Sunday 31 August 2014

Juruterbang penerbangan Garuda meninggal dunia sebelum mendarat

Hasil pemeriksaaan terhadap jenazah, doctor mengesahkan juruterbang terbabit mengalami serangan jantung

Seorang juruterbang pesawat penerbangan Indonesia, Garuda dilaporkan meninggal dunia ketika pesawat yang diterbangkannya sedang membuat pendaratan hari ini. Mujur pembantunya berjaya mendaratkan pesawat itu dengan selamat.

Menurut laporan Tempo ketika kejadian pukul 14.45 petang waktu Indonesia itu, pesawat terbabit sedang membawa 70 orang penumpang dan dalam penerbangan dari Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Bandara Lombok menuju ke Bima di Nusa Tenggara Barat.

Dianggarkan sekitar 15 minit sebelum pesawat terbabit dijadualkan mendarat, pembantu juruterbang bernama Stenly memaklumkan juruterbang, Kapten Ramdanto telah mengalami sesak nafas. Stenly kemudiaannya memohon kebenaran dari lapangan terbang untuk mendaratkan pesawat bersendirian.

Menurut Penyelia Wilayah Garuda, Idham, 15 minit selepas pesawat berjaya membuat pendaratan, Ramdanto ditemui telah meninggal dunia di dalam pesawat dan jenazahnya telah dikejarkan ke hospital.

“Berdasarkan keterangan anak kapal pesawat, sebelum berlepas juruterbang terbabit telah mengadu tidak sihat,” kata Idham kepada Tempo.

Hasil pemeriksaan terhadap jenazah, doktor mengesahkan juruterbang terbabit mengalami serangan jantung.

Pihak polis kini sedang menjalankan siasatan lanjut.

-- Sumber: Agensi

Pendaki Malaysia kibar Jalur Gemilang di Puncak Gunung Ararat, Turki

Ini sebahagian daripada latihan buat peserta yang akan mendaki puncak tertinggi dunia di Gunung Everest pada Mac tahun depan - Sumber Facebook Terengganu De Everest

KUALA LUMPUR: Tatkala Jalur Gemilang berkibar megah di seluruh pelosok negara, sekumpulan pendaki Malaysia pula merakamkan detik bersejarah setelah berjaya mengibarkan Jalur Gemilang di puncak Gunung Ararat di Turki, pada Jumaat lalu.

Rombongan ekspedisi itu disertai lapan pendaki diiringi tiga kru jurulatih diketuai Pengerusi Persatuan Kembara Negara Datuk Khalid Yunus.

Khalid ketika dihubungi Bernama melalui akaun Facebook berkata mereka mengambil masa 10 jam untuk sampai ke puncak gunung setinggi 5,137 meter itu.

"Alhamdulillah, misi pendakian kali ini mencatat kejayaan apabila kesemua pendaki berjaya ke puncak dengan selamat.

"Paling istimewa apabila kami berjaya mengibarkan Jalur Gemilang dua hari sebelum detik bersejarah buat negara yang menyambut ulang tahun kemerdekaan ke-57," katanya.

Ia sebahagian daripada latihan buat peserta yang akan mendaki puncak tertinggi dunia di Gunung Everest pada Mac tahun depan.

Sementara itu, ketua jurulatih misi kali ini, Mohd Rafi Kori berkata pihaknya memilih gunung Ararat kerana ia sesuai untuk latihan altitud tinggi dan pendakian bersalji yang mempunyai ciri persamaan dengan gunung Everest.

"Latihan seterusnya ialah mendaki Gunung Aconcagua di Argentina setinggi 6,962 meter pada Disember atau Januari tahun depan sebelum misi Everest bermula pada Mac, selain itu latihan mendaki gunung-gunung di dalam negara tetap diteruskan setiap bulan termasuk pendakian Gunung Kinabalu," katanya.

