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MAY 17 , 2012
Promotion
for 24,000 teachers
> 28 recommendations to reduce teachers workload also being implemented
UALA KANGSAR: A total of 24,053 teachers are to be considered for promotion between June 1 and Dec 31. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the exercise involves 8,222 teachers with bachelors degree, and 15,831 others with diplomas. They can check their names at the Education Ministrys website, he said when launching the 41st National Teachers Day celebration here yesterday. Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said that in line with the government effort to improve the teaching service scheme, the minimum allocation for the time-based promotion, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak on March 8, will be maintained. Under the scheme, teachers need only complete: eight years of service to be promoted from Grade DG41 to Grade DG44; eight years to move from Grade DG44 to move to DG48; six years to be promoted from Grade DG48 to DG52; and only three years to move from Grade DG52 to DG54. Meanwhile, teachers with diplomas on Grade DGA29 need only complete eight years to be promoted to Grade DGA32; another eight years to move to DGA34; and five more years to DGA38. Muhyiddin said following Najibs announcement, 390 teachers had been promoted to Grade DG54, DG52 (676), DG48 (3,938), DG44 (19,805), DGA38 (399), DGA34 (2,639) and DGA32 (9,519). He said the promotion for principals on Grade DG48 to DG52 and senior assistants on Grade DG44 to DG48 had also been implemented by the ministry. So far, 854 principals have been promoted from Grade DG48 to DG52 and 4,270 senior assistants have been promoted from Grade DG44 to DG48. Muhyiddin said the promotions, which took effect on Jan 1, 2012, involved existing principals and senior assistants, or those who have been appointed to act in these capacities on or before Dec 31, 2011. He said the promotion for 430 other principals on Grade DG48 to DG52, and 2,655 senior assistants on Grade DG44 to DG48 will be ratified in stages from June 2012 when they fulfil the requirements. The government has allocated RM934 million to implement the promotions for
Joy is written on the face of SK Assunta 1 headmistress Naimah Mohd Nasir, 51, as she receives a bouquet of roses from pupils on Teachers Day yesterday.
officers in the education service. He said the government was committed to achieving the target of having 60% of graduate teachers in primary schools and 90% in secondary schools nationwide by 2015. He said the teachers graduating programme is also running smoothly with 69.6% of 66,124 teachers having accepted the offer to pursue tertiary education. Meanwhile, Muhyiddin said a working committee established to see how teachers workload can be reduced is implementing 28 recommendations to address 14 issues that have been raised. Among measures implemented is the introduction of a single data entry system in place of multiple systems. This system is being implemented as a pilot project in 88 schools and to be extended to all schools under the ministry by 2013, he said. He said the ministry is also conducting a study on the placement of administrative assistants N17 in schools until June to see its impact in reducing the clerical workload of teachers. A proposal will be submitted to the Public Service Department for the recruitment of administrative assistants N17 for schools, he added.
INSIDE
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KUALA LUMPUR: Political parties from both sides of the divide continue to exert influence on the media and impose restrictions on freedom of expression, a report by the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) revealed yesterday. In its Freedom of Expression Report 2011, the centre noted that many reforms were announced by the government but there were continuous violations of civil liberties and media freedom that seem to contradict promises of change. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak and his government went to great lengths in 2011 to demonstrate that the Barisan Nasional (BN) government is ready for reform. However, events in 2011 tell a different story. The announced legal reforms do not go far enough to ensure an open and democratic Malaysia, the report said. In a historic Malaysia Day speech on Sept 15 last year, Najib had announced the repealing of
the Internal Security Act 1960 along with the Restricted Residence 1933 and Banishment Act 1959. He also promised that laws on newspaper publication and freedom of assembly would be reviewed. However, the report said several bills passed last year seemed to impose further restrictions rather than remove them. The Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011 gives the police such far-reaching and arbitrary powers that some have said that it should be called the Restricted Assembly Bill. The report said the government has also shown its willingness to use other repressive laws such as the Sedition Act 1948, Official Secrets Act 1972 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, as well as exerted heavy influence on mainstream print media. When contacted, CIJ executive officer Masjaliza Hamzah said the report is an echo of the centres report in 2010. It is the same old story. Nothing much has changed. Although there had been promises of reforms last year, many have still not been
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carried through entirely, she said. Masjaliza said the empty promises speak of the governments lack of understanding and commitment to reform. The report also noted that Pakatan Rakyat had also employed practices which seem to impede media freedom. Questions may be raised with the Selangor governments involvement in the publication of state newspaper Selangor Times. The mentri besars political and press secretaries have been named as advisors to the paper and vet contents before it goes to print. It added that the pact had also banned Umno-linked paper Utusan Malaysia from covering Penang and Kelantan assembly proceedings. Some of the rhetoric used by Pakatan for Utusans ban is similar to the strong-arm tactics applied by the BN government, it said, adding that while the pact has introduced freedom of information laws in Selangor and Penang, there is still no guarantee it would repeal all repressive press laws or unshackle the media if it gains power at federal level.
Paya Besar MP Datuk Abdul Manan Ismail (centre) and the heads of the Paya Besar Felda schemes pose with mock cheques worth RM23.9 million for Felda settlers in the constituency at a handover ceremony at the Panching Selatan Public Hall in Kuantan yesterday. The windfall of RM15,000 for each Felda settler family was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak on May 8.
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KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA disciplinary board has suspended the membership of Indera Mahkota division youth chief David Choi, who has been vocal about his stand against the Lynas rare earth plant in Gebeng, Pahang. Board chairman Tan Sri Michael Chen said Choi can appeal the suspension, which is for three years, reported Sin Chew Daily. He said the board had summoned Choi to defend himself against 20 complaints of
indiscipline, including breaking ranks over the Lynas issue and running down Indera Mahkota division chief Datuk Pang Tsu Ming. Despite being suspended from the party for three years, he (Choi) can file an appeal, said Chen said on Tuesday. Earlier, news that Choi had been suspended had been making the rounds in Kuantan but the division youth chief, who is also national youth public service and complaints bureau vice-chairman, said he had not been notified of the boards decision and did not know the source of the grapevine talk. Someone must have been happy that
action has been taken against me, and leaked the information to the press, he said when contacted by the daily. On March 27, Choi was summoned by the board following complaints that he had slighted some party leaders and had broken ranks with the party over the Lynas issue. Choi, despite facing disciplinary action for his support for Himpunan Hijau, was seen among the crowd at the Himpunan Hijau 3.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur last month. The Indera Mahkota MCA Youth is the only party youth division which strongly opposed the controversial plant in Pahang.
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GEORGE TOWN: A university graduate yesterday lodged a police report alleging police brutality against him during the Bersih 3.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur last month. Mohd Saufi Othman, 26, said in his report he was assaulted by a group of between 10 and
15 police officers when he was in the vicinity of Dataran Merdeka at about 3pm. They punched and kicked me. When I was on the ground, they dragged me and even placed their feet on my face, he said. He said one officer hit his chest with the hilt of a pistol. He said other police officers continued to hit him when he was brought to the carpark
behind Dataran Merdeka, and was later sent to Hospital Kuala Lumpur for treatment. Because of the kicks and punches to my chest, I have difficulty breathing, he told reporters after lodging a police report at the George Town district police headquarters on Tuesday. I dont know why I was roughed up, he added.
He was accompanied by his mother Rohani Othman, 56, PenangInsight.com reporter Zainulfaqar Yaacob and Penang Suaram Secretariat member Ong Jing Cheng. Zainulfaqar said he too made a police report as a witness to Mohd Saufis assault. He also told reporters that he had witnessed the alleged incident of police brutality and reported it on the webportal.
Mohd Kamal (left) speaks to his lawyer after being released. provides a maximum jail term of two years or fine, or both, upon conviction. Mohd Kamal later told reporters outside the court room he hoped the decision would clear his name and change the negative public perception towards him. Deputy public prosecutor from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Mohd Fairuz Johari, appeared for the prosecution, while Mohd Kamal was represented by lawyers Faiz Fadzil, Haresh Mahadevan and Ramzani Idris. Bernama
PUTRAJAYA: FORMER Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammed has accused the Bar Council of becoming a political party and supports the proposal to set up an alternative to the Malaysian Bar. Mahathir said any professional organisation should purely focus on the profession. It is obvious the Bar Council has become a political party. If that is going to be what the Bar Council is concerned about, then it should become a political party and let other organisations take up the professional side, he said yesterday. He said the council has become more concerned with political issues rather than legal matters. When it has something to do with the law, for example, then you should comment but when you go about campaigning for political parties, then I think you should become a political party. Next, well have the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), the architects, all becoming political parties, then there will be a lot of confusion, said Mahathir. He was referring to the recent comment by Minister in the Prime Ministers Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz who said the government will look into reviving the Malaysian Academy of Law Bill, which was dropped in 2002, as part of its plan to create an alternative to the Malaysian Bar. Nazri had commented on the Bar Councils extraordinary general meeting (EGM) last Friday which passed a resolution condemning the use of excessive force by the police during the Bersih 3.0 rally on April 28. Meanwhile, on the resignation of DAP senator Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim, Mahathir said Abdul Aziz was not well suited for DAP. From the beginning, I never thought he was suitable in DAP. I dont even know why he joined, said Mahathir.
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PUTRAJAYA: Civil servants should nurture the culture of innovation and establish a creative atmosphere to be more productive. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said a creative atmosphere in an organisation would spark ideas and help create an environment for innovation. He said creative ideas could help improve the quality and productivity of the services provided. Civil servants should change their way of thinking in performing their daily tasks and focus their efforts to improve the delivery system with more innovative ways, said Anifah during the ministrys Excellent Service Award 2011 presentation yesterday. His speech was read out by his deputy Kohilan Pillai. Anifah said efforts to improve the system must be continuous and not merely confined to meet the criteria set in the Star Rating system one of the mechanisms to evaluate and rate the performance of specific categories of public agencies. Anifah also said civil servants should also have a sense of discipline to ensure the success of an organisation. The main goal of enforcing regulations is to provide guidance for civil servants to perform their duties responsibly. The development and success of the public service depends on the attitude of the civil servants, he said. During the ceremony, 110 civil servants from the ministry received the awards, of which 89 were from Wisma Putra and the rest from embassies.
KUALA LUMPUR: Electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 has quashed rumours of a fourth rally to demand clean and fair elections, and will focus instead on two major initiatives to increase voters turnout and eliminate fraud within the system. The first is a campaign dubbed Come out and vote, fight the fraud using the power of numbers to minimise alleged attempts at manipulating votes. Bersih 2.0 calls on all registered voters to use your vote as a key tool in mitigating fraud, said coalition co-chairman and National Laureate Datuk A. Samad Said, better known as Pak Samad. He also urged supporters of free and fair elections to take part in activities that will detect, report and stop any fraud during the
campaign period and on election day. Supporters can help by taking on important roles of election monitors, polling agents and counting agents, said Pak Samad during a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall here. Training sessions for volunteers are conducted nationwide by Bersih 2.0, in cooperation with non-governmental organisations Tindak Malaysia and Komas, through the Jom Pantau! (Lets Monitor) initiative. Following the Bersih 3.0 rally on April 28 which turned chaotic after an alleged attempt to break through barriers set up around Dataran Merdeka, supporters of the cause had mulled possibilities of holding its fourth installment to pressure the government into implementing electoral reforms. Pak Samad also condemned the alleged harassment against co-chairperson Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, who together with Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim were held accountable for allegedly losing control of the crowd.
