UNCONVENTIONAL WORLD RECORDS

Another high profile Malaysian sportsperson declared bankrupt

What is it with them? First Jalani, then Rashid and now Shalin – owing RM1.75 million loan to Affin Bank where she stood as guarantor to her family-owned enterprise, a bowling alley, which collapsed 3 years after it started operations. Sad story of bumiputra businessmen continues…..Mr Zulkifli, did u service your loans?

Popularity: 2% [?]

Using line speed tester supplied at www.sabah.gov.my
tested at a cybercafe on 2nd floor, Alam SentraL, Shah Alam on 29th May 2003, 12:55pm
highest 872Kbps
lowest 300Kbps
avg 550Kbps

on 27th, tried a cybercafe at sunway pyramid. quite fast, or should i say, much faster than sabahnet.
highest 1500 Kbps
lowest 1300 Kbps
avg 1400 kbps

webmail.sabah.net.my, www.compserv.sabah.gov .my and www.sabah.gov.my all loaded up quickly and without hassle.
also internet websites like yahoo and blogger downloaded quickly.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Been in KL since Sunday 25th. Had monthly convivencia in the morning, but left after lunch. Flight to KL 3pm. Attending ISO17799 + BS7799 pt 2 ISMS comprehensive workshop. Will be back 31st.
Writing this log from a cybercafe in sunway pyramid.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Interesting articles on the World Table Tennis Championships 2003

Bercy, Paris Thursday 22nd May

Over the years the classic table tennis match has been regarded as the attacker versus the defender with the latter making desperate efforts to retrieve the topspin onslaught of the adversary.

In the modern era those who ply the defensive trade are far outnumbered by those who attack but at the World Championships in Bercy two players whose skills are based principally on backspin play have survived into the fourth round of the men�s singles, both winning their contests in the crucial seventh game.

JOO Se Hyuk of Korea recovered from a three games to two deficit and saved a sequence of match points before overcoming LI Ching of Hong Kong whilst CHEN Weixing of Austria came through against his younger opponent Lars HIELSCHER of Germany. Both players are defenders in the modern day style; good backspin returns from both wings, good services and lethal forehand topspins to win the point or follow up the service as the need arises.

However, for the more traditional defender, the one who relies on a quick hit when attacking as opposed to a devastating forehand, it was farewell; Daniel TSIOKAS of Greece is a fine defensive artist but when faced with the reigning Olympic champion the end result was never in serious doubt, KONG Linghui was in the fast lane and emerged victorious in straight games to progress to round four.

Similarly, in the women�s singles two defenders remain, KIM Kyung Ah of Korea and Viktoria PAVLOVICH of Belarus; the latter winning a titanic struggle that was thoroughly appreciated by her coach Alexandre PETKEVITCH: `She was incredible�, he extolled. `We played each other in the Bundesliga some weeks ago, I won then but this time it was much harder, she kept making me move in to the table to play short returns and that made life difficult�, added PAVLOVICH.

A tough encounter but one that had the spectators glued to the contest, it was entertaining and brought out the best in both players.

Popularity: 4% [?]

http://www.smpke.jpm.my

Oleh/By : DATO SERI DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tarikh/Date : 21/05/2003
Tajuk/Title : PENGUMUMAN PAKEJ STRATEGI BARU KE ARAH MERANGSANG PERTUMBUHAN EKONOMI NEGARA

1. Kerajaan telah menyediakan satu pakej strategi baru yang mengandungi langkah komprehensif bagi merangsang pertumbuhan ekonomi. Strategi baru ini diperlukan kerana perkembangan politik dan ekonomi dunia akhir-akhir ini, pencerobohan ke atas iraq dan ancaman SARS. Persekitaran global kini menjadi tidak menentu dan rumit, dan akan menghalang pemulihan ekonomi dunia.

2. Setakat ini ekonomi negara masih mampu mengekalkan tahap pemulihan yang kukuh. Pada 11 Mac tahun ini, Kerajaan telah pun mengumumkan 10 langkah baru untuk merangsang dan memantapkan lagi pasaran modal negara. Bagaimanapun, pakej strategi baru ini adalah perlu bagi merangsang lagi pertumbuhan ekonomi dan tahap keyakinan pelabur dan pengguna. Pakej ini memberi tumpuan kepada empat strategi utama iaitu menggalakkan pelaburan swasta, memperkukuhkan daya saing negara, menjana punca pertumbuhan baru dan meningkatkan keberkesanan delivery system Kerajaan dan swasta. Pakej ini mengandungi 90 langkah termasuk untuk mengatasi kesan SARS.

Strategi Pertumbuhan

3. Kerajaan peka kepada keluhan berterusan mengenai akses kemudahan pinjaman kepada peniaga kecil. Kerajaan akui walaupun bank memenuhi kuota bagi peniaga kecil dan sederhana, tetapi kelemahan penyaluran dana oleh institusi kewangan telah mengakibatkan kegiatan pinjaman haram. Oleh itu, antara langkah utama pakej ini ialah penubuhan Skim Kredit Mikro untuk peniaga kecil di bawah Bank Pertanian Malaysia dengan dana permulaan RM 500 juta. Di samping itu, Dana Amanah
Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) akan ditambah sebanyak RM 200 juta dan diletakkan di bawah Bank Pertanian Malaysia. Satu lagi Skim Kredit Mikro sebanyak RM 300 juta diletakkan di bawah Bank Simpanan Nasional. Ini bermakna Kerajaan menyediakan tambahan dana sebanyak RM 1 bilion di bawah Skim Kredit Mikro. Syarat pinjaman skim ini dipermudahkan dengan kadar faedah pinjaman pada empat peratus tanpa cagaran, sementara pembayaran balik akan dijadualkan mengikut penerimaan aliran tunai yang viable.

4. Bagi IKS, Kerajaan akan meningkatkan peruntukan
untuk Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usahawan atau TEKUN
sebanyak RM 200 juta. Di samping itu, Bank Negara
Malaysia akan menyediakan sejumlah RM 600 juta kepada
Tabung IKS dan RM 400 juta kepada Tabung Usahawan Baru.

5. Pembangunan luar bandar juga diberi tumpuan.
Kerajaan akan meningkatkan taraf infrastruktur dan
delivery system luar bandar dengan menyediakan
peruntukan sebanyak RM 300 juta. Di samping itu,
tambahan dana sebanyak RM 200 juta di bawah AIM akan
memudahkan accessibility pinjaman oleh rakyat di luar
bandar.

6. Bagi sektor pertanian, tabung makanan juga akan
ditambah sebanyak RM1 bilion lagi untuk membiayai
projek pengeluaran makanan. Di samping itu, untuk
membolehkan nelayan meningkatkan penangkapan, Kerajaan
akan membina 1,000 bot yang dilengkapi dengan peralatan
moden untuk disewa beli kepada mereka melalui Nekmat.

7. Bagi menggalakkan pelaburan asing, Kerajaan akan
melonggarkan garis panduan FIC untuk menjadi lebih
mesra pelabur, selaras dengan matlamat menarik Foreign
Direct Investment.

8. Untuk mempertingkatkan daya saing negara, antara
langkah cukai ialah memanjangkan tempoh taraf perintis
dan elaun cukai pelaburan di bawah skim pra-pakej. Di
samping itu, taraf perintis atau elaun cukai pelaburan
kali kedua diberikan kepada syarikat R&D, sementara
pengecualian sepenuhnya cukai pendapatan diberikan
kepada OHQ (operational HQ). Insentif juga diberi
kepada hypermarkets dan syarikat jualan langsung yang
mengeksport produk buatan tempatan.

9. Keupayaan negara untuk menarik FDI dalam sektor
perkhidmatan bergantung kepada kualiti gunatenaga
negara. Oleh itu, program latihan dan latihan semula
amat penting. Kita masih mempunyai ruang untuk
meningkatkan kualiti gunatenaga negara bagi
menggalakkan lebih banyak pelaburan seperti ini. Tabung
pembangunan kemahiran bagi membantu pelajar teknikal
dan vokasional mendapat pinjaman, akan disusun semula
dan ditambah sebanyak RM 500 juta. Di samping itu,
tabung latihan semula ditubuhkan dengan dana sebanyak
RM 100 juta bagi program latihan dan re-skilling
graduan baru dalam bidang seperti ICT dan perakaunan.
Syarikat Kerajaan diminta menyediakan latihan kepada
graduan baru dan pihak swasta harus juga menyediakan
latihan yang sama sebagai memenuhi tanggungjawab sosial
mereka.

10. Bagi membolehkan rakyat memperolehi tempat tinggal
yang lebih selesa dan persekitaran yang sihat dan
bersih, Kerajaan akan melaksanakan Projek Harapan
(harapan rakyat memiliki perumahan). Langkah bagi
sektor perumahan ini dijangka menjana kegiatan ekonomi
sambil meningkatkan prestasi anak-anak dalam bidang
akademik, mengelakkan masalah sosial seperti budaya
lepak sambil mengurangkan jurang antara golongan the
haves and the have-less.

11. Ciri utama Projek Harapan ialah pemberian subsidi
bayaran kadar faedah pinjaman perumahan sebanyak tiga
peratus untuk tahun pertama, atau pinjaman tanpa faedah
untuk 10 peratus deposit bagi tahun pertama bagi
pembelian rumah di bawah RM 100,000. Ini adalah bagi
pinjaman yang diperolehi dari Bank Simpanan Nasional.
Untuk rumah berharga antara RM100,000 dan RM180,000,
pelepasan cukai akan diberi sebanyak RM 5,000 ke atas
faedah pinjaman bagi tahun taksiran 2003, RM 3,000
untuk 2004, dan RM 2,000 untuk 2005. Insentif ini
diberikan bagi perolehan rumah dalam tempoh setahun
mulai 1 Jun 2003.

