Pengakuan Ahmad Dhani

SETELAH sekian lama membiarkan media, peminat dan masyarakat berteka-teki, akhirnya komposer dan penyanyi terkenal Indonesia, Ahmad Dhani mengakui dia sudah menikahi Mulan Jameela pada 2005.

Pengakuan tersebut dibuat Dhani dalam program Satu Jam Lebih Dekat yang ditayangkan oleh TV One.

"Pada majlis pernikahan tersebut, kedua-dua keluarga hadir. Ada ibu Mulan, kakaknya. Malah mama saya juga ada, ada wali, ada saksi, semuanya lengkap," ujar Dhani.

Dalam pada itu, Dhani turut mengakui dia pasrah dengan kelahiran Safeea Ahmad, anak hasil perkongsian hidupnya dengan Mulan.

Jelasnya, setelah memiliki tiga anak lelaki, dia lebih suka jika mempunyai lebih anak dan amat berharap kandungan Mulan adalah lelaki hingga saat Mulan mahu bersalin.

"Barangkali ada sesetengah bapa amat mengharapkan anak perempuan selepas mempunyai tiga anak lelaki. Tetapi sejak Mulan beritahu dia hamil, saya sentiasa harap kandungannya adalah anak lelaki.

"Namun akhirnya saya pasrah bila melihat Safeea dilahirkan dan biarpun Safeea sudah berumur tiga tahun, kami tidak merancang lagi untuk menambah anak," katanya.

Bayi lima bulan meninggal dunia dalam buaian

Bapanya sedang mendukung jenayah Amani selepas dimandikan di Hospital Tuanku Jaafar Seremban.

SEREMBAN – “Saya cuba beri bantuan pernafasan dari mulut ke mulut (CPR), tapi gagal. Jantungnya telah pun berhenti berdegup dan nadinya juga sudah tidak terasa lagi,” kata pengasuh bayi, Amani Safiyya Ismail, 5 bulan, yang meninggal dunia di dalam buaian di rumahnya, di Taman Bandar Senawang, di sini, semalam.

Dalam kejadian kira-kira jam 12 tengahari itu, Haryzian Sidi, 32, yang baru sebulan menjaga Amani, terkejut apabila mendapati bayi perempuan itu berada dalam keadaan lemah dan terkulai sewaktu mahu memandikannya.

Menurut Haryzian, seperti biasa dia mengambil Amani di rumah ibu bapanya yang tidak jauh dari rumahnya itu, sekitar jam 6.40 pagi.

Katanya, sewaktu mengambil Amani, dia berada dalam keadaan sihat seperti biasa, cuma menangis sahaja, mungkin disebabkan terpaksa tinggal dengannya sementara kedua ibu dan bapanya bekerja.

“Memang setiap pagi saya akan mengambil Amani di rumahnya, dan bawa balik ke rumah saya. Seperti biasa, saya akan menidurkan Amani dan mengejutnya sekitar jam 12 tengahari untuk dimandikan.

“Namun, pada hari ini, sebaik sahaja saya mendekatinya, saya dapati mukanya sudah kebiruan, tangan dan kakinya pula terasa sangat sejuk.

“Saya kemudiannya mengangkat Amani tapi terasa badannya sungguh lemah.

“Dalam keadaan panik, saya cuba memberi CPR kepadanya, namun tidak berjaya. Amani tetap berada dalam keadaan yang sama. Saya kemudiannya terus menghubungi ibunya dan meminta untuk datang ke rumah dengan segara,” katanya ketika ditemui di perkarangan bilik mayat di Hospital Tuanku Jaafar di sini, semalam.

Tambahnya, dia tidak pernah membuat CPR dan itu adalah kali pertama dia berbuat begitu, bagi membantu Amani bernafas, namun semuanya sia-sia.

Sejurus tiba di rumah, ibu Amani, menghantar anaknya ke klinik berdekatan, namun doktor mengesahkan bayinya sudah pun meninggal dunia.

Sementara itu, ayahnya, Shahrun Ismail, 36, berkata, sebelum ini anak bongsu daripada tiga beradik itu, berada dalam keadaan sihat dan tidak menunjukkan sebarang tanda-tanda pelik.

Katanya, bayinya itu hanya menangis seperti biasa setiap kali mahu dihantar kepada pengasuh, namun itu adalah perkara biasa memandangkan anaknya itu sudah pandai mengenal orang.

Dia dan isterinya, Nor Haslinda Hamzah, 32, yang juga merupakan seorang guru, tidak menjangkakan perkara ini akan berlaku, memandangkan usia anaknya itu baru sahaja lima bulan.

