"We are claiming aid money"

By: Muhammad Zaidi

"WE want to claim back money for RM16, 000 per year as promised KOM (Athletics Union Malaysia) before this as soon as possible because do not want to be abusedagain."

Tone is quite hard so Honorary Secretary of Johor Amateur Athletics Association(POAJ), S Rajasegram who want aid money this year after a similar claim last year,failed to satisfy the KOM.


Rajasegram said, consideration POAJ claim the money this year after he received word from the treasurer of the main body of athletics KOM that it recently received a sum of RM200, 000 from the sponsors.

"Under the agreement, KOM will channel financial assistance amounting to RM16, 000 annually to each member of the coalition after receiving sponsorship money.


"But last year, and nearly POAJ many other state associations do not receive the money for the sponsorship money received is understood KOM, used for anything else. I myself have raised this matter last year.

"Now, after getting news from legitimate sources, including KOM treasurer who admitted the cash was already included in the KOM account, I would like to claim the money as soon as possible because I want to repeat the same thing as last year," he said.


Rajasegram clear, the claim is not trivial because he said, without the help of the money, POAJ and other state associations difficult to organize and mobilize the state championships development programs.

"We're not fun to claim this money, but all reason. Later when we did not make a program or event, they (KOM) said we did not make the work as well.


"That's why we want to make a claim as soon as possible, but I have taken the initiative to send a letter via email to the KOM on this claim," he said.

Last year, Rajasegram had demanded the money, but KOM response through the Deputy President, Datuk Karim Ibrahim said POAJ not given full support in 2009 for not preparing reports and organizing tournaments.


While for the year 2010, only RM5, 000 to be distributed because of the sponsorship money is used to cover the costs of training and sending athletes but to pay the debt to the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM).

For the last year, the government does not give Karim acknowledges that the provisions did not get the sponsorship money, but he insisted, the payment depends on the extent to which state associations run the program.

FA Cup fever with Chelsea and Liverpool

by: Izwan Zukhi

THE Tiger FC viewing party is back. Football fans can get ready for an exciting night at Souled Out, Sri Hartamas on Saturday when Chelsea plays against Liverpool for the coveted English FA Cup.

Tiger marketing manager Sean Koh is certain that Chelsea and Liverpool will be geared up for the final.

“Both teams are said to have been reserving the best performance for the Cup. This will be a great spectacle to catch with a Tiger Beer in hand,” said Sean.

Just purr-fect : Two fans signing up as Tiger FC members.

Chelsea, who had qualified for the Champions League final, is in prime shape with Fernando Torres’s return to form. The stomping Spaniard netted a hat trick against Queen’s Park Rangers in a league encounter recently.

The Blues will go head-to-head with Liverpool as they attempt to land the trophy for the third time in four years.

A disappointing Premier League campaign has seen Kenny Dalglish’s charges fall short of the pre-season aim of Champions League qualification. However, victory at Wembley over Championship side Cardiff City in February saw the Reds lift their first piece of silverware in six years.

The Reds are hoping to claim the domestic cup double to end the season on a bright note.

Roll out the goal s: Football fans are expected to come in full force for the Tiger FC viewing party

The FA Cup is not the only prize on the line. Tiger FC will be giving away over 20 prizes to the public including 40” flat-screen TVs, RM1,000 Tiger FC prepaid cards and autographed club jerseys.

Off-field, Tiger FC will be running the Tiger FC Fans Cup contest, where fans can participate in a series of challenges on the Tiger Beer Facebook page, with offers on another trip to the UK to catch the EPL live. Other monthly Tiger FC Fans Cup prizes include Nintendo Wiis, Sony PSPs, official football club merchandise and more.

Andy Murray to headline Queens

By: Marwan Hashim

The AEGON Championships at Queen's Club next month will feature six of the top 12 players in the world rankings, led by number four Andy Murray.

Murray, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Juan Martin Del Potro had already confirmed their places at the Wimbledon warm-up tournament, which begins on June 17, and the entry list revealed they will be joined by Janko Tipsarevic, Mardy Fish and Gilles Simon.

Serbian Tipsarevic is at a career-high ranking of eighth, one ahead of Fish, who will be hoping to at least match his performance from his last appearance in 2010, when he reached the final before losing to fellow American Sam Querrey.

World number 11 Simon will hope to take his clay form onto the grass having never made it past the last 16 at Queen's, while other notable names include Richard Gasquet, Marcos Baghdatis, David Nalbandian and four-time winner Andy Roddick.

Tournament director Chris Kermode said: "We are delighted that so many of world's leading players have chosen to compete at the AEGON Championships. We are looking forward to a fantastic week of tennis."

Starz and Michael Bay Developing Pirate Series Black Sails

By: Khairul Zhafri


Starz Chief Executive Officer Chris Albrecht today announced the straight-to-series greenlight of "Black Sails" (working title) from executive producer Michael Bay. The new Starz Original series is expected to air in 2014. The eight-episode first season of the pirate adventure centers on the tales of Captain Flint and his men, and takes place twenty years prior to Robert Louis Stevenson's classic "Treasure Island."

