How about flexible work hours?

As the world gets more connected by means of the Internet,the freelance economy has scaled beyond geographical constraints.

More global citizen warms up to the idea of freelancing and more companies explore the option of hiring on-demand workforce.

Among the advantages of freelancing include:

a. Flexible hours

b. More control over who you work with or who your clients are

c. Say goodbye to office cubicles and hello to new and vibrant spaces that you choose to work from.

d. You become responsible for managing your own time, making tough decisions and meeting the deadlines - you are your own boss.

e. Ability to start a profitable business with a low investment

And some of the disadvantages of freelancing include:

a. There will be no steady stream of income and workloads.

b. You will work without employee benefits.

c. You’ll have to look for your own client and projects.

Freelancing means every other day you aren’t working is a day you won’t get paid. Not being able to tap into a resource in search for clients and projects may prove to be “fatal” for a freelancer’s business.

Apart from getting the word around through your personal network, what is the more efficient way to proactively expedite the process of landing yourself in a freelance gig?

To bridge the supply and demand of on-demand workforce, online freelance marketplace such as Elance, Guru and Freelancer have been growing over the years.

In an interview with Evan Tan, Regional Director for Southeast Asia of Freelancer.com, he is confident that the time is ripe for freelancing. “We offer opportunity to professionals, wherever they may be in the world.

"We are in the business of creating partnerships between startup entrepreneurs & small businesses with freelance professionals—there has never been a better time to do this, thanks to the Internet.”

Freelancer.com is founded by the current CEO Matt Barrie. In 2009, Matt stumbled upon a Swedish site called GetAFreelancer.com with about half a million users on it.

“Matt was so impressed after using the service and had a vision that this will revolutionise the way the world works, so he ended up buying the website. He then acquired some ten other small players in the industry and rolled it up as Freelancer.com,” Evan recounted.

Since then, the site has expanded to more than 247 countries and regions.

Evan believes that their site will be beneficial to Malaysian youth, “with about 10% of the segment of the population unemployed,these are literate, skilled people who simply can’t find jobs out there—and this challenge is not exclusive to them.”

According to Evan, this is a challenge faced across the world by professionals within that age range.

“With 700 skill categories available on our platform, Freelancer.com provides an opportunity for the youth to raise their economic status as well as for employed professionals to augment their income,” he added.

When asked about how does Freelancer.com differentiate itself from competitors, Evan said that they have been uplifting the freelancing experience through the integration of numerous features and services, including the recently launched Android app for Android wear, and various websites that Freelancer acquired that aim to educate and empower freelancers and startups.

“For instance, we have Warrior Forum that helps users learn Internet Marketing techniques to grow their business, and Fantero that provides virtual content not just for designers, but businesses in need of quality stock photos, web templates, as well as audio, music, and video files,” he elaborated.

While a large number of Freelancer users come from Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines, Evan said that there’s still a huge opportunity to grow the market in this region, “the key challenge would really be to educate people that this is a viable and rewarding career path that they can take. We also need to educate entrepreneurs on how to utilise and maximise a freelance talent pool to grow their startups.”

To grow the market in this region, Freelancer has been rolling out the website in local languages and this has been proven effective in helping potential users to learn more about the site. “We have already launched languages in Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Indonesia, and Filipino, Tieng Viet, and Thai. We have also enabled small businesses to look for freelancers in their particular area,” Evan added.

The top ten projects being outsourced to Southeast Asia on Freelancer.com require skill sets related to: PHP, graphic design, website design, HTML, data entry, Internet marketing, Wordpress, MySQL, CSS and mobile app development. 

Over 6 million projects have been completed on the Freelancer platform. “Millions of entrepreneurs have been empowered by our website, and we anticipate that figure to grow even higher,” he projected.

- source: Astro Awani

15 killed In 1,357 road accidents in a week in Johor

The police recorded 1,357 road accidents in Johor in a week after the launch of the 'Op Selamat 5' road safety campaign. - File Pic

JOHOR BAHARU: The police recorded 1,357 road accidents in Johor in a week after the launch of the 'Op Selamat 5' road safety campaign, said Johor Police chief Senior DCP Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff.

He said 15 of the accidents were fatal and resulted in 15 deaths. Two people were badly injured and two were slightly hurt.

Eleven of the dead were motorcyclists or pillion-riders, he said, adding that the rest were two lorry drivers, one driver of a four-wheel-drive vehicle and one tractor driver.

A total of 13,535 summonses for traffic offences were issued during the week, he told reporters at the Aidilfitri open house of the Johor police contingent.

Mohd Mokhtar said police conducted 3,379 visits to 2,416 houses that were unoccupied after their occupants had returned to their hometowns or villages for the Aidilfitri. - Bernama

Jika DUN Selangor bubar, siapa MB pilihan anda?

Jika DUN Selangor bubar, siapa MB pilihan anda?

Awal hari ini, Menteri Besar Selangor Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim berkata Pakatan Rakyat tidak harus memperalatkan rakyat Selangor sebagai batu loncatan untuk menguasai Putrajaya tanpa mendapat persetujuan mereka terlebih dahulu.

Menurut Khalid, sekiranya PR mahu menjadikan Selangor sebagai asas pelancaran ke Putrajaya, ia perlu meminta mandat daripada rakyat.

Persoalannya, jika DUN Selangor bubar, siapa MB pilihan anda? Wajarkah ada mandat baru untuk rakyat? Berikut adalah undian hasil tinjauan Astro Awani setakat jam 7.30pm pada 28 Julai 2014:

Siapa patut jadi MB Selangor?

Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim 58.09%  

Bukan yang diatas 19.85%  

Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah 13.24%  

Azmin Ali 6.62%  

Iskandar Samad 2%  

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Adakah wajar bagi Dewan Undangan Negeri Selangor dibubar untuk mandat baru rakyat?

Tidak 68.82%  

Ya 31.18%  

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Mungkinkah Pakatan Rakyat berpecah selepas Aidilfitri?

Ya 46.43%  

Tidak 33.33%  

Tidak tahu 20.24%  

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Kemungkinan Pakatan Rakyat berpecah selepas Aidilfitri tinggi

Pendirian Abdul Hadi dalam isu Menteri Besar Selangor menjejaskan kerjasama dalam Pakatan Rakyat. - Gambar Fail

KUALA LUMPUR: Kemelut dalam Pakatan Rakyat dilihat banyak pihak semakin meruncing dan tarikh 10 Ogos nanti akan menjadi penentu kesudahan kerjasama PAS, DAP dan PKR.

