Sunday, July 26, 2009

脑中风 马名导雅斯敏病逝

脑中风 马名导雅斯敏病逝

二零零九年七月二十六日 晚上七时十一分

(吉隆坡26日讯)因脑中风而送院急救的著名电影及广告导演雅斯敏阿末(Yasmin Ahmad)于昨天晚上在白沙罗专科医院深切治疗病房病逝,享年51岁。

周四因脑中风而送院急救的名导雅斯敏阿末,在当天进行紧急脑部手术移除脑部血块,过后一直未苏醒,至周六晚11时25分宣告不治。

据雅斯敏好友法蒂玛在记者会上透露,雅斯敏至逝世前,其丈夫及亲朋戚友一直陪伴在她身边。

她说,雅斯敏遗体将被送往梳邦再也19区的回教堂,以便让关心雅斯敏的朋友有机会见她最后一面,同时会中午祈祷时间前下葬。雅斯敏遗体先运往梳邦再也住家供家人友好瞻仰,然后下葬于八打灵再也SS20回教坟场。

她也呼吁各界媒体勿在这艰难期间骚扰雅斯敏的家人,让他们有空间来面对这突如其来的事。

广告导演拍电影 《我爱单眼皮》获殊荣

1958年出世的著名电影及广告导演雅斯敏阿末,是广告著名导演,较后更跨界拍摄电影。其中在广告方面,最让人津津乐道的是国油一系列广告。

而她执导的电影有《爱到眼茫茫》(My Failing Eyesight)、《我爱单眼皮》(Sepet)、《花开总有时》(Gubra)及《木星的初恋》(Mukhsin)。

她 的电影曾获得2002年马来西亚最佳亚洲电影、东京影展最佳影片、大马电影节最佳电影等。其中其作品《我爱单眼皮》获得众多的荣誉,包括获选东京影展最佳 影片、第18届大马电影节最佳电影、最佳女配角、最佳女新人、最佳男新人、最佳海报设计和最佳剧本,以及2005法国Creteil国际女性电影节评审团 大奖。

先变性后异族通婚 雅斯敏忠于自己

雅斯敏阿末1958年出生于麻坡,她的广告导演 生涯,是从担任国际广告公司Ogilvy & Mather的撰稿人开始。Zulkiflee Ahmad是雅斯敏阿末变性前的名字,1975年当她还是“他”时,便参加了《Bintang RTM》歌唱比赛,还出个人专辑。雅斯敏阿末无论是对待事业生涯或感情,她都选择忠于自己,她经历过2段婚姻,前夫是印度人,现任丈夫是华人,对她而言, 电影作品正好反映自己的观点,爱跨越了种族和语言的藩篱!

结合各族文化 电影展现大马特色

对 本地爱好电影者而言,雅斯敏阿末不是陌生的名字,她的电影更是轻易获得华人观众的青睐。 虽然她是马来人,但在她的电影中,你不会看到马来导演打造出来的纯马来社会,她的电影是丰富的,各族文化水乳交融地结合在一起,不会唐突,浓厚的人物色 彩,让人充满共鸣。她从不标榜自己的电影为马来电影,因为她要告诉你,这是马来西亚电影。

许多人都是从《我爱单眼皮》这部让雅斯敏阿末扬名海外,获得国人肯定的电影,开始认识她。不必叹相逢恨晚,因为这才是雅斯敏的第2部电影。

电 影在票房口碑获得成功,却也迎来某些马来社群的异议。然而,这些看似讨好华人的元素,都是大马现有的一些现象,各种族一同生活了几十多年,有些文化、习 惯,早已不自觉渗入我们的生活中,就像我们华人说话时,总不免会掺杂国语在其中。只不过是从来没有导演这么做,多年后借由雅斯敏的电影镜头呈现出来而已。

为父母拍电影

其实,早在很久以前,我们已经透过小萤幕(电视),跟雅斯敏邂逅了。每年在各大节庆前后推出的国油(Petronas)广告,温馨且紧扣人心,一直深受国人的喜爱,这些广告都是雅斯敏的作品。

虽 然在广告界是殿堂级人马,但雅斯敏从未考虑过跨入电影界拍摄电影,直到爸爸病了。她说:“因为我父亲病了。我想要告诉我妈妈和爸爸,我很爱他们,想给他们 一些东西,所以我拍了自己的首部电影《爱到眼茫茫》,一部关于他们,关于老了仍彼此相爱的电影。就因为他们,所以才拍电影,有点意料之外。”

雅 斯敏的父母,已年届70多岁了,但两老依然恩爱非常,他们会像小孩般打闹、一起冲凉、睡觉时牵着对方的手,都是很甜蜜的举动。他们如同我们在雅斯敏电影系 列中所看到的,Orked那对思想开明的父母,雅斯敏补充说:“还有非常恩爱。他们的角色完全是我根据父母所倒模出来的。”

国油一系列广告及《我爱单眼皮》在口碑和票房上的成功,似乎证明了雅斯敏擅于呈献人与人之间的情感交流上。

爱就是包容一切 作品震撼人心

▲2002年,《My Failing Eyesight》以她自己父母的故事为蓝本,影片讲述的正是她父母恩爱大半生的故事。

▲2004年,《Sepet》说的是马来少女Orked跟华人少年Jason的爱情故事,当年感动了许多人,他们的爱就是雅斯敏阿末坚信的“可以跨越一切藩篱”。

▲2006年《Mukhsin》,雅斯敏阿末第4部电影,一个关于情窦初开的故事。

▲2009年,新加坡社区发展部所拍摄的“支持婚姻”广告片,引起了极大震撼和很大的争议,因为广告点破了“没人是完美的,所谓的真正的爱情就是接受你伴侣的不完美”,正是由雅斯敏阿末所拍摄。