Flint, the most brilliant and most feared pirate captain of his day, takes on a fast-talking young addition to his crew who goes by the name John Silver. Threatened with extinction on all sides, they fight for the survival of New Providence Island, the most notorious criminal haven of its day – a debauched paradise teeming with pirates, prostitutes, thieves and fortune seekers, a place defined by both its enlightened ideals and its stunning brutality.

"Starz is excited to be working with a visionary like Michael,'" said Albrecht. "Along with the high-octane action that is a hallmark of a Michael Bay production, it has the elements that Starz originals are striving to bring to the premium landscape: epic, larger than life, cinematic storytelling. The series is also a property we believe will appeal to the global content marketplace with broadcasters around the world."

"I'm excited to branch out into television," says Michael Bay, the record-breaking director/producer of such big screen hits as "Transformers" and Bad Boys, "especially doing a long-form series for Starz, a network known for supporting cutting edge programming."

Following the model of the "Spartacus" franchise and "Magic City," Starz will retain all domestic and international rights to the dramatic series, including television, home video, and digital.

"Black Sails" will be executive produced by Michael Bay and his Platinum Dunes partners Brad Fuller and Andrew Form. The series is created by showrunner and executive producer Jon Steinberg (creator "Jericho," "Human Target") and co-executive producer Robert Levine ("Touch").

The production is set to shoot at Cape Town Studios in Cape Town, South Africa later this y

A Baby Girl get an Electric Shocked

By: Muhammad Zaidi

POKOK SENA: A 6-month-old baby girl, Shamina Zulaikha, died of electric shock. Her 3-year-old sister, who realized that her little sister did not move, then called her aunt who is near there.

In the incident at 10 am that morning, in Kampung Lanchut Tok Leed, Shamina crawl while playing around the living room before reaching the wire connector on the back of the cupboard and electric shock which caused his death.

After hearing the screams Sofina wife, aunt, Nor Aina Rosli, 14, who was busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen, rushed to the living room and was surprised to see the Fire and the victim is unconscious while his left hand gripping the wire.

Another victim of aunt, Siti Hajar Idris, 26, said only three people in the victim's housewith her sister and they cared Nor Aina. He said the victim's grandparents out there in the house as rubber tapping, while his father, Azim Mohd Akmal, 23, out to work as anelectrical wireman.

Reds in the red

By: Marwan Hashim

UNCOMFORTABLE VIEWING ... the Stanley Park stadium plan cost club £35m

LIVERPOOL have recorded a £50million loss for the last financial year.

The Reds saw their balance sheets hammered by the doomed Stanley Park project under previous owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, which cost the club £35m.

There were also pay-offs for boss Roy Hodgson, managing director Christian Purslow and other staff totalling £4.8m.

But current MD Ian Ayre insists it was essential for the club to clean up their accounts so they could move forward under the new Fenway Sports Group regime.

He said: “There was much talk and conjecture around the debt that the club was with under previous ownership.

“There has been over £200m of that debt paid down and that’s very important for the club moving forward.

“It creates a very stable platform for us to move forward from, it creates a situation where most of those things are now off the books and we move forward in a positive sense in a sustainable business and with the ability to grow on that basis.

“Finance director Philip Nash and the finance team and the FSG finance team have created a great foundation in terms of bank facilities that give us a long-term view in that area.

“There has been a clearing out of debt, a clearing out of money that’s been expended on stadium that just isn’t going to achieve much going forward.

“We’ve made a significant investment in the playing squad and will continue to do so.

“It’s a new start in many ways.”

Federal Court dismisses Saudi Arabian columnist's appeal

By:Izwan Zukhi

PUTRAJAYA: Saudi Arabian columnist Hamza Kashgari, who claimed he was unlawfully arrested and deported from Malaysia, failed in his appeal Thursday at the Federal Court here for reinstatement of his habeas corpus application.

A five-man panel led by Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malajun unanimously dismissed his appeal against a Kuala Lumpur High Court decision, which struck out his writ of habeas corpus seeking that he be brought to the court and released.

In his habeas corpus application, Hamza, whose original name is Mohamad Najeeb A. Kashgari, alternatively sought a declaration that his arrest and deportation were unlawful.

Federal Court judges DAtuk Hashim Yusoff, DAtuk Suraydi Halim Omar,Datuk Ahmad Maarop and Datuk Jeffrey Tan Kok Wha were the other four judges on the panel.

Hamza, 23, was wanted by the Saudi Arabian authorities for allegedly insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad, an offence, which carries the death sentence in that country, upon conviction.

Hamza had arrived in Malaysia on Feb 7, this year and was detained by the immigration authorities, two days later, at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport while enroute to Auckland, New Zealand.

He was deported on Feb 12, on a private flight at the request of the Saudi government.

The following day, lawyers Murnie Hidayah Anuar and Mohd Afiq Mohamad Noor filed the writ of habeas corpus on Hamza's behalf, naming the inspector-general of police, immigration director-general, home minister and the Malaysian Government as respondents.