“Namun takdir dan ketentuan ini sudah ditetapkan Allah SWT, kita sebagai hamba-Nya menerima dugaan ini dengan penuh sabar dan bertakwa. Apa pun berlaku kami reda dengan pemergian Amani,” katanya.

Menurut jurucakap polis, hasil daripada bedah siasat yang dilakukan terhadap bayi tersebut mendapati tiada sebarang masalah dan punca sebenar kematian masih belum dapat dikenal pasti.

Sementara itu, Ketua Polis Daerah Seremban, Asisten Komisioner Zainal Abu mengesahkan menerima laporan kejadian tersebut, dan kes diklasifikasikan sebagai mati mengejut kerana tiada unsur-unsur jenayah.

Sinar Harian 

Seseorang boleh direman hingga 2 bulan di Sweden

Pasangan warga Malaysia yang ditahan di Sweden atas dakwaan memukul anak lelaki mereka. - Foto dipetik daripada Astro Awani

STOCKHOLM - SWEDEN. Tempoh tahanan reman di Sweden tidak ada had tetapi dalam kebanyakan kes tempohnya antara satu hingga dua bulan, kata Hakim Besar Mahkamah Daerah Solna, Mari Heidenborg. 

Beliau menyatakan demikian kepada media Malaysia ketika ditanya tentang kes melibatkan pasangan Malaysia, Shalwati Norshal, seorang guru yang sedang bercuti tanpa gaji dan suaminya, pegawai Pelancongan Malaysia di Sweden, Azizul Raheem Awalludin.

Pasangan itu ditahan sejak 18 Disember kerana dikatakan memukul tangan anak-anak mereka kerana tidak mengerjakan solat. 

"Kes itu telah didengar sebelum ini dan akan didengar semula (pada Khamis) untuk sama ada dilanjutkan reman atau dibebaskan dari tahanan reman.

"Pasangan itu seharusnya bebas dari tahanan reman jika pendakwa mendapati tiada sebab untuk berbuat demikian atau mereka akan didakwa," kata beliau. 

Heidenborg berkata ada kemungkinan pasangan itu melakukan lebih banyak kesalahan atau mengganggu siasatan adalah satu daripada sebab mereka ditahan untuk siasatan (reman).

Ditanya sama ada kes seumpama itu pernah berlaku sebelum ini, Heidenborg berkata terdapat beberapa kes dan kebanyakannya membabitkan orang asing.- Bernama

It's a bumpy year ahead, says astrologers

HONG KONG: Conflicts, disasters, record high temperatures, an economic chill in Asia and more trouble for Justin Bieber -- the upcoming Year of the Horse is set to be a dramatic one, say Hong Kong feng shui masters.

With the Year of the Snake slithering into history, they say that the incoming Lunar New Year beginning on Friday is going to be the kind of horse that you shouldn't stand behind -- because it incorporates the volatile element of fire.

"With this being the Year of the Wood Horse, and with wood being very combustible, there will be a lot of scandals, conflicts, explosions and arguments," celebrity feng-shui master Alion Yeo told AFP.

Feng shui --- literally meaning "wind-water" -- is influential in many parts of Asia, where people adjust their lives and even renovate offices and homes based on its edicts to maximise their luck and wealth.

Yeo says that conflict in the new year could be defined by anything from diplomatic tension to armed engagement, particularly in the first, fourth and seventh lunar months -- February, May and August.

"The most likely thing that could lead to a physical war would be the Diaoyu Islands," Yeo said, referring to acute tensions between Japan and China over the Japanese-controlled islets that Tokyo calls the Senkaku islands.

The previous Year of the Wood Horse in 1954 was marked by nuclear bomb tests by the US and the former Soviet Union and the battle of Dien Bien Phu, which led to the defeat of French forces in Vietnam.

West gallops ahead

Chinese fortune-telling such as feng shui is based on ancient philosophy and the belief that events are dictated by the varying balances in the five elements that make up the universe: metal, wood, water, fire and earth.

The lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon and through Chinese folklore ascribes 12 animals, one for each year in the rotating cycle. The horse is in the seventh position.

Feng shui master Chow Hon-ming believes that while the United States and Europe will enjoy economic recovery, nations such as Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, India and Pakistan will feel a negative impact.

"The Western economy will see obvious improvement but Eastern nations will face difficulties and their economies may even take backward steps."

Chow believes it will be a tricky year for US President Barack Obama, who was born in the Year of the Ox in 1961.

"He may make gaffes, he may face obstacles when it comes to cutting through political red tape," Chow said.

Record-high temperatures and natural disasters will be prominent due to the influence of the fire element, according to soothsayers.

"There will be a higher chance of volcanic eruption and earthquakes because the earth element will be irritated by the abundance of fire," fortune-teller Cheng Chi-hang told AFP, adding that Japan, Indonesia and China will be particularly prone.

