an agreement on tackling the drug trade, which the government says the FARC uses to fund itself.

Military personnel interviewed in the investigation ordered by President Juan Manuel Santos denied that illegal espionage took place at a Bogota restaurant with an adjoining Internet centre from where the army had been carrying out legitimate intelligence work.

"The personnel manifested that at no time they carried out interception of communications. They were adamant that in the "facade" no illicit activities took place," said the report read on television by army Inspector General Ernesto Maldonado.

He said it was now up to other judicial authorities including the prosecutor's office and military justice to carry out their own investigations to determine the veracity of the information the army's brief inquiry had yielded.

The report concluded that there had been failures in the management of the intelligence gathering centre that had compromised its secrecy and it recommended that six personnel involved with it be suspended pending further investigations.

(Reporting by Peter Murphy and Monica Garcia; Writing by Peter Murphy; Editing by Ken Wills)

Niger extradites former Gaddafi intelligence official to Libya

Posted: 14 Feb 2014 05:55 PM PST

NIAMEY (Reuters) - Niger's government has extradited Abdallah Mansour, a former top Libyan intelligence official under toppled President Muammar Gaddafi, to Libya on suspicion of plotting against the government in Tripoli, military sources said.

Mansour was one of a number of senior members of Gaddafi's regime, including the dictator's son Saadi, who fled to neighbouring Niger in 2011 as rebels seized control of the oil-rich north African nation.

Niger had resisted calls from Libya to extradite Saadi.

"Mansour was extradited yesterday to Tripoli. He was arrested and interrogated by the gendarmerie as part of an enquiry into whether he was plotting against the government in Tripoli," said one military official, who asked not to be identified.

Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan said on Friday the government was safe and security was under control, dismissing a statement by a senior army official calling for the parliament to be suspended and the armed forces to "rescue" the country.

A second military source in Niger, who also asked not to be named, said authorities there had found evidence Mansour was plotting "subversive acts" in Libya following a tip-off from the government there.

"Tripoli's accusations were solid and authorities have informed other supporters of Gaddafi in Niger that they should remain calm," the second source said.

Nearly three years after Gaddafi's fall, Libya's government remains fragile. It has yet to draft a new constitution and its armed forces are unable to impose their authority on the brigades of former revolutionary fighters who refuse to disarm.

(Reporting by Abdoulaye Massalaki; Writing by Daniel Flynn; Editing by Ken Wills)

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

Love is on the air

Posted: 12 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

We celebrate the love of our favourite TV couples this Valentine's Day.

WHEN it comes to witnessing fictional love, there is nothing sweeter than seeing two well-liked characters come together on our favourite TV series.

Rachel and Ross in Friends danced around their relationship for 10 seasons, and for all those seasons fans dilligently watched the ups and downs of these two people as they try to either admit or deny their feelings for each other. Perhaps, what makes watching these people fall in love so interesting is simply that, on the telly, like in real life, we are sucker for happy endings.

So to commemorate the ultimate Day of Love tomorrow, we look at 10 of the loveliest couples on television presently. – Mumtaj Begum

Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) and Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik) in The Big Bang Theory

Who would've thought that geekier-than-geek Sheldon would even have a girlfriend. Well, definitely not his friends – Leonard (Johnny Galecki), Howard (Simon Helberg), Raj (Kunal Nayyar) and Penny (Kaley Cuoco). His girl, Amy Farrah Fowler, is an expert in her field of neurobiology just like Sheldon is in his, theoretical physics. While there will never be any coitus (surely?) between these two geniuses, there will be some spanking – never mind that only one of them gets the satisfaction.

Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) and Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) in Castle

It was the case of a mischievous writer with a tendency to break every rule and a by-the-book New York City cop. What is there not to love, especially with Fillion lending his natural charm to Castle. Hence, it was only a matter of time before the unresolved sexual tension got resolved (in Season Five, Episode One, to be exact). Since then, the single-and-happy Castle went down on his knees to propose to Beckett, at a playground (should we read more into the playground bit?)

Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) and Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) in The Vampire Diaries

Their love is one that is as old as time, literally. It was more than a century ago when Stefan fell for a girl who could pass off as Elena's twin sister. She was Katherine, a vampire who turned Stefan and his brother, Damon (Ian Somerhalder) into vampires. To have fall for Katherine's doppelganger – Elena – years later, it must mean she is Stefan's soul mate. Well, never mind Damon has the hots for Elena too. Oops.

Lily Aldrin (Alyson Hannigan) and Marshall Eriksen (Jason Segel) in How I Met Your Mother

This is the couple their friends want to emulate, they have the kind of love Robin, Barney and Ted wish they had. Maybe not the part which they practise many rituals or want to do everything together (breathing space, yo!). But it's nice to know that the idea of an ideal couple like this is possible.

Phil (Ty Burrell) and Claire Dunphy (Julie Bowen) in Modern Family

It's true every couple in this sitcom complements each other, but Phil and Claire get a special mention because they complete each other in just how different they approach just about anything. Their daughters and son have figured out how to play the parents against each other, but in the end, Phil and Claire always form a united front (thanks to Phil giving in and taking Claire's side).

Marge and Homer Simpson in The Simpsons

Let's just admit it: Marge is a saint for putting up with Homer. Then again, Homer always comes through in the end for his wife and children (but not before making tonnes of horrible decisions first). Their marriage has lasted through so many trials and tribulations, which are just too many to mention. No, really. Homer bungles up on a weekly basis.

Dr Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) in Bones

Their first meeting didn't start out very well. But their attraction was apparent every time one of them begins a new relationship. Who knew jealousy could be so entertaining? Over the seasons, they fake-played a couple convincingly, but a true romance never materialised. Not until a tragedy in the form of Booth's brain tumour (Season Four) happened. This led to a passionate kiss (Season Five), doing the deed (Season Six), having a baby (Season Seven) and, finally, walking down the aisle (Season Nine).

Glenn Rhee (Steven Yeun) and Maggie Greene (Lauren Cohan) in The Walking Dead

It is next to impossible to find, or even hang on to, love in a zombie apocalypse. Survival is priority, after all. But in the midst of all the awful things happening around them, Glenn and Maggie prove that love is truly stronger than anything else. It was quite romantic when Glenn broke off a zombie's finger for an antique ring, which he used to propose to Maggie. Zombies are useful that way, sometimes.

Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell) and Rosalee Calvert (Bree Turner) in Grimm

Monroe and Rosalee come from two different types of "wesen" (mythological creatures that exists with the rest of humanity). Monroe is Blutbad and Rosalee is Fuchsbau (one has the features of a canine and the other has facial characteristics of a cat), and yet their romance is cute that you just want to root for them or maybe just pet them.

Nikita (Maggie Q) and Michael (Shane West) in Nikita

Too busy serving the higher purpose of getting justice, these two assassins never put a name to their mutual feelings. Nonetheless, it is there – especially when one is staring down the barrel of the other one's gun (literally and metaphorically). Naturally, when these two start working together for the same side, they always fight the baddies in perfect rhythm.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Business

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The Star Online: Business

Fishing for the right answers
Toyota recalls 295,000 vehicles globally for electrical fault
Soros exits J.C.Penney, trims Herbalife, others follow

Fishing for the right answers

Posted: 14 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

If past mistakes aren't properly addressed, Malaysia's RM1.5bil tuna plan should perhaps be canned.

APPARENTLY, Malaysia is hooked on the allure of the tuna industry.

Despite the expensive failure of some tuna-related projects, the Government hopes that new investments of more than RM1.5bil in the nine years leading to 2020 will enable the country to be a significant player in the global tuna market.

On Feb 4, the Fisheries Department launched a book on the strategic plan to develop the country's tuna industry between 2012 and 2020.

The news reports on the event didn't explain the lateness of the launch, but according to the department, the plan is a sequel to a similar development plan for 2002 to 2010. In the book, the department said 60 tuna vessels were licensed during the earlier period to operate in international waters.

Other initiatives implemented under the first plan included the development of an international tuna port in Batu Maung, Penang; captain training; and the growth of support services and downstream activities. That's the extent of the book's review of the 2002-2010 plan. It's a sketchy account of what had transpired over those nine years.