12. Bagi pinjaman perumahan dari bank-bank lain,
bayaran sebanyak RM 600 akan diberi kepada mereka yang
memperolehi rumah berharga di bawah RM100,000.

13. Pengecualian duti setem juga akan diberi ke atas
surat cara bagi perolehan perumahan tidak lebih
daripada RM180,000, sementara cukai keuntungan hartanah
pula dikecualikan untuk tempoh setahun mulai 1 Jun.

14. Kerajaan juga akan membina lebih banyak rumah kos
rendah dan sederhana. Sebagai permulaan Syarikat
Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) akan membina 150,000
unit lagi rumah rakyat. Ini akan memberi peluang kepada
kontraktor yang mempunyai rekod yang baik.

15. Bagi ibu tunggal, Kerajaan sentiasa prihatin
terhadap kebajikan mereka. Untuk ini, mereka juga akan
diberi keutamaan untuk memiliki unit rumah kos rendah
dan sederhana yang akan dibina dan diperolehi di bawah
program perumahan SPNB.

16. Untuk menambah pendapatan boleh guna rakyat,
caruman pekerja kepada KWSP dikurangkan daripada 11
peratus kepada 9 peratus untuk setahun bermula dari 1
Jun 2003. Kerajaan berharap pihak MTUC akan menyokong
langkah ini.

17. Bagi kakitangan Kerajaan pula, Kerajaan akan
memberi bonus sebanyak setengah bulan gaji. Syarikat
Kerajaan yang menjangkakan keuntungan pada tahun ini,
juga disarankan untuk memberi insentif kewangan yang
sama kepada kakitangan mereka.

18. Untuk mengurangkan kos menjalankan
perniagaan, kadar campurtangan BNM (BNM intervention
rate) dikurangkan sebanyak 50 mata asas. Pengurangan
ini hendaklah dimanfaatkan (pass through) kepada semua
peminjam oleh institusi kewangan.

Meningkatkan Keberkesanan Delivery System

19. Antara langkah untuk meningkatkan keberkesanan
delivery system ialah mempercepatkan urusan memproses
dan memberi kelulusan CFO dan menggunakan sistem fast
track bagi urusan pemberian milik dan penukaran
kegunaan tanah. Proses permohonan permit dan lesen
perniagaan yang lain akan dipendekkan. Pada masa yang
sama, pihak swasta juga perlu memperbaiki delivery
system mereka.

Langkah-langkah Mengatasi Kesan Negatif SARS

20. Pakej ini juga menggariskan langkah spesifik bagi
menangani kesan negatif wabak SARS. Langkah ini
termasuk pemberian diskaun lima peratus daripada jumlah
bil elektrik bulanan bagi pengusaha hotel. Cukai
perkhidmatan dikecualikan ke atas perkhidmatan yang
disediakan oleh hotel dan restoran. Kedua-dua ini
diberikan mulai 1 Jun hingga 31 disember 2003. Di
samping itu, cukai perkhidmatan ke atas complimentary
room yang disediakan oleh pengusaha hotel dihapuskan
mulai 1 Jun 2003.

21. Bagi syarikat pelancongan, pembayaran ansuran
cukai pendapatan mereka ditangguhkan mulai 1 Jun
sehingga 31 Disember 2003. Syarikat pelancongan dan
hotel juga diberi pengecualian levi Tabung Pembangunan
Sumber Manusia bagi tempoh yang sama. Cukai jalan teksi
bagi tempoh enam bulan pula dikurangkan sebanyak 50
peratus sekali sahaja.

22. Bagi membantu pengurusan aliran tunai pengusaha di
sektor pelancongan, satu special relief guarantee
facility berjumlah RM 1 bilion disediakan. Bagi pekerja
yang dipotong gaji, institusi perbankan akan
menyediakan skim penyusunan dan penjadualan semula
pinjaman, termasuk rumah dan kereta mereka.

23. Langkah-langkah awal dan decisive yang telah
dilaksanakan oleh Kerajaan telah berjaya mencegah wabak
SARS, satu hakikat yang diakui oleh Pertubuhan
Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO). Namun tanpa usaha sepenuhnya
daripada setiap individu bagi menjaga kebersihan,
ancaman penyakit dan wabak tidak akan dapat diatasi.
Kerajaan akan memperuntukkan RM 200 juta kepada pihak
berkuasa tempatan bagi meningkatkan kerja-kerja
pembersihan, termasuk memastikan kebersihan tandas-
tandas awam.

24. Pelupusan sampah mestilah diterima oleh rakyat
pada standard yang bersesuaian dengan negara yang
sedang membangun. Menolak sistem dan amalan yang
diterima oleh negara maju hanya akan menyulitkan usaha
untuk membersihkan persekitaran kita. Jika sampah
terpaksa dilonggok di kawasan terbuka, iaitu di rubbish
dump, ia akan meracun air bawah tanah, selain dari
menjadi tempat untuk serangga dan kuman membiak.

25. Bagi membendung dan mengawal penyakit-penyakit
mudah berjangkit, Pusat Kawalan Penyakit atau CDC
(Centre for Disease Control) akan ditubuhkan di bawah
Institut Penyelidikan Perubatan (IMR).

26. Pembiayaan pakej ini akan melibatkan peruntukan
sebanyak RM 1.7 bilion dalam bajet Kerajaan
Persekutuan. Di samping itu, Bank Negara akan
menyediakan RM 2 bilion, manakala institusi kewangan
pembangunan seperti Bank Pertanian Malaysia, Bank
Simpanan Nasional, Bank Pembangunan dan Infrastruktur
dan Bank Industri menyediakan sebanyak RM 3.6 bilion.
Institusi-institusi ini akan memperolehi sumber
kewangan daripada excess liquidity in the market,
terutamanya daripada KWSP.

Penutup

27. Pada keseluruhannya, strategi dan langkah baru ini
digubal bagi merangsang kegiatan ekonomi, serta
menjamin asas ekonomi yang lebih teguh. Pakej strategi
baru ini juga menekankan aspek harapan dan peluang
kepada rakyat untuk memperbaiki taraf hidup mereka.
Kerajaan yakin negara akan dapat mencapai pertumbuhan
ekonomi yang lebih baik pada tahun ini dibanding dengan
tahun lepas. Kerajaan juga yakin semua lapisan rakyat
akan memperolehi faedah daripada langkah-langkah yang
diambil di bawah pakej ini. Untuk menjayakan pakej
ini, saya berharap semua rakyat Malaysia memberi
kerjasama sepenuhnya dan sokongan padu serta memainkan
peranan dengan lebih berkesan.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Title : MalaysiaRinggit.com
URL : http://www.malaysiaringgit.com
Author : Salient Information Sdn Bhd

This must see website offers tips on how to managed your ringgit wisely, your home loan, education loan, will planning and everything you can imagine.

They also provide ‘Interactive Forms’ to helps you search for the right banking products based on your needs, be it Credit Cards, mortgage, hire purchase or etc,..

Popularity: 8% [?]

The World Table Tennis Championships 2003

Pre-tournament comments:
Who will win it this time?
Timo Boll, world no.1
Vldamir Samsonov, 3rd seed and current European Champion?
Kong Linghui, Reigning Olympic Champ and 1995 world champion
Wang Liqin, Reigning World Champ
or my alltime favourite, Jan-Ove Waldner, 1989 and 1997 world champ
or even my 2nd fav, Jean-Michel Saive
or even old horses Jean-Philippe Gatien, 1993 world champ (no, he doesn’t need horse supplements )
and dont count out Kim Taek Soo
The Europeans usually have more success in the blue riband event, the men’s singles, triumphing, since the 90’s, in 1991, 93 and 1997, the Chinese winning it in 95 (Kong Linghui), 99 (?) and 2001 (Wang Liqin)

Notable actual results and commentary, mostly from www.ittf.com

Final comments: women’s championship – to me, basically boring, all being won by the Chinese. The Chinese won 4 out of 5 gold medals on offer. To me, they lost the thunder again, because the most important title is the men’s singles, and neither Wang Liqin, Ma Lin nor Kong Linghui made it. All were upset in titanic battles that went the full stretch. During the week 500 million viewers around the World (accumulated figure) and 90.000 spectators at Bercy in Paris followed a fantastic event.

Top 20 Men’s World Ranking updated on: 5/25/2003, just after the world championships ended
Rank Name Assoc.
1 (6) 2273 SCHLAGER Werner AUT
2 (Werner Schlager bt Joo Se-Hyuk 4-2: 9,6,-6,10,-8,10
Nope, totally wrong! Werner Schlager achieved the impossible by beating defensive player Joo Se-Hyuk to be crowned the new World Champion! 4-2 Se-Hyuk is the first defensive player to reach the final since another guy in 1969. Bercy, Paris Sunday 25th May 2003 – `It�s just absolutely unbelievable,� says Werner SCHLAGER after beating JOO Se Hyuk to be crowned World Champion.`My goal was the quarter finals and perhaps a medal if everything went my way, this is just unbelievable, playing and winning in front of a crowd of 10.000 people, all going crazy, it is like a dream. Players from over a hundred and thirty countries entered the tournament, over a billion play the sport in China and I�m world champion; it�s dream come true!�
Victory over JOO Se Hyuk of Korea had two important consequences for Austria�s Werner SCHLAGER. Firstly, he had become the Champion of the World and secondly he was elevated to the number one ranked position on the World Ranking List.
`It�s hard to describe how I feel�, said SCHLAGER. `If you are going to win a big event you need the luck of the draw, I was confident before the final; I�m used to playing against JOO Se Hyuk�s style of play.� Undoubtedly, it helped SCHLAGER that in his national team is CHEN Weixing, a defensive player who has a strong forehand attack and uses similar materials on his racket, long pimples on the backhand and reversed rubber on the forehand.
It was a fantastic achievement by SCHLAGER, he has scaled the heights so should he now retire? `No!� came the very quick reply. `There are other goals and other things to achieve.�
Against earlier opponents SCHLAGER had taken risks but against JOO Se Hyuk he was more circumspect playing consistently with topspin strokes but not too carefully, as JOO Se Hyuk was always looking for the opportunity to unleash a tirade of forehand topspins should there be a weak return.
`The tactic was to serve principally short to the forehand and vary the spin on the service,� explains an absolutely delighted Austrian coach, Ferenc KARSAI. `In the rallies it was important that he changed the tempo and so he varied the amount of topspin on the ball whilst sometimes playing strongly from the backhand in order to add to the variation.�
`I congratulate Werner, he was too clever for me today, he stopped me dominating the match�, says JOO Se Hyuk who, after all, was undoubtedly well satisfied with his week in Paris. `Of course I am disappointed right now, but reaching the final makes me very proud.�
For SCHLAGER, the plan worked and the Austrian was crowned Champion of the World.