Bad year for Bieber?

A person's fortune is calculated by using the exact time and date of his birth, with the relationship of each of the elements.

Troubled Canadian pop star Justin Bieber will be on a streak of negativity this year, Yeo said. "There will be times where he will not be able to control himself."

Bieber, 19, was charged with driving under the influence after police caught him drag-racing in Miami Beach last week -- allegedly after drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana.

"His fire element, if he goes all the way, could lead to health risks," Yeo said.

Celebrities born in the Year of the Horse include boxer Manny Pacquiao, actress Halle Berry, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the late former South African president Nelson Mandela -- whose 1990 release from prison also occurred in a "horse" year.

Tens of thousands of worshippers will be offering sticks of incense on the eve of the first day of the Lunar New Year to pray for good luck and fortune at Hong Kong's Wong Tai Sin Temple.

The former British colony is also a popular horse-racing destination, hosting the Chinese New Year Raceday on February 2, with total payouts of up to HK$68 million ($8.76 million).

The city will celebrate the new year with a 23-minute long fireworks display on Saturday, which organisers say will display the word "win" in capital letters twice.

In mainland China tourism operators are also seeking to capitalise, particularly in Dan Xia Shan, a mountainous tourist attraction in the southern province of Guangdong which includes five hills known as "five horses return to the manger". - AFP 

Zamir juara Masterchef All Stars

KUALA LUMPUR: Walaupun hampir kecewa kerana saingan yang amat sengit, tuah menyebelahi peserta paling muda 'Masterchef All Stars', Arshad Zamir.

Peserta berusia 21 tahun itu dinobat sebagai juara selepas menewaskan Celina Khor di Episod Pembalasan Terakhir.

Menyifatkan Celina sebagai pesaing kuat sepanjang pertandingan, Zamir hampir putus harapan kerana bertembung Celina di pusingan akhir.

Zamir memilih untuk menghidangkan 'Sup Cendawan' sebagai pembuka selera, 'Sea Bass Gone Wild' sebagai hidangan utama dan 'Kek Angel'.

Kemenangan itu juga melayakkannya menyumbangkan wang sebanyak RM55,000 kepada badan kebajikan 'Rumah Teduhan Kasih'.

Barisan juri tetap terdiri daripada Chef Johari Edrus atau lebih dikenali sebagai Papa Joe, Chef Zubir Md Zain dan Chef Adu Amran.

Pernah menyertai Masterchef musim pertama, Zamir hanya berjaya menempatkan diri sebagai empat yang terbaik di kalangan peserta akhir.

Astro Awani 

Ditahan kali kedua berkhalwat bersama peniaga

Dua beradik masing-masing berumur 15 dan 18 tahun diarahkan menjalani hukuman selama enam bulan di Pusat Perlindungan Wanita Baitul Ehsan, Selangor oleh Mahkamah Rendah Syariah Kuala Terengganu, semalam.

KUALA TERENGGANU - Tidak pernah serik! Dua beradik yang sebelum ini pernah ditangkap berkhalwat bersama lima lelaki di dalam sebuah bilik hotel sekali lagi dicekup penguat kuasa selepas didapati tinggal sebumbung dengan seorang peniaga, kelmarin.

Bagaimanapun, perbuatan tidak bermoral dua beradik yang masing-masing berusia 15 dan 18 tahun itu menerima padah apabila diarahkan menjalani hukuman selama enam bulan di Pusat Perlindungan Wanita Baitul Ehsan, Selangor oleh Mahkamah Rendah Syariah, di sini, semalam.

Hakim Syarie Kamalruazmi Ismail membuat keputusan itu selepas dua beradik berkenaan mengaku bersalah melakukan kesalahan di bawah Seksyen 31 (b) Enakmen Kesalahan Jenayah Syariah (Takzir) (Terengganu) 2001 kerana berkhalwat.

Dua beradik itu bersama seorang lelaki berusia 26 tahun yang bekerja sebagai peniaga mengaku bersalah melakukan khalwat di dalam sebuah rumah di Kondo Rakyat, di sini, 27 Januari lalu.

Berdasarkan fakta kes, sepasukan pegawai dan anggota membuat serbuan di rumah berkenaan kira-kira jam 10.45 pagi.

Ketika sampai, pintu rumah serta tingkap berkunci sebelum dibuka seorang lelaki dan hasil pemeriksaan, mereka bukan pasangan suami isteri atau mahram.

Sebelum ini, satu waran tangkap dikeluarkan mahkamah bagi menahan dua beradik itu selepas keduanya gagal hadir ke mahkamah.