A report in The Star on the launch in Penang hints at the fact that there's indeed a lot more to be said about this subject.

At a press conference, Fisheries Department director-general Datuk Ahamad Sabki Mahmood said Malaysia could become an international tuna port because it was near the Indian Ocean, a tuna spawning ground. He added that this could be achieved easily with good facilities and in partnership with other countries.

"We could be using the wrong methods to venture into the industry, so it is time for us to look at it from another perspective," he was quoted as saying.

What are these wrong methods? Could it be that he was referring to the collapse of Malaysian International Tuna Port Sdn Bhd (MITP), the concessionaire for the Batu Maung port? The episode drew so much attention and criticism that it prompted a probe by the Dewan Rakyat's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in 2011.

Late last year, the flop made the news again amid finger-pointing and confusion over the status of the port and its problems.

In December 2004, MITP entered into a concession agreement with the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM), a statutory body under the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry (MOA). The 32-year concession gave MITP the exclusive rights to develop, manage, operate and maintain the tuna port.

LKIM had a 40% stake in MITP, while the rest of the equity was owned by Bindforce Sdn Bhd, which was controlled by Sabah businessman Datuk Annuar Zaini Binyamin.

The project was plagued by delays, which in turn prevented MITP from commencing operations at the port. In November 2009, MITP defaulted on its RM240mil Islamic bonds. This triggered lawsuits, including OSK Trustee Bhd, the trustee for the bonds, successfully suing MITP to recover the debt.

However, when MITP didn't pay up, OSK Trustee then sought to extract the amount from the Government, on the basis that the MOA had issued a letter of support for MITP's borrowings. The Kuala Lumpur High Court rejected the trustee's claim, but it's not known if there's subsequently an appeal against that decision.

In its report on the MITP fiasco, the PAC said the Government might incur a loss of up to RM209mil because of MITP's inability to proceed with the port project. Presumably, the PAC was alluding to OSK Trustee's claim against the Government. If the case hasn't gone beyond the High Court, the liability doesn't arise and the taxpayers won't be unfairly penalised.

But what happens with the port? The PAC concludes that the project is viable because of the port's location and the infrastructure around it. The committee adds that the project failed to take off because of the incompetent management of LKIM and Bindforce, and also because it was highly geared.

The question is, have the lessons from the debacle sunk in? Also worth noting is the demise of Langkawi Tuna Corp Bhd, which was set up by Khazanah Nasional Bhd to undertake tuna farming in Bukit Malut, Langkawi.

Another initiative that would have boosted Malaysia's tuna dreams was Konsortium Perikanan Nasional Bhd (KPNB), which was formed to spearhead the development of the local fisheries industry by modernising the country's deep-sea fishing fleet and by improving the processing, marketing and distribution of fish.

This too drifted into stormy weather. In March 2010, it defaulted on a credit facility of RM7.56mil taken from Bank

Pertanian Malaysia Bhd. A 70% subsidiary of Oilcorp Bhd had a 51% stake in KPNB. But Oilcorp itself landed in financial trouble and was delisted from Bursa Malaysia in January 2011.

The websites of the MOA and the Fisheries Department don't mention KPNB at all.

The current strategic development plan for Malaysia's tuna industry calls for the Government and the private sector to invest RM721.75mil and RM800.6mil respectively.

The bulk of the funds are meant to be spent on the Batu Maung international port (RM250mil); the development of two domestic tuna ports in Labuan and Sabah (RM200mil); the purchase of tuna vessels (RM560mil); and the lease of tuna fishing quotas (RM105.6mil).

The Government is expected to underwrite the expenditure on the ports, while the vessels and quotas will be part of the investments by the private sector.

There's nothing wrong with Malaysia attempting a second bite of the cherry – a fishy cherry but a plump one nevertheless – but considering the past failures in the fisheries sector, there has to be a proper accounting of what has gone wrong and what has been done to prevent repeats of the mistakes.

To begin with, what was the MOA's response (if there was one) to the 18-page PAC report on the Batu Maung port? The PAC apportioned blame for the port project's failure largely to LKIM. Does the MOA agree with this and if so, what action has it taken?