相关照片

■ 大马国际知名导演雅斯敏阿末。

■ 由雅斯敏执导的《SEPET》和《GUBRA》曾获奖无数。

■ 雅斯敏阿末凭《我爱单眼皮》(Sepet)一片而走红。

■ 1

975年,原名Zulkiflee Ahmad的雅斯敏出版了这张专辑
著名导演雅丝敏阿末昨晚逝世
作品突破多元文化及宗教禁忌
7月26日 早上 8点46分
在开会中途因为中风昏迷而被紧急送院的我国著名电影及广告导演雅丝敏阿末(Yasmin Ahmad,右图)已在昨晚(7月25日)11点25分逝世,享年51岁。

她是上周四在雪兰莪万达镇的第3电视总部开会,提呈其新电影拍摄计划书时,于下午4点30分突然投诉不舒服伏下,稍后一度因为呼吸困难,一度晕倒兼心脏停止跳动而被紧急送院。

当时著名马来歌手茜蒂诺哈莉莎(Siti Nurhaliza)和其丈夫卡立(Khalid Jiwa)当时也出席该会议。

动手术除脑中淤血后没苏醒


作为马来西亚红新月会大使的西蒂,现场更与一名电视台的医生,一起雅丝敏进行心肺复苏术急救。

稍后雅丝敏被送往白沙罗专科医院的深度加护病房。她在当日傍晚6点动手术以去除脑中的淤血块,其情况虽然已经稳定下来,但是却一直没有醒过来。

部落格贴文评赵明福案噩梦


雅丝敏是在1958年麻坡出生,曾经经历两段婚姻。前夫是印裔,而现任丈夫则是华裔。

她拥有两个部落格,即说故事者(THE STORYTELLER)及说故事者二(THE STORYTELLER, PART 2)。

她在说故事者二部落格的第二则贴文中,也评论赵明福离奇坠楼命案,并贴上赵明福的照片。她的有关贴文如是写着,“请把我从噩梦中摇醒,并告诉我这事情并未发生在我的国家,而赵明福目前正与家人一起,安全在家。”

(Someone please wake me from this nightmare and tell me that this did not happen in my country and that Teoh Beng Hock is safe at home with his family.)


《我爱单眼皮》获得国际认同

雅丝敏以勇于拍摄突破族群及宗教禁忌的课题而著称,并多次掀起争议。她的作品以英文、广东话、国语、福建话展现我国多元种族的特色,以及探讨不同文化对爱情及宗教宽容的冲击。

其 电影作品包括《爱到眼茫茫》(Rabun,2003年)、《我爱单眼皮》(Sepet,2004年)、《焦虑》或《花开总有时》(Gubra,2006 年)、《木星的初恋》(Mukhsin,2006年)、《改心》(Muallaf,2008)以及《天才时刻》(Talentime,2009)。

《我爱单眼皮》是描绘一个华裔青年及马来女生之间的恋情,至于《焦虑》则因为在剧中拍摄宗教司触碰小狗以及流莺邻居往来的剧情,被视为侮辱了回教。

其中,她的《我爱单眼皮》获得众多的荣誉,包括获选东京影展最佳影片、第18届大马电影节最佳电影、最佳女配角、最佳女新人、最佳男新人、最佳海报设计和最佳剧本,以及2005法国Creteil国际女性电影节评审团大奖。

国油电视广告为人所津津乐道


雅丝敏阿末最初从广告界崭露头角,她过去数年为国油(Petronas)所拍摄的一系列佳节和国庆电视广告更是温馨且紧扣人心,为人难忘和津津乐道。

她在一次专访中表示,自己所以会从广告跨界到电影,是因为她的父亲生病,想要向双亲表达自己的爱。

“我想要告诉我妈妈和爸爸,我很爱他们,向给他们一些东西,所以我拍了自己的首部电影《爱到眼茫茫》,一部关于他们,关于老了仍彼此相爱的电影。”

。




Monday, July 20, 2009

赵明福证实坠楼身亡!

遗体在五楼露台被发现
赵明福证实坠楼身亡!

作者/本刊张天聪 Jul 16, 2009 05:02:22 pm

【本刊张天聪撰述/苏晓枫摄影】马来西亚反贪污委员会调查主任苏克里斯(Mohd Shukri B Abdull)今天下午证实,昨天被带往反贪污委员会雪州总部问话的民联雪兰莪州行政议员欧阳捍华的助理赵明福,在今天下午1时30分在五楼的露台被发现坠楼身亡!

苏克里斯今天下午在位于莎亚南的反贪委雪州总部召开记者会,证实赵明福坠楼身亡的消息。
他说,今天下午1时30分左右,一名公众人士在反贪委雪州总部所在大楼第五楼的露台发现赵明福的遗体(右图),这是一家私人公司的办公室。
“反贪委员会一名官员去检查尸体时,才发现这名死者就是前来协助调查雪州议员拨款的证人。”
苏克里斯透露,反贪委调查人员在今天凌晨三时结束盘问赵明福后,赵明福要求在会客室休息,而官员最后一次见到赵明福是在今天清晨六时左右。

反贪委记者会匆匆结束
反贪委雪州总部是在莎亚南九区东姑安布安路查美拉E9/E路(Jalan Tengku Ampuan Zabedah E9/E)的Plaza Masalam的第14楼和15楼。
当记者欲询问更多此案的详情时,苏克里斯(左图)却以警方正在展开调查而不便发表,再匆匆结束记者会。