Semifinals
prediction: Kong Linghui vs Wang Liqin
Actual: Werner Schlager bt Kong Linghui 4-3: 9,-7,10,8,-8,-7,12
Austria�s Werner SCHLAGER striving every sinew, taking risks but remaining totally focused throughout ended China�s hopes of a grand slam of titles at the Liebherr 47th World Table Tennis Championships in Bercy when he beat the reigning Olympic champion KONG Linghui by the narrowest of seven game margins at the penultimate stage.
`I can�t believe it, it�s incredible I�m crying, I�m so emotional�, said SCHLAGER�s men�s doubles partner Karl JINDRAK, clearly as delighted as if he�d won first prize in the national lottery.
Victory for SCHLAGER meant that he had levelled the score in contests between the two players. SCHLAGER had won when the two met in the World Cup in October 1999 and in the World Club Championships in 2000 but on the next three occasions the victor had been KONG Linghui. He had beaten the Austrian in the quarter-finals of both the ITTF Pro Tour Brazilian Open and the Olympic Games in 2000 whilst also being successful in the World Cup in November 2002.
SCHLAGER was the player who was prepared to take the risks, especially when it came to the crucial point. He went for an outrageous forehand on his first match point. `I thought I might have missed my chance�, said SCHLAGER; it was a stage at which he had sunk to his knees but quickly had recovered his composure and amidst scenes of unbridled joy from his supporters was through to the men�s singles final.
`I�ve beaten two of China�s best players in the last two days, it�s fantastic; the match was very close, it�s been a very tough event, KONG Linghui�s a great player and although we fought hard against each other we are still good friends�, smiled sweat ridden SCHLAGER.
`I had a chance�, sighed KONG Linghui. `The key was the third game, I led 7-3 and lost it; also, I had match point at 12-11 in the seventh and missed the service.� It was a miss that cost the Olympic champion dear, SCHLAGER won the next two points and the bronze medal was to be the lot of KONG Linghui.
KONG Linghui was the safer player in the contest and perhaps with games being played to eleven points the player who is prepared to take a risk has a better chance than in days gone by?
`Maybe we have to change our techniques and tactics,� said YIN Xiao, the coach who has been at KONG Linghui�s side throughout his outstanding career. `The shorter game is more difficult for the Chinese player, at crucial points the European player seems more prepared to take a risk and win the point more quickly.�
Certainly, SCHLAGER took his chance. It was the first time he had beaten KONG Linghui when matches have been played to eleven points; when they had played to twenty-one points the score was two win each.

Joo Se Hyuk bt Kalinikos Kreanga 4-1: 5,-3,7,8,10
The last time they played, the U.S. Open in 2001, Kalinikos KREANGA had beaten JOO Se Hyuk in straight games to proceed to the round of the last sixteen; in Bercy the latter gained revenge and in four games overcame his adversary to become the first defensive player to reach the men�s singles final since Eberhard SCH�LER in 1969.
Retuning heavily with backspin, JOO Se Hyuk forced errors from his Greek opponent, he was too consistent, he never let KREANGA settle and when it came to forehand topspin exchanges he could match his adversary point for point.
`It�s wonderful, very good�, said JOO Se Hyuk, a player who had yet to come to terms with the magnitude of his achievement. However, the last time the two had met he had been well beaten, so what had changed? `I told him to attack with his forehand more�, explained coach YOO Nan Kyu; this he did in splendid style and KREANGA must have wondered at times if he was playing an opponent who skills were honed on backspin play.
`The improvement in his play in Paris is that he has taken his chance, when he�s had the opportunity to attack, he has attacked very positively and very strongly�, added YOO Nam Kyu. `Also, his backhand defence has been very strong, returning consistently with heavy backspin and making full use of the table.�
JOO Se Hyuk has excelled all expectations with his tremendous defensive play and exciting forehand topspins; equally he has a good range of services that he follows with strong forehand attacks. It didn�t seem to matter how KREANGA returned the service; it was attacked viciously whether the return was with backspin or topspin.
He is a fine example of the new breed of defender, he has a style that adds a further dimension to the sport of table tennis and above all is good for the spectators to watch.

Quarterfinals
Kong Linghui vs Qiu Yuke 4-1: 1,9,-4,1,8
KONG Linghui having beat his compatriot QIU Yike in a match where undoubtedly experience proved the telling factor as he came home in five games.

Werner Schlager upset Wang Liqin, 4-3 in probably the most drama-packed match of the whole championships: -5,5,-8,-13,9,11,5
Saturday 24th May – It seemed that the writing was on the wall. Austrian coach Ferenc KARSAI called a `Time Out� with his charge, Werner SCHLAGER, trailing by three games to two and down 5-8 in the sixth. SCHLAGER walked slowly towards his coach, seemingly dejected, WANG Liqin ran to his adviser, CAI Zhenhua, sensing that victory was in sight.
The protagonists returned to the fray. WANG Liqin went ahead 9-6 when SCHLAGER sportingly acknowledged that the ball had hit his shirt, a long backspin serve to SCHLAGER�s body was not returned and WANG Liqin had match point.
Surely, it was too much to ask the Austrian to recover from such depths? However, there was a glimmer of hope. SCHLAGER won his two serves, the first WANG Liqin returned into the net, the second was followed with a rocket like forehand to the Chinese star�s forehand to win the point.
There was light at the end of the tunnel. SCHLAGER won the next point with a backhand down the line, then matters were levelled as WANG Liqin missed a crucial forehand topspin and SCHLAGER leapt ecstatically in the air, knowing that he had been given a reprieve.
However, was it only a temporary stay of execution? Seemingly not, the tactic of a fast backhand topspin down-the-line to WANG Liqin�s forehand worked again and SCHLAGER had game point. Tension mounting, WANG Liqin served a let, he composed himself once more, served and mirrored SCHLAGER�s tactic by playing a point winning backhand topspin to SCHLAGER�s forehand; level again at 11-11.
SCHLAGER fanned his face with his racket, a long rally ensued which he won with a strong forehand topspin and clinched the game at 13-11 when the ball hit the net cord and WANG Liqin failed to return.
Reprieve granted, WANG Liqin, serving, won the first two points of the vital seventh game; SCHLAGER replied in kind to level proceedings and no player could establish more than a one point lead until SCHLAGER went ahead 6-4.
The momentum was now with the Austrian, WANG Liqin, looking somewhat dumfounded, was to win only one more point and, to a standing ovation from the crowd, SCHLAGER ended the world champion�s tenure of office with a rapid fire forehand followed by a leap in the air of which any higher jumper would have been proud.
Throughout the whole drama the Austrian coach, Ferenc KARSAI, had remained seated, laid back in his chair with his arms spread wide across the adjacent seats, as if enjoying a relaxing afternoon at the seaside. Surely, he was suffering inside? Undoubtedly, at the end of the contest his emotions exploded; he hugged SCHLAGER in a show of unbridled delight that reflected admiration for a player who had given his all and had risen to the occasion.
`I felt confident�, said SCHLAGER, still not quite at terms with his achievement. `I think I had the better concentration in the final game, it was very tough, I just tried to keep concentrating and not worry about what he does.�
It was the third time that he had beaten WANG Liqin and the second time in row, the last contest being in the Polish Open in November 2002. The result on that occasion? SCHLAGER victorious in seven games.

Kalinikos Kreanga bt Chen Weixing (AUT) 4-0: 10,9,8,7

Joo See Hyuk upset Ma Lin 4-3: 11,-10,-8,9,-6,8,9
MA Lin, beaten by the narrowest of margins by the Korean defender JOO Se Hyuk. `It�s good for defenders here in Bercy,� explained JOO Se Hyuk. `The tables, the big hall, the court mat all seem to help but playing MA Lin was very difficult, he plays with so many variations of spin.� Certainly, he has made the most use of any advantage that may be going his way but MA Lin is player whom he has beaten in the past.

4th round
Qiu Yuke bt Adrian Crisan 11-6, 11-8, 9-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-8
Kong Linghui bt Oh Sang Eun 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 7-11, 10-12, 6-11. Both pretty laid back players, unlike Kalinikos Kreanga. I saw this live on Astro.

Wang “robot like” Liqin bt Ching “scruffy hair” Peng-Lung 6-11, 11-4, 1-11, 10-12, 11-6, 6-11. I saw this live on Astro.

Kalinikos “manic” Kreanga bt Vladimir “laidback, gangly” Samsonov 11-8, 6-11, 1-11, 15-13, 9-11, 11-7, 5-11. I saw this live on Astro. Vladimir SAMSONOV, the dominant player in the recent European Championships in Courmayeur fell to Kalinikos KREANGA of Greece.
`He was in good shape, he didn�t miss�, sighed SAMSONOV after losing a match that had been full of rallies that had kept the crowd on the edge of their seats.
`I wasn�t the favourite, so I wasn�t under any pressure�, said KREANGA. `I�ve played several tournaments in Japan in the past year, I won the Japan Open last year and I reached the final of the ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals in Sweden at the end of 2002, I think I�ve improved.�
Undoubtedly, it was one of KREANGA�s better performances. Typically, he played in uninhibited fashion with a tirade of heavy topspin strokes flowing from both wings; in several previous encounters we have seen SAMSONOV weather the storm, this time the storm gained in strength, for the Belarus star there was no place for shelter.

