Sultan Azlan Shah a great judicial figure and leader

The Sultan of Perak, Raja Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah, who passed away today at the age of 86, was a man of many talents.

In his younger days, he was a lawyer, judge and sportsman. He also served as a judge and lord president of the Federal Court.

The sultan was also sometime president of the Malaysian Hockey Federation and the Asian Hockey Federation. He also served as executive board member of the International Hockey Federation.

The reactions to his death spoke of the high regard and esteem he was held in.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak (right): My condolences over the passing of the 34th Sultan Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah.Al Fatihah. 

Chief Justice Arifin Zakaria: I represent the judiciary and staff in expressing our condolences to the Perak royal family following the death of Sultan Perak Sultan Azlan Muhibuddin Shah, who was the fifth Lord President from 1982 to 1984.
 
He has contributed immensely in the development of the country's laws and the judiciary. His sudden passing is a big loss felt especially by the judiciary and the country.

Johor Menteri Besar Khaled Nordin: My condolences following the passing of Sultan Azlan Muhibuddin Shah. Al-fatihah.

Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim: The Selangor government would like to extend its condolences following the passing of Sultan Azlan Muhibuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Yussuf Izzuddin Shah.

Umno Youth chief and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar: Got news over the passing of Sultan Azlan Shah. He is a philosopher king of our times. Al-fatihah.

PKR president and Kajang assemblyperson Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail: PKR would like to extend its condolences over the death of Sultan Azlan Muhibuddin Shah. May Allah bless his soul.

DAP parliamentary leader, Lim Kit Siang: My condolences to the Perak royal family and the people of Perak on the demise of Sultan Azlan Shah.

Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan: My condolences to the Perak royal family and its people following the death of Sultan Azlan Shah.

Malaysian Bar president, Christopher Leong: The Malaysian Bar is saddened by news of the passing away of Sultan Azlan Shah.
 
He was a great judicial figure and the annals of our judicial history will bear testimony to this. He was well respected not only in Malaysia but also in the Commonwealth.

His judgments were highly regarded and are quoted in courts till this day. The Malaysian Bar conveys its deepest condolences to Her Royal Highness Tuanku Bainun Mohd Ali and the royal family.

Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli: Al-Fatihah to the late Sultan of Perak, Tuanku Azlan Shah. He came four times to Malay College Kuala Kangsar during my time, and I met him face to face.

Former Chief Justice Zaki Azmi(right): We have lost a great leader, not only as a sultan but also as a retired head of the Malaysian judiciary, then known as the lord president.

His grounds of judgments laid down very important principles of law and are still being referred to.

He was also highly respected amongst legal luminaries internationally. Not forgetting he was the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at one time.

Lembah Pantai MP and PKR veep Nurul Izzah Anwar: May Allah shower his blessings to Sultan Azlan Shah, the Perak Sultan.
 
Bukit Katil MP and PKR Youth chief, Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin: PKR Youth expresses its condolences following the death of Sultan Perak Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah. Al-Fatihah.



Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/264130

'MACC men main suspects in Beng Hock's death'

The Court of Appeal was told today that Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers were the prime suspects in DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock's death and their evidence should therefore be treated with caution.

Counsel Gobind Singh, representing Teoh's family, contended that the evidence of independent witnesses during the inquest at the Shah Alam Coroner Court revealed the MACC officers were not telling the truth.

Gobind alleged that there were evidence that the officers had used force against Teoh before he was found dead on July 16, 2009.

He also submitted that the Coroner's Court should not use higher standard proof in reaching for an open verdict in Teoh's case.

"There were sufficient grounds for the Coroner to reach a verdict of death by homicide or person present at MACC office, where the decease was detained overnight," he said before a three-member panel Court of Appeal judges chaired by Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof.

Two other panel members were Mah Weng Kwai and Hamid Sultan Abu Backer.

Sultan Azlan Shah A Wise Ruler

IPOH: The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, 86, who passed away today, was known as a wise and intelligent figure, and the only ruler who had held the top post as Lord President in the country's judiciary.

Remembered as a stern and firm Lord President (1982-1984) before he became sultan, he was also known as a compassionate, concerned and forgiving ruler.

Sultan Azlan Shah who was born on April 19, 1928 in Kampung Manggis, Batu Gajah, Perak was also known as someone who placed importance on discipline, cleanliness and punctuality.

He was a child of Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Jalil Shah (reigned 1948-1963) and his commoner wife, Toh Puan Dewangsa Khadijah Ahmad.

Sultan Azlan Shah had his early education at the Batu Gajah Government English School, now known as SMK Sultan Yussuf, and continued his secondary schooling at the prestigious Malay College Kuala Kangsar.

He then studied for his law degree at the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom and graduated in 1953, and was admitted to the English Bar by the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn on Nov 23, 1954.