反贪污委员会自两周前开始陆续调查民联雪兰莪州议员,资深行政议员郭素沁在周一(7月 13日)透露,共有七名州议员遭殃,包括她本身、梳邦区(Subang)州议员杨巧双、甘榜东姑区(Kampung Tunku)州议员刘永山、武吉兰樟区(Bukit Lanjan)州议员黄洁冰、百乐镇区(Damansara Utama)州议员谢永贤、斯里肯邦岸区(Seri Kembangan)州议员欧阳捍华及武吉加星区(Bukit Gasing)州议员李宝霖。【点击:拨款给回教堂和诊所遭调查 郭素沁等指反贪会动机不明】
昨天(7月15日)下午在州议会开会期间,反贪污委员会官员在没有搜查令或庭令的情况下二度突闯欧阳捍华的行政议员办公室,并带走赵明福、一架电脑主机及一台手提电脑。【点击:重返欧阳捍华办公室 反贪委带走助理电脑】
现年30岁的赵明福来自马六甲,担任欧阳捍华的助理之前,曾任《星洲日报》加影区办事处记者。
民联议员要看案发现场不果
民联雪州行政议员刘天球在傍晚抵达现场,本要率领记者视察发现赵明福遗体的地点,但遭已在现场的警方人员挡驾在外。
此外,反贪委也不让一众民联行政议员进入视察最后见到赵明福的休息室。据悉,赵明福是从休息室的窗口坠楼。
赵明福的哥哥、妹妹(右图)及女朋友已在傍晚六时许先后抵达现场,在傍晚6时50分左右准备进入现场认尸。然而,他们却不获准进入遗体发现地点。在与警方周旋一小时后,警方才允许死者胞兄一人进入现场。
对此,在事发后出任赵明福家属代表律师的民主行动党雪州蒲种区国会议员哥宾星( Gobind Singh)在现场质问警方,为何只让死者胞兄赵明基一人进入现场认尸,而他身为代表律师却不得进入。
哥宾星是在傍晚六时许抵达反贪委员会雪州总部,并一直陪伴在赵明福的兄长及妹妹身旁。
只给半小时找独立验尸官
哥宾星(右图)也抨击,尽管死者的兄妹已在傍晚六时许抵达现场,但却不获允许立即前往现场认尸,而需要等待近两个小时;他质问反贪委员会是否有见不得光的秘密要隐瞒。
此外,虽然死者家属要求委派一名独立验尸官进入现场,但雪州总警长卡立却只给家属半小时物色独立验尸官。哥宾星再炮轰,在晚上如何能在半小时内找到一名独立验尸官?
哥宾星也促请警方以最高级别查案方式调查此案,而全国总警长应保证查案过程必须独立及透明,以显示他对此案的重视。
“在此之前已经发生(印裔被扣者)古甘在警方扣留所内离奇身亡,现在反贪委员会又再发生命案,连遗体也无法见到,全国总警长必须交代。”
哥宾星稍后提高声量说:“我们要他(全国总警长)保证!他必须向人民展现他认真看待此事。他必须告诉我及死者家属,为何此死亡事件的初步报告迟迟不能出炉?”

促警方列为谋杀案
“人民将会因为这起事件而再度站起来!警方必须展开透明且独立的调查,否则人民将会群起抗议!”
另外,民联雪州领袖包括资深行政议员郭素沁、欧阳捍华、赛维尔、人民公正党副主席西华拉沙等人都陆续抵达现场,欧阳捍华(右图)透露,他在下午三时左右才接获记者通知赵明福坠楼身亡的消息。
到晚上十时为止,还不能证实赵明福是死于自杀、意外还是他杀。不过在昨天任赵明福代表律师的哥打阿南莎州议员马诺哈然却认定,这起事件不能列为突然死亡,警方必须以谋杀案角度展开调查。到晚上十时为止,还不能证实赵明福是死于自杀、意外还是他杀。不过在昨天任赵明福代表律师的哥打阿南莎州议员马诺哈然却认定,这起事件不能列为突然死亡,警方必须以谋杀案角度展开调查。





三千人黑白衣齐默哀赵明福
怒焚烧马来报抗议种族言论
李伟伦
7月19日
下午 4点39分

晚上9点55分更新

超过3000名愤怒群众今午踊跃出席格拉纳再也体育馆举行的“莫让明福死不瞑目”大集会,绝大多数的集会者都身穿黑白色衣服,向雪州行政议员欧阳捍华的政治秘书赵明福,献上最沉重的哀悼。

这项由民联主办的集会,是在今午4点半开始,至晚上7点15分左右结束。大会司仪及雪州大臣卡立,共分别两次率领集会者,为赵明福肃立默哀1分钟,气氛沉重。

请愿书要求纳兹里马上道歉


大会也在现场向集会者收集签名,单是这项集会已收集了约3000个签名,以准备把一份万人签名请愿书,交给副首相慕尤丁。

这份请愿书共有3项要求,即:(一)设立皇家委员会调查赵明福死因;(二)要求反贪污委员会主席阿末赛益下台;以及(三)要求首相署部长纳兹里无条件道歉。

纳兹里是因为在赵明福出事后,发表“我们怎么会知道他要去跳楼?”的言论,而备受舆论围剿。

华裔对赵明福之死义愤填胸


出席格拉纳再也集会的群众,以华裔占绝大多数,但也不乏巫印裔友族同胞。集会者都坐在草地上,聆听台上民联领袖的演讲。

不过,也有的集会者全场站立,拿着布条和横幅,上面写着“成立皇家调查委员会”、“莫让明福死不瞑目”等字眼。

一般而言,华裔并不积极参与类似集会的活动,这次踊跃出席,相信是已对赵明福之死,感到义愤填胸。

民联促设立皇委会展开调查

民联重量级领袖也都轮流上台演讲,怒斥反贪污委员会对民联进行政治迫害,乃至害死一名有为青年。

他们也都不约而同地促请中央政府,成立皇委会调查赵明福离奇毙命案,因为警察已失去了公信力,不能负责调查的工作。

出席的民联领袖包括了民主行动党秘书长林冠英、行动党国会领袖林吉祥、行动党全国主席卡巴星、雪州大臣卡立依布拉欣、雪州议长邓章钦、回教党最高理事胡桑慕沙及雪州高级行政议员郭素沁等。