On Feb 22, the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed the respondents' preliminary objection to strike out Hamza's application on grounds that the issue of habeas corpus had become academic because Hamza was no longer in Malaysia as he had since been deported.

He then filed an appeal to the Federal Court.

Hamza, who writes for the Jeddah-based Al Bilad newspaper, allegedly posted blasphemous tweets on Prophet Muhammad's birthday but they were deleted the following day, from his Twitter account.

In Thursday's court proceedings, the panel heard submissions from Hamza's counsel, Amer Hamzah Arshad, and Senior Federal Counsel Amir Nasaruddin for the respondents.

Amer Hamzah argued that although Hamza was deported, there was still a live issue for the court to determine.

He said the High Court had the power and jurisdiction to proceed and hear the matter to decide whether his arrest and deportation was lawful or not, and subsequently, make an order of compensation for depriving him of his fundamental rights.

Amir, meanwhile, argued that the law stated that the only remedy available to a person who filed a habeas corpus application was to secure his release.

He said the person could not seek relief, other than his release in a habeas corpus application.

Mohd Afiq told reporters that Hamza was still in detention in Saudi Arabia but he had not been charged.

He said he would seek instruction from Hamza's family whether or not to file a civil suit for declaration that his (Hamza's) arrest and deportation was unlawful, and seek damages.

KTM's automated fare collection system delayed

By: Khairul Zhafry

SHAH ALAM: The implementation of KTM Komuter's new automated fare collection system, which had been delayed for a month, will take at least another three months before it can kick off.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho ha said although all the equipment has arrived, there was a problem with installation.

"Yes, it is behind schedule. The equipment has been delivered, but there is an installation problem. Maybe the contractor has to increase manpower in installation," he said, adding that the new system would probably take off in July.

The new RM85.88mil system was supposed to replace the old ticketing system last month, but to date, the project was only 72% complete, said contractor Hopetech Sdn Bhd General Manager Nazarudin Abdul Rahman

Kong said the system would be installed at all 53 KTM Komuter stations, adding that the Government would not incur extra cost due to the delay.

When asked if the contractor would be penalised for late delivery, he said it "depends on the final report" after work is completed.

Kong was speaking to reporters after visiting the Padang Jawa KTM Komuter station here Thursday.

Two other contractors tasked with upgrading disabled, parking and pedestrian facilities at various stations, with contracts worth RM1.2mil and RM15.8mil respectively, told the minister that their projects were on schedule and almost completed.

Kong said he has also asked for the canopies at stations to be extended to accomodate the new six-car KTM Komuter trains.

"The new trains are too long, and the current canopy only covers about half the train. We will extend the canopies, as well as seats in the waiting area and ensure there is adequate lighting," he said.

The move would be of convenience to passengers during rainy weather as well as improve the security of those travelling at night, he said.

PDRM RM1.8 million loss due to riot

By: Muhammad Zaidi

KUALA LUMPUR: "Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM)", RM1.828 million loss due to damage to property and assets during the riots at the rally organized by non-governmental organizations that supported the opposition here on Saturday.

Secretary General of Ministry of Home Affairs, Tan Sri Mahmood Adam, said that besides the physical losses, the police also had to put up with abusive insults and injured by the participants of the rally.
"The cost of this loss should be avoided and used to fund things that much more worthwhile if the illegal gathering does not happen," he said in a statement here today.
Saturday, the rally participants crashed into a barrier to enter the acting square, thus broke the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court which prohibits the presence of civilians in the square from 28 April to May 1.

So far police have arrested 513 participants of the rally because of rioting in the gathering and hunting 49 again.

Mahmood said, about 14.331 members and police officers from various departments on duty throughout the rally.

Port truckers continue their protest Thursday

By: Marwan Hashim

KLANG: Hundreds of container truck drivers continued with their protest to highlight alleged exorbitant depot gate charges and delays that have affected their earnings.

They had started gathering outside Northport in Bandar Sultan Sulaiman at 10am and said they would remain there until 8pm.

On Wednesday, thousands had stopped transporting goods as they held their protest for two hours in Northport and Westport.

Driver S. Rayan, 32, said they will remain until 8pm until their issues were resolved.

"We are not here to obstruct traffic or cause chaos. We just want someone to look into our problems," he told reporters.

The drivers, unrepresented by any groups, are protesting against allegedly exorbitant depot gate charges and delays they endured at container depots near Northport and Westport.

Cops release photos of 49 people who committed offences at rally

By: Izwan Zukhi

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have released photographs of 49 people for various offences committed during last Saturday's protest.

Twenty-two have been identified as students.

City Chief Police Officer Deputy Comm Datuk Mohamad Salleh, who distributed the photographs of the 49 to the media, urged all those identified to come forward and assist in investigations.

“It is better for them to come to us rather then for us to go after them.

“Those who know the people concerned should also advise them to assist us or call us as to their whereabouts,'' he told reporters this at a press conference at the city police headquarters here on Thursday.

DCP Mohamad said to date police have received 258 reports linked to the protest.