Penganalisis politik, Ibrahim Suffian berpendapat, gabungan parti pembangkang itu bergantung nasib kepada keputusan mesyuarat PAS Pusat pada 10 Ogos nanti.

Katanya, keputusan sama ada PAS akan menyokong pendirian PKR untuk menggugurkan Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim akan menentukan masa depan Pakatan Rakyat.

"Isu Tan Sri Khalid ini bukan hanya sekadar isu menukar menteri besar tetapi ia juga melibatkan kerjasama antara PAS, DAP dan PKR.

"Kemungkinan akan berpecah itu ada dan sangat besar kerana PAS dilihat tidak bersetuju dengan pendirian yang telah dibuat oleh Majlis Pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat.

"Jika dalam mesyuarat PAS Pusat 10 Ogos nanti PAS kekal dengan pendirian mahu Tan Sri Khalid kekal sebagai menteri besar Selangor, besar kemungkinan Pakatan Rakyat akan berpecah," katanya kepada Astro AWANI.

Katanya, biarpun ada pandangan dalam PAS yang mahu supaya Abdul Khalid melepaskan jawatannya, namun pada akhirnya ia akan bergantung kepada keputusan Presidennya, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Jelas beliau, disiplin dalam parti itu sangat tinggi, setiap ahli telah dididik supaya patuh kepada keputusan yang telah dibuat oleh pemimpinnya terutama presiden.

"Untuk memastikan keputusan PAS selari dengan kemahuan Pakatan Rakyat, maka perlu ada pihak yang terpaksa memujuk Hadi Awang supaya bersetuju dengan cadangan menukar Tan Sri Khalid.

"Jika tidak, kita akan melihat PAS kembali seperti duhulu menjadi parti yang kuat di Pantai Timur terutama di Kelantan," katanya.

Pandangan sama diberikan oleh beberapa pemimpin PAS yang melihat parti itu semakin menunjukkan sikap sukar untuk bekerjasama.

Portal berita The Malaysia Insider sebelum ini melaporkan terdapat pemimpin PAS yang menjangkakan Pakatan Rakyat munkin berpecah selepas sambutan Hari Raya Aidilfitri berikutan tindakan Abdul Hadi menidakkan keputusan Majlis Pimpinan gabungan pembangkang itu yang sudah bersetuju supaya Abdul Khalid digantikan dengan calon lain dari PKR sebagai menteri besar Selangor.

Laporan itu memetik sumber yang didakwa pemimpin tertinggi PAS yang dilaporan sebagai berkata kumpulan yang menyokong keputusan Pakatan Rakyat dalam isu penggantian menteri besar Selangor terdiri daripada kumpulan profesional manakala yang mahu Khalid terus kekal adalah dari kumpulan konservatif Dewan Ulama dan Pemuda parti itu.

"Nampak gayanya PR akan berpecah selepas Aidilfitri ini. Nampak kuat sangat ke arah itu. Hadi langgar keputusan mesyuarat PAS dan PR yang beliau sendiri tidak hadir," The Malaysian Insider memetik sumber yang didakwa pemimpin kanan PAS. - ASTRO Awani 

Kedai barang lusuh musnah dijilat api di George Town

Punca dan kerugian dalam kebakaran tersebut masih dalam siasatan. - Foto BERNAMA

GEORGE TOWN: Sebuah kedai barangan lusuh musnah, manakala bengkel kereta yang terletak bersebelahan pula rosak teruk dalam kebakaran di Jalan Tan Sri Teh Ewe Lim, di sini tengah hari ini.

Pegawai Operasi Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat negeri, M. Vijayan berkata pihak bomba menerima panggilan pada 1.52 tengah hari dan tiba di tempat kejadian pada lapan minit kemudian.

Setiba di tempat kejadian, fokus 29 anggota serta pegawai bomba dengan tiga jentera dari Balai Bomba Jalan Perak dan Paya Terubong ialah mengawal kebakaran daripada merebak ke stesen minyak yang terletak kira-kira 15 meter dari premis terbabit, katanya kepada pemberita, di lokasi di sini.

Beliau berkata api dapat dikawal dalam masa 20 minit dan dipadamkan sepenuhnya pada 2.45 petang tadi.

Punca dan jumlah kerugian masih dalam siasatan, katanya. - Bernama

Consumers disappointed by the latest in-car technologies

For the 10th year in a row, Porsche cars come top of the JD Powers APEAL survey. — ©Porsche

The 19th annual JD Power Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, which each year attempts to assess how gratifying a new car is to own and drive, finds that when it comes to design, look and feel, consumers are more than happy with their new cars. 

Especially if the car in question is a completely new or redesigned model, rather than a model that is being carried over, more or less unchanged from the previous year. 

These ‘carryover' cars averaged an APEAL score of 791 out of a possible 1000 points while new models scored an average 805, being marked higher by their owners in terms of fuel economy, styling and interior refinement. 

However, when it comes to things like navigation or voice recognition systems, the new technologies added to cars in the hopes of making them even more desirable and appealing, the same consumers are struggling to see the benefit. 

"Manufacturers often look to new features and technologies to keep their vehicles fresh and attractive, but designing systems that consumers find intuitive and easy to use has been a challenge," said Renee Stephens, vice-president of US automotive at J.D. Power. 

"Newly launched models surpass carryovers in impressing owners with the look and feel of the vehicle. But as we also see in our 2014 Initial Quality Study, owners are not as comfortable with the functionality of the features. To differentiate new models from the pack, automakers must continue to design systems that are not just attractive, but also intuitive and easy to use." 

The overall APEAL score in 2014 averages 794 — down from 795 in 2013 — with fuel economy seeing the only major uptick (a six-point climb). 

The data for the survey is gathered by polling 86,000 US consumers who have taken delivery of a new car over the past 12 months. They are asked to rate the car in question across 77 attributes and the responses are converted into a 1000-point scale. 

Using this scoring system, the car brand with the highest APEAL in 2014 is Porsche, retaining its position at the top spot for the 10th consecutive year. — ©AFP/Relaxnews 2014 

Nokia intros most affordable Windows Phone 8.1 device yet, RM423

COMNIG SOON: The Nokia Lumia 530 will be launched worldwide starting in August. — ©Nokia

With a retail price of €99 (RM423.63), the Nokia Lumia 530 promises to make Microsoft's mobile operating system accessible to a wider clientele. 