现场气氛群情汹涌,台上演讲的领袖也七情上脸,台下频频爆出震天应和声,“还明福一个公道”(Justice for Beng Hock)的口号更是响彻云霄。

当民联领袖的演讲说至激动处,听讲的集会者也不禁咬牙切齿,随着领袖们的炮口,一同炮轰反贪污委员会。

【点击观赏短片】


焚烧马来报点燃气氛最高点

在大集会尾声,巴生区国会议员查尔斯圣地亚哥助理黄业华(右图)为抗议《每日新闻》和《马来西亚前锋报》以种族主义的角度来解读赵明福事件,愤而在现场焚烧两报的报纸。

此举马上掀起全场观众的欢呼,情绪也跟着燃烧的报纸,一样飙升至最高点。

黄业华表示,他这么做是要抗议这两家马来报,尤其《每日新闻》发表种族性言论,以种族角度来诠释赵明福事件。

“它批评(雪州大臣)卡立质疑马来人的能力,不能够公正地处理赵明福的案件,同时更指卡立不相信马来人,对抗以马来人为多数的国家机关。”

重申赵明福事件属全民问题


他向《当今大马》解释,其实赵明福事件是一个全民的问题,根本就无关种族,不应该以狭隘的种族角度来看待。

“这是政治精英压迫人民,压迫者与被压迫者的关系,有权势跟没有权势者的矛盾。”
种族论违背“一个大马”概念

黄业华也指出,受到巫统控制的《每日新闻》和《马来西亚前锋报》这样的种族性言论恰恰违反了首相纳吉自己提出的“一个马来西亚”概念。

“它们的存在是纳吉‘一个马来西亚’的讽刺。纳吉如果真要落实这项口号,则他应该让两份报章脱离巫统宣传机器的角色,恢复过去前总编辑赛扎哈里(Said Zahari)时代那种敢怒敢言的作风。”

不担心烧报动作被扭曲解读

对于是否担心烧报纸的动作进一步被扭曲为“华人烧马来报”的问题,黄业华回应说,若某些方面刻意要挑起种族情绪,则任何事情都可以种族角度来诠释。

“我是针对它们(两报)的种族言论而为,在其他民主国家烧报纸是正常的抗议活动,只有在马来西亚什么事情都可以被种族化,尤其当权者企图利用它来煽动情绪,即使没有这个,他也会找其他的议题,而赵明福事件就是一个例子。”

他补充说,过去巫青团长凯里可以冲进大使馆表达抗议,因此相形下,烧报纸不过是小事一桩。





赵明福出殡仪式一片哀伤
千人高举布条送最后一程

郭史光庆
7月20日
上午 10点13分

赵明福今早的出殡仪式庄严举行,获得千人送他最后一程,其中多是民联的支持者。他们在早上9点15分,就开始聚集在其马六甲亚罗亚也的住家周围。

许多参与出殡仪式的声援者,也纷纷手持布条,表达他们对赵明福离奇坠楼身亡事件的愤怒,要为其讨公道。

这些布条纷纷写上“为明福讨公道,人民要答案”,“设立皇家委员会,履行正义,“莫让明福,死不瞑目”以及“血债血还”的字眼。

不过大家皆没有高喊任何的口号,场面显得异常冷静及平和。据悉这是因为赵家要求让出殡仪式顺利进行。

一些行动党领袖透露,警方要求他们只在出殡游行时才展示布条,而他们也答应这么做。

现场只有大约10名警员,包括交通警察在旁监督及指挥交通秩序。

未婚妻宣读祭文催人泪下

致哀的人士排成一条长龙,持香向赵明福致最后的敬意并瞻仰遗体。致哀者包括各族人士,虽然仍以华裔居多。

在盖棺前,赵明福的妹妹及其母亲皆伤心欲绝,泣不成声。

而赵明福未婚妻苏淑慧在灵前宣读祭文,呼唤明福回来相聚,更令闻者感动流泪。

出殡队伍及棺车在11点早上开始离开丧府。走在游行队伍最前头的声援者手持“为明福讨公道,人民要答案”(Justice for Beng Hock, Answers for Rakyat)的醒目布条,反映了社会大众心中的共同诉求。

沿路的交通一片阻塞,
交警尝试指挥交通,出殡队伍在抵达亚罗亚也后就结束,棺车则直接前往雪州士毛月的富贵山庄下葬。

安华抵步率三党领袖致敬

国会反对党领袖安华在早上10点08分,与公正党副主席阿兹敏及甫加入公正党的蔡锐明一起抵达丧府。

在安华抵步时,支持者一度大力鼓掌及高喊“烈火莫熄”,但是随后却被告知必须保持安静,以尊敬出殡仪式。

安华随后率领公正党、回教党及行动党领袖向赵明福致最后的敬礼。

马华志工团及该党马六甲州行政议员颜天禄也随后给予致哀。

促纳吉回国马上设皇委会

较早前,行动党三大巨头,全国主席卡巴星、国会领袖林吉祥以及秘书长林冠英,今早联合在丧府召开记者会。

林吉祥要求首相纳吉在今日返抵我国后,马上就宣布成立皇家委员会调查赵明福离奇坠楼事件,而不是等待至星期三的内阁会议决定。

他也呼吁纳吉立即下令反贪会中止一系列针对民联的调查,并将之比喻为反贪会对民联的“宣战”。他补充说,反贪会已经成为巫统及国阵的工具来推翻雪州民联州政府。

卡巴星则要求纳吉立即冻结全国反贪会主席阿末赛益的职位,直到调查结果出炉。

And so the final goodbye begins, funeral procession starts

The hearse bearing Teoh Beng Hock’s body leads the way as the funeral procession starts. — Picture by Choo Choy May

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid

ALOR GAJAH, July 20 — Since the body of Teoh Beng Hock arrived in his family home on Friday, crowds of family, friends, and politicians have gathered in the modest neighbourhood to pay their last respects.