What is the fate of KPNB? Has it been abandoned altogether? If it's to be revived, what role does it play in the tuna industry development plan?

Most importantly, how is the MOA satisfied that the current plan can avoid the pitfalls and underperformance of the previous plan?

If there's a lack of convincing answers, maybe it's best that Malaysia's tuna dreams be canned.

Executive editor Errol Oh doesn't really fancy tuna, but will cheer Malaysia on in finding a place in the world tuna market, as long as it's done in a transparent, competent and sustainable way.

Toyota recalls 295,000 vehicles globally for electrical fault

Posted: 14 Feb 2014 07:20 PM PST

DETROIT: Toyota Motor Corp is recalling about 295,000 Lexus and Toyota brand vehicles globally, mostly in the United States, because various safety systems including stability control and anti-lock brakes could become inoperative.

It is recalling vehicles from model years 2012 and 2013 because an electrical component in the brake actuator, which adjusts fluid pressure in each wheel cylinder, may experience increased resistance, according to documents filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

That could lead to reduced vehicle control and an increased risk of a crash as various safety systems, including traction control, become inoperative.

There have been no reports of accidents or injuries related to the issue, said a Toyota spokesman.

Of the total recalled, 261,114 were sold in the United States. The rest were exported to other markets, a spokeswoman for the company said.

The affected vehicles globally include about 57,000 of the Lexus RX350 crossover vehicles and about 109,000 of the Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks, both from model years 2012 and 2013, she said.

In addition, about 129,000 of the Toyota RAV4 SUVs from model year 2012 are affected, she said.

In the United states, those numbers were 54,010 RX350 crossovers, 100,052 Tacoma trucks and 107,052 RAV4 SUVs, according to the NHTSA documents.

Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the software for the skid control electronic unit free of charge, according to the NHTSA documents.

Earlier this week, Toyota recalled all 1.9 million of the third-generation Prius cars sold worldwide due to a programming glitch in their hybrid system.- Reuters

Soros exits J.C.Penney, trims Herbalife, others follow

Posted: 14 Feb 2014 07:15 PM PST

NEW YORK: Soros Fund Management, one of the hedge fund industry's most closely watched investors, exited J.C. Penney and trimmed its stake in Herbalife late last year, marking a notable shift in course only months after buying into the companies.

The New York-based firm, which ranked as J.C. Penney's second biggest investor, sold 19.98 million shares during the last three months of 2013, according to a regulatory filing on Friday. It also cut its stake in Herbalife, where it was the fifth biggest investor.

J.C. Penney and Herbalife spent most of last year in the spotlight, with the retailer's stock price losing half its value as an ambitious overhaul fizzled and the nutrition and weight loss company surging 139 percent in the wake of a dramatic faceoff between some of the world's biggest investors.

At both companies, Soros' involvement, fueled by the firm's history of making a lot of money on savvy bets, boosted the share price and raised their credibility quotients, possibly even drawing in other hedge fund investors.

In the 40 years since 83-year old George Soros founded the firm, it has earned its investors $40 billion, including $5.5 billion last year, according to industry data. Even though the firm now invests only Soros' personal fortune, its investment decisions are still followed closely.

So when Soros bought 17.4 million J.C. Penney shares in April, not long after Ron Johnson was ousted as chief executive officer, investors cheered and pushed the share price up.

But as the company's once-ambitious turnaround plans lost steam and a former CEO returned to the helm, its biggest investor, William Ackman's Pershing Square Capital Management, abruptly exited in August. The share price kept tumbling and has lost 68 percent in the last 12 months.

While Soros was a steady J.C. Penney supporter through the end of the third quarter, the firm evidently changed its mind in the last months of 2013.

It had company in the form of other prominent managers who also exited. Richard Perry, whose Perry Corp owned 10 million shares, sold out, and Kyle Bass's Hayman Capital liquidated its 5.6 million shares. David Tepper's Appaloosa Management sold all of its 737,800 shares.

Fund managers who oversee more than $100 million are required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to report their U.S. stock holdings 45 days after the end of the quarter. And while the information is often backward looking, it can shed light on certain trends.