- source: Bernama

Bas terbakar, sepasang suami isteri nyaris rentung di pagi Hari Merdeka

Sejurus pasangan itu turun, api mula marak dan membakar keseluruhan badan bas terbabit

JITRA: Sepasang suami isteri nyaris maut hari ini apabila bas yang dinaiki mereka terbakar.

Dalam kejadian yang berlaku kira-kira jam 11 pagi tadi, bas yang dipandu suami kepada pasangan itu yang juga pemandu bas sebuah politeknik dekat Jitra, dikatakan secara tiba-tiba mengalami kerosakan lalu terbakar di kilometer 50.1 Lebuhraya Utara Selatan menghala ke Pendang.

Kejadian berlaku ketika pemandu berusia 52 tahun itu, yang sedang dalam perjalanan untuk menjemput beberapa orang kaki tangan akademik institusi itu di Lapangan Terbang Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang.

Bagaimanapun sebaik tiba di tempat kejadian, ruang di bahagian pemandu mula dipenuhi asap.

Terkejut, pemandu bas itu pantas memberhentikan bas dan bertindak menarik tangan isterinya untuk keluar daripada bas.

Tidak lama selepas itu api mula marak dan membakar keseluruhan badan bas terbabit.

Sementara itu, menurut Penolong Penguasa Bomba, Kedah, Mohd Noor Iman Mohd Rawi, pihaknya yang bergegas ke lokasi kejadian tiba beberapa minit selepas itu.

Ketika itu hampir lapan puluh peratus bahagian bas, sedang dijilat api.

“Kita dapat mengawal kebakaran selepas setengah jam, selepas tu kita jalankanoverhaul, jumlah kerugian anggaran RM90 ribu. Punca kebakaran masih dalam siasatan,” kata Mohd Noor.

Menurut Mohd Noor lagi, kejadian dipercayai berpunca daripada kebakaran kecil di bahagian dashboard hadapan bas menyebabkan ia merebak dengan pantas.

-- Sumber: Astro Awani

Police find skeletal remains of two-year-old boy

The remains was found wrapped in batik and buried in a 0.3 metres deep hole.

MALACCA: Police have found the skeletal remains of a two-year-old boy who was buried behind a house in Taman Bayan, Bukit Katil here yesterday.

Acting Melaka Tengah police chief Superintendent Razali Abu Bakar said a 25-year-old man and his 24-year-old lover, believed to be the victim's parents, had been arrested to facilitate investigation.

He said the skeletal remains, wrapped in batik material, was found buried in a 0.3 metre deep hole.

"Looking at the condition of the skeletons, the boy was believed to have been dead before he was buried in the house which the couple was renting since early this year," he told reporters here today. 

He said the couple would be in remand for seven days to facilitate investigation, carried out under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

-- source: Bernama

Malaysia breaks the record for most selfies

Selfie Guy had to continuously take selfies for one hour.

Malaysians from all walks of life gathered at the Science & Technology Village in Kuala Lumpur with the hopes of breaking the world record for the most self-portrait photographs (selfies) taken in one hour.

The unofficial count of total photographs taken is 613, which is 192 more than the previous world record held by Canadian actress, Melinda Shankar in 2014.

Approximately 700 people registered to take part in this momentous event organised by Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia (YIM), an agency under the purview of the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation (MOSTI).

Participants waiting at the entrance to take a selfie.

CEO of YIM, Muhammad Aziph Datuk Mustapha, said the event proves that Malaysians are always positive, creative and are able to stand tall even when faced with a slew of challenges.

“I am personally pleased that we could help bring this Official Guinness World Record to Malaysia.

“The outpouring of love from all the participants proves to me that Malaysians overwhelmingly love this beautiful nation of ours,” he added.

Muhammad Aziph was inspired to oragnise this event when he was on a Malaysia Airline (MAS) flight in May and he picked up a TIMES magazine which reported that San Diego held the record for the most selfies in an hour.

The line of participants waiting patiently.

Meanwhile, Hazwan Noor, 20, a student at Politechnic Merlimau, Melaka, and an intern with YIM, was appointed as the ‘Selfie Guy’ for participants to ‘selfie’ with.