Fredrik Hakansson lt Ma Lin 12-10, 5-11, 11-9, 4-11, 1-11, 3-11

Werner Schlager bt Kim Taek Soo 5-11, 11-3, 13-11, 12-10, 10-12, 11-8. `Werner had lost 3-2 to KIM Taek Soo at the English Open in 1997, this time he played the first ball with more topspin and only played fast when he was absolutely sure the opportunity was there.�
SCHLAGER executed his mentor, Ferenc Karsai’s instructions to the full and maintaining his focus overcame the Korean star.

Joo Se Hyuk bt Chuan Chih-Yuan 5-11, 11-6, 2-11, 9-11, 6-11. Joo entertains with outstanding backspin retrieving, both have good serves and both have devastating forehand topspins.

Chen Weixing, Austria bt Wang Hao, China 5-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-13, 9-11, 11-4, 11-9 CHEN Weixing of Austria excelled all expectations to beat WANG Hao of China, entertaining with outstanding backspin retrieving, both have good serves and both have devastating forehand topspins. In the women�s singles defensive players exited the tournament in the fourth round, in the counterpart men�s event it was the backspin players who flourished at the same stage.
`I think that was my best ever performance,� said a CHEN Weixing. `If I could return his first forehand topspin I felt I had a chance�. WANG Hao started the match seemingly intent on keeping the rallies as brief as possible. Safety first was not his priority, his first topspin stroke was quite devastating, the tactic forced the Austrian into the offensive and as topspin rallies ensued CHEN Weixing forced errors from his younger adversary.
`He wasn�t nervous and I think it helped that CHEN Weixing uses long pimples on the backhand�, explains Austrian coach Ferenc KARSAI. `Most of the Chinese defensive players now uses short pimples so when CHEN Weixing returned WANG Hao�s topspin with the long pimples the amount of backspin on the ball was heavier than a player who uses short pimples.�

3rd round – now it gets interesting
Oh Sang Eun bt Kuzmin Fedor 11-8, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5

Kim Taek Soo beat Petr Korbel 12-10, 11-7, 11-7, 11-6

Wang Liqin beat Jean-Michel Saive 6-11, 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-3
The spectators call his name, the horns sound, they take him to their hearts, they urge him to greater heights and he receives a standing ovation when winning a point that has necessitated a series of high thrown topspin lob returns, yet it�s only the early stages of the opening game.
He is the underdog but he is a fighter and that�s why the crowd love him. French speaking from neighbouring Belgium, he will take a risk and never give up, covering every centimeter of the court in the quest for victory. Nowadays he is one of the more experienced players on the international scene but his enthusiasm has never diminished, he revels in the theatre, it is where he is at home.
The effort he makes creates a very special atmosphere in the playing hall, it motivates the crowd to assume the air if a carnival resulting in a `Mexican Wave� circumnavigating the hall between games.
However, despite all the efforts of the crowd and his never-say-die attitude it is the end of the road for Jean-Michel SAIVE, the task of beating the reigning World Champion, WANG Liqin, proves to be too great.
`If I could have won the second game and gone two nil ahead it might have been different�, explained SAIVE. He had won the first but the second went the way of his adversary after the latter�s coach, CAI Zhenhua had called `Time Out� when the Belgian ace was on a roll, recovering to trail 9-10.
`SAIVE played very well, in fact better than I expected�, said CAI Zhenhua. `He is a fighter and is similar in style to WANG Liqin but WANG Liqin played very well and was not affected by the crowd. We sometimes train in noisy conditions so that the players are prepared for such situations; we asked a great deal of him and he responded superbly.�
Undoubtedly he did, now very experienced and certainly mentally very strong, WANG Liqin clearly underlined that he will not relinquish his title lightly.

Kong Linghui bt Daniel Tsiokas 11-5, 11-8, 11-3, 11-8
A traditional defender, Tsiokas relies on a quick hit when attacking as opposed to a devastating forehand, but it was farewell. TSIOKAS of Greece is a fine defensive artist but when faced with the reigning Olympic champion the end result was never in serious doubt.

Fredrik Hakansson bt Patrick Chila 7-11, 13-11, 11-7, 10-12, 10-12, 11-6, 11-7
Ma Lin bt Toshio Tasaki 11-4, 6-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-9
Vladimir Samsonov bt Daniel Gorak 11-4, 13-11, 11-5, 11-7

2nd round
Timo Boll, 22 lost to Qiu Yuke, 18 (China) 11-3, 11-7, 7-11, 12-14, 9-11, 10-12. Timo BOLL, the world�s number one ranked player and top seed in the men�s singles at the World Championships in Bercy fell in the second round to eighteen year QIU Yike of China. BOLL started in positive mood and was dominant in the opening two games `It�s the first time I�ve ever played BOLL, he is the world number one and I was quite nervous in the first two games,� said QIU Yike. BOLL established a two games to nil lead at which stage the young Chinese star from Sichuan appeared more relaxed and started to take the initiative.
`Perhaps BOLL became a little nervous after I managed to level at two games all but I think I had the luck; I was 6-10 down in the fourth, I know I won 12-10 but I can�t remember the points!� said a delighted QIU Yike who seemingly had not come to terms with the magnitude of his achievement. BOLL, to his eternal credit, accepted the result in his usual sporting manner. `I started well but I let him get back�, he said. `It�s fun to play him but not when you lose!�

Oh Sang Eun bt Evgueni CHTCHETININE 12-10, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 11-6

Petr KORBEL beat LIU Guozheng 12-10, 3-11, 10-12, 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7. A good start can give a player immense confidence and that was certainly to be a telling factor in Petr KORBEL�s victory over China�s LIU Guozheng in the second round of the men�s singles.
`The first game was very important�, explained KORBEL who was clearly satisfied with his evening�s work. `I was losing 6-10 and then won the next six points to clinch the game, I think it shocked him; if you are playing against a Chinese opponent and they are leading then they become even stronger and you have a mountain to climb.�
KORBEL never let the mountain block his path, exciting forehand-to-forehand exchanges were the order of the day in the early part of the contest but as the duel progressed the Czech ace changed his tactics. `I started the match playing as strongly as I could to his forehand but he had the answers, so I changed my plans and attacked his backhand more.� The plan worked, for when LIU Guozheng moved to play his forehand from the backhand court KORBEL proved more than adept at blocking the powerful topsins wide to his adversary�s forehand to win the point or gain a weaker return from which he could seize the advantage.
Equally, as the match progressed KORBEL won the long rallies and having lost a tough match to LIU Guozheng at the Swedish Open two years previously, when matches were played to twenty-one points, the victory was very rewarding.

Kong Linghui bt Johnny Huang 11-7, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7
Werner Schlager bt Koji Matsushita 11-8, 11-9, 11-7, 11-8
Slobodan Grujic bt Jorg Rosskopf 11-9, 11-9, 9-11, 8-11, 13-15, 11-2, 14-12
Kim Taek Soo bt Allan Bentsen 8-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8, 10-12, 11-5, 12-10. KIM Taek Soo of Korea who overcame a spirited Allan BENTSEN of Denmark by the narrowest of seven game margins in a match where KIM Taek Soo in typical style covered every centimeter of the court in an attempt to unleash his trademark forehand topspin strokes.
Leung Chu Yan bt Jorgen Persson 11-9, 11-7, 11-7, 11-9
Jean-Michel Saive bt Christophe Legout 11-7, 10-12, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-2
Vladimir Samsonov bt Josef Plachy 13-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-6
Ma Lin bt Robert Gardos (Austria) 11-7, 11-3, 11-6, 11-9. In qualification round Gardos made headlines by beating Achille Hountondji of Benin. `First of all my duty is to the public, the French public who have come to watch the table tennis; secondly my responsibility is to my country�, explained Achille HOUNTONDJI with a smile beaming across his face as perspiration dripped from his furrowed brow.
Certainly, he had entertained the public with his antics against Robert Gardos of Austria in his final group match. Outclassed by the slim Austrian star HOUNTONDJI raised his arms aloft on winning a point and like a long jumper preparing for action clapped his hands above his head as he encouraged the spectators to applaud his efforts. The crowd in Bercy took him to their hearts as the forty year old car salesman, who lives in Paris and plays for Schlomberg� Mont Rouge in the Regional Division of the National League, gave the spectators full value.
Amid whistles from the crowd HOUNTONDJI stretched his arm out to accept the yellow card awarded by the umpire but to the official�s credit he joined in the carnival and with a broad smile hid behind his folded arms as GARDOS stood equally amused by his adversary�s clowning.
The whole of the Benin team present in Bercy live in France and they gave credence to the old adage that it is the taking part that counts, not the winning; certainly everyone present enjoyed the fact that Achille HOUNTONDJI had taken part in the World Championships. Final result: Gardos beat Hountondji 4-0. Highest point the Benin man got was 3! But in a ruthless display of the gulf in class, the furthest Gardos got in the competition was the 2nd round where he was promptly beaten by world no.2 Ma Lin 0-4.

