Formerly known as Easy Comes Easy Goes 2.0. I am a Malaysian who loves Hollywood but has never set foot there. My interests = Anything that interests you including Hollywood, Bollywood and Clint Eastwood. Thanks for reading folks. This blog contains 100% true postings, based on established international media reports and reputable trustworthy sources. No lies or fabrications included. Cheers.
Barisan Nasional members have been warned not to utter racially sensitive remarks that could cause tension among the people.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, also the Barisan chief, said members were also told to refrain from making statements that could cause friction among component party members.
Najib's advice appears to have been directed at Sri Gading MP Datuk Seri Mohamed Aziz, who made a controversial remark about Bersih co-chairman Datuk S. Ambiga in the Dewan Rakyat recently.
Najib said this after he chaired a Barisan council meeting, attended by all component party leaders, at its headquarters here on Friday.
The meeting, he said, discussed Barisan's recent programmes and activities in all the states.
"We spoke about the encouraging response from the people during visits to the states and districts by myself and the DPM.
“This shows that the people's confidence towards Barisan has been growing steadily," he said, adding that it was just "a routine meeting.”
Sri Gading MP retracts his statement about Ambiga
Meanwhile, Datuk Mohamad Aziz (BN - Sri Gading) has retracted his statement that questioned whether Bersih co-chairman Datuk S. Ambiga should be hanged.
"I am a disciplined citizen. I withdraw my statement if it has offended my Indian friends such as those in the MIC and PPP," he said in the Dewan Rakyat after Deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar told him to do so.
Mohamad said the DAP had used his statement to stir up racial sentiments for political mileage.
"They are experts at spinning. I respect my voters who are of Indian descent," he said.
Mohamad went on to call the DAP a racist party, citing the tussle in Kampung Buah Pala involving the Indian community as an example of its racist moves.
Lim Guan Eng (DAP - Bagan) later told reporters at the Parliament lobby that he had asked the deputy speaker to make a ruling against Mohamad's statement, which he claimed was rude, seditious and used the King's name in vain.
"The deputy speaker told him to retract the statement, which he did," he said.
Earlier, Mohamad told a press conference that his remark in the Dewan was not racist, as claimed by the DAP.
Instead, he said he had merely asked whether Ambiga should be considered a traitor to the King and be punished by hanging.
"Perhaps the DAP does not understand the Malay language and that is why they did not know that my statement was actually a question," he said.
Mohamad said the DAP had played up racial sentiments and dragged the Indian community into the fray as he had not mentioned the community in his remark.
Asked if he would apologise for his statement, he said: "I do not need to say I'm sorry because I did not do any wrong. My statement was not an accusation. It was a question."
According to the Dewan Rakyat Hansard, Mohamad had said on Tuesday, "Apakah Ambiga tidak boleh kita anggap penderhaka kepada Duli Yang Maha Mulia Yang di-Pertuan Agong dan hukum gantung kepada dia?" (Can we consider Ambiga as a traitor to the Duli Yang Maha Mulia Yang di-Pertuan Agong and punish her by hanging?).
Lim had claimed that Mohamad's statement was racist and threatening in nature as it was directed towards an Indian and Hindu woman.
The BN has said that the statement was Mohamad Aziz's personal opinion and not that of BN official stand.
Selain pasukan bertanding, EURO 2012 yang kini rancak berlangsung di Poland dan Ukraine, turut diwarnai gadis gadis jelita penyokong setia pasukan bertanding.
Gadis Croatia, Russia, Ukraine, Itali, Germany dan Portugal memang lawa tapi lawa lagi gadis2 Malaysia dan Sabah.... Cheers
Siapa Juara EURO 2012 - Pada saya Spain tetap JUARA!!
The Star reported that News anchor for ntv7, Ras Adiba Mohd Radzi, has claimed that she has been taken off the air until her hair, which she cropped for charity, grows back.