Upon his return to then Malaya, Sultan Azlan Shah began his career in 1954 as Assistant State Secretary of Perak before joining the Malayan judicial and legal service one year later.

In 1956, he was appointed as first class magistrate and then served as Sessions Court president, federal counsel, deputy public prosecutor, state legal adviser of Pahang and later Johor, registrar of the High Court of Malaya and chief registrar of the Federal Court of Malaysia.

In 1965, he became the youngest High Court judge in the Commonwealth at the age of 37. In 1973, he was made a Federal Court judge and in 1979, was appointed as Chief Justice of Malaya.

He reached the pinnacle of his career in the judiciary when he was appointed as the youngest-ever Lord President of the Federal Court of Malaysia on Nov 12, 1982.

He resigned in 1984 after being in the judicial and legal service for 30 years when he was elevated to the Perak royal throne.

The then Raja Azlan Shah was installed as the Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Perak on July 1, 1983 but within six months on Feb 3, 1984, he succeeded Sultan Idris Shah II following the latter's demise.

On April 26, 1989, Sultan Azlan Shah was installed as the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) of Malaysia. He served the full five-year term and returned as Sultan of Perak in 1994.

He was active in sports in his young days and competed in hockey, football, athletics and cricket, and was later involved in sports bodies. 

He was the chef de mission of the Malaysian contingent to the Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada in 1976.

The late Perak Sultan was particularly active in hockey where he was president of the Malaysian Hockey Federation until 2005, was once vice-president of the International Hockey Federation and president of the Asian Hockey Federation until his demise.

The Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament, named after him, is an annual hockey tournament held in Ipoh, the Perak capital city.

In the field of education, Sultan Azlan Shah had been the chancellor of Universiti Malaya (UM) since 1986, was pro-chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) from October 1971 until February 1984, and chairman of the Higher Education Advisory Council (November 1974-October 1976).

He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Literature by UM in 1979 and Honorary Doctorate in Law by USM in 1980.

Sultan Azlan Shah was also recognised by several foreign universities including University of Nottingham (Hon. Doctor of Law, 1986), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok (Hon. Doctor of Law, 1990), Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (Hon. Fellow, 1991) and Royal College of Surgeons of England (Hon. Fellow, 1999).

He was the royal patron of several student, graduate, professional and charitable associations and clubs including the Malaysian Law Society in Great Britain and Eire, British Graduates Association, Academy of Medicine of Malaysia, WWF-Malaysia and Ipoh Royal Club.

Sultan Azlan Shah leaves his consort, Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Bainun, and five children, the Regent of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, the late Raja Ashman Shah, Raja Azureen, Raja Eleena and Raja Yong Sofia.

- Bernama

Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak dies

Sultan of Perak, Raja Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah, passed away today at the age of 86.

In making the announcement, Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir said the ruler died at 1.30pm at the National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur.

His remains will be taken to the palace in Kuala Kangsar tomorrow morning and buried at the royal mausoleum there after Asar (mid-afternoon) prayers.

Tomorrow will be a public holiday in Perak as the state will be in mourning.

No entertainment or celebrations will be allowed in the state for seven days until June 4.

The Malaysian flag will also fly at half mast until June 4, while the Perak flag will fly half mast for 100 days starting today.

"May Allah bless his soul," Zambry said.

A lawyer, judge and sportsman

Azlan Shah was sultan of Perak for 30 years and reigned as Yang di-Pertuan Agong from 1989 to 1994.

He is survived by his consort Tuanku Bainun Mohd Ali, two princes and two princesses. Another prince, Raja Ashman Shah died on March 30, 2012.

Before becoming the sultan of Perak, Raja Azlan, a lawyer, served as a judge and Lord President of the Federal Court.

In 2009, the late sultan (right)played a key role in the Perak constitutional crisis when he declined then menteri besar Nizar Jamaluddin's request to dissolve the state assembly, following defections.

Instead, he directed Nizar to resign as Nizar had lost confidence of the House.

BN, with support from three defected Pakatan Rakyat assemblypersons, formed a new government thereby toppling the elected Pakatan government.

The matter was later taken to court with a five-member bench at the Federal Court declaring in 2010 that BN's Zambry was the rightful menteri besar.

The court found that the Perak Constitution gives absolute discretionary powers to the sultan to withhold consent to dissolve the state assembly.

Raja Azlan also made significant contributions to the sport of hockey, and was president of the Asian Hockey Federation and executive board member of the International Hockey Federation.

The Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament is hosted annually in the Perak capital of Ipoh.


Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/264115

Kochadaiiyaan - Regal, classy, stylish and more

REVIEW 

Rajinikanth is not just an actor, he is a brand name. Everything about The Superstar is magnum opus and each of his moves is a trend setter. 