In light of its low price, it's no surprise that this four-inch Windows Phone 8.1 smartphone is not 4G-ready. 

In terms of components, the Lumia 530 comes with a four-inch screen (854x480 pixels), a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 200 processor, a single 5MP camera, 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage, which can be extended through a MicroSD card. Several Microsoft programs including Skype and Office come pre-installed. 

The new model will be rolled out globally starting this August and will be offered in a single or double-SIM version. Users will be able to customize the phone with a variety of interchangeable cases available for €9.90 each (RM42.36) or with a special case with a screen-protection flap. 

The Lumia 530 is the latest addition to the line crowned by Nokia's flagship phone, the Lumia 930, which sells in Europe for around €550 (RM2,353.52). 

A 4G smartphone with a five-inch screen of an impressive 441ppi resolution, the Lumia 930 is powered by a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor. The device also includes an NFC chip and a 20MP PureView camera with a stabilized Zeiss lens. 

The family also includes the Nokia Lumia 630 and 635, marketed as more affordable alternatives that still deliver all the advantages of Windows Phone 8.1. Both devices are sold for around €169 (RM723.17). 

All of these Lumia handsets run Windows Phone 8.1. The latest version of Microsoft's mobile operating system presents several new features, including the Action Center for managing notifications, the intelligent personal assistant Cortana (in beta version), a configurable lock screen, a Word Flow screen for typing without lifting a finger from the screen. 

Finally, the new version also offers access to a revamped and revised Store, which is now better at highlighting apps that could interest a user and at automatically updating installed apps. 

While all of these elements are new to Windows Phone, equivalent features already exist on Android and iOS, which are currently the world's leading mobile operating systems. — ©AFP/Relaxnews 2014 

Lenovo reveals Google glass competitor

AMBITIOUS: Lenovo wants to make its C1 smart glasses the hub of the connected home. — ©Lenovo

Displaying its smart glasses for the first time in prototype form in its native China on Thursday, the company is hoping to attract developers' and manufacturers' attention ahead of an official launch in October. 

Lenovo wants to make its take on smart glasses, called the C1, the central hub of the connected home or office of tomorrow. 

Although the jury is still out on how or why smart headsets can prove themselves more useful or indispensable to the average consumer than a smartphone for most day-to-day connected activities, focusing on just one task — managing an ever-growing number of other devices and home appliances — could be a good idea. 

Rather than fish around in a pocket for a smartphone and scroll through screens to find the right app just to unlock a door or turn on the lights, simply looking at the lights while wearing a headset might prove much more intuitive. 

That's part of Lenovo's vision. However, the Internet of Things might still be a high-tech niche, a market very much in its early stages, but that hasn't stopped a host of disparate, connected devices rolling out over recent months, many of which are incompatible with each other. 

And that's why the C1 glasses are just one element of Lenovo's plan. It wants to bring some interoperability and compatibility to the market and so is also launching a new platform called NBD. 

More than just some software for aiding devices to talk to each other, it is also a research and development fund, a source of high-tech expertise and a portal where companies can access everything from hardware to logistics support in order to develop products aimed initially at the Chinese market and that will work with the C1 smart glasses. 

According to PC World, which attended the unveiling in China, the NBD platform is already helping US smart headset firm Vuzix, to market its products to Chinese consumers and businesses and to attract developers who will create country-specific apps. 

As for the C1 headset itself, Lenovo hasn't issued any official images of the device and is being very secretive about its specifications. Like Google Glass, it has a front-facing camera and a prism display but the battery is contained within a section worn around the neck. 

It has, however, confirmed that more information will be revealed in October. — ©AFP/Relaxnews 2014

13 killed in clashes near crash site, probe halted

Fierce fighting in eastern Ukraine where a Malaysian airliner was downed further complicated an investigation on Sunday as Europe and the United States prepared economic sanctions on Russia over the conflict.

At least 13 people were killed in clashes between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian rebels which raged in five areas around the wider region.

International monitors said they had abandoned plans to visit the crash site due to fears it was not safe, even though Malaysia said earlier rebels had agreed to provide access.

Ukraine said it was trying to dislodge the rebels, but denied it was fighting near the crash site, saying the separatists had put the monitors off by falsely claiming that the army was operating nearby.

Russia dismissed US allegations it was about to hand over more missiles to the separatists, who Western leaders say almost certainly shot the airliner down by mistake with a Russian-supplied surface-to-air missile.

The separatists deny any involvement and Moscow says it has not supplied them, suggesting Ukrainian forces were to blame.

"Kiev is trying to destroy the evidence of a crime by its army," separatist leader Aleksander Borodai said, referring to a Ukrainian army offensive some distance from the site on Sunday.

With European states trying to minimise the impact of any future sanctions against Russia on their own economies, the US State Department sought to bolster the case for robust action by releasing images it said showed Russian forces had fired across the border at Ukrainian military in the last week.

The images, which show marks on the ground at what the State Department said were launch sites and impact craters around Ukrainian military locations, indicated fire from multiple rocket launchers, the department said.

It also said the images offered evidence that Russia-backed separatists inside Ukraine had fired on Ukrainian forces using heavy artillery supplied by Russia.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry had agreed on the need to ensure a swift ceasefire in what it described as an "internal conflict".

But the State Department said Kerry did not accept Lavrov's denial that heavy weapons from Russia were contributing to the conflict and urged him "to stop the flow of heavy weapons and rocket and artillery fire from Russia into Ukraine, and to begin to contribute to deescalating the conflict."

Kerry also underlined US support for a mutual cease-fire verified by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and reaffirmed Washington's "strong support for the

international investigation" into the downed airliner, the State Department statement added.

More missiles?

Washington said on Friday another transfer from Russia to Ukrainian separatists, this time of heavy-caliber multiple-launch rocket systems, appeared to be imminent and that Russian forces were slowly building up along the Ukrainian border.

Russia said recent international inspections had revealed no evidence of Russian military violations, without giving details.

Members of the European Union, spurred into action by the deaths of 298 people in the airliner, were expected to try to reach a final deal on Tuesday on measures including closing the bloc's capital markets to Russian state banks, an embargo on arms sales and restrictions on dual-use and energy technologies.

The EU added new names on Friday to its list of individuals and companies facing travel bans and asset freezes over their alleged involvement in Ukraine and could agree to extend the list further as early as Monday.