He had to selfie with at least 10 people per minute in order to achieve the target of 500 selfies.

“It was fun and also a good experience for me, especially when you have to give your best shot together with people whom you have never met before in your life.

“I am proud to be part of this record-breaking attempt as it will definitely put my beloved country, Malaysia, in a more positive light globally,” the ever smiling Hazwan added.

Hazwan Noor had to take 10 selfies per minute to be able to capture 500 selfies in an hour.

Another participant, Alan, who works in the fashion industry, was excited to participate in this event with his friends.

“I like to take selfies, I am just waiting for my friends who like to take selfies to join me in this exciting event.

“Joining this event will hopefully cheer people up,” he added referring to the recent tragedies besieging Malaysia of late.

David and Karo, who hail from Poland, merely stumbled upon the event and decided to participate.

“We were passing by, and we came to see what was going on, and they told us to stay and see how it ends,” said David.

Participants did not go back empty-handed as they were given certificates and goodie bags for their contribution.


A participant happy to be part of the event. - Astro AWANI
Their names will also be submitted to the Guinness World Records officials to be published.

-- source: Astro Awani

JDT President Cup player killed in accident

Md Amirul was riding a motorcycle in a convoy when his vehicle collided with a car. He died on the way to the hospital. - Photo: johorsoutherntigers.com.my

JOHOR BAHARU: A Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) President Cup football player died while his friend was injured when the motorcycle they were riding collided with a car at KM43.5 of the Senai-Desaru Highway heading towards Desaru, Kota Tinggi here early this morning.

Seri Alam deputy police chief Supt Shahrul Anwar Md Idris, said in the 12.40am incident, Md Amirul Hakim Samsuddin, 18, and his friend Mohd Rafi Abu, 29, were in a convoy of several motorcycles from Pasir Gudang to celebrate the National Day.

"Md Amirul Hakim rode the motorcycle while Mohd Rafi was riding pillion. It was believed their motorcycle collided with a car," he said when contacted.

Shahrul Anwar said Md Amirul Hakim who was reported to be severely injured on the head, died on the way to Sultan Ismail Hospital, Pandan, here.

He said his friend was also sent to the same hospital for treatment while the car driver was not hurt.

-- Sumber: Bernama

Manchester City now favourites to land Falcao



Monaco superstar Falcao could be closing in on a sensational move to Manchester City – just hours after it appeared he was destined to join Real Madrid.

Falcao was forced into a rather unconvincing denial after a tweet was sent from his official account on Saturday night which spoke of a ‘dream come true’ in reference to a move to the Bernabeu.


Coming just hours after he was withdrawn from Monaco’s matchday squad to face Lille, it appeared to be confirmation that the long-time Madrid target was close to joining the club on loan.

Falcao issued a statement to claim that the tweet was a fake and a “photo montage” – despite it being retweeted more than 2,000 times and appearing in his official feed.

Still, it seems on Sunday that the striker could instead be closing in on a move to Manchester City – who have now been installed as bookies’ favourites to land the Colombia star.

Betfair suspended the market on Falcao moving to Real Madrid last night but reopened it this morning and have now installed City as favourites to land the prolific striker at odds of 2/5, with Real Madrid offered at 2/1.

-- source: Eurosport 

Wingsuit daredevils risking their lives on film

A group of men and women in winged bodysuits are lined up along the edge of a sheer cliff facing the snowy peaks of Mont Blanc. - AFPRelax Photo

CHAMONIX: Playing Icarus as they leap off sheer cliffs and fly at eye-watering speeds along mountainsides, thrill-seekers dressed like flamboyant bats have become an increasingly common sight in the Alps. But the incredible rush of wingsuits can come at the ultimate price.

On a plateau of the Brevent mountain in Chamonix, France, a group of men and women in winged bodysuits are lined up along the edge of a sheer cliff face, facing the snowy peaks of Mont Blanc and staring down at a 2,500-metre (8,300-foot) drop.

