Najib: Modi a bold reformist

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has praised the bravery of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for implementing reforms.

"May I congratulate you for being a bold reformist, for doing things a lesser mortal would not have attempted

"If you are courageous enough to do the reforms you will reap the rewards in due course," Najib told Modi over video conferencing at a business conclave in Kuala Lumpur today.

Modi had recently embarked on a drastic reform measure to tackle corruption, by banning the use of Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes.

Earlier in his speech, Modi expressed confidence in Najib's leadership.

"Under the leadership of his excellency the PM of Malaysia the country will achieve its developed country status in 2020.

"It has also shown great resilience in facing the current economic climate," the Indian premier said.

Najib and Modi were speaking at The Economic Times Asian Business Leaders Conclave, which will be held until tomorrow.

The event seeks to foster better business ties between Asian countries.

Source: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/366134#ixzz4SrsZlPFE

Chennai names successor as thousands mourn 'Amma'

The party of Jayalalithaa Jayaram, a powerful Indian politician who died on Monday, appointed a loyalist to lead her southern state and keep her supporters together as thousands of them grieved in the streets.

Jayalalithaa, the five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu state, ran her AIADMK party with an iron hand and appointed no second line of leadership or successor.

An hour after her party announced her death late on Monday after a cardiac arrest, state Finance Minister OP Panneerselvam was sworn in to lead economically important Tamil Nadu, a base for auto firms Ford Motor Daimler, Hyundai and Nissan and IT firm Cognizant

Panneerselvam had stood in for Jayalalithaa in the past, but made it clear he was not replacing her. He declined to take her place at the head of the cabinet table while she was ill and instead had her picture placed there.

His rise to the top job in Tamil Nadu would help allay fears of a power struggle in the AIADMK, built entirely around the cult of Jayalalithaa.

Tens of thousands of people gathered outside a memorial hall in the state capital, Chennai, where Jayalalithaa's body lay draped in the Indian flag.

Many wailed and beat their chests in grief. The funeral was set for later on Tuesday.

Widely known as "Amma" or "Mother", the film star-turned politician had a cult following and there were fears supporters would react erratically to her death.

A crowd had surged towards Apollo Hospital where she lay fighting for her life earlier on Monday on rumours that she had died.

"The level of reverence she inspired, few other leaders had," said a leader of the Congress party, Shashi Tharoor.

Jayalalithaa had gone into cardiac arrest on Sunday night, the Apollo Hospital said, following her admission with fever and dehydration in September. She was 68.

"She was not only our leader, she was our god," said Paasarai Jeeva, a woman who said she had been camping outside the hospital for a week.

State authorities ordered seven days of mourning, schools were shut and thousands of police deployed to prevent her supporters from creating public disorder or from harming themselves in grief.

In the past, when Jayalalithaa faced political problems such as a jail term for corruption, her loyalists threatened to immolate themselves or lie down in streets for buses to run them over.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was flying to Chennai to mourn her death along with several other cabinet colleagues.

"Jayalalithaa ji's connect with the citizens, concern for welfare of the poor, the women and marginalized will always be a source of inspiration," Modi said.

His ruling Bharatiya Janata Party as well as the Congress, the other national party, have little political presence in Tamil Nadu despite years of efforts to build a base.

Jayalalithaa's AIADMK and bitter rival DMK are the main political groupings, alternating in power.

Source- Reuters

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa dies

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has died, sparking an outpouring of grief in the southern Indian state.

The 68-year-old Jayalalithaa, one of India's most powerful politicians, was admitted to a Chennai hospital on Sept 22 with a fever, dehydration and a respiratory infection.

On Sunday evening she suffered a cardiac arrest and her condition deteriorated.

Doctors of Apollo Hospital, along with specialists from New Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences, failed to revive her after she was put on life support.

"Every possible clinical attempt was made to sustain her revival. However, despite our best efforts, the chief minister's underlying conditions rendered her unable to recover and she passed away at 11.30pm on Monday (2am today in Malaysia)," according to a hospital statement.

The announcement came within hours of the hospital strongly refuting reports by local television channels that Jayalalithaa had died.

The state's ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party picked Jayalalithaa loyalist O Panneerselvam to succeed her as the chief minister.

As Tamil Nadu mourns the death of its iconic leader, there is high security in the state capital Chennai to control crowds and maintain order.

Indian television channels showed grief-stricken supporters gathering in many locations in Chennai to mourn Jayalalithaa's passing.