Washington, which has taken the lead in imposing individual and corporate penalties on Russia, said on Friday it was likely to follow up on any new EU move with more sanctions of its own.

The Ukrainian government said its forces were advancing towards the crash site to try to free it from the rebels, who have impeded the work of international monitors and whom Kiev accuses of tampering with evidence pointing to who shot it down.

Only a few international experts have so far been able to get to the site, access to which is negotiated with the rebels.

"All our troops are aiming to get there and liberate this territory so that we can guarantee that international experts can carry out a 100-percent investigation of the site and get all proof needed to deduce the real reason for this tragedy," said Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for Ukraine's Security Council.

International monitors said the fighting itself could affect the crash site, underlining the growing complexity of trying to establish who shot down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

In Donetsk, Alexander Hug, deputy head for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe's monitoring mission in Ukraine, said monitors would not visit the site on Sunday.

"The situation on the ground appears to be unsafe...," Hug, flanked by Dutch and Australian experts, told reporters. "Fighting in the area will most likely affect (the) crash site," Hug said.

An OSCE spokesman said the group would try again on Monday.

The separatists are still in control of the area where the plane was shot down earlier this month but fighting in the wider eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk has been heavy as Ukrainian government forces try to drive them out.

It was raging in at least five places on Sunday and Donetsk region health officials said 13 people were killed in fighting in the town of Horlivka, known as Gorlovka in Russian.

Lysenko said troops were advancing east from the town of Makievka towards Shakhtarsk, around 25km from the crash site. Shakhtarsk residents said air strikes hit the town.

"Our military is advancing, fighting goes on every day, every night, they have already liberated two-thirds of the territory," Lysenko told a news conference in Kiev.

But Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pvalo Klimkin said the Ukrainian army was respecting a no-fight zone within 20km from the site.

The Russian foreign ministry said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry had agreed on the need to ensure a swift ceasefire in what it described as an "internal conflict".

- Malaysia Kini

Vietnam's taste for cat leaves pets in peril

This picture taken on June 19, 2014 shows cooks chopping slaughtered cats at a restaurant in Hanoi. – AFP pic, July 28, 2014.

The enduring popularity of "little tiger" as a snack to accompany a beer in Vietnam means that cat owners live in constant fear of animal snatchers, despite an official ban.

At an unassuming restaurant next to a carwash in central Hanoi, a cat is prepared for hungry clients: drowned, shaved and burned to remove all fur before being cut up and fried with garlic.

"A lot of people eat cat meat. It's a novelty. They want to try it," said the establishment's manager To Van Dung, 35.

Vietnam has forbidden the consumption of cats in an effort to encourage their ownership and keep the capital's rat population under control.

But there are still dozens of restaurants serving cat in Hanoi and it is rare to see felines roaming the streets – most pet-owners keep them indoors or tied up out of fear of cat thieves. Such is the demand from restaurants that cats are sometimes smuggled across the border from Thailand and Laos.

Dung said that he had never had problems with the law. He buys his cats from local breeders but also so-called cat traders, with few checks on their sourcing.

"Little tiger" is typically enjoyed at the start of each lunar month, unlike dog meat which is eaten at the end. On a busy day, the restaurant can serve around 100 clients.

"I know in the United States and Britain they don't eat cat. But here we do," Nguyen Dinh Tue, 44, said as he chewed on a piece of fried cat meat.

"I don't kill the cat! But this place sells it so I like to eat it," he added.

Vietnam's penchant for eating animals that are considered pets in many other countries came about largely as a result of circumstance, said Hoang Ngoc Bau, one of Hanoi's few trained vets.

"The country was once very poor, and we had a long war. We ate everything we could to stay alive," he told AFP. "Insects, dogs, cats, even rats... It became a habit."

Bau decided to become a vet after his pet dog saved him from a poisonous snake when he was a child. "From that time, I had a debt to dogs," the 63-year-old said.

Dramatic changes to society and cultural attitudes in the once tightly-controlled communist country in recent decades mean that a growing number of Vietnamese now share his love of animals. But old eating habits die hard and pet owners have a battle on their hands to protect their furry companions from the dinner pot.

"No one is breeding dogs and cats for slaughter. So nearly all the animals in restaurants are trapped and stolen," Bau said.

"For me and other pet lovers in Vietnam, they're our best friend," added the vet.

Yet some people manage to reconcile society's dual affection for cats.

Le Ngoc Thien, the chef at one Hanoi cat meat restaurant, keeps a cat as a pet – but when it is big enough he will cook it and get a new kitten to repeat the cycle.

"When my cats become old we kill them because according to our tradition when a cat gets old we need to change it and get a younger one," he said.

"When I first started working here, I was surprised so many people ate cat. But now, fine, they like it," he said, adding that demand appeared to be increasing each year.

"Eating cat meat is better than eating dog as the meat is more sweet, more tender than a dog," Thien said.

A cat sells for between US$50 (RM158) and US$70 (RM222) depending on how large it is and how it is prepared. Many pet owners get fed up of the risks of letting their cats go outside.

Phuong Thanh Thuy owns a Hanoi restaurant and has cats to keep rats in check, but she has had to replace them regularly.

"My family is sad because we spend a lot of time and energy raising our cats. When we lose a cat we feel pain," she said as a newly purchased batch of kittens played at her feet. – AFP, July 28, 2014.

Sixteen dead in Philippine militant ambush

Philippine Islamic militants, Abu Sayyaf gunmen opened fire on the vehicles in Talipao town in what appeared to be an ambush related to a clan feud. – Reuters pic, July 28, 2014.

Sixteen people, including children, were killed when Islamic militants opened fire on two vehicles in a remote southern Philippine town on Monday, the military said.

Abu Sayyaf gunmen opened fire on the vehicles in Talipao town before dawn in what appeared to be an ambush related to a clan feud, said local marine commander Brigadier-General Martin Pinto.

"There were civilians as well as children among the 16 dead," he told reporters, without giving more details immediately about those who died.

A number of policemen were riding aboard the two vehicles, he added, although he did not say if they were among the dead.

The Abu Sayyaf was founded in the 1990s with seed money from Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network, and is blamed for the worst terrorist attacks in the Philippines' recent history.

These include the 2004 bombing of a ferry that left more than 100 dead, abductions of foreign missionaries and tourists, and beheadings mostly of local people.