“They told me I wouldn't be reading the news until my hair is long enough,” she said.
Ras Adiba, who freelances for ntv7, acknowledged that the station had initially been very supportive of the “Jom Botak: Trek for Cancer” fund-raising project held by the National Cancer Council (Makna) in which she pitched in by getting her hair cropped last Friday.
A source from the station said that Ras Adiba had approached ntv7 before getting her hair shorn and the management had told her from the start that if her hair was cropped, she would not be allowed to read the news.
She was told that once her hair had grown, she could resume her part-time position as newscaster.
“We can't put a bald person on air, especially for news and the anchor is a woman. We have to upkeep a certain look and feel,” the source said.
“She suggested a wig, which we were against because it would look strange for her to appear on air in a wig and then in public with a shaved head.”
The source also said that that ntv7's management had fully supported Ras Adiba's cause, even providing coverage for the event.
A statement from Media Prima, which owns ntv7, stressed that she had not been suspended for shaving her head bald.
“We are still discussing with Ras Adiba on how best we can assist her and the cancer awareness programme which she is supporting,” it said in a statement.
Ras Adiba, who is a paralympian, explained that she had cropped her hair as a sign of solidarity with cancer patients as she had family members who suffered from the illness.“
Inilah Bunga Rafflesia, bunga terbesar di dunia. Uniknya bunga Rafflesia di hutan Belum, Perak ini mempunyai 10 kelopak - yang pertama seumpamanya di dunia.
Oleh kerana keajaibannya, Rafflesia unik ini akan diawet untuk tatapan generasi akan datang.
Lazimnya, Bunga Rafflesia hanya mempunyai lima kelopak, tapi dalam kes ini 10 kelopak!!
Spesies hibrid betina Rafflesia ini ditemui memiliki 10 kelopak berdiameter 46 sentimeter di Sungai Gadong, Taman Negeri Royal Belum, Gerik, Perak pada 23 Jun 2012.
Tumbuhan parasit tersebut ditemui seorang pekerja Perbadanan Taman Negeri Perak ketika menjalankan kerja-kerja rutin harian menyelia kawasan berkenaan.
Pengurus Perbadanan Taman Negeri, Iylia Ainuddin berkata, penemuan bunga itu yang dikenal pasti sebagai hasil evolusi antara spesies R. azlanii dan R. cantleyi telah disahkan sebagai yang pertama di dunia.
SEPANG, MALAYSIA, 18 June 2012 – AirAsia, the world’s best low-cost airline, today announces the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer for its Malaysia-based operations.
Aireen Omar has been named as the new CEO and Executive Director of AirAsia Berhad, and will assume her post on July 1, 2012. Aireen will report directly to Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia.
“I am delighted with the appointment of Aireen, who has consistently demonstrated her capabilities and commitment in propelling AirAsia to new heights. She has long been an invaluable part of the senior management team of AirAsia and possesses the vision and leadership qualities crucial for the company’s growth in its second decade,” Fernandes said.
Aireen’s appointment follows the announcement last week by Fernandes on the Group’s new regional strategy as it enters its second decade. Fernandes will be focusing on the broader expansion of AirAsia. AirAsia is eyeing more joint ventures in Asean, where the airline is based and where it now has affiliates in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. It is also looking to expand beyond Asean, including in Northeast Asia, where AirAsia Japan was recently set up, and South Asia.
Fernandes said that it had become abundantly clear that as AirAsia enters its second decade, there needs to be a major shift in the Group’s perspective, strategy and operations to sustain its trajectory.
“In short, we need to pivot to a wider, regional lens from the first decade’s focus, which was largely domestic. The enormous potential in an underserved market of 3 billion people spread across Asean, Northeast Asia and South Asia offers huge opportunities – and AirAsia, we are convinced, is ideally positioned to reap huge dividends by serving this market,” he said.