J.C. Penney did not lose all support, however, with filings showing that Larry Robbins' Glenview Capital kept its stake steady at 12.3 million shares and Highfields Capital still owned 3.2 million shares at the end of the fourth quarter.

Soros' involvement was similarly critical at Herbalife, where the media quickly identified Soros and Carl Icahn, Herbalife's biggest backer with $16.9 million shares, as the industry's elder statesmen facing off against a younger rival, Ackman. The 47-year-old's Pershing Square Capital Management has a $1.16 billion short bet against Herbalife and is accusing the company of running an illegal pyramid scheme. The company denies that accusation.

Icahn kept his Herbalife holding steady, but Soros has now trimmed its stake to 3.2 million shares from 5 million shares.

The family foundation of Soros' former lieutenant, Stanley Druckenmiller, no longer listed Herbalife on its filing, after having had held 79,032 shares at the end of the third quarter.

Hayman's Bass, another closely followed manager, liquidated his firm's stake by selling 436,371 shares.

Other firms have take some money off the table. Tiger Consumer Management cut its position by 48 percent to 400,000 shares, while Adage Capital Partners cut its stake by 40 percent to 441,276 shares.

Since January, a U.S. lawmaker's calls for regulators to probe Herbalife's business practices has helped push its share price down 15 percent.- Reuters

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Shot and hacked but he lived to tell
Wounds yet to heal
No live match but Everton fan treated to a sweet tour

Shot and hacked but he lived to tell

Posted: 13 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

SEMPORNA: On March 2, 2013, Special Branch officer Insp Mohd Hasnal Jamil entered the notorious water village of Simunul, Semporna, with a group of about 60 men to hunt down Sulu gunmen following a tip-off that they were hiding there.

He was not to know that it would turn out to be a nightmare for him. He was shot and hacked with a sharp object – but lived to tell the tale.

The search operation turned into a pitched battle when the gunmen opened fire on the Malaysian forces.

"We announced that we were police and we asked those inside the house to cooperate with us. They answered with continuous gunfire," said Insp Hasnal.

He said he ducked for cover behind a nearby house, but a bullet hit him in the abdomen.

"The bullet pierced through the wooden planks and hit me on the left side of my abdomen. I couldn't see what was happening in front of me because it was dark. The only thing I could make out were flashes of light from the shots fired," he said.

"I lay face down on the ground to avoid getting hit again. It was then that I was set upon by a gunman and my head was hacked three times with a sharp object. When the blade hit me, I felt blood oozing down my face."

Despite his injuries, Insp Hasnal stood up to face his attacker.

"I raised my hand in self-defence and was hacked another three times. He kept on attacking even when I fought back.

"Seeing another injured officer run into a house where some of our forces were seeking cover, I turned to follow him and left my attacker behind," he said.

Only upon entering the house did Insp Hasnal realise the extent of his injuries.

"During the fight, I did not notice that my hands had been hacked. Kebas dah masa tu (I did not feel anything then)," he said.

Insp Hasnal and the other officers held out in the house for hours waiting for back-up.

"The pain was terrible. I felt like I was dying. The wounds were open and I had a small rag to cover it. By the next day, the blood had dried and flies were gathering around it," he said.

Insp Hasnal added that he was awake throughout the entire 22-hour ordeal until the policemen were rescued the next day at 5.30pm by VAT69 commandos and Special Operations forces.

"An officer who was with me in the house told us that help was coming, but I was not sure how long it would take," he said.

"I had to strengthen my resolve. Every hour or so, I had to fight from blacking out. We tried to forget the pain. We talked among each other and thought about other things. If I kept thinking about dying, then I would have died."

Insp Hasnal survived the ordeal with a bullet wound in the abdomen and two shots to his hand. He also had six hack wounds on his skull and hand. One of the bones near his wrist was hacked, and veins on the palm of his hand were severed.

"I was not aware that I had been shot in the hand until later," said Insp Hasnal, who can now carry on his duties, except for limited function of his right hand.

"If you are not up for it, then it is best not to take up policing work. As long as we are serving our country, we must do what is needed. If I am asked to return for such a mission, I will go," he said.

The next few days, Malaysians were shocked and outraged to discover that when the bodies of three officers were found, they were badly mutilated.