Kedua mereka sebelum ini turut didakwa melakukan khalwat bersama lima lelaki berusia antara 19 hingga 22 tahun di dalam sebuah bilik hotel, di sini, kira-kira jam 2.30 pagi pada 7 Jun 2013.

Bagi setiap pertuduhan, Kamalruazmi mengarahkan dua beradik berkenaan menjalani hukuman enam bulan di Pusat Perlindungan Wanita Baitul Ehsan, Selangor, bagaimanapun beliau membenarkan hukuman itu berjalan serentak.

Dua rakan lelaki tertuduh masing-masing berusia 19 dan 21 tahun sudah pun menjalani hukuman sementara satu waran tangkap dikeluarkan terhadap tiga lagi tertuduh selepas gagal hadir ke mahkamah.

Pendakwaan dijalankan Timbalan Ketua Pendakwa Syarie, Jabatan Undang-undang dan Pendakwaan Terengganu.

Sinar Harian 

Azmin cabar Najib turun berentap tentang Anwar di Kajang

KAJANG: Timbalan Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Mohamed Azmin Ali mencabar kepimpinan UMNO untuk menurunkan calon mereka berentap dalam Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) N25 DUN Kajangyang akan datang.

"Kita mencabar UMNO menurunkan calon mereka termasuk juga Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak supaya turun bertanding di Kajang ini. Mereka tak perlu menurunkan calon-calon daripada MCA, MIC atau Gerakan tetapi calon-calon UMNO yang kononnya dikatakan berwibawa dan menjadi pejuang untuk segala hal dan inilah tempatnya jika mereka berani," kata Azmin.

Beliau yang juga Pengerusi Perhubungan PKR Selangor menyatakan bahawa tindakan Anwar untuk bertanding di Kajang bukanlah kerana Ketua Umum PKR itu begitu berkehendakkan jawatan ADUN tetapi ianya dilakukan semata-mata untuk membuat satu perubahan besar kepada Kajang dan penduduk Selangor amnya.

"Bukan Datuk Seri Anwar kemaruk sangat nak jadi ADUN tetapi perubahan besar yang hendak kami lakukan akan bermula dari sini di Kajang sebelum perlahan-lahan menginjak ke peringkat negeri Selangor dan kemudiannya ke Putrajaya dan insyallah, dalam masa tiga tahun lagi Putrajaya bakal kita duduki," katanya ketika berucap ketika Majlis Taklimat Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) N25 Kajang di Dewan Orang Ramai, Sungai Sekamat disini.

Azmin turut menyatakan bahawa pengunduran Lee sebagai Adun Kajang merupakan suatu gerakan taktikal politik dalam mengukuhkan kedudukan Pakatan Rakyat di Selangor.

“Ianya satu gerakan taktikal politik dan kami memerlukan satu tempat untuk dikosongkan dan segala tindakan dilakukan kerana Anwar merupakan “pemimpin utama” negara yang berkaliber dan bertaraf dunia. Beliau bukan sahaja milik Malaysia, kajang dan Selangor malah, negara Timur Tengah turut memerlukan beliau,” katanya lagi.

Azmin menambah, sebelum Kajang dipilih sebagai tempat untuk meletakkan Anwar bertanding disitu, beliau juga ada menawarkan tempat beliau sendiri, DUN Bukit Antarabangsa kepada Anwar namun ditolak oleh Anwar.

“Malah, Adun Sri Andalas, Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar turut menawarkan tempat beliau kepada Anwar namun akhirnya setelah perbincangan dibuat Kajang dipilih sebagai

Azmin juga menegaskan sekali lagi supaya tiada sebarang spekulasi berkenaan perlantikan Menteri Besar Selangor dilakukan.

“Saya telah menegaskan semalam jangan buat sebarang spekulasi tentang perlantikan Menteri Besar. Hari ini, kita tumpukan seluruh tenaga untuk memberi kemenangan kepada Pakatan Rakyat dalam PRK DUN Kajang,” katanya.

Oleh hal demikian, Azmin berkata PKR menghormati sentimen rakan-rakan dalam Pakatan Rakyat seperti PAS yang dipetik melalui HarakahDaily menyatakan bahawa seandainya jawatan menteri besar Selangor kosong, PAS Selangor sedia kemukakan senarai calon.

“Saya telah menghubungi Pesuruhjaya PAS Selangor, Iskandar Abdul Samad dan menyatakan saya menghormati pandangan dan keprihatinan rakan-rakan dalam PAS dan kita akan berbincang dalam satu pertemuan dengan PAS esok,” katanya.

Azmin akan mengadakan perbincangan bersama dengan Iskandar dan juga Pengerusi DAP Selangor, Tony Pua sebagai persiapan bagi menghadapi pilihan raya kecil itu nanti.