After nearly four painful years of anticipation, Rajinikanth is back to the silver screen. And here's the most celebrated actor of the country throwing open the gates to the globally budding trend in movie making, in India.

'Kochadaiiyaan' has been in the making, and in headlines every other day, for the past couple of years, for the path breaking technology of motion capture photo realistic film brought home by the Superstar's own daughter, Soundarya Rajinikanth Ashwin, who debuts as director with this legendary flick. 

KS Ravikumar's intelligently crafted story backed by AR Rahman's music starring Deepika Padukone, Nasser, Aadhi, Jackie Shroff, Rukmmini and Shobhana with the Superstar himself, in an all new concept - 'Kochadaiiyaan' is the best of Superstar's portrayal and upcoming technology.

To say that Kochadaiiyaan is the father and Rana the son is as easy as it may seem, but to define the inspiring men that they are and to unfold the multilayered story is a big task at hand. 

The story revolves around two kingdoms - Kalingapuri and Kottaipattinam. Rana is declared the commando of Kalingapuri and there begins to unfold his mission. 

On his most ambitious venture, he takes his army to attack Kottaipattinam but ends up becoming the hero there. In short, the story of how and why he is the hero of Kottaipattinam is all that 'Kochadaiiyaan' about.

The speciality of the film lies in the visual treat that it makes for. All the roles that Rajinikanth is cast in, is unique and distinct from one another, and is a special experience for audience who worship him. 

The first glimpse of motion capture photo realism comes in the form of Aadhi who plays Veera Mahendra. But though this first look takes a little while to recognise and register as a familiar actor, the ones that follow can be easily placed. 

Aadhi plays a friend hurt by cheat later, Deepika the loving and lovely girl, confident of her stance, Nasser plays a villain you could bring yourself to hate first hand, and Shobhana plays the doting wife; Rajinikanth is in the role of a father and that of a son, while with the responsibility of safe guarding the kingdom. 

Not only have each one of the characters been chosen with care, but it has been duly ensured that their role is portrayed with importance and also that each one of them plays their respective roles with convincing finesse.

Revolving around the fictitious old times of the South Indian sub continent, every bit of the movie is regal. The most important aspect of such a period-set film is its art direction and the perfection with which it is captured.

For a technically unique and rich movie as this, it takes sheer expertise to translate the story into visual, yet virtual, reality. Rajiv Menon stands out again in his best for capturing the criticalities of the story. Another pillar to the project is Anthony's editing.

In a movie like this, the key talent which hogs the limelight is that which builds the backbone of any movie - direction.

If successfully launching oneself as a debutante in the competitive industry was a hurdle, directing Rajinikanth in her debut is a great deal of jittery responsibility. First of all, thanks to Soundarya for bringing the new concept to Indian cinema and congratulations to her to have delivered it with elegance.

Fed up, families demand Hishammuddin step down over MH370 military blunder

The families of flight MH370 passengers and crew have derided Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein’s weak defence of military inaction during the early hours of the plane's disappearance, and in a show of anger some have even demanded that he step down as the acting Transport Minister.

Hishammuddin told the Australian Broadcasting Corp in an interview aired on Monday that the Malaysian military had been told to keep an eye on the plane but allowed it to disappear off their radar after considering it to be non-hostile.

His statements have drawn much flak from the families of those on board the ill-fated jetliner, who said he has only fuelled more questions instead of providing answers to the incident.

They also said the statements by Hishammuddin, who is also Defence Minister, smacked of incompetence and that more honest people should be allowed to lead the investigation into the aircraft’s disappearance, instead of covering up the military’s and the government’s flaws.

Indian national Pralhad Shirsath whose wife was a passenger on the plane, questioned how the plane was allowed to pass through Malaysian airspace without any action taken, when the military knew that M370 was missing or in trouble.

He said the minister’s statement only showed that it was part of “a plan” to make the plane disappear with some purpose.

Ryan Giggs, from pin-up to old master

LONDON, May 19 — Ryan Giggs, who announced the end of his playing career today, will be remembered as an all-time British great and one of Manchester United’s finest ever players.

He made a record 963 appearances for United and the 34 trophies he won at Old Trafford, including 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and two Champions Leagues, made him English football’s most decorated player.

From floppy-haired teenage pin-up to greying elder statesman, his 23-year playing career neatly coincided with the most successful period in United’s history and made him a household name around the world.

“I have cried twice in my life watching a football player,” admitted former Juventus great Alessandro Del Piero.

“The first one was Maradona, and the second was Ryan Giggs.”

Born Ryan Joseph Wilson in Cardiff on November 29, 1973, the young Giggs spent his early years in Wales before relocating to Salford, Greater Manchester at the age of six due to his father’s rugby league career.