The morning of his funeral was no different. By 8.40am, hundreds of mourners including DAP lawmakers were already in attendance at the Teoh family home.

However, the lid of the casket has been completely removed for a last viewing before the funeral begins.

Everyone is calm, as family and friends prepare to say their final goodbye to Teoh. The atmosphere is casual outside under the tent but hushed inside the house.

At 8.50am, people start forming a queue: one by one, they light a joss stick at an altar set up in the front to face the crowd. The funeral band arrives.

As the siblings perform the last rites at the altar, Teoh’s younger sister is seen crying openly. It is a heart-wrenching moment in this human drama that has gripped the nation.

The crowd grows in size and you can see it is multi-racial in make-up: Malays, Indians and, of course, Chinese.

Teoh’s mother, Teng Shuw Hor, who has looked shell-shocked throughout the many hours of the wake, is breaking down. She is crying loudly and Teoh’s godmother is hysterical. Family members try to calm her down and take her away from the casket.

The wailing is heard all the way down the nine-house long tent. Teoh’s casket is now placed behind the altar and several people in the crowd are seen crying.

At 9.20am, the lid of the casket is taped shut and a yellow cloth is draped over it. On it is some Chinese writing, prayers presumably.

The priest performs the last rites but Teoh’s parents are inside the house. It is customary in Chinese culture for the parents not to participate in the funeral of a child.

DAP’s Lim Kit Siang, who is among the mourners, said: “This shouldn’t have happened. It happened because MACC launched a war against Pakatan Rakyat. Najib must stop this war.”

He was referring to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) on-going investigation into the misuse of state allocations by Selangor DAP assemblymen. Teoh Beng Hock was hauled in for questioning by the agency on July 15 in connection with the investigation.

The political aide to Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah was found dead outside the MACC headquarters in Shah Alam the next day.

While Teoh’s siblings continue with the funeral rites, the crowd has grown to more than 500. Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and DAP’s Karpal Singh have arrived for the funeral.

At about 9.40am, Teoh’s fiancee Soh Cher Wei performs the last rites. Overcome by emotions, Teoh’s mother comes out of the house and starts wailing and crying. Teoh’s siblings are also overcome. Soh, who at first looked composed, starts to cry as well.

Non-family members are invited to pay their last respects. They come forward to the altar and bow. Among those seen paying their respects are Karpal Singh and his son Gobind.

DAP’s Teresa Kok then makes a farewell speech to Teoh. “You cared for the people and the country. We bid you farewell. Rest in peace.”

At a little after 10am, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrives at the funeral with Datuk Chua Jui Meng and Azmin Ali.

Anwar, Chua and PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub bow twice at the altar and Teoh’s family “replied” with one bow.

The heavy presence of politicians at the funeral is threatening to turn the gathering into a political one as the crowd jostles forward for a chance to rub shoulders with the Pakatan heavyweights. The crowd number has now swelled to more than 1,000.

The entire stretch of the road to the house is now filled with people, all keen to accompany Teoh on his final journey.

Ten minutes before 11am, the casket is loaded onto the hearse. The funeral procession begins. Teoh’s siblings walk behind the hearse, one hand on it as it proceeds slowly out of the housing estate.

PR politicians are walking behind them, the road is lined with hundreds of people, many holding banners and posters. One of them reads, “Jangan biarkan Beng Hock mati sia-sia.”

Saturday, July 18, 2009

野鸡大学列表(最新,最完整,想升学的用心看)

野鸡大学列表(最新,最完整,想升学的用心看)

http://cforum2.cari.com.my/viewthread.php?tid=1653579&extra=page%3D5

以下的网站可以查看那些课程受不受JPA的承认
http://www.interactive.jpa.gov.my/webinteraktif/frmMainIktiraf.asp

本 列表详列世界上各家野鸡大学。这些学校一般都是以商业模式运作,只需要很低的门槛或甚至只要金钱就可以获得各种级别的学位。在某些国家,经营未经学历评审 而自称大学是刑事罪行,但亦有一些国家(例如:美国)容许公司的名字里有“大学”的字样,使这些野鸡大学得以利用法律的漏洞而图利。这些“大学”,有不少 都把名字改成与国际知名的大学非常相似,藉以混淆视听,使一般人在不留神的情况下张冠李戴,最常见例子如英国、加拿大均有联合国教科文基金认可的约克大 学, 然而一所自称美国阿拉巴马州政府的约克大学未为美国教育部认可名单上刊载[3]。

在不少国家,若把这些野鸡大学所颁授的“学位”作正式学历来行使,会被当作刑事罪行,因为这是一种行使伪造文件的行为。

留意:本列表不包括市面上可合法颁授学位,但其学位资历不获其他机构认同的教育机构。这些学校,其学位课程可能只获承认为较低级别的文凭或证书课程甚至完全没有价值。法律问题与考虑

中国大陆

深圳市从2006年6月开始草拟《深圳市人才市场活动信用管理办法》,对于意图行使虚假学历作正式学历使用的求职者,其个人资料有可能会在网上曝光。从2002年开始,中国政府开始在公务体系中展开调查,要求曾透过行使虚假学历而获得升迁的干部在限定日期前主动交代。

美国

在美国,持有未获承认的学位课程可能不会得到州政府或联邦公务员体系的聘用;在某些程况下,若持有人意图利用这些“学位”当作获承认的学位课程资历使用, 有可能干犯刑事罪行。不过,不承认这些学位的州份就只有俄勒冈州、新泽西州、印第安纳州、伊利诺州、北达科他州和内华达州,这些州会视此为轻微罪行并只处 以罚款。

加上,有报道指有野鸡大学成功地推翻这法律,最著名的是以怀俄明州为基地的甘乃迪西部大学(Kennedy Western University),曾于2004年起诉因为俄勒冈州州政府拒绝把学校从野鸡大学列表中剔除而兴讼。