Taklimat yang dihadiri kira-kira 300 orang membincangkan perlaksanaan jentera-jentera pilihan raya PKR bagi menghadapi pilihan raya kecil Kajang.

Majlis tersebut turut dihadiri Ketua Wanita PKR, Zuraida Kamaruddin, Ahli Majlis Pimpinan Pusat, Dr Xavier Jayakumar, Ahli Parlimen Kapar, G.Manivannan dan mantan Adun Kajang, Lee Chin Cheh dan pimpinan PKR Selangor yang lain.

Pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 (PRU13) yang lalu, kerusi DUN Kajang dimenangi oleh Lee Chin Cheh dari PKR menewaskan saingannya, Lee Ban Seng (BN) dengan majoriti 6,824.

Kerusi tersebut turut ditandingi oleh Mohamad Ismail dari Berjasa yang memperoleh 1,014 undi dan tiga calon Bebas, iaitu Ir. Mohd Iwan Jefry Abdul Majid, Mohd Khalid Kassim dan Ong Yan Foo.

Astro Awani 

Van Persie and Young goals give United victory

New recruit Juan Mata made his debut as Manchester United beat Cardiff City 2-0 at Old Trafford to ease the pressure on boss David Moyes.

A long pass from the £37.1 million signing to Patrice Evra in the sixth minute lead to an Ashley Young cross that was headed against the bar by Antonio Valencia, then against Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall by Robin van Persie, and then finally into the goal at the Dutch striker’s second attempt.

The rest of the half dragged slowly to a conclusion as United had just one more good chance, Van Persie shooting wide from a tight angle, and Cardiff went close when Jamie Noone could not turn a knock-down towards goal.

In the second half Cardiff went close when Declan John’s pull-back was just inches from Kim Bo-Kyung’s run. Moments later, Young blasted a brilliant shot into the bottom right corner of the net from outside the box after cutting in from the left.

The game was settled at that point, but Valencia brought a great save from Marshall, seeing his shot palmed onto the post.

With minutes remaining, Mata left to a standing ovation from the home crowd as he was replaced by Adnan Januzaj, the United fans clearly impressed by what they had seen.

Reuters, January 29, 2014

Rafizi Ramli apologises to Malaysians

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli has apologised to the Malaysian public, especially Kajang voters who are now forced to face a by-election and for the use of public funds at a time when many are going through economic hardships.

"There is no excuse for wasting public funds and as such I would like to offer my sincerest apologies. The party is also prepared to face the consequences should the voters of Kajang decide to punish us,” he said.

On Monday, PKR’s Lee Chin Cheh stepped down from the seat which he won during the 13th General Election through a letter sent to the state assembly speaker, stating that the move would enable the party to serve the people of Selangor better.

His action had taken several Pakatan Rakyat leaders by surprise and earned the criticism of many including the Bersih 2.0 electoral watchdog.

In a statement released Wednesday, Rafizi said as the strongest proponent of the scheme, he will bear most responsibility for the decision.

He also apologised for the varying opinions among PKR members, which would appear as though there are factions in the party which often frustrated the public.

He added that the party is doing its best to resolve issues within now for the sake of Malaysians, as any delays would condemn the party to the same experience Pakatan faced in Kedah.

Rafizi said the decision to field Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as a candidate for the Kajang by-election was the party’s radical strategy to win Putrajaya.

He added although the “Kajang Move” may not be popular, it will help the party move a step closer to Putrajaya.

Rafizi likened PR’s strategy to that of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who was initially the mayor of Istanbul.

He admitted that the administration of Selangor, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has performed well over the past six years, but it now faces new challenges from UMNO .

He said the decision to put Anwar to contest in the Kajang constituency is to provide leadership when it would be necessary later.

"Does this mean there will be a change of leadership in state government? Maybe yes, maybe no. But we do have the option to optimise the leadership's potential should UMNO create issues," he said.

Meanwhile, former member of Parliament for Balik Pulau Yusmadi Yusoff argued that Malaysians should issue a clear message that the right to development is no longer a monopoly of political parties.

In an interview in Analisis AWANI on Tuesday, Yusmadi said Anwar's nomination by the party showed that Malaysia's political landscape still has a long way to go.

“People’s hope has been lifted high, but when we make decisions like this, it is not a new politics but a new political game. A party like PKR, which has the experience of ruling, I would say, this is not the way.

"The right to own a candidate is the party’s right, to choose is the people's right.” he added. 

Astro Awani 

Fury over Li Na tennis bonus

China's Li Na makes a backhand return to Ana Konjuh of Croatia during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne on January 13, 2014. --AP Photo

BEIJING: Chinese official media and web users poured scorn on local government officials Wednesday after they gave multi-millionaire tennis star Li Na an 800,000 yuan (US$132,000) reward for winning the Australian Open.