Lawyers, journalists, protesters, shopkeepers, and members of the public as well as policemen lodged the reports.

“We will investigate every report and will be fair to all concerned regardless of their background.

“The investigations will be thorough, fair and transparent,'' he added.

Record £74m for The Scream

By: Marwan Hashim

Monster Munch ... the £74m Scream

Edvard Munch’s haunting piece, which has graced millions of bedroom walls as a poster, shows a man screaming under a streaked, blood-red sky.

The 1895 pastel, one of four vers-ions created by the Norwegian artist, was owned by businessman Petter Olsen whose father knew Munch.

Art expert Michael Frahm said: “Along with the Mona Lisa, it’s the most famous image in art history. It’s been used by everyone from Warhol to Hollywood to cartoons.”

Sale proceeds will go towards the establishment of a new museum, art centre and hotel in Norway.

Earlier this year, Mr Olsen said of the painting: “Its power and energy have increased with time. The moment has come to offer the rest of the world a chance to own this remarkable work.”

Drama ... auction room early today

Two of the other versions of The Scream were stolen, in 1994 and 2004. Both were later recovered.

Sotheby’s said the version sold early today was the only one to have its frame hand-painted by the artist and including a poem in which he described himself as “shivering with anxiety”. The previous record auction price was £66million for Pablo Picasso’s Nude, Green Leaves and Bust in 2010.

Higher prices have been achieved for paintings in private sales.

Other art-stopping prices ... from left, Portrait of Dr Gachet by Dutch post-impressionist Vincent van Gogh - £51million, The Card Players by French post-impressionist Paul Cézanne - £160million, No5, 1948 by American abstract impressionist Jackson Pollock - £86million, Woman III by Dutch abstract impressionist Willem de Kooning - £84.8million, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I by Austrian Gustav Klimt - £83million

Lukas Podolski confirms move from Köln to Arsenal in the summer

By: Muhammad Zaidi

Lukas Podolski has agreed to join Arsenal for the start of the 2012-13 season, leaving FC Köln with one year remaining on his contract.

The 26-year-old Germany international, who has been linked with a move to north London for several months and joins for an undisclosed fee, said: "The move to Arsenal provides a great opportunity for me to gain experience in international competitions at a top European club.

"I have made this decision not against FC Köln but for this great opportunity and the good of my own individual development. This was not an easy decision for me at all, as Köln, our fans and the city are something special for me. I will always carry FC Köln in my heart. We need to pool our strengths now and have to be fully focused on our survival in the Bundesliga."

The Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, expressed his satisfaction with the deal. "We are delighted to secure the deal for Lukas and see him as an important part of our future," he said. "He is a top-class player, a very good finisher and a proven performer at club and international level. He is a very strong player and will provide us with good attacking options."

Claus Horstmann, the German club's executive board chairman, said: "Lukas Podolski is a player of world class standing with a special relation to FC Köln's fans and to the city. We are proud of the development he has taken at the club within the last years. From his early days at our youth squads, via his first competitive match for our professional team, through to a highly renowned Germany international.

"That's why we deeply regret his step, which is not a decision against FC but for the good of his own career. FC Köln were prepared to extend Lukas Podolski's contract on the basis of a competitive offer. Nonetheless, this early transfer decision offers scope and planning security for the next season. We will jump at this opportunity to reinvest these transfer earnings back into our team's quality and into the promotion of our youth squads.

Podolski joined Köln at the age of 10 and scored 10 goals in 19 Bundesliga matches in his first season (2003-04). He has played 95 times and scored 43 goals for Germany.

Muhyiddin urges aid the development of private school sports

By: Muhammad Zaidi

MUAR: Ministry of Education plans to collaborate with the private sector to develop infrastructure and sports facilities in schools in order to ensure the success of a policy of a Student Sports.

Education Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, said efforts to improve the sports infrastructure in schools costly, cause his plans to use other approaches to enable the private sector to help ensure the success of the effort.
"We seek the cooperation and contributions from private companies to come forward to help the ministry to sponsor sports programs, equipment and materials for school sports.
"While schools can provision, but they need more assistance including sports and sports infrastructure needs," he said.

I can't Carra on for ever

By: Marwan Hashim

FINAL SAY ... Jamie Carragher knows his time is running out

JAMIE CARRAGHER says this year’s FA Cup final means more to him than his two previous appearances in the showpiece.

The Liverpool defender won the Cup in 2001 and 2006. But he insists Saturday’s showdown against Chelsea holds more importance as he nears the end of his career.

Carragher said: “Realistically there is not much time left for me. You always have that fear it might be your last.

“When you get to the stage of my career you always think ‘Will I ever get a chance to play in this kind of game again?’

“From a personal point of view, because of my age and situation, it probably does feel a little more important or special because I may not see many of these days again.

“It makes it even more important even though we’ve played plenty of these games before.”

Carragher, 34, knows he is at the stage of his career where he is not guaranteed a start at Wembley.

But he says he has now come to accept that situation and will be fully behind the 11 who take to the field.

He said: “I have got to the stage where if I play, great, if I don’t then I understand it now because I’ve missed more games this season than I have before.