Jean Philippe Gatien lost to Adrian Crisan 4-11, 9-11, 7-11, 12-10, 4-11

1st round
Konstantinos PAPAGEORGIOU bt Jan-Ove Waldner 11-7, 7-11, 11-8, 5-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-8. The enforced time away from the sport through injury took its toll on former World and Olympic champion, Jan-Ove WALDNER. A player who over the years has been at his best in crucial situations almost performed the great escape but in the end it proved to be a bridge too far. Trailing 1-10 in the vital seventh game against Konstantinos PAPAGEORGIOU of Greece, the Swedish star, encouraged by the crowd, gradually clawed his way back, the Greek player on the precipice of the best win of his career could see the winning post but the one point necessary was becoming increasingly elusive. At 3-10 he took a `Time Out� but WALDNER remained composed, five more points went the way of the man whom many regard as the greatest player ever to have graced the table tennis arena but at 8-10 a backhand topspin found the net and to the undoubted relief of PAPAGEORGIOU a victory he will never forget had been achieved. Even family support could not see WALDNER through, in his corner to give advice was his elder brother Kjell- �ke who after the contest was quite realistic about the result. `It was his first tough game for eight months and it showed; concentration was up and down, he tried his best but he never had a lead early in any game and that puts extra pressure on you�, sighed a resigned coach. `He said his injury wasn�t causing him any problems but you never know; if you can win such a match then you forget any injuries and confidence grows; to be realistic it was too much to ask that he could reach the latter stages.� But in the next round Konstantinos lost 0-4 to Fejer-Konneth (?)

EOP

Popularity: 7% [?]

The great debate: Microsoft.NET vs J2EE

http://java.oreilly.com/news/farley_0800.html

http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-03-2002/jw-0308-j2eenet.html

Popularity: 2% [?]

1st day of work after 5 days of leave

greeted with gen set failure, firewall problem, head-cracking meeting, alternative access headache, high priority quotation technical evaluation and recommendation report making, wednesday meeting preparation, burglar scare……..whew, glad today’s over

Popularity: 5% [?]

The first of my 3 most anticipated films of 2003, Matrix Reloaded (so far rated 7.9/4000+ by imdb) premiered 15/5

2nd is Terminator 3 in July followed by Matrix: revolutions in Nov

i finally bought doctor zhivago on vcd a few weeks ago (7.8)

Popularity: 3% [?]

Champions league 2003

My 2 cents: Real Madrid missed out on 10th final after going down 3-4 on aggregate to newly crowned Italian league champions Juventus. Real won 1st leg at home 2-1 but fell 1-3 away. So it will be an unprecedented all-Italian final, with AC Milan beating Fabio Cannavaro and Inter Milan in the other semis. Reason for Real’s defeat despite the return of Raul? Lack of fitness…………
Perhaps heads will roll at Real as aging defender Fernando Hierro, 35 were overrun time and again. Consolation: the match itself was top class, played at such fierce pace that even the ref was finding it hard to keep up. Real badly missed Makalele, with Raul, Zidane and Figo largely rendered ineffectual. But Zidane’s goal with a minute to go made Juve sweat until the very last second, as a 2nd goal from Real would’ve sent the Spaniards thru on away goals.

soccernet.com’s report on that 2nd leg (14 may 2003):

Juventus 3-1 Real Madrid: FT Report

Juve win 4-3 on aggregate

TURIN, May 14 (Champions League) – The oft-reported death of Italian football had never really been taken seriously, but Juventus’ complete destruction of Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday night underlined the doom-mongers’ folly.

Juventus have already won the Italian title and they showed that the best of Italian football is more than a match for anything else in Europe with a display of verve and quality as good as anything else available on the continent.

Both in attack and in defence they did not allow Real more than a few moments of comfort or hope.

On a night of complete dominance their only disappointment was a booking for the brilliant Pavel Nedved, which will rule the Czech playmaker out of the final in Manchester.

The game he misses will be, surprisingly, the first ever all-Italian final in Europe’s premier club competition and he played a major role in getting them there.

He scored one and set up another as Juventus produced a wonderful attacking performance.

Within 20 seconds they demonstrated their intentions when David Trezeguet escaped his marker in a dangerous position but strayed slightly offside in doing so.

A few moments later Roberto Carlos sent a free-kick just wide with a late curl to give Gianluigi Buffon a slight scare in the Juve goal.

But when Alessandro Del Piero juggled his way into the Real box and Gianluca Zambrotta attracted a silly foul on the right it was clear that Juve had claimed the early initiative.

In the eighth minute, Nedved rifled a low shot wide after spinning away from Michel Salgado and Fernando Hierro. Seconds later Zambrotta leapt on a Carlos error to put Nedved clear, the Czech crossing for Del Piero, who had time to do better than fire over.

But the influence of Nedved proved to be the key to the opening goal. Set free down the right by Trezeguet, he whipped a ball to the back post for Del Piero to get above Salgado and head down.

Trezeguet’s superb run in support paid off and he rifled his shot home between Casillas and the near post.

It was no more than the Italians deserved, having pushed forward effectively and imaginatively from the start – both flanks were probed and all avenues explored before the goal finally came.

Zinedine Zidane was peripheral until he won a free-kick 25 yards out and it was clear the Frenchman was unwilling and unlikely to remain on the fringes for the duration.

In the 21st minute, Real nearly pulled level when Luis Figo, like Zidane a barely discernible presence early on, shot speculatively and a rebound took it straight to the unmarked Guti.

With the Juve defenders appealing vainly for off-side he should have done better with his shot from 10 yards and Buffon saved reasonably comfortably.

Just after the half hour mark, Nedved ghosted down the left and set up Trezeguet, but the nature of the game was demonstrated as Real surged back with such speed that even referee Urs Meier was sent spinning to the ground by the pace of it all.

Trezeguet could have doubled the lead in the 34th minute when he nearly connected with a cross from Nedved, still a living example of perpetual motion.

Real were clearly hanging on, unable to mount much in the way of pressure and conceding silly fouls as their frustration showed. But it got a lot worse before the break.

Del Piero collected the ball on the left and his quick feet mesmerised Hierro before a quick shot between Salgado’s legs proved too precise for the un-sighted Casillas. That put Juve ahead on aggregate and in control of the tie.

Suddenly Juventus’ confidence levels, already high, were in the stratosphere and the ball was hissing across the Delle Alpi turf from Juve player to Juve player with pace and accuracy.

The absence of Claude Makelele from Real’s ranks was all too apparent as Nedved dominated the usually secure territory in front of the Spaniards’ defence.

Without Makelele, Real’s more creative stars were not at their destructive best.

Raul, thankfully restored to full health after his recent emergency appendectomy, may as well still have been under general anaesthetic, while Zidane and Figo were rendered almost completely ineffectual.

It was no surprise that Real coach Vicente del Bosque turned to Ronaldo only seven minutes into the second half.

The Brazilian’s calf injury was enough to keep him on the bench but his talismanic presence and uncomplicated directness were much needed.

There was the hint of Juve entertaining some premature thoughts of the final, and they began to retreat into a defensive shell – always a dangerous approach against Real.

And they nearly paid dearly for it when Ronaldo burst into the Real penalty area and Paolo Montero’s desperate lunge brought the Brazilian down.

Meier had no hesitation in awarding the spot kick but surprisingly declined to show Montero a second yellow card – much to the fury of Del Bosque on the side-lines.

However, Figo put his penalty too close to Buffon and the Italian international saved it comfortably.

It proved to be a killer blow for Real as they were ripped apart by a counter-attack.

Zambrotta – excellent all night – sent a perfect ball through for Nedved, who had snuck inside Hierro, and the brilliant Czech midfielder sent a thundering volley beyond Casillas.

As the net bulged and the scoreline grew to 3-0 on the night, the dreams of an Italian party in Manchester could begin.

But for Nedved the memories of this particular night will be bittersweet. His undiminishing appetite kept Juve moving forward throughout the game, but a foolish challenge on Real substitute Steve McManaman cost him a cherished place in the final.

The night did take on a slight edge of nervousness for the Juve fans when Zidane snuck behind the Juve rearguard and scored to pull Real back to 3-1 with a minute to go.

Suddenly a single goal would turn the night on its head and send Real through on away goals.

Raul had one chance but headed wide and Juve were diving about desperately trying to deny Real the chance to snatch an unlikely win.

Five minutes of injury time did little to alleviate the nerves. But Juve did enough, powered by Nedved and underpinned by a fierce collective determination.

As they head for the encounter with Milan at Old Trafford, the phrase Forza Italia can once again be spoken with pride.

Juventus:
Gianluigi Buffon, 25, [Italian no.1 national goalie[
Alessandro Birindelli – G Pessotto,
Paolo Montero,
Lilian Thuram, French international
Igor Tudor,
Edgar Davids – A Conte,
Pavel Nedved, 31, Czech playmaker
Alessio Tacchinardi,
Gianluca Zambrotta,
Alessandro Del Piero, Italy’s no.1 striker
David Trezeguet – M Camoranesi – French international striker

Real Madrid: Iker Casillas, 22 Roberto Carlos, Fernando Hierro, Michel Salgado, Esteban Cambiasso – S McManaman, Luis Figo, Conceicao Flavio – L Ronaldo, Jose Maria Guti, Ivan Helguera, Zinedine Zidane, Gonzalez Raul

Popularity: 1% [?]

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/asia/story/0,4386,188229,00.html

Economist apologises for error but stands by article
By Leslie Lau

THE Economist magazine is standing by its survey on Malaysia last month and is apologising only for a factual error, not the thrust of the report that has angered Malaysian leaders. (The Economist, print edition, 5th April 2003)

The British magazine made this stand in a note to a letter from the National Economic Action Council (NEAC) that challenged a series of contentious comments in the article that was carried in its latest issue.

In the note to the letter written by NEAC executive director Mustapa Mohamad protesting against the tone and challenging the facts of the article, the magazine said it stood by the report written by Asia-Pacific editor Christopher Lockwood.

The writer had said, among other things, that the greatest service Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad ‘could render Malaysia after all these years would be to retire, full stop’.

The magazine, however, apologised for its error in saying that Malaysia’s university race-based quota was in existence when it was actually scrapped last year.

In his letter, Datuk Mustapa challenged some assumptions made by Mr Lockwood:

That foreign banks are required to offer Islamic banking services;

That ministers have ‘unfettered discretions to hold suspects’; and

That the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition’s membership is never fixed for long.