The Abu Sayyaf is believed to be holding several hostages, including foreigners, in the jungles of Jolo, one of its remote strongholds in the south of the Philippines with mostly Muslim populations.

Pinto said the attack in Talipao appeared to be an offshoot of a local feud between two Muslim clans, one of them related to Abu Sayyaf members.

The blood feuds, usually involving land disputes or previous unresolved murders, at times last decades. – AFP, July 28, 2014.

Jangan suruh saya tabah, kata anak ketua pramugari MH17

Nur Diyana Yazeera Yezli merupakan anak tunggal ketua pramugari pesawat MH17 yang ditembak puak pemberontak pro Rusia 17 Julai lalu. – Gambar Twitter, 28 Julai, 2014."Jangan suruh saya tabah. Cakap saja senang, tapi sebenarnya sangat susah," kata Nur Diyana Yazeera Yezli, 15, menggambarkan perasaannya menyambut Syawal tanpa ibunya, Dora Shahila Kassim yang terlibat dalam nahas pesawat MH17.

Nur Diyana dalam akaun Twitter miliknya menyatakan rasa sedih, marah dan hiba kerana sambutan raya tidak lagi sama selepas kehilangan ibunya dalam insiden 17 Julai lalu.

"Ibu, raya tahun ini dan seterusnya tidak akan sama. Saya tidak akan menyambutnya tanpamu.

"Ketika orang lain menyambut raya dengan ibubapa mereka, hari raya bagi saya tidak ada bezanya dengan hari lain," katanya sambil menambah sakit asmanya kembali menyerangnya baru-baru ini.

Remaja itu merupakan anak tunggal ketua pramugari MH17, Dora yang menjadi sebahagian daripada 298 mangsa nahas MAS Boeing 777-200ER ketika melintasi kawasan konflik di timur Ukraine.

Menganggap ibunya sebagai “superhero”, Diyana berikrar untuk meneruskan legasi kerjaya ibunya dan tidak akan membenarkan sesiapa pun lupakan tragedi itu.

Hari ini, beliau meluahkan perasaan marah apabila melihat orang lain menyambut raya bersama sebagai satu keluarga.

"Saya rasa marah melihat semua orang menyambut raya bersama keluarga. Saya tahu saya tidak adil tetapi saya hanya meluahkannya saja," katanya dalam Twitter.

Dora, yang juga ibu tunggal, antara 15 kakitangan penerbangan MAS yang terlibat dalam nahas itu.

Seramai 43 warga Malaysia menjadi mangsa serangan peluru berpandu yang ditembak puak pemberontak pro Rusia.

Diyana pada Sabtu lalu dalam pertemuannya selama tiga jam dengan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak dan isteri Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor di kediaman rasmi Seri Perdana di Putrajaya turut berterima kasih kerana dapat berjumpa dengan pemimpin utama negara.

"Baru pulang daripada rumah Perdana Menteri. Beliau secara peribadi mengambil masa duduk bersama saya dan memberikan kata-kata nasihat. Saya menghargainya," katanya dalam twitter.

Dalam statusnya yang lain, dia berkata: “Kami akan menjaga kamu. Tak kira apa pun terjadi – Datuk Seri Najib dan keluarga.”

Beliau turut memuat naik beberapa keping gambar pertemuan itu, termasuk ketika Najib membongkok melihat iPad yang dibeli untuk Diyana, sebelum menyiarkan status berterima kasih kepada Najib kerana menjemputnya ke rumahnya. – Malaysia Insider, 28 Julai, 2014.

Infiniti Q50 appears on Malaysian website – RM250k

The Infiniti Q50 has appeared on Infiniti Malaysia’s website with an estimated price of RM250k for the Infiniti Q50 2.0t Standard model, along with a preliminary equipment list.

The rear wheel drive Q50 competes in the same class as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, BMW 3-Series and Lexus IS. Under the car’s hood is a 2.0 litre turbocharged four cylinder engine from Mercedes-Benz, similiar to the one in the W212 E-Class facelift and the upcoming W205 C-Class. In the Q50’s tune, it does 211 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 350 Nm of torque from 1,250 to 3,500 rpm.

This is 30 Nm more torque than the Q50’s 320 Nm figure for other markets, we wonder why. The engine is mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission with Downshift Rev Matching and Adaptive Shift Control.

Other features of note include LED headlamps, LED foglamps and LED brake lights, keyless entry and start, power-folding heated wing mirrors, dual zone automatic air conditioning, rear air vents, a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat including 2-way power lumbar, an 8-way power adjustable front passenger seat, heated front seats, a 60/40 split backrest, a 6-speaker audio system with Bluetooth support, an Infiniti InTouch dual screen infotainment system, 17 inch wheels with 225/55R17 runflat tyres, ESP, VDC, Active Trace Control and six airbags. For a full list of specs and equipment, click here.

Source: Paultan.org

Gafim dipinggirkan?

GABUNGAN Persatuan Karyawan Filem Malaysia (Gafim), ditubuhkan pada 1985, oleh Perbadanan Kemajuan Filem Nasional Malaysia (Finas) bertujuan untuk kerja-kerja penganjuran Festival Filem Malaysia (FFM).

Namun, sepanjang penganjuran FFM sehingga tahun lalu, Gafim hanya berpeluang menganjurkan acara berprestij itu sebagai penganjur tunggal untuk tujuh kali sahaja.

Walaupun berdepan dengan pelbagai bentuk konflik, kontroversi dan permasalahan dalaman, namun Gafim masih lagi berperanan sebagai penganjur bersama Finas.

Pun begitu, untuk penganjuran ke 26 yang dijangka bakal berlangsung pada September ini, Gafim dikejutkan dengan keputusan Finas yang mahu menjadi penganjur tunggal dengan kerjasama Gafim dan Persatuan Penerbit Filem Malaysia (PFM) sahaja.

Keputusan Finas memberi pukulan hebat buat Gafim yang selama ini bertungkus-lumus dalam menjayakan FFM dengan penuh gemilang.

Presidennya Jurey Latiff Rosli, berkata, Gafim tidak pernah menarik diri daripada penganjuran FFM dan keputusan Finas amat mengejutkan.

Malah, hasil mesyuarat induk yang diadakan pada Rabu lalu, jelas memberitahu bahawa semua acara yang melibatkan FFM26 akan diketuai Finas.

"Saya tidak menghadiri mesyuarat induk itu dan mewakilkan Timbalan Presiden, Khir Mohd Noor. Namun, hasil mesyuarat itu, Gafim sendiri tidak tahu apa peranan sebenar dalam FFM26.