She is hailed as "Puratchi Thalaivi" (revolutionary leader) and known as Amma (mother) among her mass followers.

Jayalalithaa dominated Tamil Nadu's politics for three decades and served as the state's chief minister six times.

She was born into a Brahmin family in Mysore in Karnataka, a state bordering Tamil Nadu, and was a hugely popular movie star before formally entering politics in 1982.

Source- Bernama

‘Kabali’: IGP says advised censors to cut select scenes shot in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 — Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has confirmed that police advised against the inclusion of certain scenes from the Tamil blockbuster Kabali.

He said Bukit Aman had given its input on some scenes in the Tamil movie starring superstar Rajinikanth, which led to an alternate ending to the movie.

“Yes. We gave advice on parts of the movie that were shot here,” he said when commenting on a Malay Mail report yesterday that police had a say in the deletion of certain parts of the movie largely shot here.

As a result, Malaysians also missed out on three other parts deemed unsuitable for viewers.
Film Censorship Board chairman Datuk Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid said it was a normal practice to have police input in movies that had violence, gangsterism and derogatory elements.

“We normally have our own police advisory unit in the censorship board too. For certain movies that we feel need extra input from Bukit Aman, we will call them in for viewing too,” he said.
“The final say, however, would be from us.” he added.

Yesterday, Malay Mail revealed why Malaysia had a different ending to the movie and that parts had been deleted as police had felt the scenes would encourage gangsterism.

The movie screened here ends with the words “Finally, Kabali surrendered to police” on a black screen.

In the original ending, Tiger, a character played by Tamil actor Hari, is shown being dragged out of a lockup by a policeman who gives him a gun to shoot Kabali.

He then walks into a cafe and goes up to Kabali, a role played by Rajinikanth,  before the screen turns black and a gunshot is heard against the sound of the crowd shouting. It was not clear if Kabali survives.

Kabali is mainly about the Malaysian underworld

CHENNAI: The much-awaited Tamil movie Kabali is mainly about the Malaysian underworld, an actor involved in the film has revealed.

Kabali, which is expected to be release worldwide on July 15, stars India’s highest paid actor Rajinikanth in the lead role. Malaysian actors Rosyam Nor, Norman Hakim and Zack Taipan are also in the movie.

It will be released in four languages and is expected to hit 5,000 screens. It will also be dubbed in Bahasa Malaysia.

The teaser of the film received five million hits on YouTube on its first day alone. With over 20 million hits so far, it has already broken records of Bollywood hits such as PK, Dhoom: 3 and Salman Khan’s upcoming Sultan.

According to a report in The Hindu, the story covers the socio-economic and political past and the present of Malaysia. It quoted actor Kishore, who is one of three villains in the movie, as saying: 

“Director P Ranjit and his team of artists and writers did a lot of research on the background of Malaysian Tamils, who have remained workers in plantation sectors in rubber and palm estates. 

The film explains why a character like Kabali emerges in a certain milieu.”

In an interview with The Hindu, Kishore, who made his debut in the movie Kanti in 2004, said: 

“We shot for nearly 30 days (with Rajinikanth) in Chennai and Malaysia.”

Asked about acting with a legend such as Rajinikanth, he said he considered himself blessed, “for acting alongside him is something of a dream come true for any actor”.

He praised Rajinikanth for making his co-stars comfortable with his simplicity. “His nature is like that. He used to share lot of experiences during the shoots with all the co-stars. 

I have also worked with stalwarts like Kamal Hassan. The way both Rajini and Kamal introduce new talents to their audience is great. This is a rare thing in the film industry today.”

On his role, Kishore who acts in Malayalam and Telugu films as well, said: “I am a typical villain. 

I wear huge gold chains and bracelets! I am one among three villains in the film. To match a character played by someone of Rajini’s stature, the film needed three antagonists. I tried my best to do justice in my character portrayal.”


He said the heroine in the movie, Radhika Apte was an amazing actor and a thorough professional in her approach.


Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2016/06/10/kabali-is-mainly-about-the-malaysian-underworld/

Don't forget what our forefathers said about hudud

COMMENT Members of Parliament, on being elected as members of the House of Representatives (Dewan Rakyat), have to swear the following oath “...that I will faithfully discharge my duties as such to the best of my ability, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to Malaysia and will preserve, protect and defend its constitution”.

The MPs must bear this oath in mind when deliberating on the Private Member's Bill introduced in Parliament recently by PAS MP for Marang Abdul Hadi Awang.