In its reply, the magazine stood by its contention that foreign banks were obliged to offer Islamic banking, and pointed out that under Malaysia’s Internal Security Act, the police act on the orders of the Home Minister, with no substantial judicial review.

There has been no official reaction here yet to the note.

The article sparked a volley of protests from government leaders here, with many calling for an unreserved apology and some pushing for the publication to be banned.

Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir did not comment on the article until Thursday, in his first public appearance since returning to work on Monday after a two-month holiday.

He said: ‘What they are interested in is to run down people, be critical and that way they can sell their stupid magazine.

‘I think Malaysians are very intelligent. They know when they see dirt. I think they can distinguish dirt.’

Popularity: 1% [?]

First SARS, now this:

http://www.health.gov.au/tga/recalls/panprod.htm

The Straits Times 29 Apr 2003

Don’t take Pan’s health products

Warning for Singaporeans follows recall in Australia of non-essential
health products made by Pan Pharmaceuticals company

SINGAPOREANS are being warned not to take non-essential health products made by Australian company Pan Pharmaceuticals.
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is also advising local chemists and retailers to check their stock and withhold Pan’s products from sale.

What drugs to avoid

LOCAL retailers of vitamins, minerals and herbal products of similar brand names as those listed below have been advised to verify the manufacturing source of the products with their suppliers. More information on the affected products can be found at the Australian official website at http://www.health.gov.au/tga/recalls/panprod.htm

> > > 1. 21st Century Product Sdn Bhd
> > > 2. 21st Century Products
> > > 3. Accord Marketing Services
> > > 4. American Nutritional
> > > 5. Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd
> > > 6. Direct Circle Corporation Sdn Bhd
> > > 7. Duopharma (M) Sdn Bhd
> > > 8. Enervite Export Pty Ltd
> > > 9. Enervite USA
> > > 10. Gateway Promotions
> > > 11. General Nutrition Agencies Pte Ltd
> > > 12. Grand Pan-Well
> > > 13. Kordel
> > > 14. Kordel Nutritional Products
> > > 15. Kordel Healthcare
> > > 16. Marketlink International Corporation
> > > 17. Mode Circle Pte Ltd
> > > 18. Nature’s Herbals
> > > 19. Nature’s Way
> > > 20. New Image International
> > > 21. Nutralife
> > > 22. Nutrivital
> > > 23. Pan Laboratories Australia) Pty Ltd
> > > 24. Pan Pharmaceuticals
> > > 25. Pan Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd
> > > 26. Prime
> > > 27. Red Seal Natural Health Ltd
> > > 28. Roche Pharmaceuticals & Chemicals Ltd
> > > 29. Seito Ocean Products Pty Ltd
> > > 30. Sun Nature Products Pty Ltd
> > > 31. Thompson Nutrition Ltd
> > > 32. United Laboratories Inc
> > > 33. Vita Health Laboratories Australia) Pty Ltd
> > > 34. Vita Health Labs Pte Ltd
> > > 35. Wan Medical Supplies Malaysia) Sdn Bhd
> > > 36. Watsons
> > > 37. Watson’s The Chemist Ltd
> > > 38. Wellmex Sdn Bhd
> > > 39. Young & Success Enterprise Co Ltd

The move comes hard on the heels of Australia’s largest-ever recall of pharmacy products which has prompted similar warnings there.

While assuring the public that no reports of serious adverse drug reactions associated with the recalled products had been received
here, the HSA advised people to refrain from taking non-essential health products made by Pan until the all-clear was given.

Australia warned its citizens yesterday not to take herbal and vitamin preparations including cod liver oil, vitamin C and garlic.

Brand names to avoid, such as 21st Century, which markets children’s, multi-vitamin tablets, Omega-3 fish oil, Robovit children’s vitamins and Pan Garlic Pearls, were proscribed by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA). Many of the 219 items on the Australian recall list are sold under the same names across the region.

But the association has told Singapore authorities that none of the 1,650 products for export referred to in an initial press statement were slated for the Republic.
> > >
> > > Last night, the HSA was said to be working with the Australians to
> > > identify and compile a list of Singapore-bound products.
> > >
> > > Manufacturer Pan Pharmaceuticals of Sydneyhad its licence suspended
>at
> > > the weekend following a series of safety and quality breaches.
> > >
> > > Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Ms Trish Worth, said
> > > several thousand other products might have to be withdrawn in the
>next
> > few
> > > days following a six-month suspension of the company’s licence, The
> > Sydney
> > > Morning Herald reported.
> > >
> > > The TGA said Pan had substituted ingredients such as beef cartilage
>for
> > > shark cartilage, doctored test results and engaged in sub-standard
> > > manufacturing processes.
> > >
> > > Its principal medical adviser, Dr John McEwen, said people should
>avoid
> > > taking complementary or vitamin products until more information
>became
> > > available over the next few days.
> > >
> > > In Singapore, the HSA said it would provide more information to the
> > public
> > > as soon as it was available.
> > >
> > > Pan Pharmaceuticals represents 70 per cent of the Australian
> > complementary
> > > pharmaceutical market.
> > >
> > > It is the country’s largest manufacturer of generic and branded
>medicines
> > > including herbal, vitamin, mineral and nutritional supplements. It
>also
> > > manufactures over-the-counter pain relievers such as paracetamol and
> > > codeine, and cold and flu preparations.
> > >
> > > About 40 batches of Travacalm, an anti-travel sickness tablet made by
>Pan
> > > for another company, were recalled in January.
> > >
> > > The tablets were responsible for 19 people being hospitalised and 68
> > > others experiencing side-effects that were potentially
>life-threatening,
> > > AFP reported.
> > >
> > > The TGA’s statement said Pan’s licence had been suspended ‘in order
>to
> > > urgently address the safety and quality concerns posed by the
>multiple
> > > manufacturing breaches’.
> > >
> > > It added: ‘Where the quality of a medicine cannot be certain, neither
>can
> > > the safety or effectiveness of that medicine.’

Popularity: 1% [?]

Question: Golf – When am i going to finally get on the driving range?
Answer: sometime 3 years later

The Chaser – Australia’s only satire magazine has the funniest legal disclaimer I have ever read. The stories are obviously fakes, but this story about a dying boy’s last wish has got to be seen to be believed. Read it while it lasts. There a surprising number of people discussing/responding to this “article”, some of them suggesting other celebrities instead of Ms Diaz, namely Jessica Alba, Angelina Jolie and Catherine Zeta-Jones, although I can imagine Mr Douglas’s furious reaction if anyone were to lay his hands on the latter.

This “newspaper” also contains other earth-shattering headlines such as “SARS just tip of iceberg: Chinese govt admits population actually 4bn ” and “Saddam alive: found in cupboard of Rockhampton boyfriend “

Popularity: 18% [?]

talk this morning by STC sdn bhd, kl based company – not sandakan turf club!
open source proponents inc linux, java etc
www.stcpro.com.my

Try out the open source helpdesk – liberum.org

Time to work out how to move exchange server 5.5 to different hardware
http://support.microsoft.com – try q155216
http://www.exchangeadmin.com
http://www.tek-tips.com – good forum. i first got the idea here

Popularity: 1% [?]

yesterday 11/5 (sunday)
afternoon went to st philip tamparuli for kaamatan celebrations at paroki tuaran level
the space in front of the church was unrecognisable – they did a commendable job transforming it into a covered stage with lots of seats for spectators
plus a few stalls selling food and drinks
yb madius and edward were there
plus drinking session led by Unsak (Jeffrey Teoh) and Alfred (brother love) at old church
hey, i didnt get the name of the guy teaching at st john’s and in 6th community of tuaran (with arob)
only grouse: the toilets

in the evening – mother’s day celebration at dungkahang
i guess mom’s day at kampung will have to wait till thursday due to 2 public holidays in the middle of the week, plus my unrecorded leave on friday

and what’s this about local blog app?

Popularity: 1% [?]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/05/09/plane.deaths/index.html

My 2 cents: this is one of flier’s worst nightmares come true. And u thought it can only happen in the movies.

Passengers sucked from plane in midflight
Up to 140 feared lost; plane returns to Kinshasa airport
Friday, May 9, 2003 Posted: 6:08 PM EDT (2208 GMT)

KINSHASA, Congo — As many as 140 soldiers, wives and their children were sucked out of a Russian-made cargo plane when the aircraft’s rear door flew open during a flight over the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Details of what happened are still unclear. The government said seven people flew from the IL-76, but wire services are reporting a much higher death toll.

Daniel Wangisha, a Reuters cameraman, told CNN that one of the surviving passengers reported that as many as 140 passengers were missing. Immigration officials at the airport told him later Friday that as many as 400 people boarded the plane Thursday night.

Two officials at the airport in Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, separately told The Associated Press that at least 129 people were feared dead. Survivors described being battered by swirling baggage and cargo as the cabin lost pressure.

The plane was carrying members of President Joseph Kabila’s special guard and their wives and children, Wangisha told CNN.

The privately-owned Il-76 had apparently been chartered to fly Congolese police force members and their families from Kinshasa to the southeastern city of Lubumbashi — Congo’s second-biggest and home to a large military base.

It was not known how many people were on the plane or whether they had seats or seatbelts, the AP reported. People in Africa often travel on modified cargo planes that have few seats, leaving most passengers to cram in among their belongings in the rear of the aircraft.

Congolese Communications Minister Kikaya Binkarubi told CNN that only seven people had been sucked out of the plane, which later landed back in Kinshasa.

“In the middle of the flight, the back door of the Ilyushin 76 burst open, sucking out as many as seven people,” he said. “It was only seven people. That’s the account that the air force is telling us at this time.”

Other passengers ran to the front of the plane after the ramp flew open, Binkarubi said.