"Apa maksud kerjasama? kami tidak diserahkan apa-apa tugas! Finas panggil hanya untuk memaklumkan senarai jawatankuasa penuh majlis dan nama-nama pegawai Finas yang menerajuinya.

"Namun, kita meminta agar nama Gafim dikeluarkan dan digantikan dengan kerjasama semua persatuan industri. Apa pun, kita akur kerana sudah penat untuk bergaduh dan mempertahankan hak. Biarlah mereka buat apa pun kerana mereka mengeluarkan bajet dan menjaga kepentingan industri," katanya lagi.

Agih sumbangan raya

Walaupun berdepan dengan beberapa masalah termasuk kewangan, namun ia bukanlah halangan untuk Gabungan Persatuan Karyawan Filem Malaysia (Gafim), tampil menghulurkan bantuan.

Bertempat di Dataran Karyawan Finas, Gafim dan ahli jawatankuasa turut berkumpul bersama dalam menjayakan majlis sumbangan Hari Raya, Selasa lalu.

Dalam majlis itu, Gafim turut memberikan sumbangan kepada 18 artis veteran dan pekerja filem untuk keperluan dalam menyambut Hari Raya Aidilfitri nanti.

Antara penerima sumbangan itu termasuk Seniwati Mariani, Latiff Borgiba, Karim Latif, Mimi Loma, Hamid Gurkha, Kamal Pendek, Tamam Idris, Enot dan balu kepada penulis skrip, Martias Mohd Ali.

Jelas Jurey, ini adalah kali pertama Gafim mengadakan acara seperti ini dengan mengagihkan sumbangan kepada artis veteran yang memerlukan.

"Kami menerima nama-nama mereka daripada persatuan di bawah Gafim. Malah, pemilihan ini dibuat berdasarkan faktor kewangan, usia, kesihatan dan sumbangan kepada industri.

"Saya sangat terharu kerana kesemua penerima berjaya hadir walaupun berada di luar daerah Lembah Klang. Saya juga berterima kasih kepada syarikat penerbit filem dan ahli perniagaan yang turut memberi sumbangan kepada penerima. - Sinar Harian 

Sambutan Aidilfitri sederhana, hormati dua insiden pesawat MAS

Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah berkenan menunaikan solat sunat Aidilfitri di Masjid Negara bersama lebih 14,000 jemaah.

KUALA LUMPUR: Umat Islam di seluruh negara hari ini menyambut ketibaan 1 Syawal secara sederhana sebagai menghormati dan berkongsi kesedihan susulan tragedi dua pesawat syarikat penerbangan negara, Malaysia Airlines (MAS), MH370 dan MH17.

Di ibu negara, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah berkenan menunaikan solat sunat Aidilfitri di Masjid Negara bersama lebih 14,000 jemaah.

Keberangkatan tiba Yang di-Pertuan Agong dan Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah di masjid itu pada 8.30 pagi diiringi Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak dan isteri Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, serta Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin dan isteri Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman.

Turut hadir beberapa anggota kabinet dan dif-dif kehormat serta perwakilan asing.

Solat sunat itu diimamkan oleh Imam Besar Masjid Negara Tan Sri Syaikh Ismail Muhammad manakala Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom melaksanakan tugas sebagai khatib.

Sebagai tanda menghormati dan mengenang mangsa tragedi MH370 dan MH17, Perdana Menteri turut membatalkan Majlis Rumah Terbuka Anggota Jemaah Menteri Aidilfitri 2014 yang lazimnya diadakan di kediaman rasmi beliau di Seri Perdana, Putrajaya. 

Kerajaan juga membatalkan sambutan peringkat nasional.

Sebahagian kerajaan negeri juga mengambil langkah serupa.

Di PULAU PINANG, sambutan bermula dengan Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas menunaikan solat sunat Aidilfitri di Masjid Negeri bersama kira-kira 5,000 umat Islam, pada pukul kira-kira 8.45 pagi tadi.

Selesai menunaikan solat Aidilfitri, Rahman Abbas yang berbaju Melayu warna kuning cair meluangkan kira-kira 10 minit bersalaman dengan masyarakat sebelum berangkat pulang.

Di MELAKA, Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob dan Ketua Menteri Datuk Seri Idris Haron menyertai kira-kira 5,000 umat Islam menunaikan solat sunat Aidilfitri di Masjid Al Azim, di Bukit Palah di sini.

Idris bersama barisan exco kerajaan negeri kemudiaan mengadakan kunjungan ke Istana Melaka bagi berhari raya bersama Mohd Khalil.

Di NEGERI SEMBILAN, Yang Dipertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir dan Tunku Ampuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Aishah Rohani Tengku Besar Mahmud bersama-sama dua anakanda mereka, Tunku Besar Seri Menanti Tunku Ali Redhauddin dan Tunku Zain Al'Abidin menunaikan solat sunat Aidilfitri di Masjid Diraja Tuanku Munawir, Seri Menanti, dekat sini.

Turut serta ialah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan dan Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Datuk Mat Ali Hassan serta kira-kira 2,000 jemaah.

Tuanku Muhriz turut mengadakan majlis istana terbuka hari ini di Istana Besar Seri Menanti dari 10.30 pagi hingga 2 petang.

Di PERAK, Sultan Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah dan anakanda sulungnya Raja Azlan Muzaffar Shah bersama-sama kerabat diraja serta lebih 2,000 umat Islam menunaikan solat sunat Aidilfitri di Masjid Ubudiah di Bukit Chandan, Kuala Kangsar.

Berangkat sama Raja Muda Perak Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa dan Raja Di-Hilir Perak Raja Iskandar Dzulkarnain Sultan Idris Shah.

Turut serta ialah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, Mufti Perak Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria, Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Datuk Abdul Puhat Mat Nayan serta barisan Exco kerajaan negeri. 

Di PERLIS, Raja Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail serta Raja Perempuan Perlis Tuanku Fauziah Tengku Abdul Rashid menyertai ribuan umat Islam menunaikan sembahyang sunat Aidilfitri di Masjid Negeri Arau.

Selepas solat baginda berdua berkenan menerima menghadap dif-dif kenamaan dan rakyat jelata pada majlis istana terbuka di Dataran Istana Arau dari 9 sehingga 11.30 pagi.