She is a figure who has dedicated her life to defending human rights and for the betterment of our society ... In the face of despicable acts, she has been handling the matter with dignity and grace, he said. Last Thursday, a group of traders had set up burger stalls outside Ambigas home after claiming a loss of income amounting to RM200,000 due to the rally which saw some 80,000 protesters taking to the streets. Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar had on Monday said the protest led by Malaysia Small and Medium Entrepreneurs Alliance was legal. The group has since announced its plans to organise a larger pasar malam protest outside Ambigas home on May 24 and will be reportedly submitting its application for a permit from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall. A separate group of 15 men claiming to be army veterans had on Monday morning also staged a protest outside her residence by performing butt exercises.
PETALING JAYA: The Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) has yet to issue any compound to the owner of the bull terrier that attacked and killed 74year old Yip Sun Wah. The MPSJ is doing a thorough investigation in order to prosecute the owner for the offence under its Dog Licensing and Kennel Establishment By-Laws 2007, MPSJ chairman Datuk Asmawi Kasbi told a press conference yesterday. He denied reports saying MPSJ had issued a RM1,000 compound to the female owner of the American bull terrier and miniature bull terrier cross-breed. A check by theSun found under Section 15 (1) of the by-laws, an owner is guilty of an offence if a licensed
Asmawi (right) and Roslan during the press conference. dog chases, bites or attacks any person whether or not any injury has been caused. The 25-year-old accountant may face a charge of causing death through negligence under the Penal Code. On May 8, Yip, who lived in Jalan SS19/5E,
Subang Jaya, died at the scene after being attacked by the male bull terrier in Jalan 19/5B while jogging. Asmawi said if found guilty, the owner of the restricted-breed dog faces a maximum fine of RM2,000, one-year jail or both. At this time, the case is still under investigation by the police, the state Veterinary Services Department and MPSJ, he said. MPSJ legal adviser Anita Abdul Jalil said the council is looking into strengthening its bylaws by making the necessary amendments. For an amendment to be gazetted, she said, the council must consult the state legal adviser, get the approval from all local authorities and receive endorsement from the state government. MPSJ health director Dr Roslan Mohd Hussin said the fate of the bull terrier is to be decided by the Veterinary Services Department. Our scope of investigation is to see if there is any wrongdoing under our bylaws, he added.
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PRESS DIGEST
TWO affiliates of Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association) have voiced their support for the Chinese education movements withdrawal from the roundtable talks on Chinese education. Both the Dong Lian Hui (Chinese school committees association) of Penang and Kedah have said they supported the umbrella bodys decision not to be a party to a mechanism that anaesthetises the Chinese, Oriental Daily News reported yesterday. Their support came a day after an academician said Dong Zong faced the prospects of a split as the threats by 13 Johor Baru Chinese school committees to pull out of the Johor Dong Lian Hui, unless Dong Zong returns to the roundtable, may produce a ripple effect. The Penang and Kedah Dong Lian Hui told the daily
they have received calls from Chinese school committees wanting to know more about the decision taken by Dong Zong, but no one from the two states has threatened to pull out. The two Dong Lian Hui said they are firmly behind Dong Zong and will help it explain the reasons it opted out of the roundtable talks. The roundtable meetings on the eight-point plan to address issues affecting Chinese schools were held between the Education Ministry and five bodies, namely Jiao Zong (United Chinese School Teachers Association), Hua Zong (Federation of Chinese Associations of Malaysia), Dong Zong, National Union of the Teaching Profession and SJKC School Headmasters Association since March 8. Earlier this month, Dong Zong, which insisted that education policy changes be discussed at the roundtable, withdrew from the talks.
PARTI Kesejahteraan Insan Tanahair (Kita) is upset with former Information Minister Tan Sri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir who appears very determined to get close to opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Kita leader Zamil Ibrahim said the party had offered Abdul Kadir membership in Kita, but he rejected the idea, saying he was no longer interested in active politics since leaving Umno in March. But now he is very
enthusiastic about supporting Anwar at various events organised by the opposition. Didnt he realise who was Anwar before this? When Anwar was sacked in 1998, Abdul Kadir was one of those in the Umno Supreme Council meeting who agreed to his sacking from cabinet and from Umno, Zamil said, according to Utusan Malaysia report yesterday. He wondered whether Abdul Kadir was hoping to be nominated for the KulimBandar baru parliamentary seat in the next general election.
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Trumped-up charges
> China dissident tells US of abuse of family
WASHINGTON: A dissident at the centre of a standoff between Beijing and Washington on Tuesday accused Chinese authorities of a pattern of abuse against his family as he again took his case to US lawmakers. Chen Guangcheng, a blind selftaught lawyer who last month dramatically escaped house arrest for the safety of the US embassy, telephoned a hearing of the US Congress for the second time this month from a hospital bed in Beijing. Unlike in the previous hearing, Chen did not voice concern over his own conditions. But he charged that local authorities in the eastern province of Shandong were seeking revenge by filing a murder charge against his nephew. These are trumped-up charges. Those people in Yinan county have already been on the opposite side of the rule of law in China, Chen said by telephone as one of his most prominent supporters, Chinese dissident Bob Fu, translated for members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Chen said government-backed thugs broke into his nephew Chen Keguis house and beat him up for
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Smith and Bob Fu (left) listen to Chen on the phone during a hearing before the Global Health, and Human Rights Subcommittee of House Foreign Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington DC.
three hours with stakes until his face was bloody, with police detaining him when he fought back. Despite the murder charge, no one was reported dead. This is a pattern, Chen said, accusing authorities of launching the same sort of campaign against his nephew as they did to him. Chen served four years in jail on charges that included disruption of traffic. Chen had riled authorities by exposing forced abortions and
sterilisations by officials meeting quotas under Chinas one-childonly policy. Chen has said he was subjected to brutal beatings under house arrest because he continued to speak out after his release from jail in 2010. In a striking scene on Capitol Hill, Chen spoke to Representative Chris Smith, a longtime campaigner against Chinas one-child policy, as some of Chinas leading exiled dissidents including legendary
activist Wei Jingsheng and Tiananmen Square protest leader Chai Ling huddled on the dais to listen. After Chai Ling now an advocate against sex-selective abortion praised his efforts, Chen replied: Im not a hero. I just do what my conscience asks me to do. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said Tuesday that US visas were prepared for Chen, his wife and their two children. AFP
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SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government is leaving it to the federal government to do what is necessary on the stalled water restructuring exercise in the state. Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said that his administration is in discussion phase and will leave it to the federal government to exercise its powers as vested in the Water Supply Industry Act (WSIA) 2006. Abdul Khalid said the statement by Energy, Green
Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin that he had no power to force concessionaires to accept the Selangor water industry restructuring plan showed that he had no confidence over his power as the minister under Section 191 (5). The section states that the determination of what amounts to national interest issues arising from the coming into operation of this Act shall be made by the minister and such determination shall be final and binding upon all persons and shall not be challenged, appealed against,
reviewed, quashed or questioned in any court, Abdul Khalid said at a press conference yesterday after chairing the executive council meeting. On Tuesday, Chin in a statement said that he had only the power to take over water supply from concessionaires during an emergency. On a related matter, Khalid said housing developers should cooperate with Syabas to install individual meters in apartments so residents could enjoy the free 20 cu m of water a month provided by the state government.
GEORGE TOWN: The DAP has given up trying to convince its former national vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim to change his mind about quitting the party. In a brief statement yesterday, party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said he had tried to contact the former senator since Monday but without success. I have no wish to exchange personal attacks with Tunku but to
convey the partys thanks for his service during his four years as national vice-chair of DAP, the chief minister said. Time will prove who is on the right side of history. In an interview with an English daily, Tunku Abdul Aziz had criticised Lim for being a different kettle of fish. He had also expressed his relief after leaving the party, describing it as being freed from the tyranny of a demagogue. Penang Barisan Nasional said it is not depending on the Tunku
Abdul Azizs resignation to garner votes in the next election. State BN working committee chief Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said the state opposition is working on showing the people how united its component parties are. He said BN can get the votes to recapture the state by showing how it is willing to serve the people in Penang. We have plans that will be rolled out not for political gain but for the benefit of the state and for the people, he said when contacted yesterday.