列表
美国
# 利口乐大学
# 红中大学
# 罗拔石大学
# 农川乡村大学
# 布什多些大学
# Santa Monica Pacific University
# 陈富贵史贝利大学
# 设步尔大学
# 设柏尔顿大学 (BBC article)
# 南太平洋大学 (South Pacific University)
# 圣雷极斯大学 (not to be confused with Regis University)
# 斯大虎的大学
# Stamford International University (not to be confused with Stanford University)
# 斯除士福特大学
# Stanford University (Arkansas)
# Stanton University
# 苏尔鸡得大学
# 崇明大学 of Louisiana
# 算尼活特大学
# Trinity College and University (not to be confused with institutions listed at Trinity College disambiguation page)
# 南方三一大学 (Trinity Southern University)
# Tufts University School of Medicine (not to be confused with Tufts University)
# 美国亚洲大学(University of Asia in United States)
# 床福得大学
# 迪算郡大学
# 杜恩火队大学
# University of England
# University of North America
# University of Northern California
# University of Northern Washington
# University of Palmers Green
# 列允豪恩斯大学
# University of San Gabriel Valley
# 圣蒙乳士大学
# University of Sussex at Brantridge
# 瑞士大学
# 话克斯福特大学
# Uttar Pradesh Vishwavidyalaya
# 温大
# Varanaseya Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya
# 阜溪信佬大学
# 西云顿大学
# 西安李索维大学 (not to be confused with Case Western Reserve University)

# D.D.B. 山斯克利特大学
# Degrees-R-Us
# 迪尔希维什马大学
# 爱迪生大学
# 甘地轩地大学
# 格伦古尔伦大学
# 格伦达尔大学
# 金邦大学 (not to be confused with Golden Gate University)
# 绿叶大学
# 格林威治大学 (美国) (not to be confused with University of Greenwich, London, England)
# 咸美顿大学 (not to be confused with Hamilton College)
# 富阳明咸美顿大学
# 夏宁顿大学
# 赫特利大学
# Harvard University for External Studies (not to be confused with Harvard Extension School)
# 夏威夷药剂学院 (Hawaii College of Pharmacy)
# 夏威尔大学
# 坛香山大学 of the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities
# Indian Education Council of U.P
# 占士蒙诺尔国际大学
# 占士蒙诺尔大学
# (remove Kennedy Western University as their action against government shows that they are confident and is only considered unaccredited University finally)
# 国际美国大学 (International American University)
# 恒沙尹尼大学
# 健司菲特大学
# 礼特斯布尼特治大学
# 勒豪洛塞斯大学
# 地福特大学
# LaSalle University (Louisiana) (not to be confused with LaSalle University)
# 连胜顿大学
# 林肯大学 (美国)
# 路尔斯安那浸大
# 林忆拿联大
# 马戴算大学 (not to be confused with University of Wisconsin-Madison or James Madison University)
# 麦川伦大学
# Maharana Patap Shiksha Niketan Vishwavidyalaya
# 马契拉大学
# 米尔条利大学
# 万宝路大学 或 马宝龙大学 (Marlborough University)
# 硕机大学
# 美川普列顿何列治学院, associated with the fake teaching hospital Sussex General Hospital, both purportedly in London (BBC article).
# 蒙设些路大学
# National University of Electro Complex Homeopathy
# Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University
# 刘父荣特大学
# 美国公开大学 (Open University of America)
# 太平洋南方大学 (Pacific Southern University)
# 太平洋西方大学 (Pacific Western University)
# 派克伍德大学 (Parkwood University)[8]
# 爱国者圣经大学 (Patriot Bible University)
# 潘雷宋大学
# 里渣大学

# 布亚迪雅斯克萨帕利沙特大学
# 布伦维克大学
# 布雷耶联邦大学
# British West Indies Medical College (earlier known as West Indies College of Naturopathic Medicine and Surgery) (see [1] and [2])
# Bronte International University
# 布克斯顿大学
# 剑桥州立大学 (Cambridge State University)
# 加州全美大学
# 卡邦尼大学
# 查特维德大学
# 克拉伊顿大学
# 哥伦比亚太平洋大学 (Columbia Pacific University,本来位于加州,但后来被州检察院勒令停业,迁往怀俄明州,并改名为哥伦比亚联邦大学 (Columbia Commonwealth College)
# 哥伦比亚联邦大学
# 哥伦布大学
# 商大有限公司.

# American Council of Private Colleges and Universities
# 亚当史密斯大学(Adam Smith University)
# 美国奥斯汀大学 (American Austin University)
# 美国中央大学 (American Central University)
# 美国环球大学(American Global Universities)[6][7]
# 美国国立大学 (American National University)
# 美国太平洋大学 (American Pacific University)
# American Pacwest International University
# 美国世界大学 (American World University)
# 美国哈姆斯顿大学 (Armstrong University)
# 艾舒福特大学(London)
# 艾舒活特大学
# 白达根维萨卡世界公开教育社会大学
# 明尼史特利浸会大学
# 比尔福特大学
# 伯尼大学










Friday, July 17, 2009

Bus, taxi fares up 30% from Aug-09


Friday July 17, 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: Public transport fares will cost 30% more from next month.

The new flag-off fare for taxis will be RM3, up from RM2, while passengers will be charged 10 sen for every 115m, instead of 150m currently.

For taxis caught in a traffic jam, the fare will be RM3 for the first three minutes and 10 sen for every subsequent 21 seconds, instead of 45 seconds previously. Taxis will also have to issue receipts.

Express bus fares will go up by two sen per kilometre, while for stage buses in Kuala Lumpur and its surrounding areas, the increase will be between 25 and 70 sen, according to the zones.

Schoolbus fares in urban areas will also increase from RM21.10 to RM27.43 for the first kilometre and from RM1.55 to RM2.02 for every subsequent kilometre.

For rural areas, the increase will be from RM15.85 to RM20.61 for every kilometre.