Di KELANTAN, Tengku Mahkota Kelantan Tengku Muhammad Fa-iz Petra Sultan Ismail Petra bersama umat Islam menunaikan solat sunat Aidilfitri di Masjid Muhammadi di Kota Bharu.

Turut serta Menteri Besar Kelantan Datuk Ahmad Yakob, Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Datuk Mohd Faudzi Che Mamat dan pegawai kanan kerajaan.

Di JOHOR, Sultan Ibrahim Ismail Sultan Iskandar diiringi Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Idris, putera-puteranya dan kerabat diraja menunaikan solat sunat Aidilfitri di Masjid Sultan Abu Bakar, Johor Baharu.

Turut serta Menteri Besar Johor Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Speaker Dewan Undangan Negeri Johor Tan Sri Mohamad Aziz serta barisan Exco negeri.

Di PAHANG, Sultan Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah dan Tengku Mahkota Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah berangkat menunaikan solat sunat Aidilfitri bersama kira-kira 10,000 umat Islam di Masjid Negeri, Sultan Ahmad 1 di sini.

Turut berangkat Sultanah Pahang Sultanah Kalsom selain anggota Exco, dan pegawai kanan kerajaan negeri. Selepas selesai menunaikan solat orang ramai mengambil kesempatan untuk bersalaman dengan Sultan Pahang serta kaum kerabat baginda.

Di TERENGGANU, Sultan Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin berangkat menunaikan sembahyang sunat Aidilfitri bersama kira-kira 2,000 umat Islam di Masjid Al Muktafi Billah Shah, Ladang di sini.

Mengiringi baginda ialah Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman serta pembesar-pembesar negeri. Selesai solat baginda berangkat menziarahi makam diraja di pekarangan masjid berkenaan.

Di KEDAH, Pengerusi Jemaah Pemangku Sultan Kedah, Tan Sri Tunku Sallehhuddin Sultan Badlishah berkenan berangkat menunaikan solat sunat Aidilfitri di Masjid Zahir di sini bersama lebih 1,000 jemaah sempena sambutan 1 Syawal kali ini. 

Tunku Sallehhuddin tiba di masjid kira-kira pukul 8.30 pagi diiringi Menteri Besar Kedah Datuk Seri Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir, kemudian turut meluangkan masa beramah mesra dengan rakyat selepas menunaikan solat sunat Aidilfitri yang diimamkan Mufti Datuk Sheikh Baderudin Ahmad.

Di SARAWAK, Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud menyertai ribuan umat Islam menunaikan sembahyang sunat Aidilfitri di Masjid Jamek, Petra Jaya di sini.

Turut serta ialah Ketua Menteri Tan Sri Adenan Satem, beberapa menteri kabinet negeri, ketua jabatan dan orang kenamaan.

Abdul Taib kemudiannya mengadakan Majlis Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri di kediaman rasminya di Astana Negeri, Petra Jaya, manakala Adenan mengadakan rumah terbuka di Pusat Konvensyen Borneo Kuching (BCCK).

Di SABAH, kira-kira 1,000 orang menghadiri majlis rumah terbuka Aidilfitri anjuran Yang Dipertua Negeri Sabah Tun Juhar Mahiruddin dan isteri Toh Puan Norlidah RM Jasni di Istana Negeri di sini, yang turut dihadiri Ketua Menteri Datuk Seri Musa Aman dan anggota kabinet negeri, termasuk Speaker Dewan Rakyat Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.

Berbeza dengan tahun-tahun sebelumnya, majlis itu disambut tanpa persembahan muzik bagi mengenang tragedi MH17, yang dipercayai ditembak jatuh di Ukraine, dan konflik di Gaza.

Terdahulu, Juhar menunaikan solat sunat Aidilfitri berjemaah di Masjid Negeri.

Di Selangor Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah menyertai hampir 10,000 umat Islam menunaikan solat sunat Aidilfitri di Masjid Negeri.

Selesai menunaikan solat, Sultan Selangor berkenan bersalaman dengan rakyat.

Turut hadir Raja Muda Selangor Tengku Amir Shah, Menteri Besar Selangor Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim dan Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Datuk Muhammad Khusrin Munawi. - Bernama

Ragam raya: Penyampai Suria Fm kongsi suka duka

SETELAH setahun berlalu, kini Aidilfitri kembali lagi! Teruja dengan sambutan itu, penyampai Suria Fm turut tidak ketinggalan berkongsi kisah suka duka menjelang hari raya!

Lain orang, lainlah caranya. Kehadiran 1 Syawal sememangnya dinanti-nantikan oleh setiap umat Islam di seluruh dunia.

Tibanya Aidilfitri juga menandakan kemenangan buat umat Islam setelah sebulan menjalani ibadah puasa.

Tidak kira bercuti atau bertugas, sambutan hari raya pasti memiliki ceritanya yang tersendiri.

Begitu juga dengan penyampai-penyampai stesen radio Suria Fm iaitu Halim Othman, Linda Onn, Bob Ringgo, Dj Lin dan Adibah Noor yang turut berkongsi kisah menyambut hari penuh kemaafan ini.

‘Mandi tujuh perigi’ kenangan manis pagi raya Halim Othman

Jika ditanya momen indah pagi raya, pasti setiap individu memiliki cerita mereka yang tersendiri.

Bagi penyampai Halim Othman, merasai bahang sambutan Aidilfitri yang bakal tiba banyak mengingatkan dia kepada kenangan zaman kanak-kanaknya.

“Kalau zaman dulu-dulu, bila tiba hari raya macam-macam perkara yang kita buat dan perkara yang paling saya ingat adalah mandi tujuh perigi di pagi hari raya.

“Apa yang ayah saya katakan mandi tujuh perigi adalah amalan orang dulu-dulu di mana ia adalah simbolik untuk memberi kesegaran pada diri pada pagi raya.

“Mungkin ada yang tidak pernah tahu mengenai amalan ini tapi bagi saya ia satu pengalaman yang tidak akan saya lupakan sampai bila-bila,” ujarnya sambil tersenyum.

Pada masa yang sama, Halim turut berkongsi perasaan bertugas di konti pada hari raya pertama memandangkan tahun ini gilirannya menceriakan pendengar.

“Biarpun beraya di kampung lebih meriah, tapi menyambut Aidilfitri di konti juga ada keseronokannya yang tersendiri.

“Apa yang seronoknya, bila kita dapat berhubung dengan pendengar daripada seluruh negara yang membuat panggilan untuk berkongsi suasana hari raya mereka.