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theSun ON THURSDAY | MAY 17, 2012
www.thesundaily.my
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LETTER
letters@thesundaily.com
TheNutmeg Verses
BY HIMANSHU BHATT
Today, a Gerakan-led BN coalition which was removed from power in the 2008 polls is relying on the very issue of reinstating the free port to regain the state government. The political coalition that stripped the state of its traditional free port status, established two centuries ago under British colonial rule, is now appearing to use the issue as a bargaining chip for the next election. Teng was defensive when at a press conference it was suggested that the free port idea is a bait to woo voters. I did not use the word bait, he retorted. This is a people-centric programme. It is not about baiting! But to make the announcement on the eve of a general election will make it hard for the public to construe such a move in any other way. The BN of course is asserting that it is only acting in the practical interest of the states economy. Meanwhile, the DAP, which now leads the ruling Pakatan Rakyat coalition in Penang, has upped the ante. DAP chairman Karpal Singh commented that the free port status was only now being made an issue by Gerakan, with no such move seen during the 40-odd years that the BN was in power. He called on Najib to declare Penang a free port before the next election. The DAP had been calling for the status to be
restored for years. Its not something new. To make one more leery, the BN says it is embarking on a plan to seek public response to the proposal. People have to support this programme before we can do it, Teng said. There is an obvious politically-charged inference in this that support for the programme must equate with support for the BN. To be fair, the Gerakan-led BN administration had managed to turn the economy around in the 70s and 80s with new free industrial zones and licensed manufacturing warehouses. Still, there has been pressure from various quarters to revive the free port status to boost tourism in particular. Many people remember the glory days of Penangs waterfront when the city of George Town teemed with trading activity, foreign entrepreneurs and tourists, brought in by a bustling dutyfree port. Today, the docks and harbours are, relatively speaking, a pale shadow of what they used to be, and a far cry from the potential they were once thought to have. But the enormous political significance of a free port, it seems, has not changed. One is now left to see whether the idea of its revival will impact an impending general election in the same way that its removal did 43 years ago. Himanshu is theSuns Penang bureau chief. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
An apology to Ambiga
I REFER to reports published in online versions of newspapers on a group of retired armed forces personnel holding butt exercises in front of the house of Bersih cochairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, and have this to say to her. Dear Datuk Ambiga, I write to let you know that, as a Malaysian citizen, I am deeply ashamed of recent behaviour directed at you personally. I refer to blatant acts of intimidation that you have had to endure in what should be the sanctity of your home. I believe that everyone is entitled to their opinions, but that there are many avenues available to express them. If segments of society disagree with what you stand for and all that you have achieved, there are many other more respectful and constructive methods to air their grievances. Personal attacks are par for the course if you are a public figure. However, to target you at your own home is deplorable. There is no justification for this kind of behaviour. Any person with a sense of common decency would be as appalled and disgusted as I am that you have been attacked in such a manner. The burger protest was bad enough, but this latest childish demonstration of unflattering callisthenics is really scraping the bottom of the barrel. I would like to borrow a phrase that has been used frequently of late this is not the Malaysian way. I cannot speak for anyone other than myself, but I would like you to know that I am very deeply embarrassed by the behaviour you have had to tolerate. It does not speak for me. As a Malaysian, I would like to offer an apology for the way you have been treated. Josephine Moggie via email
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theSun ON THURSDAY | MAY 17, 2012
Managing Editor Freddie Ng Consultant Editor Zainon Ahmad Senior General Manager, Advertising and Marketing Chandran Ravi Senior Manager, Production Thomas Kang Head, Distribution Channels Gurunatham Gopal Tel (Editorial) 03-7784 6688 Fax 03-7785 2624/5 Email newsdesk@thesundaily.com Tel (Advertising) 03-7784 8888 Fax 03-7784 4424 Email advertise@thesundaily.com
calculated to humiliate and degrade including one practice of forcing women to remove their clothes and throwing them far away so that they had to recover their clothing under the eye of their tormentors. One could infer that the destruction of the Batang Kali papers speaks just as loudly for the survivors case. It is not for no reason that the Batang Kali case is widely regarded as one of the most controversial in British colonial history. Back home, while there have been several attempts to bring the case to public attention through Parliament and an attempt to investigate by the Royal Malaysian Police in the 1990s (the case was eventually closed on grounds of insufficient evidence), it has received but lukewarm interest. It may be due to the wariness of some quarters to be involved in a compensation claims trial that threatens to dredge up many
more potential cases. It may be due to the taint of Communism that is inseparable from this case. As the innocence of the villagers becomes ever more evident, this apathy should be shaken off. For all we know, the villagers may have been guilty of nothing more than being anti-colonialists. As pointed out by a writer in The Guardian newspaper, in the twilight years of the British Empire, the difference between anti-colonialism and Communism was not always clear. Thus, in our memories, the villagers of Batang Kali would be better honoured not as victims of mistaken identity but simply as people who sacrificed to stand on the same side as many other Malayans. Mun Ching enjoys travelling off the beaten path to discover the grittier but more revealing parts of the region we call home. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
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MAY 16, 2012 STOCK AGLOBAL FOCUS LUSTER SAAG NICORP SANICHI MTRONIC UTOPIA ASUPREM PCHEM VOL 69,203,000 30,946,600 30,430,800 30,252,700 29,498,500 26,804,200 24,898,000 20,082,800 18,247,500 17,755,400 CLSG (sen) +/- (sen) 20 13.5 16 6.5 42 8.5 16 7 20.5 640 -2.5 -0.5 +12.5 -0.5 -3.5 -2 -2 Unch -2 -5
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KL MARKET SUMMARY
MAY 16, 2012 INDICES FBM EMAS FBM KLCI INDUSTRIAL CONSUMER INDUSTRIAL PROD CONSTRUCTION TRADING/SERVICES FINANCE PROPERTY PLANTATION MINING FBMSHA FBMACE TECHNOLOGY TURNOVER 1.330bil CHANGE 10,493.48 1,536.04 2,686.90 494.16 115.96 236.63 191.96 13,760.01 967.09 8,156.61 352.60 10,414.46 4,287.56 17.85 VALUE RM2.061bil -180.09 -25.03 -56.46 -7.81 -1.94 -5.12 -3.84 -151.15 -10.54 -207.89 -6.08 -211.09 -109.62 -0.01
KUALA LUMPUR: SapuraKencana Petroleum Bhd (SKP), which makes its debut on Bursa Malaysia today, will need to replenish US$1 billion to US$1.5 billion of new jobs every year to sustain a healthy backlog for the newly merged entity. President and group CEO Datuk Seri Shahril Shamsuddin said the companys orderbook currently stands at RM13.5 billion and will keep the group busy for three-and-a-half years. Our burn rate of RM3.5 billion to RM4 billion per year gives us three years of backlog and we have to replenish that every year, he told a press conference after the launch of SapuraKencanas prospectus and corporate identity by Minister in the Prime Ministers Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop here yesterday. Executive vice-chairman Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir said the group is currently bidding for RM7 billion worth of jobs and by year-end, it will have submitted bids for RM12 billion, with the success rate expected to be 30-40%. We should be able to keep bid book high and backlog high at RM8 billion to RM12 billion a year, Shahril said. About half of the projects it has bid for are in Malaysia with the rest overseas, especially in Brazil and Australia. SapuraKencana is the result of the merger of the businesses and assets of SapuraCrest Petroleum Bhd and Kencana Petroleum Bhd, and is now the worlds fifth-largest integrated oil and gas engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning (EPCIC) services provider. On its capital expenditure, Shahril said:
From left: Shahril, SapuraKencana chairman Datuk Hamzah Bakar, Nor Mohamed, Sapura group chairman and founder Tan Sri Shamsuddin Abd Kadir and Mokhzani at the launch of SapuraKencanas prospectus and corporate logo. We have a build programme of US$1.5 billion over three years budgeted for three new drilling rigs and five new pipelay vessels. He said the company will leverage on its US$1.5 billion business in Brazil to enter West Africas EPCIC market. It is also bidding for projects in Brazil, as well as undertaking jobs in the Gulf of Mexico. Commenting on the impact of the global economic slowdown, Shahril said: Throughout the years, the oil and gas sector is robust to the fluctuations of oil price. Many projects take five or six years to execute and due to the long gestation period, we find that we transcend the volatility of the marketplace. Mokhzani said should oil price fluctuate, the company knows how to operate in a lean environment and on tighter margins given its experience in operating under such a situation. Were confident that whatever happens, the company will be resilient and pull through, he added. On when SapuraKencana shareholders can expect a dividend, Mokhzani said the cash payout to shareholders from the merger exercise is equivalent to eight years of dividends. SapuraCrest received a RM875.1 million cash payment or 69 sen a share, and Kencana RM968.7 million or 49 sen a share, besides SapuraKencana shares, from the merger exercise. We believe we will be able to give out dividends from the first year. However, the quantum has yet to be set as were a growing company, he said. Shahril said as the company expands its reach as an enlarged entity, it needs to support Malaysia and be a catalyst for the small and medium oil and gas companies. The company has some 9,000 employees, coming from 20 nationalities. We support 500 local vendors and suppliers by giving out RM1.5 billion to RM2 billion worth of works to them every year, he added.
KUALA LUMPUR: Blue-chip stocks suffered heavy losses yesterday to drag the stock market down sharply for the third day in a row, falling alongside regional markets as investors feared a prolonged political crisis in Greece could slow the global growth momentum. The FBM KLCI slipped another 25.03 points to close at 1,536.04 yesterday. Turnover was 1.33 billion shares valued at RM2.061 billion. Losers thumped gainers 822 to 97. Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd led the bluechip declines, falling 64 sen to RM22.26. Dutch Lady Industries Bhd dropped 60 sen to RM31.70, British American Tobacco (Malaysia) Bhd and PPB Group Bhd fell 38 sen each to RM51.60 and RM15.56, respectively, while Tenaga Nasional Bhd lost 28 sen to RM6.17. CIMB Group Holdings Bhd closed down 14 sen to RM7.18 and Sime Darby Bhd gave up 19 sen to RM9.54. Markets across the region tumbled, with South Koreas KOSPI and Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index the worst performers with 3.08% and 3% losses, respectively. Singapores Straits Times Index lost 1.58%, Japans Nikkei 1.12%, Indonesias Jakarta Composite Index 1.61% and Thailands Stock Exchange of Thailand 1.12%. Affin Investment Bank vice-president and head of retail research Dr Nazri Khan said
investors are reducing their positions in riskier assets and shifting to safe-haven currencies due to the uncertainty. This, he said, had lifted the US dollar to its strongest level against major currencies. The next support level for the FBM KLCI is 1,500. The weaker fundamental in the external is contributing to the losses in the local bourse. But there is no serious correction in our market given that we have ample liquidity in the market, he added. MIDF Research senior analyst Syed Muhammed Kifni Syed Kamaruddin said many bourses in the region had fallen between 1% and 2% in the past two weeks but the local bourse had managed to hold its own, with only a 0.3% decline. Meanwhile, HwangDBS Vickers Research Sdn Bhd said further inflows of foreign funds may be limited as the general election looms, after a seven-month buying streak. It reckons that stocks with high foreign shareholding that are susceptible to a selldown include AirAsia Bhd, Genting Malaysia Bhd, Axiata Group Bhd and UEM Land Holdings Bhd, and advises investors to switch to defensive stocks with relatively low foreign shareholdings like Hong Leong Bank Bhd, Malayan Banking Bhd, Bumi Armada Bhd, Maxis Bhd and Petronas Gas Bhd. HwangDBS said foreign investors had been net buyers of Malaysian equities since October last year, taking cumulative net buying value to RM9.2 billion in the last seven months.
> RM13.5 billion orderbook to keep enlarged group busy for 3 years
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SUNBIZ
theSun ON THURSDAY | MAY 17, 2012
KLANG: WCT Bhd, which is bidding for RM5 billion worth of projects in Malaysia and overseas, wants to grow its non-construction business to contribute more than half of the groups earnings by 2016, said its chairman Datuk Capt Ahmad Sufian Qurnain Abdul Rashid. It is also targeting for the construction segment to contribute 45% of the groups earnings within the next five years. Ahmad Sufian said WCT is looking at expanding its consumer-driven divisions in property development, and hotel and commercial properties as new earnings drivers. Speaking to reporters after the companys AGM here yesterday, he said non-construction activities are expected to contribute more than half of WCTs operating profit by 2016 from the current 36%. On its core business, Ahmad Sufian said: As a construction company, we are always pursuing new projects. We are pursuing RM5 billion worth of projects. They are mostly infrastructure projects. Forty per cent are local and 60% overseas. But I cant tell you what they are because we are still in various stages (of the bidding process). He said company hopes to secure at least RM1 billion worth of projects this year based on its 20% success rate in the past. Ahmad Sufian said the group will tap its 30year civil and structural construction track
From left: WCT Bhd deputy managing director Goh Chin Liong, Ahmad Suan and corporate affairs manager Kenny Wong Yik Kae at the AGM. record in Malaysia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and India with 300 completed projects valued at RM19.8 billion. In the first quarter, WCT secured a RM331 million contract for the construction of a mixed development with purpose-built medical centre at Coastal Highway in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. It has also bagged a RM300 million job to design, construct and complete the headquarters of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. The company plans to build another two or
three hotels in the next five years and is eyeing places like Penang, Iskandar Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu and the Klang Valley, he said. Its new shopping mall, Paradigm Mall in Petaling Jaya, is slated for launch on May 23. The mall is already 91% occupied and will be managed and operated by the company. Ahmad Sufian said the company is also exploring venturing into Myanmar and Indonesia. We are still in the initial stage. We have to be very careful and still studying the markets, he added.