Villagers of the notorious Kampung Simunul were not aware of the danger that had invaded their village.

"At first, we thought they were good people, people who observed their prayers," said a 50-year-old Bajau villager who wished to be known as Jamboi.

It was only during the shootout with police officers on March 2 that villagers were made aware that their new neighbours were not what they seemed.

"It had nothing to do with us. They were not from here," said an ethnic Suluk-Sungei fisherman Didy Omar.

Didy felt that the branding of "notoriety" of the village was not fair as the attack was carried out by people who came to the village.

"We are victims, too," said the 31-year-old father of nine, referring to plans for the water village to be demolished as part of measures to strengthen Sabah's east coast against intrusions.

Didy fled the village with his family and only returned about a week later when things started to improve.

Walking out of the water village into Semporna town, one can't help but wonder about the future of the hundreds of families in Simunul, and whether the aftermath of March 2013 will continue to affect their lives even after peace is restored.

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Dream location of 'Bullets Over Petaling Street'

Posted: 12 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

The bustling hub was both an attractive location and a challenge to shoot in, say the co-directors of Bullets Over Petaling Street.

DESPITE all the changes that have taken place around it, Kuala Lumpur's Petaling Street remains a shopper's paradise and tourist spot that is delightfully rich in culture with an unending variety of goods and food to be found.

It was this vibrant quality of the bustling commercial hub that captured the fancy of Hong Kong-born film producer and director Sampson Yuen when he started making movies in Malaysia.

Following the success of his period kung fu comedy Petaling Street Warriors (2011) – it won Best Non-Malay Film at the 25th Malaysian Film Festival 2013 and Best Image Design at Malaysia's 1st Golden Wau Awards 2013, and was an official selection in New Cinema From Asia at Switzerland's 12th Neuchatel International Fantastic Film Festival 2012 – Yuen decided to set his next movie there too.

He then roped in prominent local Chinese theatre expert Ho Shih Phin to make his big-screen directing debut as co-director of Bullets Over Petaling Street. Yuen, who is also CEO of Juita Entertainment, shared in a recent interview how he produced and co-directed the Chinese New Year flick, a tale adapted from one of Ho's popular stage plays.

'He had brilliant stuff that could make a successful transition to film,' says Yuen of his co-director Ho.

"The Malaysian moviemaking industry is growing, but getting a good script remains difficult. When I saw SP's stage work, I realised that he had brilliant stuff that could make a successful transition from theatre to film. I also appreciated the satirical wit he exhibits in his works.

"I looked forward to combining ... cinema and theatre to add a different dimension to our action comedy," said Yuen, 54, full of praise for his co-director Ho. The multiple-award-winning stage director was named Best Director at the ADA Drama Awards in 2006, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Ho said: "When I met up with Sampson, I took three plays I considered to be most suitable to be adapted to film. I actually expected him to pick the one about a bunch of old folks in an apartment block. But he felt that a better story would be The God Mother, which revolves around a headstrong woman caught in a web of life-changing power struggles.

"After adaptation into Bullets Over Petaling Street, the story now tells of a fashionable actress who becomes a triad head and has to deal with gangland power struggles," added Ho, 47, who has 20 years' experience staging plays. He is best known for productions like Black & White, Heroes Wanted, Battle Of The Draconians and My Dragon Papa.

"Unlike stage plays where we are free to spend our time just developing characters according to a central concept, making movies is a lot more structured as it requires lots more preparation and planning ... everything needs to be completed in a given amount of time," added Ho, who admitted that planning a whole shoot while taking into consideration the opening and closing times of stalls along Petaling Street was quite tough.

Although Petaling Street is not an easy place to film owing to its bustling businesses and the possibility of running into actual triad bosses, both Ho and Yuen reported an easy shoot that went more smoothly than they expected.

For first-time film director Ho, it was tough planning the film's shoot, but things went more smoothly than expected.

Timing was key. For the scene where the triad bosses converge on Petaling Street, Ho said: "We had to be very careful to ensure everyone's safety and avoid intruding upon 'restricted' territory. So we had everybody on standby and rushed in so that we could quickly wrap our shoot within the hour."