In line with this shift in the focus, the Group has established a regional base in Jakarta. Called AirAsia asean, the office will be located far enough, physically as well as psychologically, from AirAsia’s airline offices in each of the countries it operates in.
“As the Group CEO of AirAsia, I will be leading the regional team in Jakarta. We have appointed few key individuals to join the team and will be announcing few more appointments soon. Ideally, AirAsia asean will provide us with an environment free of the pressures of day-to-day operations and the necessary ‘firefighting’ that accompanies these endeavors, and allow our senior managers the space, the time and the interaction so vital to keep us flying higher in our second decade,” he had said.
Asean has a population of 600 million and a rapidly growing middle class, and is gearing for the implementation of Open Skies and a single ASEAN Economic Community by 2015. Asean, Northeast Asia and South Asia have a combined population of 3 billion people.
As a CEO of AirAsia Malaysia, Aireen joins a dynamic team which already includes Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of AirAsia Thailand; Capt. Dharmadi, CEO of AirAsia Indonesia; Marianne Hontiveros, CEO of AirAsia Philippines; and Kazuyuki Iwakata, CEO of AirAsia Japan – all of whom directly report to Group CEO Tony Fernandes.
“We are proud to be probably the first Asean Group with two female CEO’s. Aireen’s appointment is testament of the strength and depth of AirAsia Group’s senior management team. It is also an affirmation of our management philosophy of meritocracy in the company’s operations,” Fernandes said.
Prior to her appointment as CEO, Aireen was Regional Head of Corporate Finance, Treasury and Investor Relations. She joined AirAsia in January 2006 as Director of Corporate Finance. Aireen was, among others, instrumental in securing the financing for AirAsia’s fleet expansion, a vital component of AirAsia’s success. Her role included handling the negotiations with Airbus for the record purchase of 200 Airbus A320neo aircraft that was announced at the Paris Airshow in 2011.
In early 2009, Treasury functions were added to Aireen’s portfolio. She took on this portfolio at the time of the global financial crisis, when credit lines dried up and uncertainty and volatility ruled the markets.
AirAsia co-founder and Deputy Group CEO Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun, who is also president of Group Finance, Treasury, Corporate Finance and Legal of AirAsia, commended Aireen’s performance during the difficult period.
“During the credit crisis, Aireen kept AirAsia ahead of the curve. While other companies fell into trouble securing any financing at all, Aireen was able to lock up financing at very competitive rates for two years for the purchase of aircraft for AirAsia. This allowed AirAsia to pull ahead of competitors and reinforce its strategic advantage. She also played an instrumental role in leading the team responsible for the equity private placement that raised more than half a billion ringgit in 2009,” Kamarudin said.
Dato’ Kamarudin also highlighted Aireen’s role as the catalyst for innovative financing structures, including the Islamic French Single Investor Ijarah, which earned AirAsia global recognition for its leadership in the finance world. Aireen was also responsible for raising funding for the entire AirAsia Group to facilitate its growth, and she assisted in the setting up of AirAsia’s various joint ventures.
In late 2009, Investor Relations and Fuel Procurement were further added to Aireen’s responsibilities. Under her leadership, Investor Relations was restructured to facilitate greater transparency and improved engagement with the investment community.
Her portfolio allowed Aireen to get a deeper understanding of the complexities of operating an airline, especially during the turbulent times. Her wide range of responsibilities and her years with AirAsia have allowed her to be fully immersed in the AirAsia culture. They have also given her a firm footing in continuing the founders’ tradition of establishing a “people company.”
Prior to joining AirAsia, Aireen worked for around nine years in the financial industry. She began her career at Deutsche Bank Securities Inc in New York. Upon returning to Malaysia in 2001, she worked in several major local financial institutions, including Maybank Group.
Aireen holds an economics degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a masters in economics degree from New York University.