PETALING JAYA: IOI Corp Bhd, which plans to set up an US$1.5 billion (RM4.67 billion) Euro Medium Term Note (EMTN) programme, could see its net gearing rise to 54-58% from 21% as at end2011, assuming drawdown of the proceeds, Kenanga Research said. If so, IOI Corps net gearing will be the highest among big capitalisation planters, exceeding Sime Darby Bhds 21% and Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhds net cash position, the research firm said in a note to clients yesterday. Moodys Investors Service had on Tuesday assigned a (P)Baa1 rating to IOI Corps new programme. The rating outlook is negative. Moodys said the Baa1 rating is to accommodate IOI Corps greater involvement in property development, with little cushion for any disappointments in palm oil or aggressive shareholder returns. IOI Corp had told Bursa Malaysia that it plans to use the net proceeds from the EMTN programme to fund capital expenditure, investments or acquisitions, working capital and loan repayment. Of the possible maximum RM4.5 billion loan raised, we believe that about RM800 million will be used to finance the companys purchase of 2.4ha plot of land in Clementi, Singapore. Another RM491 million could be used to repay its S$200 million term loan due in May 2013, said Kenanga. It expects the balance of RM3.2 billion could be used to expand the plantation groups business in either plantation or property. We are positive if the EMTN proceeds are used to expand IOI Corps plantation land, but negative if they are used to invest deeper in Singapore or the Malaysian property market due to their unexciting growth prospects, said Kenanga. The research firm is maintaining its earnings estimate for IOI Corp in the financial years ending June 30 of 2012 and 2013 at RM2.05 billion and RM2.12 billion respectively, pending the actual amount of drawdown from the EMTN loan. IOI Corp posted a net profit of RM2.22 billion in FY11. Kenanga reiterates a market perform rating on IOI Corp at RM5.01, but has lowered its price target to RM5.20 from RM5.60. The stock closed at RM4.90 yesterday.
SUNBIZ
theSun ON THURSDAY | MAY 17, 2012
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EXCHANGE RATES
Foreign currency
Bank sell Bank buy Bank buy TT/OD TT OD 1 US DOLLAR 3.1290 3.0660 3.0560 1 AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR 3.1160 3.0370 3.0210 1 BRUNEI DOLLAR 2.4790 2.4280 2.4200 1 CANADIAN DOLLAR 3.1090 3.0420 3.0300 1 EURO 3.9930 3.8940 3.8740 1 NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR 2.4240 2.3390 2.3230 1 PAPUA N GUINEA KINA 1.6900 1.3810 1.3650 1 SINGAPORE DOLLAR 2.4785 2.4280 2.4200 1 STERLING POUND 5.0000 4.8990 4.8790 1 SWISS FRANC 3.3180 3.2470 3.2320 100 ARAB EMIRATES DIRHAM 86.4900 82.1700 81.9700 100 BANGLADESH TAKA 3.8900 3.6740 3.4740 100 CHINESE RENMINBI 49.4000 47.6000 N/A 100 DANISH KRONE 55.2100 50.8800 50.6800 100 HONGKONG DOLLAR 40.9000 38.8600 38.6600 100 INDIAN RUPEE 5.9120 5.6200 5.4200 100 INDONESIAN RUPIAH 0.0344 0.0327 0.0277 100 JAPANESE YEN 3.8970 3.8130 3.8030 100 NEW TAIWAN DOLLAR N/A N/A N/A 100 NORWEGIAN KRONE 53.7500 49.4800 49.2800 100 PAKISTAN RUPEE 3.5200 3.3000 3.1000 100 PHILIPPINE PESO 7.4400 7.0700 6.8700 100 QATAR RIYAL 87.2000 82.9500 82.7500 100 SAUDI RIYAL 84.7400 80.4500 80.2500 100 SOUTH AFRICAN RAND 38.6900 35.6800 35.4800 100 SRI LANKA RUPEE 2.5100 2.3000 2.1000 100 SWEDISH KRONA 45.1100 41.1400 40.9400 100 THAI BAHT 10.6600 9.0500 8.6500
Source: Malayan Banking Berhad/Bernama
A car salesman waits for customers in Bejing yesterday. Bleak data has raised fears Chinas economy is cooling faster than previously thought. in its socialist past, according to Xie. What China needs is structural reforms. The government needs to improve efficiency by reducing the state sector. The state sector is too big, and it is wasting tremendous amounts of money, he said. A lot of the growth right now is just waste. The government needs to have another attitude. It needs to change. Otherwise the problems will just mushroom. AFP
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A good life
> nestl promotes a healthy lifestyle at its showcase
eLd in the last week of April, the 7th Nestl Nourishing Malaysia showcase kicked off at the Straits Quay Convention Centre in Penang where it continued to promote healthy living to Malaysians under its tagline good food, good life. The showcase which presented various aspects of everyday Malaysian life from the classroom to the kopitiam - all demonstrating healthy lifestyles was visited by over 14 thousand people. A visitor at the Nestl a leading wellness booth. food, nutrition,
health and wellness company, is frequently involved in campaigns in line with the governments 2006 to 2015 National Plan of Action for Nutrition of Malaysia. Such campaigns include World Walking Day as well as the How Am I and Choose Right campaigns. Other events that were carried out during the showcase weekend included educational sessions aimed toward informing visitors on making healthier choices by reading nutrition labels. A health-check booth also featured a calculator used to determine the sodium content in food. There were also special presentations of games and dance activities from various Nestl brands such
A fitnesse jazzercise session was part of the activities during the Nestl showcase. as Milo Wushu coaching, Nescaf Rock Band Challenge, Koko Krunch Taekwondo demonstration, Fitnesse Jazzercise and a performance by Aseana Percussion Unit sponsored by Maggi Happiness is Homemade. We have decided to have this years showcase in Penang, as this is where we started our journey in this country back in 1912, clarified managing director of Nestl Malaysia Peter R. Vogt on the choice of this years showcase location. The launching of the showcase was presided over by the governor of Penang Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas together with the chairman of Nestl Tan Sri Syed Zainol Anwar Jamalullail and a member of the board of directors of Nestl Malaysia Datuk Frits van Dijka. The Nestl showcase was first introduced in 2006 and has since taken place at various locations around the country such as Klang Valley, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak.
years
(From left) Celcom accounts manager Ganesh Sammuggam with the four prize recipients and the BHP marketing manager Baba Tan at the prize presentation.
Working Adults:
Dual role
tHe current CEO of Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG) in South-East Asia (SEA) Jeffrey Seah was recently appointed to the role of Country Chair for VivaKi SEA. This was announced by the VivaKi board of directors in Chicago on May 7. As CEO, Seah will continue to work collaboratively with the regional and local leadership of Digitas, Razorfish, Starcom MediaVest Group and ZenithOptimedia to strengthen the service offering and clout of all agencies in the region. As country chair, he support the brand leaders to drive cross-brand growth initiatives for VivaKi in market, as well as deliver against operational and financial goals. The introduction of the VivaKi structure in SEA will help consolidate scale in the marketplace. It allows both ZO and SMG to align our focus and resources to future proof our operations, says Seah. Seah has a formidable track record of delivering growth and new thinking in this important region. With agencies and experts throughout Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and the Philippines, we have a powerful opportunity to have a stronger and more unified voice in the marketplace by combining forces, restructuring around VivaKi and aligning behind Seahs leadership, said VivaKi CEO Jack Klues. Seah has spent more than a decade at SMG and paved the way for Starcom to become an established entity in South East Asia. Initially he was responsible for launching the Starcom brand in Asia and setting up its first office in Singapore in 1999.
CAMPUS
Accountancy
JPT/BPP(K)(N/344/4/0083)(2/17) KL
CAMPUS
Associated Institution of SEGi University College: SEGiCollegeKualaLumpur (JPWP178) BangunanSEGi,33-35, JalanHangLekiu,50100KualaLumpur. T 03-20702078 F 03-20342759 E infokl@segi.edu.my TOLLFREE:1800-88-8028
MOHE MyQuest Evaluation SEGi College Kuala Lumpur Health and Welfare Category; Science, Mathematics & Computing Category; Services Category; and International Student Readiness Category
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ENTERTAINMENT
theSun ON THURSDAY | MAY 17, 2012
www.thesundaily.my
SCREEN SHORTS
RIHANNA (pix) broke down and wanted to punch someone while recording her latest album because she was so overwhelmed. The singer was hospitalised with a bout of flu in November and admitted her hectic schedule meant she barely had time to rest and recuperate. Asked how hard she worked on latest record Talk That Talk, she said: It was the craziest schedule Ive ever been on in my entire life. I get into bed and my phone started going off. I was sick but then I was the only person who could get it done.
Album ordeal
LEONA LEWIS (pix) will conduct a masterclass for London teenagers together with rapper Plan B on the BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra Academy initiative in her home town of Hackney, east London. The project aims to help 10,000 youngsters with lessons in music, acting and radio. Leona said: Its important for us to come back and support those who are doing amazing things. Leona and Plan B will work with children aged 13 to 15 from the Pupil Correction Unit in Newham to create a special musical performances.
SIMON COWELL will fill singer Britney Spears (pix) X Factor dressing room with figs and prunes. The TV mogul has signed her to appear as a judge on the US version of talent show for a reported US$15 million (RM45 million) and a promise he made to clinch the deal was to keep supplying her with the fruits she usually insists on in her tour rider. Meanwhile the singer is said to be embarking on a six-week course of intensive training to prepare herself for the show.
JOHNNY DEPP (pix) has denied splitting from longtime girlfriend Vanessa Paradis. Apparently the pair have been living separate lives for months, but he shot down rumours they had parted ways on the red carpet for the premiere of his new film in London. He told The Sun that the rumours were not true. Bang Media
NSPIRED by the New York Times bestseller of the same name and the first book in a series that has sold over 35 million copies worldwide, What to Expect When Youre Expecting is a hilarious and heartfelt big-screen comedy about five couples whose intertwined lives are turned upside down by the challenges of impending parenthood. Over the moon about starting a family, TV fitness guru Jules (Cameron Diaz) and dance show star Evan (Matthew Morrison) find that their celebrity lives do not stand a chance against the surprise demands of pregnancy. Baby-crazy author and advocate Wendy (Elizabeth Banks) gets a taste of her own militant mummy advice when pregnancy hormones ravage her body while her husband, Gary (Ben Falcone), struggles not to be outdone by his competitive alpha-Dad Ramsey (Dennis Quaid), who is expecting twins with his much younger trophy wife, Skyler (Brooklyn Decker). Photographer Holly (Jennifer Lopez) is prepared to travel the globe to adopt a child but her husband Alex (Rodrigo Santaro) is not so sure, and tries to quiet his panic by attending a dudes support group, where new fathers get to tell it like it really is. Meanwhile, rival food truck chefs Rosie (Anna Kendrick) and Marco (Chace Crawford)s surprise hook-up results in an unexpected quandary: what to do when your first child comes before your first date? Diaz, who is well known for her comedic roles in films such as Bad Teacher, Knight & Day and What Happens in Vegas, talks about her views of having children in a questionand-answer transcript provided by the movies distributor, Nusantara Edaran Filem. Do you have a timeline in terms of when you thought you would be married and have kids? I thought I was going to be married and have two children by the time I was 21. I think I felt I had to model my life after my mothers. But then, my career was starting to take off and there were still so many things I wanted to do.