The made-in-Malaysia movie is a joint project by Juita Viden, Golden Screen Cinemas and The Star. Its star-studded cast features a host of award-winning artistes the likes of Debbie Goh, Ernest Chong and Cheryl Lee as well as Chen Han Wei and Irene Ang from Singapore.

> Bullets Over Petaling Street opens in cinemas nationwide today.

'That Awkward Moment': It's a guy thing

Posted: 12 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

Three best friends find themselves at a crucial point in their lives where a relationship is concerned in That Awkward Moment.

Miles Teller, 26

TELLER plays Daniel, a "commitment-phobe", who uses humour to keep his feelings at bay.

"Daniel's in a league of his own," says Teller in the film's production notes. "He's looking for love, in a very casual, relaxed way, like bumping into it at a bar. He's not looking for anything too serious and he lets the girls know that. His attitude seems to make women a little uncomfortable at first, but then they start to like it, and the cat gets the mouse."

The actor admits he is a little self-critical but this hasn't stopped him from poking fun at himself. "Vanity is the last thing an actor needs. These guys have flaws. Daniel spends a lot of time with his foot in his mouth. Even though we're telling girls that we're being very open, maybe that's not always the case."

Zac Efron, 26

"The story allows guys to see their side of the situation and it gives girls a new perspective on relationships. And we all get a chance to laugh at ourselves and our friends in the bargain. I thought it was a really unique idea," says Efron of the film

His character, Jason, avoids being emotionally attached so he proposes a pact with his friends whereby they stay single, for life, if possible. "(He is) young and carefree. This is (his) chance to do anything without the commitment of a long-term relationship."

He adds: "Jason is confused and afraid of becoming attached or getting his feelings hurt. And since he was the mastermind behind the pact to begin with, he feels like he needs to live up to it pretty rigorously."

Michael B. Jordan, 27

We meet Jordan's character, Mikey, when he splits from his wife. His long-time pals Jason and Daniel are only too happy to welcome him back to the bachelor pack.

"Those guys are great friends to Mikey," shares Jordan. "But they are not upfront at all with women. They're not looking for anything too serious. Mikey's marriage is ending after five years and his friends try to get him back into the dating scene, when really all he wants is to make it work with his wife."

His favourite scenes are when the guys hang out together. "We are free to just be 20-something guys with all that entails. It's the locker room talk."

> That Awkward Moment opens in cinemas nationwide today.

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CNY price hikes stay for good

Posted: 13 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

IT'S almost two weeks since the Chinese New Year weekend but some coffee shops which typically raise their drink prices over the holiday period have made these hikes permanent.

They have cited a number of reasons ranging from increased staff wages to rental costs and prices of food items such as coffee powder, sugar and milk.

A check with 27 coffee shop operators and drink stall owners showed that eight had raised prices of their coffee and tea beverages by about 10 (26 sen) to 20 cents (52 sen) a cup.

Their stalls were located in areas such as Queenstown, Bedok, Tampines, Raffles Place, Ang Mo Kio and Bishan.

At the Golden Shoe Market in Raffles Place, a cup of coffee from Sunrise Traditional Coffee and Toast's stall now costs S$1 (RM2.60), up by 10 cents from before.

Owner Teo Saiew Lim, 49, said he raised his prices just after the festive period when his supplier notified him that the cost of condensed milk had gone up.

He put up a sign and reprinted his menu to notify customers of the new prices, he added.

Tony Lee, 64, who runs a drink stall at Bedok Central Food Centre said he upped his prices of coffee and tea drinks by 10 cents late last year.

This was to cover increased costs of cleaning services – which went up from S$200 (RM520) to S$250 (RM650) a month late last year – as well as coffee powder.

A 9kg tin of coffee powder used to cost about S$40 (RM104) but recently went up to S$75 (RM195), he added.

Meanwhile, other drink stalls, such as one at Mei Ling Market and Food Centre in Queenstown and another at Pek Kio Market and Food Centre in Owen Road, said they had chosen to absorb the higher costs for now.