In accepting the appointment as CEO of AirAsia Malaysia, Aireen said, “I am honored and humbled by the trust and confidence placed in me by AirAsia co-founders Tony, Kamarudin and the Board of Directors. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have worked with and learned from two of the best entrepreneurs in Asean. These are certainly big shoes to fill, but with the passion, hard work and creativity of the AirAsia Allstars, a management team that has proven its leadership across the industry, and AirAsia’s consummate belief in Malaysia and the region, we move onwards with confidence.”
Speaking on behalf of the board of directors, AirAsia Chairman Dato’ Aziz Bakar said, “We welcome the appointment of Aireen as CEO of AirAsia Berhad. Aireen has long been a member of the AirAsia family, and we are confident that with her credentials, she will lead the company to even greater growth and maintain its market leadership.”
A lesson for everybody to be vigilant and how to escape from kidnappers/rapists.
30 hours ago, I escaped from being kidnapped by Chin Xin-Ci on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at 12:39am ·
As I sit here writing this, I am just so grateful to be alive.
A view of The Curve, Damansara, Kuala Lumpur
To think that 30 hours ago I had a knife to my throat, face to face with the threat of being kidnapped and raped.
It was a Sunday, at 5.22PM. I was alone, walking towards my boyfriend's car in level B2 of The Curve, Mutiara Damansara. He was not in town, and I was running errands with his car. Just as I was putting my shopping bags in the rear seat, the rear car door was slammed against my back, and a meat cleaver was pressed against my throat. A man covered my mouth with his hand, and whispered not to scream. He then shoved me onto the floor of the backseat of the car and waved the cleaver at me, reminding me not to scream. He was skinny, wearing a baggy turqoise blue t-shirt, had a thick moustache and short curly hair, approx 5'8", mid-30s, and of Indian descent.
At this moment, second man appeared. He was also in his mid-30s. He was wearing a red t-shirt, had a crewcut, and was of Malay descent. He grabbed my car keys and demanded for my parking ticket. I couldn't remember where it was. They shoved me deeper into the car, and the Indian man got into the back seat with me, while the Malay man got into the driver's seat, driving us out of the carpark.
I told them they could take everything, just let me go. But at that point they didn't even ask for money. Instead, the Indian man started to make sexual advances. Then it hit me. "Oh my God. Oh my God. This is really happening. I'm being kidnapped.. and I think I know what they want."
From this moment on, there were a few crucial things that happened that I think is the reason I'm alive today.
1. I managed to get into a position to escape.
When they got into the car, the Indian man had tried to force my body down onto the floor. I knew that the moment I'm on the floor, there would be no chance of escape. So I begged him to let me sit up. I promised him I wouldn't scream or alert anyone's attention. Thankfully, he trusted me, and let me sit up, gripping my arm tightly. Then I told him my arm really hurt and to please not grip it so hard. He loosened his grip.
2. I did not fight for the sake of fighting.
I was in an enclosed space, with no clear escape route. I would never win in a fight with these 2 guys, especially when they have sharp weapons. Had I fought from the get go, I may not have been in a position to escape. I might've even been knocked out cold, and God only knows where I would be right now.
3. I was lucky and sneaky.
I knew that the only way to escape, was to jump out of the car, even if it was moving. They had locked the car doors. So I leaned back, pretended to scratch my hair, and shakily unlocked the door I was leaning against. I'm so lucky they did not see or hear this!
4. I went 'crazy' at the right time.
And then I waited. I knew that the car would have to slow down outside the parking lot, as it exits to merge with the main roads. The moment it slowed down, I opened the car door and tried to make a run for it. I failed. I kicked my legs out of the car, but the Indian man had managed to pull my body back in. From this moment on, everything is a blur. I remember the Malay driver temporarily stopping the car, leaning over from the driver's seat and attempting to close the door and pull my legs in. At that point I remember thinking, "Even if I don't get out now, I need to keep the door open and my legs out the door. At the very least, it should cause a scene, and someone would see me. Or, the door might hit another car and they'll be forced to slow down." So I continued kicking. My right foot pushed against the wide-open car door to keep it open. I recall elbowing, struggling, kicking, and even biting. I lost my glasses, and was struggling blindly for my life. At some point the Malay driver yelled, "BAGI DIA LEPAS! BAGI DIA LEPAS!" (Let her go! Let her go!) and the Indian man loosened his grip. I made a jump out of the still-moving car, and ran for my life.