Suddenly, they throw themselves off, drawing gasps from nearby tourists.

Their flight lasts barely a minute. Within eight seconds, they are up to speeds of 200 kilometres per hour (120 miles per hour).

They fly "by pushing against the air: it's gravity that creates the magic of it all, the wind doesn't do anything," said Roch Malnuit, head of the French Base Association.

First tested by wingsuiters in June 2012, Brevent has quickly become a renowned port of call for the discipline, along with Lauterbrunnen in Switzerland.

Its fame spread as a result of Internet videos and within weeks there were 30 or so jumps a day.

But then came the first injuries, and then the first death, and the authorities in Chamonix shut the sport down there for a year before reconsidering their decision.

"They only speak about us when there are accidents," said Swiss wingsuit enthusiast Geraldine Fasnacht, 28. She was the first to jump from the 4,500-metre high Matterhorn in Switzerland last June. "It's a magnificent sport that requires an enormous amount of preparation and work."

- A dangerous encouragement? -

The role of video in the sport remains controversial.

Films of particularly daring stunts have become Internet sensations, as expert wingsuiters skim perilously close to mountainsides and push themselves towards the record flying speed of 363 kph.

"It's not the practice itself that is the problem -- it's the way it is mediatised," said Colonel Blaise Agresti, mountaineering adviser to the police.

"It gives ideas to people with little experience, and leads to competition for the most sensational images. The game is to get as close as possible to the ground."

Frenchman Loic Jean Albert became a star of the sport in 2003 by flying just three metres from the side of a snowy slope he hurtled down in Switzerland.

"Today we see this all the time. The problem is that some do it without any experience. When they fly just two or three metres off the ground, there is no margin for error," said Jean-Philippe Gady, president of the French Association of Paraclimbing.

The Base Jumping Fatality List, published on Blinc Magazine's website, says there were 21 wingsuit deaths worldwide in 2013.

There are thought to be around 2,000 practitioners -- most of them in the United States and Australia. There are no tests or diplomas in wingsuiting, although schools in Norway, Austria and the US do offer courses.

"What we recommend is to get insurance and do around 200 jumps from a plane, to get a mastery of the air, before jumping off a cliff," said Malnuit.

Gady jumps as many as 180 times a year. "With rates like that, we can afford do try technical jumps," he said.

Filming with GoPro cameras fixed to his helmet, he has produced films that are almost too tense to watch as he flies through narrow corridors or under a footbridge among the peaks of Mont Blanc.

- Makes it look easy -

"Video has a positive side," said Vincent Descols, one of the first to jump from Brevent. "It allows us to fine-tune the art of flight: the accuracy, the height at which to open the parachute.

"But other videos are a problem because they give the impression that it's easy," he added, saying there were a lot of dangerous egos involved in the sport.

The death in August 2013 of Briton Mark Sutton, the James Bond parachutist from the London Olympics, followed by that of three young wingsuiters in Switzerland during filming for extreme sports channel Epic TV in March, has reignited the debate over the way films encourage risk-taking.

"We had a moment of doubt after the death of Dan, Brian and Ludo because we got a lot of criticism," admits Jools Benker, head of wingsuiting at Epic TV. "But they are the ones taking the risks, they understand them. The fact they are being paid does not push them to fly closer to the ground."

The channel, based in Chamonix, claims to have 2.7 million visitors to its site each month, primarily Americans, Brits and French. The videos are a hit, though they bring in little revenue to this start-up of 35 employees which struggles to sell their footage on to outside companies who remain cautious.

Jean-Noel Itzstein, a pioneer of wingsuiting, regrets the bad reputation: "People think we're committing suicide by jumping. But in mountaineering, there are lots of deaths every year and it's accepted."

-- source: AFP RELAXNEWS

Google celebrates 57th Merdeka Day with special doodle

Google created a doodle made out of petals from the 'Hibiscus rosa-sinesis' to celebrate the 57th Merdeka Day.