“I have got my head around it a bit more. I was on the bench in the last cup final and got on in the end.

“I don’t think I have to do anything differently to the rest of my time with Liverpool, just train the way I train.

“If you play, great. If you don’t, support the lads and respect the manager’s decision.

“We all win together. It doesn’t matter who plays, who’s on the bench, who comes on.

“If we win, it’ll say Liverpool won. We’re all part of the club and that is what we want.

“The main thing is for us is winning. If you are on the bench you still get a medal.”

GLOBAL MARKETS-European shares gain ahead of ECB, euro steady

by: Izwan Zukhi

LONDON: European shares opened higher and the single currency languished near two-week lows on Thursday as investors waited to see if the European Central Bank will prepare the ground for further stimulus measures at its policy meeting later.

The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares was up 0.6 percent at 1,049.52 points after losing ground on Wednesday as weak data on both sides of the Atlantic rekindled concerns about the strength of global growth.

ECB policymakers, who will face demonstrators protesting against Spain's harsh austerity measures when they meet in Barcelona, are widely expected to leave the main interest rate unchanged at a record low of 1 percent.

But expectations have risen that the central bank will point to recent data showing the region's slide into a deepening recession and rising unemployment to hint at a policy change.

"Given the recent weakness in the EMU economy indicators, we suspect the ECB will leave the door open for further action, should the economic scenario deteriorate further," Newedge strategist Annalisa Piazza said.

The euro was virtually unchanged at $1.3160 after falling as low as $1.3122 on Wednesday on the depressing economic news.

Before the ECB meeting, recently downgraded Spain will test sentiment for riskier euro zone government debt with a small auction of new three- and five-year bonds. The country's borrowing costs are expected to rise more than a percentage point.

Ahead of the sale, June German Bund futures were 11 ticks lower at 141.62, edging back from record highs hit the previous day.

Sapura Kencana to list on May 17

By: Muhammad Zaidi

KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia's Sapura Kencana Petroleum BHD will list on May 17 with a reference price of RM2.30 per share, a source with direct knowledge of the deal told Reuters, paving the way for the country's biggest oil and gas services merger.

That suggests the listing of the merged SapuraCrest Petroleum BHD and Kencana Petroleum BHD could fetch a market value of RM11.5 billion (US$3.8 billion), making it among the top 30 listed firms in the Malaysia.

"The prospectus launch is planned on May 16. Bursa Malaysia has not seen the prospectus as yet, it is due to be sent to them today," the source, who could not be identified because he is not authorised to speak to the media, said on Thursday.

Kencana and SapuraCrest officials were not immediately available for comment.

AirAsia provides a lift to KLCI

By: Khairul Zhafry

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia's share price climbed to its highest since March 12 on Thursday, enabling the FBM KLCI to close marginally higher amid a cautious market.

At 5pm, the KLCI was up just 0.78 of a point or 0.05% to 1,583.17. Turnover was 1.29 billion shares valued at RM1.21bil. There were 344 gainers, 390 losers and 325 stocks unchanged.

The key regional markets were mostly lower, with Shanghai's Composite Index up 0.07% to 2,440.08, but Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 0.28% to 21,249.53, Taiwan's Taiex 0.23% lower to 7,659.53, South Korea's Kospi 0.2% to 1,995.11 and Singapore's Straits Times Index 0.06% to 3,004.42.

Light crude oil fell 28 cents to US$104.94 and Brent 37 cents to US$117.83 while gold spot lost US$9.64 to US$1,643.81. The ringgit weakened against the US dollar to 3.0325 from 3.0280 overnight.

At Bursa Malaysia, low-cost carrier AirAsia jumped 27 sen to RM3.60 with 13.75 million shares done. Its gains nudged the KLCI up 1.76 points. MAS added two sen to RM1.24.

On Wednesday, MAS and AirAsia officially announced the reversal of the proposed share swap. Instead, both airlines inked a supplemental agreement to vary the terms and scope of the original alliance.

MAS, AirAsia and AirAsia X (AAX) would also cease the separation of their respective focus areas.

Dealers said apart from the news from AirAsia and MAS, there was not much fresh news to attract buying interest. They said most retail investors were staying on the sidelines which most of the trading action was from local institutions.

Among the index-linked stocks, RHB Cap rose 10 sen to RM7.51, Tenaga seven sen to RM5.48 while Bumi Armada five sen to RM4.06 and AMMB three sen to RM6.33.

Knusford was the top gainer, up 34 sen to RM2.28 with 50,200 shares done. BAT was 20 sen higher at RM55.24 and MPHB 14 sen to RM2.86.

Atlan rose 12 sen to RM4.40, the highest the highest since May 2000.

Utopia was the most active with 84.10 million shares done, ending the day unchanged at eight sen.

Genting fell 16 sen to RM10.50 with 3.57 million shares done, MAHB nine sen to RM5.70 and Public Bank eight sen to RM13.72. Pasdec, which faces delisting, lost seven sen to 30 sen.