The bill seeks to amend Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1956 and is intended to extend the power of the syariah court to be able to implement the Kelantan Criminal Enactment (II) 1993 which provides for hudud punishments detailed in the Kelantan Enactment 2015 and include theft, rape, sodomy, etc.

Gabungan Professor Negara is reported to have said the proposed Private Member's Bill is not about hudud law and that the word 'hudud' (Islamic penal code) is not mentioned in the bill.

It is true that the word 'hudud' is not mentioned in the proposed bill but the aim of this bill is to empower the 'Kelantan Syariah Criminal Enactment (II) 1993 amended in 2015' to impose hudud punishments.

Thus, the aim of the Private Member's Bill is to empower states to be able to pass enactments implementing syariah laws and providing for hudud punishments.

அமெரிக்க உச்சநீதிமன்ற நீதிபதியாகப் பொறுப்பேற்கவுள்ள தமிழர்!

வாஷிங்டன் – அமெரிக்க உச்சநீதிமன்றத்தின் தலைமை நீதிபதி ஆன்டோனின் ஸ்கோலியா அண்மையில் காலமானதையடுத்து, அப்பதவிக்கு புதிய நீதிபதியாக இந்தியர் ஸ்ரீகாந்த் ஸ்ரீனிவாசன் நியமிக்கப்படவுள்ளார்.

ஸ்ரீகாந்த் ஸ்ரீனிவாசனின் குடும்பம் தமிழகத்தைப் பூர்வீகமாகக் கொண்டது.

அவரது தந்தை பத்மநாபன்  நெல்லை மாவட்டம் மேலதிருவேங்கடநாதபுரத்தை சேர்ந்தவர். தாயார் சென்னையைச் சேர்ந்தவர்.

என்றாலும், சண்டிகரில் தான் ஸ்ரீகாந்த் ஸ்ரீனிவாசன் பிறந்து வளர்ந்துள்ளார்.

கடந்த 1960-ம் ஆண்டு, ஸ்ரீகாந்தின் குடும்பம் அமெரிக்காவிற்கு குடிபெயர்ந்தது. அங்கு தனது பட்டப்படிப்பை நிறைவு செய்த அவர், அந்நாட்டிலேயே வழக்கறிஞராக பணியாற்றத் தொடங்கினார். தற்போது கொலம்பியா மண்டல மேல் முறையீட்டு நீதிமன்றத்தில் அவர் நீதிபதியாக உள்ளார்.

இந்நிலையில், ஸ்ரீகாந்த் ஏற்கவுள்ள புதிய பொறுப்பு குறித்த அறிவிப்பை அமெரிக்க அதிபர் பராக் ஒபாமா விரைவில் அதிகாரப்பூர்வமாக அறிவிப்பார் என்று செய்திகள் வெளியாகியுள்ளன.

அவ்வாறு அறிவிக்கப்பட்டால், அமெரிக்க உச்சநீதிமன்றத்தில் நீதிபதியாகப் பொறுப்பேற்கும் முதல் இந்தியர் மற்றும் தமிழர் என்ற பெருமை ஸ்ரீகாந்த் ஸ்ரீனிவாசனிற்குக் கிடைக்கும்.

Source : http://www.selliyal.com/archives/122101

Despite controversy, Ola-Bola a homage to M'sian unity

COMMENT There was some controversy surrounding recent movie 'Ola-Bola' which saw some Chinese complaining that the player that scored the final goal in the1980 Olympics soccer qualifying match - which the movie was based on - was a Chinese.

This differs from the movie's account which showed a Malay player scoring the winning goal. The movie made it clear in its opening credits that it was not a true-to-life documentary.

The abortive controversy aside, as cliched as it sounds, 'Ola-Bola' is a movie whose time has come.

The issue raised above perhaps showcases the discordant times we now live in and why we need such stories to remind us of why unity is important.

In any case, 'Ola-Bla' is the long-awaited bridge between movies popular with the public and one that satisfies the critics' aesthetics. As well as being a timely social commentary and rallying cry for unity amidst our current crisis.

In recent history, Malaysian movies are either critically acclaimed or highly successful at the box-office. Both mutually exclusive, with few in- betweens.

Films like 'Bunohan', 'Lelaki Harapan Dunia', 'Kinta', and 'Jagat' which got rave reviews, did not get the exposure and box-office collections that their acclaimed status called for.