As the whole country join together in celebrating Malaysia's 57th Merdeka Day today, the giant search engine Google also had a special way on recognising it, which was by introducing a Merdeka doodle.

The doodle was a combination of decorated petals of 'Hibiscus rosa-sinesis', Malaysia's national flower, which beautifully formed the word 'Google'.

According to Google, the creator of the special doodle was 27-year-old Malaysian artist-architect Hong Yi, who used Red as her moniker.

"Super excited to show you my art for Google today, created it to celebrate Malaysia's Independence Day today! Hop over to google.com.my and you'll see it!

"This version was an earlier piece I showed them and we simplified it. It is made of hibiscus petals - hibiscus is the national flower of Malaysia, and I'm so honoured to be part of this project. Happy Merdeka Day, Malaysia," the Sabahan girl wrote in her Instagram account www.instagram.com/redhongyi.

It was also written in her official blog where Hong Yi's works have been featured by media around the world including Huffington Post, Wall Street Journal, ABC, CNN, NBC and the Daily Mail.

More than 14,000 people participated in the parade, with the theme "Malaysia: Here, Where Love Begins" at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur today, in a show of love for the country.

--source: Bernama

Chen Long hopes to pull off surprise win against Chong Wei in the final

The 25-year-old player is adamant that Chong Wei is an 'unbeatable player'.

COPENHAGEN: World number two Chen Long of China hopes to pull off an upset by beating Malaysia's top player and world number one Datuk Lee Chong Wei in the final of the BWF Badminton World Championships in Denmark, here Sunday.

The 25-year-old lanky player said, despite having to play tough opponents in the past two matches, he was confident of claiming the top prize in the 21st edition of the championships.

"I will try to beat him (Chong Wei), but personally, I believe he is not an unbeatable player as I've have met him several times before," said the Chinese player through an interpreter here, Saturday.

He had earlier booked his place in the final after brushing aside a stiff challenge from fifth seed Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia, emerging with a 21-16, 22-20 win in a semi-final encounter at Ballerup Super Arena, here.

Chong Wei on the other hand booked his third consecutive World Championships men's singles final after beating Viktor Axelsen from Denmark 21-9, 21-7.

For the record, Chong Wei has won nine of their 17 previous meetings.

Meanwhile, Badminton Indonesia's High Performance director Rexy Mainaky said Chong Wei had a better chance of winning the title.

"While on court, Chong Wei knows how to control the rhythm and momentum of the game. If he (Chong Wei) can produce what he is capable of, he can win the title," said Rexy Mainaky who had once coached the Malaysian double players.

-- source: Bernama

Bila Dr. Mahathir hilang keyakinan ...

Bekas Perdana Menteri itu berpendapat bangsa Malaysia yang diimpikan sebagai teras utama Wawasan 2020 sukar dicapai. - Foto Fail

KUALA LUMPUR: Buat pertama kali rasanya sejak lebih 23 tahun lalu, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad berasa tidak yakin.

Bekas Perdana Menteri itu sudah semacam skeptikal terhadap impian beliau sendiri iaitu pembentukan Bangsa Malaysia.

Nadanya mungkin sudah tidak sama sewaktu beliau gah berucap pada Majlis Perniagaan Malaysia, 28 Februari 1991. Pada masa itu, Dr. Mahathir membentangkan pelan hala tuju Wawasan 2020. Beliaulah arkitek Bangsa Malaysia.

Pada 16 Ogos lalu, Dr. Mahathir tidak berucap di hadapan ahli perniagaan mahu pun tokoh-tokoh korporat. Beliau berdialog bersama lebih 150 anak muda anjuran Akademi Belia.

Di atas pentas dialog bertajuk Evolusi Identiti Anak Muda, mantan Perdana Menteri berusia 89 tahun itu berkata: "Sekarang sudah hampir 60 tahun kita merdeka, makin lama makin jauh perpisahan antara kaum."