5. I acted in spite of the fear.
My friends said I was brave. But I didn't feel like it. I was quivering and shaking in fear. I was so afraid. I thought I was going to die. I was weak with fear and deathly afraid. I truly thought "this was it". But I knew I HAD to move. I had to run. Or there would be a worser fate in store for me. While I was quaking in fear, I forced myself to look around and see if there was any way I could escape, or even catch someone's eye.
6. I remembered the people I love.
The only thing that matters when you're faced with potentially horrendous fate, is the people in your life. When I felt the knife to my neck, the first thing I thought was , "This cannot be happening. I must be dreaming." The second? The people that truly matter to me flashed across my mind. It sounds cliche, but it's true. I thought of my parents. My brother. Khailee. Esther. More people. That's all I could think of for a few moments, before I thought, "Shit. I need to get out of here."
I ran towards the Maybank outlet at the Curve. There were plenty of people milling around. I screamed for help over and over again. I was hysterical. I grabbed an older Malay man by his shoulders and begged for help before practically collapsing at his feet.
I will always remember the relief and liberation I felt, running over Mutiara Damansara's manicured grass and into the crowd.
Today, I found out that the entire ordeal from the moment I left the parking ticket payment machine, to my escape, happened in about 4 minutes. To me, it felt like one long nightmare.
We never think its going to happen to us... and then it does. I used to think that this is something that happens only in the papers and to people far, far removed from me. But then it did happen to me. I moved to PJ/KL 6 years ago, and I've spent countless mornings, afternoons and nights at The Curve. When my friends and I were organizing Rock Up! back in 2008, we were walking around the place at 4AM even. It's been 6 years, and never once did I feel that I was unsafe at The Curve. Until yesterday.
I feel like moving out of the country ASAP. Getting the hell out of this state where you hear of a kidnapping or attempted one every month (remember Nayati?), or a snatch theft every week. And yet I'm fully aware of the fact that in another country with more lax firearm laws, they would've been holding a gun to my head, not a cleaver. And that would've been so, so much worse.
I'm Blessed. By God's grace, I am alive and relatively well. And I will live another day to build another cat iPhone app. It just was not my time to go. And for that, I thank God.
I want to share this story with everyone because cops tell me that they rarely get to hear it from someone who escapes.
Girls, be so very careful. Be vigilant, and please try not to go anywhere alone. If you need to walk to the carpark, and you're alone, get a guard to go with you. I was recently told that it's part of their job description to assist anyone if needed.
Guys, watch out for your girlfriends, wives, mothers, sisters and friends. Walk with them, don't take their paranoia or fear lightly. Watch out for them.
And everyone, just watch out for each other. Take care of each other. These things really DO happen. As I ran out of the car, so many people came to help me. Strangers who didn't know who I was, came forward and offered me tissue paper, water, cellphones, and general comfort.
Malaysians, please care for one another. You already do. Just keep on caring. Keep watching out for each other. Don't worry about being thought of as "busy body" or "overreacting". The world can be a cruel place, but all it takes is for people to care for one another to make all the difference.
God Bless Malaysia and let us shoot that criminals before they strike again...!!
Gandingan Mantap - Ratu Rock Negara Ella bersama Mentornya Caroline (kanan)
Kelantan memang ramai penyanyi wanita hebat seperti Nora dan kakaknya Aishah
Persembahan pertama Caroline menerusi Mentor 6 memang hebat iaitu lagu Price Tag.