So that dream for me was shattered early on. After that I never put another timeline on anything in my life. Do you think our culture pushes motherhood and judges women who do not have kids? Im sure a lot of people would expect that I would have had a child by my age. But its not what Ive wanted out of my life thus far. We still live in a largely chauvinistic world. Theres a box people put themselves in, and when you live outside of it, that makes them uncomfortable; they have to look at themselves and question their own choices. What about pressure from your families? My mum would never, ever do that. Shes happy when she sees me happy. If having children and a family was something I really wanted but couldnt manage to have, my mum would feel bad for me. But since shes never heard me say I want a baby or husband, its not even a conversation between us. You cant equate children with happiness. Its right for some people and it isnt right for others. I read an article in a
New York magazine titled something like I Love My Children. I Hate My Life. Raising happy kids is very challenging, and there are often a lot of sacrifices that have to be made. You look at where we came from, the feminism of the 60s and 70s that basically said: Women can do it all. And slowly, women are realising: Wait a minute, its hard to do it all. I think whatever choice women make about having a child, in whatever capacity, theres a reason for it. I dont think anyone should regard those choices as good or bad. Women just have to let up on ourselves, which is really hard to do in this day and age. It just proves that you cant ever predict whats going to transform your life. Regardless of what you plan for, I think you have no idea what life is going to hand you. And I think the great thing is [if] you dont expect anything, then you usually get much more than you could possibly ever imagine. What to Expect When Youre Expecting opens in cinemas today.
ENTERTAINMENT
theSun ON THURSDAY | MAY 17, 2012
21
> Jewel of Tibet, which had a successful run in Malaysia in 2008, will now be restaged in Beijing and Xian as Princess Wen Cheng The Musical
(far left, from left) Sim, Ho and Toh. (left) All dressed up ... Toh as Princess Wen Cheng and Yang as Songtsan Gampo. (below) Scenes from Princess Wen Cheng The Musical.
We want to prove to the world that here in Malaysia, we can produce a professional show thats not only excellent, but can be accepted by an international audience.
Ho Lin Huay history, but fills in the gaps with a love story involving Wen Cheng and Songtsan Gampo. There is also political intrigue and betrayal, as well as stirring musical and dance numbers featuring amazing sets and multiple costume changes. The musical premiered locally in 2008 and was a success. Its 2012 revival not only features a new name, but a new lead as well. Classically-trained soprano Evelyn Toh will be playing the title role opposite veteran Yang Wei Han as Songtsan Gampo. In 2007 when Toh was performing in another of Hos musicals, she heard about this new musical they were doing. I had a strange feeling that the lead role was important, that I somehow had to do it. I wanted to try out for it, but then I found out I was pregnant and had to take some time off from musicals. Last year, Toh heard they were doing a revival of the musical, and this time, auditioned and landed the role she had dreamt of. My co-star Wei Han said maybe all the [experiences] I had undergone before this was a preparation for the role of Wen Cheng, she said. Joining Toh onstage is Alana Sim, one of the ensemble cast members. A talented, experienced dancer, she plays one of Princess Wen Chengs handmaidens, and also performs other dance numbers. For me, the biggest challenge is changing costumes for the next scene or dance, Sim said. Weve very little time in between dance numbers, maybe five minutes, so after one dance, we all rush backstage and change costumes in the dark, and have our hair or makeup redone. Not only that, there are so many other stagehands and cast members running around backstage that its very stressful sometimes. However, there have been some funny moments. One time, one of the dancers wore her costume backwards. Another time, a newer male dancer accidentally wore his false beard and moustache as sideburns! Toh faced her biggest onstage challenge in one musical where she had to sing on a raised platform situated eight metres above the ground on an elaborate set. The first time, I was very nervous, she said. But I had to appear calm and strong while singing, and there were crewmembers standing below ready to catch me. For Ho, the dedication shown by the cast and crew of Princess Wen Cheng is a source of pride. The standards in China are very high, and the fact that this production is put up by mostly amateurs doing it purely for the love of the arts is what sets us apart, she said. We want to prove to the world that here in Malaysia, we can produce a professional show thats not only excellent, but can be accepted by an international audience. Princess Wen Cheng will be staged from May 18 to 22 at the Beijing Poly Theatre. For details, visit www. asiamusicalproductions.com.
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WHERE2EAT
theSun ON THURSDAY | MAY 17, 2012
(clockwise, from top right) The restaurants signature roast duck; Peking duck wrapped in crepe; and char siew spare ribs and roast pork belly.
Yummy treats
> At Yummy Duck Roast House, customers are guaranteed quality food served at reasonable prices
BY CHAN SOO WAH
AVING been in the food industry for the past 20 years, Chef William Low believes that food quality should be the most important criterion in any restaurant. The owner of Yummy Duck Roast House personally ensures that his restaurant only offers quality meals to each and every customer. Yummy Duck Roast House serves more than just roast duck. It is also renowned for its roast goose (below). But customers must order at least one week in advance as Low insists on freshness. He needs the time to import the birds from Shenzhen, China, and roast them. Besides duck and goose, Low also serves
(from left) Allen and Kasdi mixing their creative juices to come out with the new menu.
roast chicken, roast pork belly and char siew (BBQ pork) spare ribs, Hong Kong style. Other popular dishes here are the appetizers such as Peking duck, which is wrapped in a thin crepe and served with sweet sauce; and glutinous rice stuffed in chicken wing skin (above). The glutinous rice is cooked and flavoured with spices and cubes of duck meat before it is stuffed into the chicken wing skin, and then roasted. The roast goose is definitely the restaurants main attraction. Crisp and glossy on the outside, the juicy goose is crunchy as you bite into it. The meat has just the right amount of salt as well. It goes well with a bowl of rice or a plate of plain Hong Kong noodles, which is another highlight of this restaurant. Imported weekly from Hong Kong, the noodles are thin but have a springy texture. The noodles are served in three different ways dry, soupy or spicy. Flightless birds aside, the roast pork belly and char siew spare ribs also showcase Lows skill in roasting. Both the pork belly and char siew are tender and juicy while the layer of fat in between the meat melts in your mouth. The restaurant has an open kitchen located at the entrance to cater to customers who opt for takeaways. The prices here are reasonable. Low, who has been operating his restaurant for three years, has no plans to expand. This is because he personally takes on the task of doing all the roasting so as to maintain the quality of the food served to his customers. YUMMY Duck Roast House is located at 9, Dinasti Sentral, Jalan Kuchai Maju 18, Off Jalan Kuchai Lama, 58200 Kuala Lumpur. Parking: Can be a challenge Operating Hours: Daily, 11am to 10.30pm. Type of Food: Roasted meat Hong Kong style Food classification: Non-Halal Price: Average to high. Ambience: Casual and comfortable with very attentive service
ON THE ROAD
theSun ON THURSDAY | MAY 17, 2012
23
Auto attractions
> Carmakers are making efforts to lure young consumers with gadgets and sleek designs
RED
MEANS
ASHBOARDS glittering with gadgets, turbo-charged engines and sleek designs are on offer as carmakers try to attract young consumers who care more about computers than cars. BMWs Mini is the most tricked-out car on display at the Detroit auto show early this year offering drivers a way to turn their car into both a video game and a DJ, using a joystick to help navigate the chrome circular display. The Minis dynamic music system shifts sound levels of different speakers and adds tracks when the car accelerates, brakes or turns. The car also turns fuel efficiency into a game using a fish bowl graphic that tips over if a driver wastes fuel by accelerating or braking too quickly. And the on-board computer is programmed to speak 1,800 different messages, including yippee, that was awesome! for a smooth turn and its cold outside. Volkswagens new Beetle features a Fender sound system that can be turned into an amplifier, thanks to a jack for an electric guitar. Hyundais navigation system lets parents track how fast their teenagers drive and where they take the car which might sound a bit creepy and restrictive, but could make it easier to trust teens with the keys. Voice recognition, Bluetooth connections, navigation systems that track the location of Facebook friends, and access to internet radio stations, restaurant reviews, and search engines are also becoming standard fare as carmakers seek to keep up with a generation raised in the digital age. Car sales among the under-30 crowd have been sluggish in recent years and perhaps more worryingly most teenagers in the US are no longer rushing to get a drivers licence the instant theyre old enough for the traditional rite of passage. The big thing about the youth market is, do they care about cars at all, Jeremy Anwyl, president of automotive site Edmunds.com, told AFP. Nobody really has an answer because a lot
(clockwise, from left) BMWs Mini Roadster launched at the Detroit Show; the new Beetles Fender sound system; and Toyotas Scion FRS out to lure young people with its stylish looks.
STOP!