FA Cup final offers Torres and Carroll chance of glory

by: Marwan Hashim

LONDON – Either Fernando Torres of Chelsea or Andy Carroll of Liverpool, who have both hugely under-achieved since their record-breaking transfers last year, will claim one of English soccer’s major prizes when their teams meet in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

Torres, at least, has recently shown glimpses of why Chelsea paid 50 million pounds ($81.10 million) to Liverpool for him in January last year – a record fee between British clubs.

The Spaniard has scored four goals in his last three games, including last week’s solo effort at Barcelona which sealed Chelsea’s place in the Champions League final on May 19.

He also scored his first hat-trick for Chelsea in their 6-1 win over Queens Park Rangers on Sunday but failed to hit the net in Wednesday’s 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle United and in total has scored only 12 times for Chelsea.

Carroll became the most expensive British player of all time when Liverpool paid Newcastle United 35 million pounds for him to replace Torres, but has scored only 11 goals in 54 matches for Liverpool since.

At least his late header against Everton in the semi-final at Wembley three weeks ago guaranteed Liverpool a return to the London stadium for the final.

Now the two strikers, both dropped from their national sides and both remarkably unproductive in front of goal, have the chance of lasting redemption and a place in their club’s folklore as an FA Cup winner.

Despite the focus on the Premier League, and a late kickoff (1615 GMT) for this year’s final rather than its traditional 1500 start, the FA Cup is still one of soccer’s grand occasions.

The match is being shown live to a huge global audience in more than 120 countries and, as everyone in football never tires of saying, the money is all very well but winning silverware is what matters.

Liverpool have already picked up a trophy this season with a win over Cardiff City on penalties in the League Cup final in February.

Their league form though, has been erratic and continued to disappoint on Tuesday when a side showing nine changes from the previous game lost 1-0 at Anfield to Fulham – the first time Fulham had won a match there in 30 attempts over 78 years.

CUP DOUBLE

Coach Kenny Dalglish though, saw no relationship between his team’s latest setback and Saturday’s final.

“It will not affect Saturday but that doesn’t mean the performance is right and it is not something you want to dismiss easily,” he said.

“It is not correct to go about your work in that way but if we had come in and won 4-0 it wouldn’t have made any difference to Saturday either.”

He was pleased, though, that Carroll was back after missing Saturday’s 3-0 win at Norwich City.

“There were some positives. It was nice to see the big lad back. He had a niggle at the weekend but he is fit and back and played 90 minutes so that is good for us.”

Despite their League failings, Liverpool have the chance to complete a rare domestic FA Cup and League Cup double, emulating Arsenal’s in 1993, their own in 2001 and Chelsea’s in 2007.

Chelsea have been the outstanding cup side in the country over the last few years and have the chance of winning the first half of a cup double of their own, with the Champions League final against Bayern Munich just over two weeks away.

They are bidding to win the FA Cup for the fourth time in six seasons, the best success rate in the competition since The Wanderers won it five times in the first seven years of its existence between 1872 and 1878.

The only comparable modern record is Arsenal’s three wins in four seasons between 2002 and 2005.

Chelsea coach Roberto Di Matteo, who has transformed their season since taking over from Andre Villas-Boas at the beginning of March, has a special affinity with the FA Cup and holds two records that can never be broken.

His goal after 43 seconds for Chelsea in the 1997 win over Middlesbrough was the fastest ever scored in the final at the old Wembley and his winner against Aston Villa in 2000 was the last FA Cup final goal there before the stadium was demolished.

Now he has the chance to become the third Italian manager in three years to win the Cup after Chelsea’s Carlo Ancelotti in 2010 and Manchester City’s Roberto Mancini last year.

“It is important we keep going. We want to win the FA Cup, and the Champions League, and although we have done well to get to the finals, we have not won anything yet,” he told reporters.

The key to Chelsea’s victories has been their “old guard” of John Terry, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, who has scored every time he has played in a competitive match at Wembley – this year’s semi-final win there over Tottenham Hotspur and the finals in 2007, 2009 and 2010, all of which Chelsea won.

Cole, who won the cup three times with Arsenal and has three winners’ medals with Chelsea, has already won the FA Cup more times than any other player.

RIM reveals BlackBerry 10 and Dev Alpha device

By: Marwan Hashim

RIM has finally unveiled its latest BlackBerry 10 platform, seen as a bold move to bring BlackBerry up to the next level. While the new platform won’t be available anytime soon, RIM has introduced the BlackBerry 10 Dev Alpha device that’s meant for developers to test and develop apps. Mind you that this is just a developer device and may not necessary be any representation of the actual BB10 device in the future. At first glance, it looks like a PlayBook device that got shrunked into a 4″ dimensions. First thing you’ll notice is the lack of any physical keyboard and the front features a 4.2″ HD LCD display that pushes 356ppi which even exceeds the high density display of the Xperia S. Internally it comes with 16GB of storage and comes with microUSB and micro HDMI connectivity. Like its new BlackBerry devices, it also comes with NFC support. So far there isn’t much details on the processor and RAM. The Dev Alpha unfortunately doesn’t come with a removable battery but then again, this model isn’t exactly the commercial model.