Li was handed a giant red cheque by Wang Guosheng, governor of her home province of Hubei, as soon as she landed back from Melbourne on Monday.

The 31-year-old had already received prize money of A$2.65 million (US$2.3 million)for winning the Australian Open -- her second Grand Slam title.

Chinese Internet users, angry at the additional reward given by local officials, accused them of wasting taxpayers' money that could have been used to address the needs of the poor.

"The government and the party should stop spending money as they wish," said a poster on China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo.

"The cash is taxpayers' and should be spent on people in need, not abused in a (political) charade," they added.

The official Xinhua news agency also weighed in, carrying a commentary on Wednesday that called the event "embarrassing" and "money-worshipping".

"A bonus from the government is by no means Li Na's most wanted reward after she won the Grand Slam title... perhaps only China's sports authorities value the power of money so much," said Xinhua.

It cited Xiao Huanyu, a sports professor in Shanghai, as saying: "The government deems sports achievement a kind of political achievement. Therefore it needed to hand out the bonus to 'show its face' even though Li Na's triumph had little to do with the government."

Li opted out of China's rigid state sports system in 2008 to go it alone, hiring her own coaches and controlling more of her winnings in a career-defining move, and regularly says she represents only herself.

The Hubei provincial government previously gave her a 600,000 yuan bonus after her historic first Grand Slam triumph, the 2011 French Open, which she later donated to a local nursing house.

The Beijing News also defended Li -- who has a sometimes troubled relationship with Chinese media -- publishing a commentary Wednesday branding local officials as opportunists.

"This group of people has remained the same all along -- they will not endure failure with you but they are more than happy to share your victory," said the article, written under the alias of Xiao Shiyilang -- a Robin Hood-like character from a kung fu novel who steals from the rich to give to the poor. - AFP 

Bird flu cases surge ahead of Chinese New Year

Health workers in full protective gear picking up chickens that had been culled in plastic bags at a wholesale poultry market in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014. --AP Photo/Vincent Yu

SHANGHAI: Three members of the same Chinese family have contracted H7N9 bird flu in the province worst-affected by the current spike in cases, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

A couple and their daughter in Hangzhou, the capital of the eastern province of Zhejiang, were infected one after another, Xinhua said late Tuesday, without giving further details.

Health authorities are investigating, it added.

China's human H7N9 outbreak began in February 2013 and sparked fears the virus could mutate to become easily transmissible between people, potentially triggering a pandemic.

Both Chinese authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) have said there has been no evidence so far of sustained human-to-human transmission.

But limited spread, such as between relatives in close contact, is possible, and there have been previous such family clusters.

So far this year, China has confirmed 110 human H7N9 cases, including 22 deaths, according to an AFP tally of reports by local authorities.

By comparison there were 144 infections and 46 deaths in all of 2013, according to official figures.

The WHO said on Wednesday that the spike in cases this year was not surprising due to seasonal factors, rather than a virus mutation.

"Today there is no evidence that the characteristics of the virus have changed in a way that would explain an increase in cases and change in case fatality," WHO Representative in China Bernhard Schwartländer told AFP in an email.

Zhejiang alone has seen 53 cases this year, almost half the national total, and 12 deaths.

Local authorities are to permanently ban live poultry markets in major cities, according to reports in official media. - AFP 

i-City perkenal tarikan terbaharu 'Space Mission'

Para pengunjung sedang menaiki tarikan terbaharu i-City, Space Shuttle, semasa pratonton kepada pihak media di Shah Alam. --foto BERNAMA

SHAH ALAM: i-City, sebuah destinasi pelancongan popular di Selangor telah memperkenalkan tarikan terbaharunya - Space Mission@i-City yang memberi pendidikan dan hiburan kepada pengunjung dalam penerokaan angkasa lepas yang futuristik.

Dibina di kawasan seluas 30,000 kaki persegi, 'Space Mission' bertujuan memupuk minat dalam bidang sains dan teknologi angkasa dengan cara yang inovatif dengan menjadikannya acara bersama keluarga tanpa mengira umur untuk terlibat dalam pelbagai bentuk perjalanan pengembaraan angkasa, menurut i-City dalam kenyataan yang dikeluarkan di sini sempena lawatan media untuk melihat tarikan terbaharu di pusat itu.

Semasa lawatan itu, media diberi peluang untuk mengalami perjalanan antara galaksi dan melihat komet dan hujan metoer, pertemuan dengan makhluk asing seperti yang pernah dilihat dalam filem "Alien" dan menyertai permainan pertempuran dengan makhluk asing.