NOT COOL
ITS
of the data was collected in a recession if you cant afford something you dont give it a lot of thought. It would be a misstep to paint youth with a broad brush, said Bob Carter, of Toyota Motor Sales USA. While some young people are still attracted to muscle cars and performance, others are
looking for environmentally-friendly options. Some want a hatchback or sport utility vehicle so they can haul bikes, surfboards or friends, while others are looking for zippy little cars with an urban feel. The common thread through all that is (that) we do pack those vehicles with a high level of content, specifically on technology,
Carter said. But we have to do it in a responsible way thats not distracting. Toyota has developed an entire brand Scion to lure young people looking for something more stylish than what their parents drive. Personalisation and performance has been a big part of Scions appeal it offers a wider range of colours and interiors, spoilers and appliques, encouraging a robust after-market upgrade industry. Carmakers are also expecting the millennials to be more interested in luxury brands once they settle into their careers, and are expanding their offerings of entry-level luxury vehicles, said Mark Templin, general manager of Toyotas luxury Lexus brand. We talk a lot about the democratisation of luxury, he said on the sidelines of the show. Its a generation that grew up in affluence. Young people are attracted to buying luxury ... whether its kitchen appliances or clothing or handbags or cars, they certainly want premium goods. But the ongoing recession also has young people looking for value, said Mark Reuss, president of the North American division of General Motors. Thats why GM is expanding its small car offerings like the Chevy Cruz, Sonic and Spark and designing them to look confident, expensive and fast. Who really knows if its possible to make young people fall in love with an automotive brand the way they do with a phone or a laptop or a social network? Reuss said. All I can tell you is, if theres a way to do it, Chevrolet is going to find it. AFP-Relaxnews
WHEEL BRIEFS
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FEATURE
theSun ON THURSDAY | MAY 17, 2012
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HOROSCOPE
April 19 May 19 LAST week the ideas planet, Mercury, moved into Taurus and this week its formed brilliant aspects with Mars and the uncompromisingly truthful Pluto. While the facts that have emerged wont always be welcome or easy to deal with, whats come to light is enabling you to make pivotal decisions. May 20 June 19 WHEN you first ignored certain facts, it was because they were complicated and you felt theyd have little impact on your plans. However, things have changed, and those seemingly unimportant facts are now significant. Remember that when you think about ignoring other facts that seem equally unimportant. June 20 July 21 FEW things are more unsettling than sudden changes in plans youve struggled to get properly organised. Since these events are being triggered by this weekends eclipsed New Moon, which is about breaking up familiar patterns, whatever is going is paving the way for something better. July 22 Aug 21 DURING times of challenge, everybody has advice to offer. Now that youre wrestling with an excess of exciting yet unsettling developments, others assume all is well, so have vanished. Let them know you need them now, too. It may be merely for moral support but they could also have useful advice to offer. Aug 22 Sept 21 YOU pride yourself on your objectivity. But several arrangements are so dear to your heart that you wont even hear criticism of them. Now, however, events are making it clear that not only must you acknowledge their faults, some might need a serious rethink. And, perhaps, one or two need to end. Sept 22 Oct 22 OBVIOUSLY now that youve reached the point at which discussions are about to turn into decisions, youd prefer that the arrangements you organise be lasting. But thats not only unlikely, with this weekends eclipse shaking things up, its unrealistic. Aim for the best you can do now, but expect changes. Lots of them. Oct 23 Nov 20 ITS the rare Scorpio whod plunge into any situation, whether personal or of a practical or professional nature. Still, judging by this weeks stunning planetary activity, in which your ruler Pluto takes a starring role, whats coming your way is too exciting to refuse. At least explore offers. Youll be glad you did. Nov 21 Dec 20 THERE are times when you can afford to be easygoing about details. But this isnt one of them. While its true that changes in circumstances will continue until early June, you need to ensure your plans are sound. Make no commitments until youre confident those decisions are based on solid facts. Dec 21 Jan 19 IF theres any problem with the way youre approaching certain pivotal decisions, its that you intend to make them once and be done with it. Be more flexible. These and any other decisions are being made during a period of change, which means even the simplest of plans is unlikely to last long. Jan 20 Feb 18 EVERY sign will be influenced by this weekends eclipse, which is the first of two. In your particular case, the circumstances of those closet, friends or loved ones, are likely to be changed or challenged. Unsettling as events are initially, deep down you know these arent just important, theyre vital. Feb 19 March 19 ABANDONING tricky issues for others to deal with isnt your style. Yet its increasingly clear they have greater interest in the particular situation than you do. If you feel youre abandoning your responsibility, discuss it with them. The odds are good theyd no idea how you felt and are happy to take over. March 20 April 18 SOMEBODYS been holding back on you. While people often keep things to themselves because that information is not important, the facts in question are becoming increasingly important. And because of that, youre urged to raise these now. The more swiftly theyre out in the open, the sooner theyll be dealt with.
TV1
Jelajah Lagenda Steves Deadly 60 Orang Kita Camar Putih Dapur Remaja Farhat Hafazan Al Quran National Geographic Forum Perdana Ehwal Islam 10.05pm Pesona Kasih 11.30pm 1001 Nasi
TV2
These maids, butlers and Ultraman turned up at the launch of Afamy.
1pm 1.30pm 3.30pm 4.35pm 5pm 6pm 7pm 9pm 10pm MN 1am
Cuci-Cuci Services Perangkap Maathangal Adutha Veedu White Lie The Building Blocks of Life American Dragon: Jake Long Makbul Shaolin Soccer Ops SPRM Enchanting Escapes
> The Anime Festival Asia Malaysia, to be held in June, promises to be a great showcase of anime-centric culture and music
BY ANANSA JACOB
Anime overload
TV3
3pm 4pm 5pm 5.35pm 6pm 6.30pm 7pm 9pm 9.30pm 10pm 11.05pm
APANOPHILES in Malaysia are in for a huge treat in June when one of the biggest regional showcases involving anime-related culture and music hits our shores for the first time. The Anime Festival Asia Malaysia (Afamy) is an offshoot of the Anime Festival Asia (AFA), which has been held annually in Singapore since 2008 and has drawn tens of thousands of local and international visitors. Malaysians make up the bulk of regional visitors to the event, so when the organisers decided to take the event around the region, Kuala Lumpur was the natural first choice. At the Afamy launch at Federal Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, AFA director and event organiser SOZO executive director Shawn Chin said he wanted Malaysians to experience the fun of anime in their own backyard. Our purpose was to share the latest trends and content directly from Japan in one big event, Chin added. We want to be the place where anime fans can gather alongside people who share the same interests and enjoy themselves. Several exciting events have already been lined up for fans to get a complete anime experience. One of the most highly-anticipated activities will be a cosplay championship, with the winners representing Malaysia at the Regional Cosplay Championship at AFA in November. Visitors are also encouraged to attend the festival dressed as their favourite anime characters. They can scout for exclusive anime trading cards and figurines from some of Japans top hobby brands, including Good Smile Company and Bushiroad. There will also be a Good Smile Racing zone for model cars. Another uniquely Japanese feature, cosplay cafes, will also be available at Afamy. The Moe Moe Kyun
Maid Cafe features cute, bubbly maids who will serve you desserts and tea, while the Atelier Royale Butler Cafe will have handsome butlers catering to your every whim. A new segment has also been created for Afamy the Ultraman Zone based on the iconic Japanese superhero. Visitors will be able to watch special performances by Ultraman characters and actors flown in from Japan, and take part in many activities and interactive games. But by far the most anticipated event will be Super Anisong Genki Live, a two-night performance by top J-Pop artistes, including Kotoko, Sea A, Maon Kurosaki, Flow, Kalafina and Aimi. They will all be performing songs from some of todays biggest anime series. A number of special guests will also make appearances, including top Japanese cosplayer Kaname , famous for his performances as characters in Final Fantasy VII, Bleach and One Piece. Anime entrepreneurs and producers Mitsuhisa Ishikawa and Ishii Tomohiko will also be there to share some of their latest releases for 2012. The festival will be hosted by top anime blogger and Culture Japan host Danny Choo, who will also be promoting his Japanese-language education card series, Moekana, at the festival. Afamy will be held on June 9 and 10 at the Putra World Trade Centre. General festival tickets are priced at RM15 per day. For customers who want to access exclusive stage contents from anime celebrities, they will have to purchase the Festival+Stage tickets at RM30 per day. For the Super Anisong Genki Live evening concerts, tickets are RM88 per day (free standing) and RM168 per day (VIP seating). A RM308 two-day VIP package and RM148 two-day standing package are also available. Each concert ticket is bundled with a Festival+Stage ticket.
Endless Love Mini Kaber Hero Kaber Zero Jom Terokai Perak Teganu Kita Metal Fight Beyblade Seindah Sakura 999 Mahabbah Amukan Pocong WWE International Smackdown
NTV7
1.30pm 2.30pm 3.32pm
Neighbourhood The Emperors Harem The Amazing Strategist Liu Bo Wen 4.32pm Taiwan Tornado 6.02pm My Family 7.30pm Fairytale 8.30pm The V Squad 9pm Bilik 7 10pm Unriddle 2 11pm Footprints in Asia 11.30pm All About Sports
8TV
10.30am 2pm 3pm 4pm 5pm 6pm 7pm 8.30pm 9.31pm 10.31pm
My Family, My Love Guess Guess Guess Just in Singapore Hitman Reborn Dong Yi Family Harmony In the Eye of the Beholder Secret Garden Switched at Birth Jamie Olivers Food Evolution 11.45pm Desperate Housewives
TV9
12.30pm 1.30pm 2pm 5pm 5.37pm 6.37pm 7pm 7.30pm 8.30pm 9.30pm 10.30pm 11pm 11.30pm
Nikita Heroman Bola Kampung SpongeBob SquarePants Anugerah Upin & Ipin Kochikame Pakar Kejelitaan Friday Im in Love Semanis Kurma 9 Soalan S.O.S Cinta Fitri
Flying McCoy
Reign of Fire
FOX MOVIES, 6.15PM: After his construction engineer mother inadvertently woke an enormous fire-breathing beast from its centuries-long slumber 20 years ago, Quinn has to struggle to keep a small community alive in a world which has been scarred by the beast and its offspring. Then a hotshot American arrives who says he has a way to kill the beasts and save mankind. Starring Matthew McConaughey and Christian Bale.
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anything like this ever again! Maybe not. But we will keep coming back for more because we all know that sport is always capable of throwing up drama like Sundays. As Nick Hornby pointed out in his essential football read, Fever Pitch: be tolerant of those who describe a sporting moment as their best ever. We do not lack imagination, nor have we had sad and barren lives; it is just that real life is paler, duller, and contains less potential for unexpected delirium. Life, he explained, tends not to throw up lastminute winners. In broadcasting terms, the last-minute winner is the ultimate stress test. Everything changes in an instant: video packages and highlights reecting one result have to be altered to properly demonstrate another, tables and statistics have to be modied, editorial decisions revisited. Stats come at us thick and fast, perhaps too quickly to process: staggeringly, Manchester City scored with their
43rd and 44th attempts on goal. Was that a record? Had David Silva or Alex Song ended the season top of the assists charts? Did we realise that the late strikes at Swansea, Wigan and of course the Etihad had lifted the seasons tally to a record-breaking 1,066. Its a crazy nish for a crazy season, shrugged Roberto Mancini amidst chaotic postmatch scenes in Manchester. On the other side of the country, Sir Alex Ferguson was magnanimous in defeat but must inwardly have been revisiting his famous Football... bloody Hell! pronouncement. We were lucky enough to have satellite feeds of all the matches coming into our studio simultaneously and were witness to Michael Owen and the United substitutes preparing to strip off their tracksuits to reveal Champions T-shirts. In an instant, Aguero scored in Manchester and faces fell at the Stadium of Light. It was hard not to feel uncomfortable, voyeuristic at a time of heartbreak.