Caroline boleh menyanyi semua genre lagu termasuk slow dan Rock seperti dalam persembahan ini dimana dia nyanyikan lagu Sedetik Lebih dan Ku Ada kamu dan juga Bohemian Rhapsody oleh kumpulan Rock Lagenda UK, Queens.
Caroline pasti hebat bila Ella suruh dia nyanyi lagu Simply The Best oleh Tina Turner ini.
Kan saya dah kata Putri Carolie Mohd Kamel dari Kelantan, memang juara Mentor Musim ke 6.
Caroline hebat sehebat namanya yang jarang diwarisi gadis Melayu Kelantan.
Mungkinkah bapa Caroline minat Putra Rainer dari Monaco dan Puteri Caroline dari Monaco??
Bagi saya Caroline hebat umpama Alanis Morissette, Bonny Taylor, Bonnie Raitt dan Fergie dari Black Eyed Peas.
Moga Caroline terus berjaya dalam arena seni muzik tanah air.
I got this little piece of information via email and i thought it is worth sharing.
Remember and beware : Lack of sleep, KILLS YOU!!!
Some Excerpts:
· Short sleep duration ( <5 or 5-6 hours ) increased risk for high Blood Pressure, BP by 350% to 500% compared to those who slept longer than 6 hours per night. Paper published in 2009. As you know, high BLOOD PRESSURE, BP kills.
· Young people ( 25-49 years of age ) are twice as likely to get high BP if they sleep less. Paper published in 2006.
· Individuals who slept less than 5 hours a night had a 3-fold increased risk of heart attacks. Paper published in 1999.
· Complete and partial lack of sleep increased the blood concentrations of High sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-cRP), the strongest predictor of heart attacks. Even after getting adequate sleep later, the levels stayed high!!
· Just one night of sleep loss increases very toxic substances in body such as Interleukin-6 (IL! -6), Tumour Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-alpha) and C-reactive protein (cRP). They increase risks of many medical conditions, including cancer, arthritis and heart disease. Paper published in 2004.
· Sleeping for <=5 hours per night leads to 39% increase in heart disease. Sleeping for <=6 hours per night leads to 18% increase in heart disease. Paper published in 2006.
Ideal Sleep
For lack of space, I cannot explain here the ideal sleep architecture. But in brief, sleep is composed of two stages: REM ( Rapid Eye Movement ) and non-REM. The former helps in mental consolidation while the latter helps in physical repair and rebuilding. During the night, you alternate between REM and non-REM stages 4-5 times.
The earlier part of sleep is mostly non-REM. During that period, your pituitary gland releases growth hormones that repair your body. The latter part of sleep is more and more REM type.
For you to be mentally alert during the day, ! the latter part of sleep is more important. No wonder when you wake up with an alarm clock after 5-6 hours of sleep, you are mentally irritable throughout the day (lack of REM sleep). And if you have slept for less than 5 hours, your body is in a complete physical mess ( lack of non-REM sleep ), you are tired throughout the day, moving like a zombie and your immunity is way down ( I’ve been there, done that ).
Finally, as long-distance runners, you need an hour of extra sleep to repair the running related damage.
"Happiness is a state of mind, and its a choice: do not wait for it from others or from circumstances. Its always from YOU!"
Sabah Chief Minister and Sabah Barisan Nasional, BN Chief Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman welcomes the announcement by the Prime Minister yesterday to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry, R-C-I to investigate problems related to the huge influx of illegal immigrants in Sabah.
"This announcement proves that the BN government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is a government that listens to the people," he said in a statement today, 2nd June 2012.
Musa also said the opposition should not try to play up this issue and claim political mileage on the issue of RCI.
"This is the request made by BN component parties including Umno and not just by the opposition," he said.
He also said that the State Government will extend its terms of reference to assist in the setting up of the RCI.
It was reported that the number of illegal immigrants in Sabah is estimated to be around 500,000 people, mainly from the Philippines and Indonesia.