Pengurus Maklumat I Bhd, pemaju i-City Tang Soke Cheng berkata 'Space Mission' berharap dapat menarik pelancong domestik dan asing untuk melawat ke pusat pelancongan berkenaan.

Peningkatan jumlah pengunjung ke i-City akan turut menyumbang kepada pendapatan sektor pelancongan negara dan pendapatan hasil Tahun Melawat Malaysia 2014, katanya.

Tang berkata Space Mission akan memulakan operasi pada Selasa dan yuran masuk sempena promosi Tahun Baharu Cina ialah RM15.

Selain 'Space Mission', i-City juga mempunyai tarikan utama yang lain termasuk Muzium Lilin Interaktif Pertama di Malaysia, Rumah Hantu, Trick Art Muzium, taman tema salji-SnoWalk, taman Tema air-Waterworld dan Kota Cahaya Digital di tapak seluas 10 hektar di Seksyen 7, di sini.

BERNAMA 

Dollah Salleh masuk wad akibat masalah jantung

PENGENDALI PDRM FC, Dollah Salleh dilaporkan berada di Hospital Damansara kerana alami masalah jantung.

Difahamkan, kelibat Dollah berada di Wisma FAM petang tadi sebelum satu sumber berkata, beliau dikejarkan ke hospital bagi menerima rawatan.

Sumber: Sinar Harian 

Jambatan Pulau Pinang sesak teruk akibat kemalangan

BUTTERWORTH: Ratusan pengguna jalan raya yang melalui Jambatan Pulau Pinang dari Seberang Perai menghala ke bahagian pulau terperangkap dalam kesesakan teruk akibat berlaku kemalangan yang melibatkan dua buah kereta pagi tadi.

Jurucakap Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd berkata kemalangan berlaku di lorong kiri di Km 4.8 pada pukul 8.15 pagi.

"Ia tidak melibatkan kecederaan serius, bagaimanapun menyebabkan kesesakan teruk berikutan waktu puncak ketika orang ramai mahu ke tempat kerja.

"Kami berusaha mengalihkan kenderaan terbabit bagi membolehkan lalu lintas bergerak lancar namun sikap pengguna yang memperlahankan kenderaan untuk melihat kemalangan itu memburukkan lagi keadaan," katanya.

Kedua-dua kenderaan terlibat berjaya dialihkan oleh trak penunda kira-kira sejam selepas kemalangan.

Tinjaun Bernama mendapati kesesakan berlaku dari susur masuk ke Permatang Pauh hingga tempat kejadian iaitu sejauh kira-kira 10 kilometer. - BERNAMA 

Prosiding kes isteri 'Papagomo' ditangguh

SHAH ALAM - Mahkamah Tinggi Syariah di sini semalam menangguhkan prosiding notis tunjuk sebab bekas isteri Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris,31, pada 26 Februari ini berhubung kes pelanggaran perintah hak jagaan sementara dan penyerahan dua anak perempuan mereka.

Hakim Syarie Mohammad Adib Husain memutuskan demikian selepas membenarkan permohonan peguam syarie, Mohd Ihsan Mohamad Daud yang mewakili Wan Muhammad Azri, selaku responden yang memohon untuk menangguhkan prosiding sehingga keputusan rayuan yang difailkan di Mahkamah Rayuan Syariah diperoleh.

Rayuan dibuat bagi memohon mahkamah menyemak semula tuntutan yang difailkan Bellina Omar Sharifuddin Chin, 29, selepas Wan Muhammad Azri gagal mematuhi perintah mahkamah untuk menyerahkan dua anak perempuan mereka, iaitu Wan Cassandra, 5 dan Wan Camillea, 3.

Pada tarikh itu juga mahkamah akan mendengar kes induk iaitu berhubung hak jagaan anak pasangan berkenaan.

Terdahulu, peguam syarie Datuk Mohd Zaidi Mohd Zain yang mewakili Bellina memaklumkan yang responden telah menyerahkan kedua-dua anak mereka kepadanya untuk dijaga dalam tempoh seminggu dalam sebulan.

Mahkamah juga membatalkan waran tangkap yang dikenakan terhadap Muhammad Azri selepas lelaki itu pada sebutan kes Disember lalu memohon ia dibatalkan dan dia berjanji akan hadir pada setiap prosiding dengan jaminan Mohd Ihsan.

Pada 27 November tahun lalu, Wan Muhammad Azri dikenakan waran tangkap selepas Mohd Zaidi memaklumkan responden tidak hadir pada dua prosiding notis tunjuk sebab.