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N THREE YEARS AT CHELSEA, Arjen Robben was often a controversial gure, a certain physical frailty tending to obscure some ne wing-play and important goals. So it was no surprise that controversy should follow Robben at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, for whom he will be a key player in a Champions League nal against several of his old London teammates. He is, after all, a Dutch footballer. Hes not the best friend of all the players, and not the easiest one, because he is very egocentric, says Patrick Strasser, a journalist for Munichs Abendzeitung. It was a bit surprising that the club wanted him to sign a new contract but he did last week, until 2015. Identied closely at Chelsea with the mouldbreaking Jose Mourinho, under whom he won two League titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup in the space of three years, Robben was actually signed, like Petr Cech, before the new manager arrived in the summer of 2004. Recognised as one of the very best young talents in Holland for his work with Groningen and then PSV Eindhoven, he would have gone to Manchester United had they been prepared to pay the price. Chelsea offered far more for him
presumably in wages too and secured him for 12 million (RM60m), his provocative explanation being: Ive gone there because Chelsea are on the rise. I feel that maybe Manchester Uniteds best years are now behind them. Injured in a pre-season friendly, he did not make his debut until November, and missed out on the climax to the season as well after taking a knock at Blackburn. But with Damien Duff on the other ank, he became an important cog in Mourinhos wheel when t. His second season was probably his most effective as he adjusted to the physical demands of English football and Chelsea retained their title, and by the end of his third and an FA Cup nal win over United, Real Madrid were keen suitors. They eventually paid 24 million (RM120m) and Robben was successful enough in another title-winning season. But somehow he was never quite galactico quality and when the more glamorous Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka were recruited a year later, it was time to move on again, this time to Bayern. Scoring on debut, as he had for Chelsea, secured immediate popularity and by the end of the season he had a championship medal from a fourth different country and had been voted Germanys Footballer of the Year. Last season, familiar injury problems
resurfaced a hamstring problem from the World Cup not having been solved and to Bayerns annoyance he was unable to play until January. Borussia Dortmund took Bayerns title and have kept it this season, Robben playing an unfortunate part in the key game of the season recently, when with Bayern a goal down he missed a penalty and then a glorious late chance. Maybe a turning point was the second leg of the Champions League seminal against Madrid when Bayern were 2-0 down, said Patrick Strasser. He took a penalty just one week after the Dortmund miss and scored it. In January and February he had a lot of problems with (Bayern coach) Jupp Heynckes, who was giving some players a rest after the winter break. For three games in a row Robben was sidelined and in his world he can never sit on the bench, so that was causing problems. He wasnt complaining directly but he was like a child who was promised an ice-cream and did not get it. Unlike his Chelsea days, he now plays on the right, regularly cutting inside on his left foot and achieving a notable tally for a wide player of 54 goals in 88 games one of which knocked United out of the Champions League at Old Trafford two seasons ago. The Independent
Real Madrid 2 Bayer Leverkusen 1 Hampden Park, Glasgow Zidane Wonder Goal Real back in final this time a perfectly struck left-foot volley from worlds most expensive player, Zinedine Zidane, secures trophy
AC Milan 0 3-2 penalties Juventus 0 Old Trafford, Manchester Italian Masterclass Typically tight all-Italian contest, high on technical ability. Andriy Shevchenkos spot kick lands AC Milan their sixth European victory
Porto 3-0 AS Monaco Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen Mourinho Double Decos man-of-the-match performance helps Jose Mourinhos side to a second European triumph, a year after winning UEFA Cup
Liverpool 3 AC Milan 3 3-2 penalties Ataturk Stadium, Istanbul Game of Two Halves AC Milan lead after just 52 seconds and 3-0 at half time, but goals from Gerrard, Smicer and Alonso help set up brilliant shootout victory
Barcelona 2 Arsenal 1 Stade de France, Paris Barcelonas Patience Arsenals Jens Lehmann becomes first player to see red in a European final, as Barcelona seal title with two goals in final 15 mins
AC Milan 2 Liverpool 1 Olympic Stadium, Athens Milans Revenge Two years after Liverpools astonishing comeback, the sides meet again Milan coming out on top after two goals from Filippo Inzaghi
Manchester Utd 1 6-5 penalties Chelsea 1 Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow English Supremacy First ever final between two English clubs. United win even match thanks to John Terrys penalty slip, to seal third European title
Barcelona 2 Manchester Utd 0 Stadio Olimpico, Rome Mighty Barcelona United start brightly but are hit by 10th minute Etoo strike and never recover classy Barcelona go on to win sextuple of trophies in 2009
Internazionale 2 Bayern Munich 0 Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid Inters Long Wait Jose Mourinhos Inter side win their third European Cup, and first since 1965 two goals from Diego Milito cap treble-winning season
Source: UEFA
Barcelona 3 Manchester Utd 1 Wembley Stadium, London Unstoppable Barcelona Barcelona dominate in repeat of 2009 final, as goals from Pedro, Messi and Villa give Guardiolas side third title in six years
Bayern Munich v Chelsea Saturday May 19, Fuball Arena Mnchen, Munich Franck Ribery will be aiming to help Bayern to their fifth European Cup title on home turf against Chelsea, semi-final victors over 2011 champions Barcelona
GRAPHIC NEWS
29
BAYERN MUNICH
Coach Jupp Heynckes Captain Philipp Lahm European Cup record W81 D41 L39 European pedigree European Cup 1974-76, 2001 UEFA Cup 1996 Cup Winners Cup 1967 Intercontinental Cup 1976, 2001 Bayern v English opposition
CHELSEA
Saturday May 19, Fuball Arena Mnchen, Munich HEAD-TO-HEAD Bayern 1 Chelsea 1 Goals 5 Goals 6
PREVIOUS MEETINGS 2005 Chelsea 4-2 Bayern Q-final 2005 Bayern 3-2 Chelsea Q-final Chelsea v German opposition 2.00 0.92 52% 4.25 13.1 2.25 48% 83 Total shots 161 78
Coach Roberto Di Matteo Captain John Terry European Cup record W57 D33 L23 European pedigree European Cup runners-up 2008 Cup Winners Cup 1971, 1998 Super Cup 1998 Won 7 Draw 2 Lost 4
Blues united
> Mikel counts on unity to bring ultimate prize
Won 13 Draw 12 Lost 10 2.08 0.83 56% 5.25 16.3 2.33 58% Total shots 155
TEAM STATISTICS (per match) Goals scored Goals against Possession Corners Fouls Yellow cards SHOTS BREAKDOWN On target Wide 65
90
BANNED: Missing final David Alaba, Luiz Gustavo Holger Badstuber John Terry, Raul Meireles Branislav Ivanovic, Ramires
Sturridge 9 PROBABLE LINE-UPS Neuer ROUTE TO FINAL Topped Goup E with unbeaten home record eliminated Valencia Rafinha Round of 16 Napoli Quarter-finals Benfica Semi-finals Barcelona 1-3 (a), 4-1 (h) After extra time 1-0 (a), 2-1 (h) 1-0 (h), 2-2 (a) 3-0
15 30
ROUTE TO FINAL Topped Goup A with unbeaten home record eliminated Manchester City Round of 16 Basel Quarter-finals Marseille Semi-finals Real Madrid 0-1 (a), 7-0 (h) 2-0 (a), 2-0 (h) 2-1 (h), 1-2 (a) Won 3-1 on pens 5-2
15 30 45
Lahm
Boateng Tymoshchuk
Ribery
GOAL TIMES 3-2 Total minutes played 75 1,080 4-0 Leading in 60 matches (mins) 570 (52.8%) 1-3
Gomez Drogba 5-0 Sturridge Malouda Lampard Cole Cahill Luiz Cech
Source: UEFA, Infostrada Sports GRAPHIC NEWS
7-3
GOAL TIMES ET: 1-0 Total minutes 4-3 played 75 1,080 4-3 Leading in 60 matches (mins) 45 480 3-1 (44.4%) Level 500 (46.3%)
6-0 3-4
NY FATALISTS WITH A CHELSEA allegiance must wonder if the club are ever destined to become champions of Europe. Get to within one penalty kick of succeeding and your captain slips over and misses; make it to the nal again with the two hot favourites out of contention and you nd the game is somehow an away match, from which at least four key performers will be missing. Of course, players and staff cannot afford to think like that. So at the Cobham training ground early this week midelder John Obi Mikel (pix) was grasping whatever positives he could from a far from ideal situation. The conversation with Mikel also included the clearest explanation yet of what was wrong under the stewardship of Andre Villas-Boas and how his successor Roberto Di Matteo has brought a fractured squad back together again. This new spirit, he believes, represents Chelseas best hope of overcoming Bayern Munich on their own turf on Saturday. I ended last season well and at the start of this season I was one of the key players and there were a few rotations early on, he said. It was kind of difcult, you play and the manager leaves you out and you dont know the reason. Things like this went through everyones head not just me. Everyone didnt know what was happening. You come into training thinking shall I train well because I dont know if Im going to be playing at the weekend?. Things like that just went on and on. The communication was not right. Now things are more stable, we have a manager that understands the game and played the game and speaks to everyone and treats everyone the same, treats John Terry like he treats every other young player. I think thats what has brought all of us together. Now nobody is moaning or upset when they are left out. This togetherness is what we were lacking before. After a costly mistake in the home defeat by
Liverpool, Mikel did not start another League game until Villas-Boas was sacked three months later. Di Matteo has shown vastly more condence, playing him in both legs of the seminal against Barcelona, the FA Cup seminal and the nal. With Raul Meireles and Ramires suspended, as well as defenders Terry and Branislav Ivanovic, he is therefore entitled to think that a place in the side this Saturday should be his; unlike the 2008 nal against Manchester United when he sat and watched as the Moscow skies wept for Terry and Avram Grant. I had only just come into the club but after that I could see what the Champions League meant to the players, he said. And now we have a chance to put things right. Hopefully on the 19th if luck and God help us we will make that history. If we can pull off this win itll be the greatest achievement ever forthis club. One victory in six Champions League away games this season does not bode well, especially against a side who have beaten all seven of their visitors, including Real Madrid; nor does the notion of facing a front four of Arjen Robben, Thomas Muller, Franck Ribery and Mario Gomez without Terry and Ivanovic in defence. The hope in the Chelsea camp is that pressure will stie the home side, just as it did when Roma lost the nal in their own Olympic Stadium to Liverpool on penalties 28 years ago. Well play with less pressure, have a chance to express ourselves and do what we want to do a bit better. If we can grab a goal in the early stages its gonna be good but we have to make sure we dont concede early. It is the biggest game of our life and I hope the players who step into others shoes want to make this club proud. Thats why we have to go in and make sure we win it for them and for the club. The Independent
Its a big game for the club and our players. Its a massive game. But we have to go into it with the knowledge that we have the quality and experience to win it and thats all.
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ANCHESTER UNITED will continue to compete with their neighbours, the newly crowned champions, Manchester City, and will do so with Sir Alex Ferguson at the helm for many more years. That was the condent message from the clubs chief executive David Gill yesterday as, with ironic timing, the Premier League recognised Uniteds domination of the competitions 20-year history just as their supremacy is being challenged. In the aftermath of Manchester City claiming their rst title in 44 years, Ferguson has conceded that Uniteds rivals, with their petrodollar backing, can outbid his club by paying stupid money and silly salaries. But Gill insisted that Uniteds commercial power would enable them to match City on the pitch. We can compete because our revenues are in the top three in world football and they are growing signicantly in commercial and media areas, Gill said. We can invest in players, transfers and contracts.