“Alhamdulillah, selepas 15 tahun bergelar penyampai, keluarga cukup memahami kerjaya saya dan beraya di konti juga sudah menjadi kebiasaan buat saya,” katanya.

Bob teruja layan keletah anak

Setiap kali sambutan hari raya pasti ada kelebihan dan keistimewaannya yang tersendiri.

Buat penyampai slot ‘Selamat Malam Suria’, Bob Ringgo kehadiran cahaya mata, Aryan Aish Rifqy, 2 yang semakin membesar bakal memeriahkan suasana hari rayanya sekeluarga.

“Alhamdulillah, tahun ini memang saya sangat teruja menyambut hari raya. Selain cuti hari raya saya diluluskan, tahun ini juga saya dapat beraya di samping isteri dan anak yang semakin membesar.

“Kalau tahun lalu Aryan baru berusia setahun, tapi kali ini pasti lebih meriah dengan keletahnya dan inilah keistimewaan sambutan raya saya,” katanya.

Tambah Bob, hari rayanya juga tidak meriah jika tidak merasai juadah raya yang disediakan neneknya di kampung.

“Selepas beraya di rumah mertua yang terletak di Petaling Jaya, saya akan pulang beraya di Rengit, Batu Pahat.

“Seperti biasa, juadah kegemaran ayam pencen masak kicap dari nenek saya antara perkara yang saya tunggu-tunggu,” selorohnya.

Gembira dalam sayu- Linda Onn

Kali pertama bermaaf-maafan bersama suami tercinta adalah antara momen yang dinanti-nantikan penyampai dan pengacara, Linda Onn.

Walaupun teruja melalui suasana seperti itu, Linda akui hatinya sedikit terusik apabila mengenangkan ayahandanya yang kini berada di pangkuan Illahi.

“Apa yang boleh saya katakan, perasaan saya ketika ini adalah bercampur baur. Ini adalah raya ke dua tanpa ayah dan kali pertama melaluinya, saya memang tidak dapat gambarkan perasaan ketika itu.

“Tahun ini ayah tidak bersama kami tapi pada masa yang sama, saya ada suami. Jadi perasaan itu bercampur baur.

“Perasaan itu tidak terubat kerana tempat seorang ayah tiada gantinya,” ujarnya.

Dalam pada itu, ditanya keistimewaan raya tahun ini, Linda akui sambutan Aidilfitri tahun ini bakal memberinya banyak pengalaman indah bergelar seorang isteri.

“Sebelum ini memang setiap tahun saya dan keluarga beraya di rumah abang saya di Johor Bahru. Pada kebiasaannya, selepas habis beraya bersama keluarga, saya akan ikut kakak dan abang beraya di rumah mertua mereka.

“Tapi tahun ini saya dapat rasa beraya di rumah mertua sendiri dan ini pengalaman pertama saya.

“Dan saat yang paling teruja adalah bermaaf-maafan dan mencium tangan suami di pagi raya,” tuturnya teruja.

Raya paling perit - Adibah Noor

Dalam kemeriahan menyambut hari kemenangan ini, penyanyi dan penyampai, Adibah Noor mengambil langkah meraikannya secara sederhana akibat terkesan dengan tragedi yang menimpa negara.

“Saya rasa raya tahun ini adalah raya paling perit. Kita semua baru bangkit daripada insiden MH370 dan saya rasa rata-rata rakyat Malaysia sudah bangun dan mulai terima hakikat tiba-tiba kita dikejutkan dengan kes penculikan di Sabah dan pada masa yang sama kekejaman di Gaza turut memberi kesan buat masyarakat di negara ini.

“Belum reda dengan perkara itu, dugaan datang bertimpa apabila kita sekali lagi dikejutkan dengan insiden MH17.

“Berikutan tragedi yang menimpa negara kita ini, saya tidak rasa sambutan raya tahun ini akan meriah. Saya sendiri ambil langkah untuk raikannya secara sederhana kerana ia benar-benar beri kesan pada saya,” jelasnya.

Tambah Adibah lagi, sambutan hari raya kali ini dia bakal bertugas di konti dan hanya akan bercuti minggu ke dua Syawal.

“Sama seperti tahun lalu, saya akan bertugas pada hari raya pertama di konti dan ia tidak mendatangkan masalah memandangkan keluarga saya pun tidak berada di Malaysia.

“Setiap kali Ramadan, ke dua ibu bapa dan kakak saya akan menunaikan umrah dan sambut hari raya di sana bersama keluarga adik lelaki yang menetap di sana.

“Saya sudah biasa beraya sendirian lagi pun itulah peluang ibu bapa saya bertemu cucu mereka di sana. Kalau ada masa lapang, saya juga akan mengunjungi saudara mara di Ipoh,” katanya panjang lebar.

Konvoi bersama peminat – Dj Lin

Walaupun keluarga menjadi keutamaan untuk bersama-sama meraikan hari raya, penyampai Dj Lin juga tidak pernah melupakan peminat yang sentiasa memberi sokongan kepadanya.

Demi menghargai sokongan yang tidak pernah putus itu, Dj Lin memberitahu tahun ini dia masih meneruskan aktiviti bersama peminatnya iaitu ‘Konvoi Raya Bersama Dj Lin’.

“Sebenarnya aktiviti ini sudah tiga tahun saya anjurkan konvoi ini. Biasanya kita akan berkunjung ke beberapa lokasi seluruh semenanjung untuk beraya di rumah peminat yang bertuah.

“Pengalaman seperti ini memang seronok kerana itulah peluang saya bertemu dengan peminat di seluruh negara. Layanan yang mereka berikan juga buat saya terharu dan saya hargai jasa mereka sentiasa meyokong saya dari belakang,” katanya.

Kata ibu kepada Nazreen Asyran , 11, Nureen Aresya,13, tahun ini juga adalah raya yang istimewa buat dirinya kerana berpeluang meraikan hari lebaran di samping keluarga tercinta di Larkin, Johor Bharu.

“Alhamdulillah, tahun ini saya berpeluang berkumpul dengan sepuluh adik-beradik dan lebih kurang 40 anak saudara.

“Inilah saat-saat yang saya nantikan kerana peluang dapat berkumpul seperti ini memang jarang. Jadi saya mahu manfaatkan masa yang ada untuk bersama keluarga dan anak-anak,” ujarnya. - Sinar Harian