Mohd Zaidi memaklumkan mahkamah, notis tunjuk sebab disampaikan kepada Wan Muhammad Azri di kediamannya pada jam 9.41 malam, 7 November lalu.

Responden menerima dan menandatangani surat akuan penerimaan namun gagal beri sebab mengenai ketidakhadirannya ke mahkamah pada prosiding lalu.

Pada 2 September tahun lalu, Mahkamah Syariah memerintahkan Wan Muhammad Azri menyerahkan dua anak perempuannya kepada Bellina, namun Wan Muhammad Azri tidak berbuat demikian.

Bellina memfailkan notis tunjuk sebab terhadap Wan Muhammad Azri pada 1 Oktober lalu kerana melanggar perintah mahkamah.

Pasangan itu mendirikan rumah tangga pada 25 Februari 2006 dan bercerai talak satu pada 24 September tahun lalu.

Sinar Harian 

Yuktes cabar Anwar di Kajang, tidak kisah kalah

KUALA LUMPUR: Bekas peguambela kes liwat Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hari ini mengumumkan bahawa beliau akan bertanding dalam Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kajang.

Yuktes Vijay yang juga pengasas badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) Take The Lead, mengesahkan perkara ini melalui laman Facebooknya.

"Ya, saya akan bertanding untuk DUN Kajang...BN tanding ke tak tanding adalah prerogatif BN...Tiada kaitan dengan saya...Memang benar saya sokong BN terutamanya PM..Tak nafi tetapi calonnya Anwar Ibrahim...Bermaksud BN akan kalah..Hakikat..Terima je," katanya dalam laman Facebooknya.

Yuktes yang berusia 25 tahun itu, akan mencabar Anwar di Kajang sebagai calon bebas.

Dalam laman Twitternya, Yuktes berkata beliau tidak kisah sekiranya beliau kalah dan hilang depositnya, kerana beliau yang penting beliau ingin mengurangkan majoriti Anwar.

Yuktes yang merupakan sebahagian anggota pasukan peguambela Anwar selama tiga tahun, sebelum ini berkata beliau mengambil keputusan menarik diri Ogos 2012, selepas menyedari lelaki yang menjadi idolanya itu, bukan seperti diharapkan.

Manifesto Yuktes adalah ‘Wakil rakyat yang telah dipilih perlu menunaikan manifesto Pilihan raya Umum (PRU) ke-12 dan ke-13’.

DUN Kajang sebelum ini diwakili oleh Lee Chin Cheh yang memperolehi 19,571 undi dengan majoriti 6,824 dalam pertandingan enam penjuru. 

Astro Awani 

Shalwati Nurshal is a doting mother

KUALA LUMPUR: The pleas for placing the four Malaysian children to a Muslim foster care, whose parents are detained in Sweden following reports of alleged beating due to religious reasons, seem hopeful after the Social Welfare Department in Sweden identified two Muslim families there.

However, the fate of the children's mother who is currently detained by Swedish authorities, is still in vague.

Shalwati Nurshal's lawyer explained that the accusations of slapping and beating her children appeared more than once.

A close family member who grew up with Shalwati, who now resides abroad, said that she is appalled by the term ‘abuse’.That it has been irresponsibly used by all local media even before Shalwati was officially charged. She said that every time she read updates on this case, her heart can’t stop but succumb to disappointment and sadness.

According to this close family member, Shalwati is a loving and caring woman. Like any other protective mother, Shalwati shows nothing but unconditional love towards her children and other family members. “Shal is a pious lady, she recites the Quran everyday and she will never in a million years bring any form of harm or hurt, may it be physically or psychologically to any of her children. Whatever she does, it is always for the very best interest of her children.”

"Shal told me that even if she is acquitted, she is aware that she will have to fight for her children. All Shal ever wish for right now is for her children to be placed in a Muslim home and that she has faith in her children to not abandon their religious practice" she added.

Another close family member also said that Shalwati is a very independent woman. She has always advised her siblings on the importance of independence, religious beliefs and good education. And these are the vital principles that she instills in her children.

“In mid 90’s, Shalwati was our warden, we call her Ms. Shal. She was the most caring warden and she never stops motivating us, even today. I remember vividly the things she did for me. In my teens, Ms Shal will shout and knock on my hostel door to make sure that we perform our Subuh prayers. She is vocal like that, and I really felt at home with her,” said Azaratul Azlin Aziz who is a former student of Sekolah Menengah Seri Puteri and also Shalwati’s friend.

Azaratul also called Shalwati as a doting mother.

She added,"Ms. Shal is very, very motherly. Kind and strict at the same time but never abusive. She is motherly not just to her own children but also to all of her students, all of us. I don’t believe the accusations that’s been made unto her, this is solely a case of clash of culture”

Astro Awani