There are additions we are looking at in certain areas, but we are not going to buy players just for the sake of it. Were already looking forward to next season. Im condent; I always am with this manager. Ferguson, who opted not to attend a function that had been arranged near Euston station, presumably to facilitate his appearance, was, said Gill, in his Carrington ofce at 7.30am on Monday as usual, despite Uniteds despair after their nal match at Sunderland the previous evening. He lives for the game, said Gill, who collected on Fergusons behalf the award for being the best manager of the Premier League era. The hunger and enthusiasm is there day in, day out. Hes on a rolling contact and with his enthusiasm, the way he delegates, the support of his staff, therell be many more years, Im sure. Giggs, who has played under Ferguson for every one of the 20 Premier League seasons, was voted the competitions best player. As long as Im enjoying it and still getting picked, Ill carry on, said Giggs, 38. The Independent
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pretty quickly. I think it was rather silly, frankly, in terms of what it said, but City acted with commendable speed. We move on and concentrate on other issues. The Football Association are looking into the matter after chairman David Bernstein also described the Argentinians actions as silly. Bernstein was asked about the incident by MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee. Bernstein said: It looked to me rather silly, more than anything else an impetuous, silly thing to do. It certainly wasnt very sensible. I think it was a very excitable moment, emotions were running very high. The Independent
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End of an era
> Rio will have a few regrets
by SAM WALLACE Y ANY MEASURE it has been a remarkable international career, and one that has survived more than its fair share of ups and downs, but having been left out of the Euro 2012 squad, Rio Ferdinand (pix) has surely now played his last game for England. At the age of 33, he does not play as many games as he once did. He is by no means the player he was at his peak during the 2002 World Cup nals, the summer in which he joined Manchester United for 30m (RM150m) and was voted in Fifas team of the tournament. But it will come as a huge blow to a character who has had to deal with disappointments in the past. Two years ago he was preparing to lead England at the World Cup nals in South Africa, having been installed as captain by Fabio Capello after John Terry lost the job over the Vanessa Perroncel episode. As it turned out, Ferdinand turned his knee during the very rst training session and spent the rest of the month on a pair of crutches, rst watching from the touchline and then reluctantly accepting that he needed to go back to Britain for treatment. It means that a player generally regarded as one of the most naturally talented defenders that English football has ever produced will only ever have represented his country at two major international tournaments, the World Cup nals of 2002 and 2006. He was in the squad for the 1998 World Cup nals as a 19-year-old but never played a game. He has never been in a squad for a European Championship. In the case of Euro 2000, his form for West Ham tailed off towards the end of the season and manager Kevin Keegan decided to leave him out. He was serving his eight-month Football Association ban from football for a missed drugs test during Euro 2004. He was part of the Steve McClaren squad that did not qualify for Euro 2008. Yesterday the door closed on Euro 2012 too. For all the problems that Ferdinand has had to face in his England career, and by his own account of it there will have been few more difcult than the FA ban, he has always had a habit of coming back from adversity. But in recent years injury has
slowed him down to the extent that since the start of 2010 he has gured in just ve of the 22 England internationals played. It is also telling that Ferdinand has started just three of the 19 games that England have played since he broke down in South Africa in a fairly innocuous challenge for the ball with Emile Heskey. A total of 81 caps is an impressive return for an England international but given Ferdinands status in the game he will surely have cause for regret at not reaching 100. His last cap came against Switzerland in the Euro 2012 qualier in June last year. That was the only time he played for Capello after the then England manager took the captaincy away from him, opening up a huge rift with the United player. Capello had been concerned, with some justication, about Ferdinands longterm tness and the likelihood that he would be t for this summers European Championship. But it was the manner in which he told Ferdinand or rather did not tell him that damaged the relationship irrevocably. Capellos casual approach that he would speak to the player when he next bumped into him at Old Trafford was interpreted by Ferdinand, understandably, as a slight. Ferdinands best moments for England came during the 2002 World Cup nals in Japan and South Korea when his partnership in the centre of defence with Sol Campbell was among the best in international football. For another four years he and Terry were the mainstay of the England defence. Generally speaking, since the start of 2001, when Sven Goran Eriksson took over the team, Ferdinand has been an automatic rst choice. Only once did the Swede leave Ferdinand out of the side on the basis of form, against Austria in a World Cup qualier in October 2005, a game which followed a humiliating defeat for England against Northern Ireland in Belfast. It was a rare occasion when Eriksson lost patience with his senior players and he made an example of Ferdinand, telling him in front of the squad at the start of the week that he was out. Otherwise, whatever has happened to him, Ferdinand has remained a cornerstone of England managers teams when he has been t. As a 17-year-old he
was regarded as such a prodigious talent that Terry Venables invited him, along with Frank Lampard, to train with the Euro 96 squad. He made his debut as 19year-old in a friendly against Cameroon in 1997 and has captained the team on seven occasions. It would have been more were it not for injury. He has one year left on his contract at United and beyond that it would not be hard to imagine a lucrative deal in China or in the MLS in America to see him through to retirement. As with many of Englands most famous players, the end of his career has come abruptly. There would be many of his generation who would have been delighted with the international career that Ferdinand has enjoyed, but it will be hard for him to shift the feeling he could have played on for longer. The Independent
With Neville in camp, Englands players should not fall prey to indifference
by JAMES LAWTON WE CAN be cynical as easily as we like over the fast-tracking of Gary Neville into the hierarchy of the England team. We can ask if, for example, you were the new manager Roy Hodgson, would you rather have Red Nev at your side in the potential maelstrom of the European Championship or lurking in a TV studio dreaming up the kind of line that hit David Luiz like an assassins bullet? Comparing the Chelsea defenders work with the meanderings of a schoolboy let loose on a PlayStation was a barb Neville may never surpass in the rest of his broadcasting career but Hodgson, who is already on record with his belief that having the media onside is a key part of the job, may well be happy not to run the risk. However, even in an age when the massaging of popular opinion has reached industrial levels, there are enough reasons to believe that Nevilles long-term appointment is rooted in something other than a craven reaction to the former Manchester United captains remarkable rise as one of the games most inuential voices. The most arresting of them is the possibility that after a club career that brought him eight Premier League titles and a Champions League medal, and one with England that he has already described as the last word in futility, he will be ideally placed to draw from the strength of one side of his experience and transfer at least some of it to the other. Encouragement to believe this is certainly not an emergency centreback of impressive reliability. That he made such demands on himself was evident enough in his performance and now it is implicit in the criticism he often feels obliged to level at a new generation of defenders. An early job description for him is that he will be Hodgsons most acute reader of the mood of the England dressing room a role that might have been weighed in gold two years ago on the high veldt when Fabio Capello and his players engaged in a cultural collision so catastrophic that the manager later confessed that when he looked out on to the eld he didnt recognise his own team. The breakdown could hardly have been more profound. Wayne Rooney spoke of the ineffable boredom of life in an isolated ve-star prison, John Terry made not the least miscalculation of his life when he elected himself as the spokesman for a dressing room he could hardly have split more profoundly had he driven a stake into the middle of the oor. For Neville there is also the much wider perspective of all those false dawns of the Golden Generation. He was playing in Munich when Michael Owen scored his hattrick and did his cartwheel and some of us were persuaded that Sven Goran Eriksson might just have found the lost chord of the English game. A few years later he witnessed the full wretched circle in the celebrity circus of BadenBaden, when old clubmate David Beckham handed back, tearfully and unbidden, the England captaincy. Neville may then have reected on the time he made his own run for player power while organising a strike threat on behalf of Rio Ferdinand after he was dropped from the national team while awaiting a disciplinary hearing for failing to take a drugs test. It will be some time before we know the value of Nevilles appointment and any serious clue about where it might lead, but the instinct is strong that it should be welcomed. If there is a single perception, right or wrong, about the relentless failure of the England team it is that it has not been accompanied by any sense of overwhelming regret by the players involved. Rooney was aghast that fans should complain so loudly that night in Cape Town when England played so feebly against Algeria and Capello made his terrible confession that he had looked helplessly at the skeleton of a team he had tried to build. At the very least, indifference will not come so easily in the shadow of Red Nev. The Independent
diluted by even the most casual review of his performance since putting aside his boots and taking up the microphone. Whether you agree with everything he says or not, there is certainly no strain in acknowledging an authentic attempt to get to the heart of the game in which he accumulated 85 caps. He was never Englands most accomplished player, nor Uniteds though Sir Bobby Charlton had no hesitation in inserting him at rightback in the all-time team running back to the Busby Babes but there was never any shortage of evidence that he cared. He also, palpably, applied himself to the science of defence, to the point where he became
King sacked
> Under pressure Dalglish leaves Liverpool managerial post
ENNY DALGLISH has been sacked as manager of Liverpool, 16 months after returning to the role. The Scot ew back to Britain yesterday after travelling to Boston in the United States for talks with the clubs principal owner John W Henry and chairman Tom Werner. Without any announcement or public reassurances over his future, speculation that Dalglish would leave the club has been mounting. It would now seem that speculation has turned into reality. Liverpool are yet to make an ofcial statement, although one is expected shortly. His daughter, the sports broadcaster Kelly Cates, has tweeted: Devastated for Dad but incredibly proud of the job hes done. Thanks for all the lovely messages already. Have a good summer x Liverpool have endured a difcult season, with the club nishing eighth in the Premier League, their lowest position for 18 years.
22
> Robben always causes trouble
pg28
VETERAN defender Rio Ferdinand was the highest-prole casualty yesterday as England manager Roy Hodgson unveiled his squad for the European Championships. After intense speculation about whether Hodgson would risk picking Ferdinand and Chelsea captain John Terry in the same squad, an announcement conrmed that it was the Manchester United centrehalf who had been left out. Terry had previously been tipped to miss out with Hodgson questioning whether the centrehalf could exist happily in the same squad as Ferdinand, who has accumulated 81 caps since making his debut in 1997. Terry is facing a July court case on allegations he racially abused Ferdinands younger brother Anton during Chelseas Premier League clash with Queens Park Rangers last October, accusations he strongly denies.
Meanwhile their points tally of 52 was their lowest since 1953-54 (assuming three points for a win in every season). The Merseyside club did win the Carling Cup and reached the FA Cup nal, which they lost to Chelsea but those runs would not appear to have been enough for the owners. In total Dalglish won 35 of his 74 games in charge. Fenway Sports Group, the owners of Liverpool, have invested heavily since taking over sanctioning the signings of Andy Carroll, Luis Suarez, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson arrivals that all cost in excess of 20m (RM100m). Qualication for the Champions League would have been seen as a minimum requirement if they are to recoup their investment, and having fallen well short, the American owners have decided to act. Dalglish returned to the role of manager under FSGs ownership. He replaced Roy Hodgson, who is now the England manager, in January last year. The 61-year-old was the manager at Aneld between 1985 and 1991, during which time he won the old First Division three times and the FA Cup twice, and his return last year was hugely popular among fans. Those same fans are unlikely to take this decision lightly, and will be looking for assurances that FSG has a plan. It is unclear at this stage if Dalglish will retain a role at the club. Before being appointed manager last year, he was working behind the scenes with the youth academy and in an ambassadorial role. FSG have been conducting an array of cost cutting measures of late, with director of football Damien Comolli one of those recently shown the door. Among the contenders to replace Dalglish will be Wigans Roberto Martinez, former Aneld boos Rafael Benitez and former England manager Fabio Capello. The Independent
> Devils still the team to beat pg30 > End of an era
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