Some of the new features of BlackBerry 10 is its Flow UI. This allows seamless switching and multitasking between apps by simply swiping from the edges. While you’re focused on an app, you can have a quick peek on your notifications and messages by swiping slightly to have a glance. This intuitive gesture is rather similar to what we’ve experienced on the Playbook.

No doubt one of the biggest traits of having the BlackBerry is its QWERTY keyboard. To maintain an effortless input experience, they have added some advanced predictive input on the touch keyboard. While typing your messages, it is smart enough to detect your next possible word which is similar to Swiftkey. The predicted words floats around the keyboard and you’ll just need to swipe upwards to get the word up into your text input.

For imaging, RIM has demonstrated a timewarp-like feature for its camera. When you take a picture, you can go back by a few split seconds to get that perfect moment which is rather close to Nikon’s 1 Smart Photo selector mode.

In terms of apps, RIM is dangling some incentive to entice developers to their platform. With confidence, RIM assures at least US$10,000/year sales from BlackBerry 10 apps and if it doesn’t, RIM will be paying for the difference. Of course there are some conditions such as being a quality certified app and it has made at least $1,000 of sales in order to qualify.

So far these are just some of the new features that BlackBerry has to offer. Overall the new BlackBerry 10 looks promising but it just means that the BlackBerry clan is dressed and ready to party. What’s going to matter is what party tricks the new platform will bring.

Head after the break for some of the key highlights of the new BlackBerry 10 platform.

Kien Keat-Boon Heong in a hurry to regain confidence

by: Izwan Zukhi

JOHOR BARU: The India Open setback is a grim reminder for doubles shuttlers Tan Boon Heong-Koo Kien Keat of the urgent need to regain their self-confidence ahead of the London Olympic Games.

Last week, they lost to Indonesia’s fourth pair Angga Pratama-Ryan Agung Saputra in the quarter-finals of the Super Series event in New Delhi.

It was their second defeat to the same pair after the Axiata Cup.

Boon Heong took the blame for the defeat in India, saying that he got all jittery towards the end.

“The Indonesians won the opening game and I was screaming and shouting to lift my spirit and we won the second. In the decider, I didn’t serve confidently at the crucial part,” said Boon Heong.

“The fear of losing was overwhelming and I couldn’t focus. This isn’t new as I have been through the same situation before,” he admitted.

Fortunately, Boon Heong has found a way to overcome it.

“It all goes back to training. I have been told to treat every back-up pair as though they are my number one enemy. Hopefully, I will be able to be as confident as I was before,” he said.

Kien Keat said there was still hope to restore their partnership to full effectiveness before the Olympics.

Yesterday, the duo got off to a blistering start in the Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold at Bandaraya Stadium when they took only 13 minutes to tear apart India’s S. Sanjeeth-Jagadish Yadav 21-7, 21-5 to set-up a meeting against Singapore’s Terry Ye Zhao Jiang-Liu Yi.

Shen Low Juan-Tan Yip Jiun — the newly-promoted pair from Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) — dumped fourth seeds Yoshiteru Hirobe-Kenta Kazuno of Japan 21-16, 17-21, 21-19 but the more experienced Mak Hee Chun-Teo Kok Siang fell 18-21, 22-20, 13-21 to Indonesia’s Gideon Markus Fernaldi-Agripinna Prima Rahmanto Putra.

In the women’s singles, only Olympic-bound Tee Jing Yi survived the day while Lydia Cheah, Sonia Cheah, Yang Li Lian and Julia Wong fell like the tenpins.

Jing Yi will take on Nozomi Okuhara of Japan next and is hoping to reach her first quarter-final of an Open tournament.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Smartphone Unveiled

By: Khairul Zhafri

Samsung Electronics has today announced the third generation of its Galaxy S smartphone, introducing a larger, high definition screen, Near Field Communication and 4G connectivity in some markets.

At a launch event tonight at Earls Court in London the Korean electronics giant confirmed the speculation and unveiled the Galaxy S3, the successor to the 20m+ selling Galaxy S2.

The phone comes with a whopping 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display, which is 22% larger than the 4.3-inch screen in the S2, but Samsung has engineered the handset so that it does not feel significantly larger.

Running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the phone features a customised user interface supporting multi-tasking and various other features.

The new handset has an 8-megapixel camera with LED flash on the rear and a 1.9MP front-facing snapper. Alongside video calling, the front camera also supports the face recognition system, which intelligently detects when users are looking at the handset, and so does not automatically switch to the lock screen.

Samsung said this feature, called Smart Stay, is designed for the times when you are using the phone but not constantly touching the screen, such as reading an eBook.

S Voice is the firm's answer to Siri in Apple's iPhone 4S. The Galaxy S3 listens to and responds to your words, enabling a variety of tasks, such as searching for information or telling the alarm to go back to snooze.The Smart Alert system tells the user when they have got missed calls or emails via a vibrate alarm when picked up after being idle.