"Setelah Merdeka hampir 60 tahun, perpisahan antara kaum makin jauh" - Dr Mahathir
Jelas sekali, Chedet sudah tidak seoptimis dahulu. Bangsa Malaysia yang diimpikan sebagai teras utama Wawasan 2020 kata beliau, sukar dicapai.

"Langkah radikal ke arah pembentukan Bangsa Malaysia" - Dr Mahathir
Bagi yang rasional, pandangan beliau pastinya disantuni dan dikaji. Bagi yang bebal dan cepat melenting, mulut menakal.

Rencah Bangsa Malaysia

Rakyat Malaysia selalu meyakinkan diri mereka bahawa negara ini aman dan stabil. Cukup bernasib baik. Tetapi itu sekarang. Masa depan belum tentu.

Kejayaan ini perlu diuruskan dengan baik. Bak kata ramai pemimpin, menguruskan kejayaan adalah sukar. Semuanya bergantung kepada kestabilan sosial.

Maka, falsafah Bangsa Malaysia ibarat tali kemudi yang mengikat semua bangsa dan etnik kepada satu identiti nasional dari Perlis sampailah ke Sabah.

Walau bagaimanapun, menurut Profesor Datuk Dr Mustafa Ishak dalam bukunya berjudul The Politics of Bangsa Malaysia, pertembungan identiti sering berlaku. Masyarakat pelbagai kaum menterjemah pemahaman mengenai Bangsa Malaysia mengikut karakter dan acuan kepentingan kaum masing-masing.

Bagi mengelak pertembungan itu, mungkin sudah tiba masanya ruang kompromi antara sesama insan di Malaysia mengenai pembinaan identiti bukan lagi mengenai bangsa tetapi nilai.

Setiap segmen masyarakat perlu bermuafakat meneroka nilai yang mendasari landskap masyarakat pelbagai kaum di negara ini sekaligus menjadikannya sebagai faktor yang dikongsi untuk mencorak identiti Bangsa Malaysia. Antaranya, nilai kesederhanaan. Moderat.

Jadi, sukarkah kita untuk membentuk identiti Bangsa Malaysia?

Moderat itu jenama Malaysia. Malaysia pula sentiasa bermoderat prinsipnya di pentas hubungan antarabangsa. Kerana moderat jugalah, ia menjadi ramuan kejayaan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berunding dengan bekas ketua pemisah pro-Rusia, Alexander Borodai dalam hal berkaitan tragedi MH17 di timur Ukraine.

Tetapi dalam kita mencanang kejayaan gerakan kesederhanaan, ada juga rakyat Malaysia yang sudah menemui ajal sebagai pengebom berani mati.

Ekstremis. Ini nyata sesuatu yang bercanggah dan amat membimbangkan.

Apabila masyarakat teguh di bawah payung kesederhanaan, mereka akan jadi lebih rasional. Makin rasional sesebuah masyarakat, makin matang mereka berfikir dan bertindak. Ini pasti baik untuk kestabilan dalam negara.

Kata orang, tak kenal maka tak cinta. Jika di sini lahirnya sebuah cinta, maka, 57 tahun adalah tempoh masa yang cukup ranum untuk terus bersuai kenal hati budi dan berkeluarga sesama kita.

Moderat bukan bermaksud hanya berani mendiamkan diri.

Bersederhanalah.

-- Sumber: Astro Awani 

Which cheap tablets are worth buying?


A few years ago, tablets were poised to replace laptops as the computing device of choice. That never happened, as we've largely stuck with laptops and phones as our daily drivers, with tablets relegated to a secondary role. 

If you don't use a tablet that much, it certainly seems wise to avoid dropping a lot of cash on one. But a lower price often means compromises, and too many compromises means you won't be using the tablet at all. 

To figure out how many corners you can cut when it comes to purchasing a sub-$200 tablet, we've gathered opinions from across the web, from our own reviews to the opinions of other trusted critics. 

Which cheap tablets balance performance and price to still deliver a good experience? When is it worth spending just a little bit more money? And which deals are too good to be true?

- Engadget