Rental and labour costs have risen by about 10% in the past year. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Thailand deports 1,300 Rohingya boat people

Posted: 13 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

BANGKOK: Thailand has sent around 1,300 Rohingya refugees back to Myanmar, a top official said, dismaying rights campaigners who warned the minority Muslims faced persecution in the former junta-ruled country.

Thousands of Rohingya, described by the United Nations as among the world's most persecuted minorities, have fled sectarian violence in western Myanmar in rickety boats since 2012, mostly heading for Malaysia.

Many of those who arrived in Thai waters were locked up in overcrowded immigration prisons.

Thai authorities began deporting the Rohingya in September through a border checkpoint in the province of Ranong, national immigration chief Lt-Gen Pharnu Kerdlarpphon said.

Rights activists criticised the move to return the Rohingya to Myanmar, where they face travel restrictions, forced labour and limited access to healthcare and education.

"The deportation of Rohingya is a blatant violation of international laws that prohibit sending back refugees and asylum-seekers to a place where they can face danger and persecution," said Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher with New York-based Human Rights Watch.

Rights groups say the Rohingya often fall into the hands of people-traffickers, sometimes after they are deported by Thailand.

Sunai urged the Thai authorities to explain what had happened to the 1,300 Rohingya, saying the foreign ministry did not appear to have been involved in the deportation.

There was no immediate comment from the ministry.

Thailand said last year it was investigating allegations that some army officials in the kingdom were involved in the trafficking of Rohingya.

Roughly 500 Rohingya are believed to remain in detention in Thailand following a raid on a suspected people-trafficking camp last month.

Myanmar views its population of roughly 800,000 Rohingya as illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and denies them citizenship.

More than 200 people have been killed and more than 140,000 left homeless in outbreaks of Buddhist-Muslim violence since June 2012 in Myanmar's Rakhine state.

The United Nations has called on Myanmar to investigate reports – denied by the authorities – that dozens of men, women and children were killed in attacks on Rohingya last month with the alleged involvement of police. — AFP

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Christina Aguilera to perform in Kuala Lumpur

Posted: 12 Feb 2014 08:40 PM PST

Vocal powerhouse to sing at free concert in KLCC in March.

Christina Aguilera joins South Korean sensation Rain and English singer-songwriter Craig David as performing acts at Twin Towers @Live concert.

The upcoming free and open to all concert is set to take place on March 28 and 29 at Plaza Petronas in KLCC.

Aguilera, 33, rose to fame in 1999 with her hit single Genie In A Bottle. The once-bubblegum pop singer has blossomed into one of pop music's most enduring acts.

Her career milestones include 50 million albums sold worldwide and four Grammy wins.

The event in Plaza Petronas will also see performances by local acts Altimet, Oh Chentaku, Joe Flizzow, SonaOne and Ila Damiaa.

Since 2011, Twin Towers @Live has been held in conjunction with the Formula 1 races in Sepang International Circuit. This year, the races will be held on March 28 to 30.

Twin Towers @Live 2014 is presented by Petronas Primax and Petronas Syntium.

The Rolling Stones to rock Singapore next month

Posted: 13 Feb 2014 01:30 AM PST

The British group returns to play in the city-state after 11 years.

LEGENDARY British rockers The Rolling Stones will be back in Singapore to perform at the Sands Grand Ballroom, Marina Bay Sands, on March 15.

The gig, part of their worldwide 14 ON FIRE tour, will feature the classic line-up of singer Mick Jagger, guitarist Keith Richards, drummer Charlie Watts and guitarist Ronnie Wood. All of them have played with the band since it started out in the early 1960s, except for Wood, who joined in 1975.

Guitarist Mick Taylor, who played with the band from 1969 to 1974, will also feature as a guest.

Best known for defining rock standards such as (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, Paint It Black and It's Only Rock 'N Roll (But I Like It), the performance will be their first here since they played two nights at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in March 2003.

Ticket prices at S$250, S$400, S$550 and S$700 will go on sale on Friday at Marina Bay Sands Theatre and SkyPark Box Offices as well as through Sistic (www.sistic.com.sg). – The Straits Times, Singapore/Asia News Network

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CNY price hikes stay for good
Thailand deports 1,300 Rohingya boat people
Women handle the gift-buying in Japan