With the inclusion of Ice Cream Sandwich, the S3 adds Android Beam (changed to S Beam by Samsung), which enables users to share music, files and images with others, without needing a WiFi or cellular signal. Another feature is Buddy Photo that allows photos to be instantly shared with all the friends in the picture.

AllShare Cast and AllShare Play are also supported, along with a Group Cast feature that allows users to share the phone screen with multiple friends over the same WiFi network. Near Field Communication (NFC) is introduced as expected, enabling 'contactless' transfers, such as mobile payments.

New content services the Game Hub, Video Hub and Music Hub will be introduced in select countries initially before being rolled out globally, said Samsung, while 'Pop Up Play' enables users to play a video anywhere on the screen

The 8MP rear camera is claimed to have zero-lag shutter speed and comes with new features, including Burst Shot that captures 20 continuous images at once and Best Photo, which selects the best shot from an eight-shot burst. The Galaxy S3 will support 4G LTE superfast mobile internet connectivity, although this will only be available in North America, Japan and South Korea.

"Our aim with the Galaxy S3 was to develop the best smartphone ever made, and by focusing on creating a unique user experience through superior hardware and enhanced usability we believe we have done just that," said Andy Griffiths, the managing director of Samsung UK and Ireland.

"The device has been created by keeping in mind our daily needs and capabilities as human beings. Simple yet brilliant, the Galaxy S3 is packed with smart features that enable it to understand and respond to our actions providing the most seamless, natural and human-centric mobile experience."

The Samsung Galaxy S3 will launch in Europe on May 29, available in the UK from Samsung Brand stores and other partner retailers. Vodafone has already confirmed plans to offer the handset, with all other UK mobile operators expected to follow suit.

Available initially in Pebble Blue and Marble White, Samsung said that it will introduce a variety of additional colour options at a later date.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Full Product Specifications

Network: 2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz
3G (HSPA+ 21Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz
4G (Dependent on market)
Display: 4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED (1280x720) display
OS: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
Camera Main(Rear): 8 Mega pixel Auto Focus camera with Flash & Zero Shutter Lag, BIS
Camera Sub (Front): 1.9 Mega pixel camera, HD recording @30fps with Zero Shutter Lag, BSI
Video Codec: MPEG4, H.264, H.263, DivX, DivX3.11, VC-1, VP8, WMV7/8, Sorenson Spark
Recording & Playback: Full HD (1080p)
Audio Codec: MP3, AMR-NB/WB, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, WMA, OGG, FLAC, AC-3, apt-X
Connectivity: WiFi a/b/g/n, WiFi HT40, GPS/GLONASS, NFC, Bluetooth® 4.0(LE)
Sensor: Accelerometer, RGB light, Digital compass, Proximity, Gyro, Barometer
Memory: 16/ 32GB User memory (64GB available soon) + microSD slot (up to 64GB)
Dimension: 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 mm, 133g
Battery: 2,100 mAh

Dutch Roll Out ‘Cannabis Card’ To Stop Pot Tourists

 

By: Khairul Zhafri

Keen to stub out an era of dope tourism, the Netherlands yesterday starts restricting cannabis sales in the country’s south to residents only, despite opposition from pro-pot lobby groups.

Famous for decades for its laid-back attitude to marijuana, the Netherlands will now require so-called coffee shops in some regions to only sell to signed-up members who live in the country, not to foreign visitors.

The tougher rules, set to take effect nationwide from next year, effectively turn coffee shops into private clubs with no more than 2,000 members, who must be over 18 and legal residents of the country.

Starting yesterday in three provinces, coffee shops will have to turn away those without the so-called “cannabis cards”, which allow locals and foreigners living in the country to enter and light up.

A last-minute challenge seeking to declare the law discriminatory by coffee shop owners — including in the Limburg, North-Brabant and Zeeland provinces on the Belgian and German borders — failed last week.

Coffee shop owners say the ban on foreigners will cut into profits. But many local residents have welcomed the change, saying they have had enough of traffic jams, nocturnal disturbances and drug pushers catering to the millions of foreign visitors drawn by the relaxed cannabis laws.

The southern city of Maastricht, a popular destination for some 1.4 million “drug tourists” every year from Germany, France and Belgium, said last week it was ready to enforce the “weed-pass” legislation.

It said in a press release that from May 1 “Maastricht adjusts its policy on coffee shops” and warned that violators face administrative sanctions, including having their business shut down.
Some coffee shops have already signalled they intend to break the law.

The centre-right government of Prime Minister Mark Rutte has for years prepared the ground for making the “cannabis card” obligatory when visiting one of the country’s 670 licensed coffee shops.
Although cannabis is technically illegal in the Netherlands, the country in 1976 decriminalised possession of less than five grams of the substance under a so-called tolerance policy.

In neighbouring Belgium, Home Affairs Minister Joelle Milquet on Monday warned the country was ready to take action against drug tourists, saying: “Slipping in an illegal supply will not be tolerated in Belgium.”

Dutch authorities have also set up large signs over the weekend announcing the ban under a slogan that read: “New rules, no drugs,” while the police presence has been increased on both sides of the border.