Announcing the increase yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abd Aziz said public transport companies were, however, also expected to improve their level of service in line with the fare hike.

“I don’t think the public will be shocked by the increase as they have been conditioned for it. The proposed increase has been reported for some time.

“The increase is reasonable, taking into consideration the various initiatives and subsidies given by the Government to the public transport sector,” he told reporters after giving permits to 831 taxi drivers here yesterday.

He said the Cabinet had, on June 17, agreed to the proposal to increase the fares. The fare structure will be reviewed every year, he added.

The last fare increase for taxis, and express and stage buses was in 2005, while for schoolbuses, it was in 2006.

Nazri said among the measures to enhance their service, public transport firms were expected to adhere to Government’s guidelines for efficient management of their fleet, display the fare schedule in all their vehicles and ensure training for all their drivers.

They were also expected to cooperate with the authorities to set up a databank of drivers’ records to aid enforcement against those blacklisted.

Other measures included a 25% discount to the disabled and senior citizens, streamlining of fares for Sabah and Sarawak, installation of global positioning systems and phasing out non-air conditioned buses by 2010.

Puspakom, added Nazri, has also agreed to reduce its fees to re-calibrate taxi meter fare from RM50 to RM10.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Is your EPF money enough for retirement?

Wednesday July 15, 2009

Personal Investment - A column by Ooi Kok Hwa


A look at whether a retiree can survive after losing monthly income and with only EPF savings to rely on

SOME studies conducted in Malaysia have shown that most retirees spend all their EPF money within three years of their retirement. Given that the average lifespan for a Malaysian is 75 years, if we retire at 55 and spend all our EPF money within three years, a lot of us will be wondering how to survive from 58 to 75.

The most worrying question that most of us will be asking is how to survive retirement when we lose our steady stream of monthly income to cover our daily expenses.

However, if we have been building an investment portfolio apart from EPF money, we would not be able to generate a source of returns from our own investment portfolio.

In reality, a lot of us have been spending most of our savings, including part of our EPF savings on our children’s education and clearing debts on house and car purchases, which leave us with not much savings for our retirement.

With this general concern in mind, let’s look into how much of our EPF money we can afford to spend to have enough for our retirement based on the our local conditions and some assumptions.

Generally, an average Malaysian starts working at 25 and reaches retirement at 55 (after 30 years of working), thereafter living the remaining 20 years (until 75) relying on the EPF savings.

We will assume a starting pay of RM1,500, growing at the rate of 8% per annum; an average bonus of two months per annum, average EPF returns of 5%, total EPF contribution of 23% (employer: 12%, employee: 11%) and inflation rate of 3%.

Our main objective is to test how much EPF money we can spend until we use it all up.

Our analysis shows that if we are able to live with just one-third (or 33%) of our last drawn salary, the EPF money should be able to support us for 20 years until we pass away at 75.

From the example below, if a person’s last drawn salary is RM13,976 at 55, he can only afford to spend one-third or RM4,612 per month after retirement (1/3 x RM13,976).

However, if his spending exceeds the one-third level, such as 50% or the full amount of his last drawn salary, his EPF money can only last 12 or five years respectively.

Even though our computations are based on a lot of assumptions and hypothetical scenarios, our objective is to bring to your attention that we need to be careful in spending our EPF money and control our expenses once we retire.

We will need to adjust our lifestyle after our retirement, especially for those of us that are used to spending most of our take-home pay when we are still working.

Once we lose the regular income source and are relying just on the savings, we will need to plan carefully in order not to out-live our savings. In this example, we can only afford to spend 33% of our last salary after retirement!

Everyone has different financial situations. However, we need to plan for our retirement. If possible, we need to build our own investment portfolio apart from the EPF savings. We may need to seek some part-time jobs after retirement if our financial resources do not permit us to stop working. Besides, we need to clear all our outstanding debts before retirement.

We also need to buy enough life and medical insurance for ourselves as well as set up education funds for our children.

Last but not least, one important point to note is that our computation is based on the assumption that we are still able to generate 5% returns after retirement.

Unless we have the skills and knowledge to generate the returns, putting the money back in EPF and letting EPF generate returns may be a good option. For the average person, we feel that it is not easy to generate 5% returns annually over a long period of time.

● Ooi Kok Hwa is an investment adviser and managing partner of MRR Consulting.


For latest Bursa Malaysia indices, charts and other information click here

Taiwan Trip Day 1: National Palace Museum, Shilin Night Market

Taiwan Trip Day 1: National Palace Museum, Shilin Night Market

mas1

The response we have received on our Taiwan Trip Summary is heartwarming and overwhelming. Emails and comments have been flowing in; asking us for more details and advices on where to stay and where to go. Though we are not exactly the best person in customizing an itinerary, we will try our best to assist. So, let us present to you the Day One of our Taiwan trip, which we will touch on the youth travel card, digital travel buddy and also our cheap accommodation in Taipei. We’ll be providing a list of hotel/hostel that we really like too. Please scroll down.
mas2

We have the privilege to fly with MAS again; the first one was a 4D3N trip to Kota Kinabalu. It was a bigger air craft which appears open and spacious. I love the extra leg space and you know how an extra inch of legroom can mean the difference between comfort and misery. MAS present a very generous maneuvering space for your legs and oh, recline your seat if you wish to.