Silver screen adaptations of Mat Rempit, forbidden love, gangsters, rape victims marrying their rapists, ghosts, and other more casual subject matters raked in more takings.

Movies like 'Police Evo' and 'The Journey', however, have managed to bridge the two groups in taking in respectable collections while being touted as more artistic offerings.

But in this case, it is as though both genres had decided to elope and then have a baby. And 'Ola-Bola' is that baby.

It is a success story that has eluded many Malaysian films since the glory days of Sir Run Run Shaw, P Ramlee, and the productions of the 70s and 80s prior to the 90s, and the industry's later slide into pretty faces and populist leanings.

From an industry standpoint, 'Ola-Bola' is being seen as a show of hope that Malaysian movie-making is not yet in its sunset but is heading for greater heights.

Apt social commentary

Beyond the scope of a maturing Malaysian movie industry, 'Ola-Bola' is also an apt social commentary of our times and a galvanising cry for unity that Malaysia sorely needs.

While the subject matter is football and its story loosely based on the travails of the 1980 Malaysian football team to win the regional qualifier for that year's Moscow Olympics, woven into the fabric are more serious and important tidings.

These touched on the brain-drain which continues to plague Malaysia as the talented leave to look for greener pastures overseas.

The situation is portrayed in the movie via the story of team captain Chow Kwok Keong who turns down a chance to play in the English Premier League as he is loyal to the Malaysian football team.

One of the pillars of the movie is his struggle with that decision and how it affected the people around him.

It was also the background behind the interplay between one of the characters - TV producer Marianne - researching the 1980s team and her boss who turned out to be the announcer who was on duty during the Olympic qualifier.

Her boss had similarly decided to forgo an offer from the BBC to continue serving in his own country.

Marianne herself, in the beginning of the movie, was about to migrate and accept an offer overseas before her eventual decision to stay after finding out about the story of the 1980 Malaysian Olympic football team.

Police, military begin joint patrols for Thaipusam

The police and military have started joint security patrols for Thaipusam at the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple grounds in Batu Caves.

Gombak police chief ACP Ali Ahmad said the patrols, which started today, had been necessitated by the recent terror attacks in several cities around the world.

Thaipusam falls on Sunday but will be celebrated over three days from Saturday, taking into account the chariot procession from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Jalan Bandar to the Batu Caves temple and back.

Ali did not disclose the number of policemen or soldiers who would be deployed on the patrols but said there was an adequate number of personnel for the duty.

“Terror attacks can happen anywhere. As such, the police are taking precautions, including at Batu Caves,” he told a news conference at the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple. Also present was the temple committee chairperson R Nadarajah.

Ali said security at Batu Caves was under control and the place was safe for Hindu devotees and visitors.

“Do not speculate on the security at Batu Caves and cause anxiety and panic among the people. Anyone violating police orders would be dealt with by the law,” he said.

More than a million devotees and visitors are expected at Batu Caves over the weekend for the Thaipusam festival.

Meanwhile, Ali also said that the police would not allow irresponsible people to collect payment for parking vehicles in the vicinity of Batu Caves during Thaipusam.

“We will monitor the situation. We advise the public not to pay any parking fees (to these irresponsible people),” he said.

Source - Bernama

Batu Caves safe for Thaipusam, say police

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21 — Devotees and visitors going for Thaipusam at Batu Caves this weekend have been assured of their safety. Selangor police chief Datuk Abdul Samah said police have started tightening security in Batu Caves.

 “The Thaipusam festival at Batu Caves is on the tourism calendar of the country and we have always given attention to security at public places,” he said.

 “We have taken into account all factors to determine the strength of our force to be deployed at Batu Caves.” Following instructions from Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar to heighten security following terror attacks in Jakarta, Abdul Samah said security measures at public places, including Batu Caves, would be at the highest level.

City traffic investigations and legal officer Supt S. Markandan said police would also crack down on illegal parking activities at Batu Caves and at surrounding areas known for having illegal parking attendants during Thaipusam.

Markandan said police would not only issue summonses but also tow away vehicles that disrupt traffic flow. “There will be no leeway for motorists who break the law,” he said.

He also advised the public to use public transportation to avoid adding to the congestion and to know where the road closures would be during the chariot processions that will take place two days before and after Thaipusam.

There will not be complete road closures during the processions unless deemed necessary, Markandan added


Source: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/batu-caves-safe-for-thaipusam-say-police#sthash.W2O5wK0o.dpuf