The aircraft reportedly was at 8,000 feet when the accident occurred about 8 p.m. Thursday [3 p.m. Thursday EDT], officials told CNN.

According to AP reports, though, Binkarubi said the plane lost its door at 33,000 feet, about 45 minutes after takeoff.

It was not immediately known why the door came open. The weather was clear and there was no suggestion of sabotage, Associated Press reported.

Wangisha said 20 injured passengers had been taken to a hospital in Kinshasa.

He quoted witnesses as saying the plane was carrying about 160 people, and he said except for the hospitalized passengers, all the others are missing and feared dead.

“There were about 200 people on board, soldiers and their families, women and children,” Prudent Mukalayi, one of the survivors taken to a hospital, told Reuters.

“I was asleep, and then I heard people screaming. When I woke up, the pilot told everyone to get to the front of the plane, and there were about 40 of us, but people kept dying. There were only about 20 survivors.”

The government is investigating the accident, Binkarubi, the communication minister, told CNN.

The four-engined Il-76 is widely used in Africa, the Middle East, India and China. The aircraft remains in service after several decades in service because of the shortage of cargo aircraft worldwide.

Ilyushin 76 is the same model that crashed in the mountains of Iran in February, killing almost 300 people, including members of Iran’s military.

Popularity: 1% [?]

The Starr report (Sex, Lies and Cigars)

http://www.cnn.com/starr.report/

http://thomas.loc.gov/icreport/

or google “starr report”

Popularity: 1% [?]

UPDATE 7th August 2009

New URL: http://salampax.wordpress.com/

——————–

Salam Pax’s blog Without doubt this is the most interesting blog of them all.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Malaysian halls of shame:

Seremban. shamirzal shamsuddin, 19 pleaded guilty for forcibly sodomising an 11 year old schoolboy at 1pm in the bushes of kg sungai buloh, simpang durian, jelebu on 14 january 2003.
——————-

http://www.sexcriminals.com/news/14185/

Teenager weeps while waiting for sodomy indictment
2003-02-11 emedia

A teenager wept continuously while awaiting to be tried at the Session’s Court here on a charge of sodomising a 10-year-old boy on Jan 14.

The weeping of Shamirzal Shamsuddin 19, from Kg Jerang, Simpang Durian, Jelebu attracted the attention of those in the gallery as well as reporters.

When asked by policemen on duty why he was crying, Shamirzal said he wanted to go home to celebrate Hari Raya Aidiladha with his family.

Asked whether his family knew that he was being produced in court today, he said they knew but were nowhere to be seen.

When the charge was read to him before judge S. Komathy, he pleaded not guilty.

The alleged offence was committed in a belukar in Sungai Buloh, Simpang Durian on Jan 14 at 1.05pm. He was arrested the following day after the victim’s father lodged a report.

Shamirzal was charged under Section 377(c) of the Penal Code for committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature and if found guilty can be jailed for a period not less than five years and not more than 20 years and whipping.

The judge allowed him to be released on a RM4,000 bail with one surety. However, Shamirzal, who was unrepresented, could not raise the money and was sent to the Sungai Buloh prison. The trial was fixed for May 5 and 6.

Prosecution was done by ASP Jamal Abbas.

In another case at the Magistrate Court later, Shamirzal pleaded guilty for escaping from police custody while being brought to the district police station on Feb 10.

Shamirzal had jumped from a police van, which was ferrying another three convicts near the Shell station along Jalan Sungei Ujong and fled into the nearby jungle.

He managed to do so after slipping his hands through the handcuffs.

However he was rearrested by police two hours later.

He was charged udner section 224 of the Penal Code. If found guilty, he can be jailed for up to two years and fined or both.

Magistrate Dayana Razali fixed March 31 for sentencing.
——————
How about:
…… the sarawakian in kl who shouted amoy then raped the girl under a footbridge!
hanafi mat hassan – the bus driver who raped a lecturer in his bus in broad daylight!
jerry yungki – who raped a girl in a padi field after following her home after a party

hall of insanity: chinese guy ran amok and killed 2 indians in ipoh declared not guilty cos he’s suffering from schizophrenia and extreme paranoia in which he heard voices in tamil and people pressuring him.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Royal Malaysian Police website – contains Malaysia’s most wanted criminals and latest crime news and developments

Popularity: 1% [?]

http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/content.asp?y=2003&dt=0506&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Muka_Hadapan&pg=mh_08.htm

My 2 cents worth: now, in Malaysia, it doesnt get much more sensational than this kind of news, with sons and daughters of high class society (a Tan Sri’s son!) involved in cold-blooded murder of a prominent physician!

Polis tahan anak Tan Sri di ibu negara
Oleh: AZIAN AZIZ

KUALA LUMPUR 5 Mei 2003 – Anak lelaki seorang ahli perniagaan bergelar Tan Sri yang dicari oleh polis bagi membantu siasatan kes pembunuhan Dr. T. Ariaratnam di kliniknya di Lorong Maarof, Bangsar pada 21 April lalu, ditahan di ibu negara hari ini.

Jurucakap polis berkata, remaja berusia 20 tahun itu ditahan kira-kira pukul 12 tengah hari.

Kata jurucakap itu, remaja terbabit merupakan salah seorang daripada lima lelaki yang dicari oleh polis bagi membantu menyelesaikan kes pembunuhan kejam tersebut.

“Penahanan terbaru ini menjadikan jumlah mereka yang masih dicari bagi membantu menyelesaikan siasatan kes pembunuhan tersebut kepada dua orang.

“Mereka yang masih dicari itu ialah Cheah Wai San, 22, dan Oliver Luke Menon, 20,” katanya.

Jurucakap polis itu menambah, sebelum penahanan terbaru ini, polis telah menahan dua remaja yang termasuk dalam senarai lima lelaki yang dicari.

Katanya, kedua-dua mereka ditahan dalam serbuan berasingan pada Isnin lalu dan kelmarin.

Timbalan Ketua Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Kuala Lumpur Asisten Komisioner Syed Ismail Syed Azizan ketika dihubungi mengesahkan penahanan anak Tan Sri berkenaan dan dua lagi lelaki tersebut.

Syed Ismail juga memberitahu, anak perempuan seorang bekas ahli politik bergelar Datuk yang ditahan sebelum ini bagi membantu siasatan kes yang sama telah dibebaskan dengan jaminan polis.

Turut dibebaskan ialah dua wanita dan seorang lelaki yang ditahan dalam kes yang sama.

Keempat-empat yang dibebaskan hari ini ditahan sebelum senarai nama kelima-lima lelaki yang dicari ini disiarkan oleh pihak polis untuk membantu siasatan.

Dalam kejadian pada pukul pukul 4 pagi, 21 April lalu, tiga lelaki yang bersenjatakan parang telah masuk ke Klinik Arianaga Medical Centre dan mengejutkan pemiliknya, Dr. Ariaratnam serta pembantunya, Vasudran Perumal sebelum menyerang mereka.

Dr. Ariaratnam mati di dalam perjalanan ke Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaya (PPUM) manakala pembantunya seorang warga India dirawat di Unit Rawatan Rapi (ICU) pusat perubatan tersebut.

Utusan Malaysia difahamkan, Vasundran Perumal yang masih dirawat di ICU Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) telah sedar dari koma dan semakin pulih.

“Beliau bagaimanapun masih belum boleh bercakap dan polis akan mengambil kenyataan daripada lelaki itu selepas beliau pulih sepenuhnya,” katanya.
—————————

http://www.rmp.gov.my/PDRM%202002/Semasa/030429aria.htm

29 April 2003
4 lagi suspek dikesan bantu siasatan kes bunuh Dr. T. Ariaratnam

Polis menahan salah seorang suspek yang dikehendaki dalam kes pembunuhan Dr. T. Ariaratnam di sebuah hotel di Jalan Syed Putra, semalam, menjadikan 5 orang setakat ini berada dalam tahanan polis.

Polis kini sedang mengesan 4 lagi suspek bagi membantu siasatan. Mereka ialah Choy Chin chuan, 20, di alamat 2, Lorong Taban, Lucky Garden, Bangsar dan Cheah Wai San, 19 di alamat 41, Jalan SS22/11, Damansara Jaya, Petaling Jaya. Dua lagi dikenali sebagai Azlan dan Oliver.

Dalam kejadian Isnin lepas, beberapa orang lelaki bersenjatakan parang telah memasuki Poliklinik Arinaga di Lorong Maarof, Bangsar dan menyerang Dr. T. Ariaratnam dan pembantunya. Ariaratnam mati di tempat kejadian akibat lebih 15 kesan tetakan, sementara pembantunya mengalami cedera parah.

—————————————————————————————————-
The Malaysian Medical Assocation issued a statement at its website

MURDER OF 66 YEARS OLD MALE DOCTOR, DR ARIARATNAM A/L THURAIAYAH IN BANGSAR, KUALA LUMPUR

21st April 2003

The MMA condemns the brutal murder of Dr T Ariaratnam, a 66-year-old male medical practitioner at about 4 a.m. this morning, 21st April 2003, in the premises of his 24-hour clinic, Arinaga Medical Centre located at 86, Lorong Maarof, Bangsar Park, Kuala Lumpur.

His security guard was attacked at the onset, followed by the murder of the helpless doctor by three men with parangs. The MMA is very distressed and concerned with the increasing number of robberies and murders of medical practitioners in private practice. From 2001-2003, there have been more than 40 robberies reported with a maximum incidence in the Klang Valley, especially in the Sentul area; if this trend continues and proper police protection is not forthcoming, I fear that private health care services of all 24-hour clinics will be seriously affected, especially now with medical practitioners, nurses and their ‘jagas’ becoming very vulnerable to these merciless robbers in our country.