While some airlines have already removed all the pillows and blankets from their flights to save weight, I’m glad that MAS is still providing their passengers with such luxurious item.
mas5

Fish or Chicken? We took one each and we both agree have to agree that the in-flight meals were pretty decent and we finished our meal in a jiffy!
mas4

Even the British lady seated next to us asked for a second serving!
mas7

Since it was a 940 am flight, we were pretty energetic after a long night sleep. There are various on board entertainment options such as a great selection of movies, TV, audio channels and games. KampungBoy was busy with his games while I took the opportunity to clear some movie from my “To Watch” list. I manage to watch “17 Again” and “He’s Just Not That into You” which made the 4.5 hour flight disappears quite quickly.
mas6

We arrived to Taoyuan International Airport in the span of a few rounds of golf game.
mas8

For travelers aged between 15 to 30, you may apply for Youth Travel Card at the counters of any of the NYC’s nationwide Youth Hubs, of the tourism passenger service centers of the Taoyuan Taiwan International Airport or Hsiao Kang International Airport and the Tourism Bureau’s itourism service centers (major railway stations, MRT stations and airports). A card holder is entitled to special offers and discounts on tourist attractions, youth home stay, bus tours, etc.

On top of that, we find the Digital Tour Buddy (consist of a hand set, sim card with talk time of NT200 and phone charger) very useful. It offers 24-hour service and assistance. Besides, it has in-built dictionary function of English-Chinese translation for backpackers enable to communicate without language problems. If the travelers are confused about where to stay or how to approach a local attraction, the English booking system of the youth hostel and the taxies has set up the one-key dials in the Digital Tour Buddy. International backpackers should visit the National Youth Commission’s (NYC) youth travel website, http://youthtravel.tw and complete the online booking application form seven days to thirty days before entering Taiwan and bring relevant documents with them, including approved booking forms, passports, passport copies, and one extra valid ID. After leaving a copy of their passport and other ID as deposit, you will be issued with the Digital Tour Buddy.
hostel map

From TaoYuan International Airport, we took Toward You Air Bus (NT90) to Sheraton Hotel Taipei as our hostel is just a stone’s throw away. For more transportation information, please click here. We spent four nights in Taipei and we have chosen 台北常民宿集, a hostel cum apartment managed by Miss Yeh, a very nice owner. Our room (Room D, NT1000 per night) is actually a separated apartment unit with basic necessities such as hot shower, wireless internet, water dispenser, TV and air conditioner. It has a superb location (1 minute walk to shandao MRT station, 10 minute walk to Taipei train station) but the surrounding of our apartment is pretty dodgy.

We do, have a few places in our mind but they were all fully booked for the summer holidays. Do contact us if you need any help in securing a room/apartment because most of them are maintaining a Chinese language website.

Three star hotels around Taipei Main Station. NT 2000 to NT 4000
1. City Inn (my favourite)
2. Orange Business Hotel
3. SeeYou Hotel
4. Say LoveHotel
5. Royal InnTaipei

Home Stay/Daily Rent Apartments. NT 1000 to NT 2000
1 Suite.Apartment - Zhongxiao Fuxing Station (my favourite)
2. Taipei York - Longshan Temple Station
3 Traveller Cat House - Ximen Station
4 不小心的鳥 Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall Station
5 Taipei Minsu - Taipower Building Station
npm1

To get around Taipei, remember to get an Easy Card (NT 500 with NT 100 as deposit). It can be used for Taipei Metro, buses, public parking lots, and certain intercity buses. Taipei’s MRT system runs from 6am to 12 mid night.

Taxi charge is NT 70 for the first 1.5 km, NT5 for every 300 meters after and NT20 is added to fares starting from 11pm to 6am. Unlike Malaysia, taxis in Taiwan run on meter and we find the fares very reasonable.

In order to enjoy the free admission during extended hours on Saturday evening, we made a visit to National Palace Museum since it is only one station away from Shilin Night Market.
npm2

The Palace Museum boasts the world’s largest collection of Chinese art and artifacts, some 655,000 pieces in all, from ceramics to curios from imperial collections.We came here just to see two of the museum’s most treasured objets d’art-Jadeite Cabbage & Meat Shaped Jasper and they are BEAUTIFUL!
npm3

npm4

npm5

In order to enjoy the free admission during extended hours on Saturday evening, we made a visit to NPM since it is only one station away from Shilin Night Market.

National Palace Museum 國立故宮博物院
Operating Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM daily (ticket: NT 160, youth travel discount: NT80)
Extended Hours: 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM every Saturday (during extended evening hours, free admission)
Getting Here:
Take the Red Line to the Shilin Station. At Exit 1, take bus R30 (Red 30) to the National Palace Museum.
Other routes that will take you to and near the Museum plaza are buses 255, 304, Minibus 18 and Minibus 19.
shilin1

1. chaotic scene around shilin night market 2. the crowd is worst than connaught pasar malam 3. cheap t-shirts (3 for NT 500/RM 55) 4. cai xiao ren socks, so cute!

Shihlin Night Market士林夜市
Getting Here:
Take the Red Line to Jiantan Station. The night market is divided into two areas: the shilin tourist night market is a roofed food court located opposite the Jiantan MRT Station, and across it is the area that stretches from YangMing cinema to Danan Road, Dadong Road and Wenlin Road.shilin1

Famous Snacks in Shilin Night Market - extracted from http://www.welcome2taiwan.net/eng_2006/download.html
shilin2

1. meat roll with spring onions, NT 10
2. famous pepper biscuit 胡椒饼 from Raohe Night Market, NT 45
3. very juicy and delicious indeed!
4. muscular and sweaty arm of the man who’s manning the stall.
shilin3

1. Da Bing bao Xiao Bing - booth no. 501 (little roll in big roll)
2. the signature dish is made by laying down a rolled dough, placing a deep fried little roll in it and hammering it until the roll inside breaks into some crunchy bits
3. look at the generous amount of oysters!
4. the famous Big Head Dragon (booth no. 200) egg & oyster omelette, NT 50.
shilin4

1. Sheng Shilin Big Sausage (booth no. 308)
2. “small sausage in big sausage”, made by grilling a glutinous rice roll, slice it open and place a taiwanese sausage inside together with some special sauce. yummy!
3. Haota Big Chicken Fillet (NT 50). Almost the size of my face but we find it so so.
4. Wash it down with a cup of bubble milk tea (NT 30)