I have previously written to the Inspector General of Police to increase police patrols around 24-hour clinics. The MMA also had a forum with the Malaysian Police and Malaysian Crime Foundation on 22nd September last year in Kuala Lumpur where we had highlighted how robbers used knives, parangs and revolvers to rob clinics. These robberies, usually at night or in the early hours of the morning, are being done by individuals or groups who target clinics, which are vulnerable and apart from robbing, they assault or kill the doctors.

The MMA has cautioned private medical practitioners to,

Illuminate and brighten the premises outside their clinics,

Install an alarm system, one-way mirror or camera which could deter the would be robbers,

Acquaint themselves with the OCPD of the police station nearest to the clinic’s vicinity,

Instruct the staff to keep the doors of the consultation room and the reception area shut at all times,

Employ a security guard, if possible,

for their security against these unscrupulous crooks.
However, in spite of all these security measures, a poor senior doctor was murdered today. If the police do not increase their surveillance, I fear for the safety of solo practitioners – because of this inherent fear – especially female medical practitioners both in the urban and rural areas who provide medical treatment services at night to ailing patients.

With this, I would like to reiterate that doctors need proper police protection so as to be able carry out their work effectively, especially, those working in 24-hour clinics.

—————

http://www.primehealth.com.my/healthcare%20providers/klangvalley%20clinics.htm

T Ariaratnam Dr
86-G, Lrg Maarof,
Kuala Lumpur
Tel No : 03-283 4554

Popularity: 5% [?]

flashback – Daily Express 18 january 2000

My 2 cents worth: this is one of the most sensational murder cases in malaysian history – a case of the jealous husband? – of course excluding the Mona Fandey case………..i think it happened at the height of the group’s popularity – their song “rindu serindu rindunya” in everybody’s lips, i heard it many times being sung on the radio, karaoke, functions, everywhere. Along’s voice became even more haunting after knowing that he’s dead – and promptly people stopped singing that song – i dont ever remember listening to it on the radio ever since – did Sharifah Aini sing it too???????

DNA test confirms body was singer’s

KUALA LUMPUR: DNA (tissue) tests have confirmed the decomposed body found in a sack in a ravine in Jelebu on Jan 6 was that of Sabi’ul Malik Shafie, singer with the group Spoon.

Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Norian Mai said a Police Lance Corporal implicated in the case will be charged with murder in the Jelebu Magistrate’s Court Tuesday.

“We were informed the DNA tests positively identified Along (Sabi’ul Malik),” he told reporters after viewing the closed circuit camera system installed at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters here Monday.

He said the case will be tried in Jelebu as the body and investigations conducted were in the district.

The police personnel will be charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries the death penalty upon conviction, he added.

Sabi’ul Malik, better known as Along, was earlier reported to have been kidnapped by two men who demanded RM500,000 as ransom.

Police believed jealousy led to Along’s death as the singer was said to have a relationship with the police personnel’s wife who worked as a public relations officer with the group’s recording company.

The 33-year-old police personnel had led a police investigating team to the site where Along’s decomposed body was recovered.

Tengku Shafiee Mohamed Yusoff, the singer’s father, had earlier refused to sign his son’s death certificate.

Tengku Shafiee and his wife Rohani Abdul Aziz later gave their blood samples at the Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM) here for the DNA tests to be conducted.

Tengku Shafiee, when contacted, said he had been informed of the results of the DNA tests by the police at 5.30pm today.

Popularity: 1% [?]

source: http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=aAfZAaJbkq3g&refer=europe
or just google “beckham highest paid europe”
Original news item dated: May 6, 2003

Beckham Beats Zidane as Top Soccer Earner, France Football Says
By Darren Tulett
Paris, May 6 (Bloomberg) — David Beckham, the England soccer captain who this season helped Manchester United to an eighth Premier League title in 11 years, overtook Zinedine Zidane as the sport’s top earner, according to France Football magazine.

Beckham, 28 last week, renegotiated his contract with United last year and lifted his annual earnings to 15 million euros ($17 million = RM64.6 million = RM5.38 million a month!!!) from 10.3 million, the magazine said. He gained one place in the standings. I am assuming 1 euro is RM4.30 and US$1 is RM3.80.

Beckham’s salary is about 6.6 million euros (RM28.38 million = RM2.37 million a month!!!), the same as his United teammate Roy Keane. While Keane is 10th on the list with annual revenue of 8.65 million euros, Beckham gets an additional 8.4 million euros from his endorsements, more than any other soccer player.

Beckham, married to pop singer Posh Spice, endorses products from PepsiCo. Inc. drinks and Vodafone Plc mobile phones to Marks & Spencer Group Plc clothing and Adidas-Salomon AG sporting goods.

Zidane, the most expensive player in soccer history after Real paid Juventus a fee of 75 million euros for him in 2001, earns 6.4 million euros a year from the European champion. His Brazilian teammate Ronaldo, third on the list, gets about the same.

According to U.K. newspaper reports, Beckham will join Zidane and Ronaldo in Madrid in the months ahead. The Spanish team denies it’s planning to acquire him.

Sol Campbell, a defender with England’s Arsenal, has the highest salary in soccer, according to France Football. He makes 7.3 million euros, twice as much as teammate Thierry Henry. Campbell’s salary was boosted because Arsenal didn’t have to pay London rival Tottenham a fee when it bought him.

*T FRANCE FOOTBALL TOP 20 SOCCER EARNERS:

NAME TEAM SALARY + ENDORSEMENTS

(Millions of euros)
1. David Beckham Manchester United 15
2. Zinedine Zidane Real Madrid 14
3. Ronaldo Real Madrid 11.7
4. Rio Ferdinand Manchester United 9.62
5. Alessandro Del Piero Juventus 9.55
6. Hidetoshi Nakata Parma 9.36 (RM40.25 million = RM3.4 million a month!!) – surely the highest ever paid Asian footballer…
7. Raul Gonzalez Real Madrid 9.3
8. Christian Vieri Inter Milan 9.28
9. Michael Owen Liverpool 8.9
10. Roy Keane Manchester United 8.65
11. Luis Figo Real Madrid 8.6 12. Gabriel Batistuta Inter Milan 8.6 13. Sol Campbell Arsenal 8.1 14. Oliver Kahn Bayern Munich 7.65 15. Alvaro Recoba Inter Milan 7.6 16. Francesco Totti AS Roma 7.3 17. Rivaldo AC Milan 7.2 18. Thierry Henry Arsenal 6.2 19. Fabio Cannavaro Inter Milan 6.1 20. Paolo Maldini AC Milan 6 *T

Popularity: 7% [?]

Fluffi Bunni owns you!
even www.sans.org not spared! The leading internet security organization’s website was cracked and the frontpage defaced
apparently fluffi bunni is a group of british crackers – the believed head of this group was arrested by british police recently. fluffi bunni captured the attention of the FBI days after the 9-11 attacks when THOUSANDS of commercial websites were vandalised with a single break-in that included the message “fluffi bunni goes jihad”. fluffi bunni’s mascot is a pink rabbit doll.

Popularity: 1% [?]

some SMS jokes:

Saddam sembunyikan diri dalam gua kat Baghdad. US tak mungkin jumpa sebab ada password: Ngia ing sing mata kaji Saddam Hussein……pls keep info secret.

Saddam meets Kajol – Saddam: how are u? Kajol: kabi khushi kabi gham. How about yourself? Saddam: babi Bush kasi bomb!

Elephant say to camel why ur breasts grow on your back? Camel angry at least I dont have penis grow on my face!

The govt has announced that effective today, all women and children be kept at home while the men outside be allowed to enjoy SARS (Songs, Alcohol, Romance & Sex).

Popularity: 1% [?]

other search engines

http://www.mamma.com

http://www.daypop.com

http://www.teoma.com

http://www.vivismo.com

http://www.wisenut.com

http://www.skali.com

Popularity: 1% [?]

Fauziah (Ogy) Ahmad Daud & Jamal Abdillah (in 1984)
Siti Sarah Raisuddin & Jamal Abdillah in (April 2003)

Sandarkan Pada Kenangan (dari filem Azura)
(Words and lyrics: M Nasir)
[Note: chords are approximate, Capo 1, unfortunately I cant align the chords exactly to the lyrics due to the way blogger does the postings , so I've abandoned by little transcribing project]

[Jamal]
Kenangan manis kau dan aku
Takkan terluput
Duri ranjau dalam bercinta
Lumrah dunia

[Duet]
C#m? G#m?
Sayang menyayang
Cinta dikenang
Perasaan menjadi rindu

[Siti Sarah]
Oh…
Lihatlah diriku yang kehilangan
Tanpa kasih mu sayang
Siapalah aku

[Jamal?]
Sayang menyayang
Saling percaya
Punca kasih berpanjangan

[Jamal]
F B A F
Mengapa kita harus bersengketa
[Siti Sarah]
A B A F
Kerana fitnah dan salah sangka
[Jamal]
Apa yang telah terjadi pada kenangan
[Siti Sarah]
Sememangnya aku tak pernah melupakannya
[Jamal]
Mengapa mesti ada perasaan benci
[Siti Sarah]
Kerana cinta dan percaya luput dalam perasaan

[Duet]
Marilah kasih
Kita saling sayang menyayang
Kalaulah ada benci
Kita sandarkan pada kenangan

[after this i think there's an interval, followed by the "lihatlah diriku yg kehilangan" part..., then follow on till end]

The video:

My review: 19 year old song given new lease of life my Malaysian King of Pop, Jamal Abdillah and newcomer Siti Sarah Raisuddin,18. Originally dueted with Fauziah Ahmad Daud. Part of Jamal’s compilation album entitled Raja Pop. Another soundtrack to the 1984 film entitled Azura also made it to this album. The song is unsurprisingly entitled Azura. Both are written by the great M Nasir himself, although I have to say that Nasir’s better off retiring now – he’s way past his peak. This song is one of the best Malay songs of the 80s, and one of my all-time favourites, probably the 2nd best 80s Malay pop song after Freedom’s “masihkah ada esok”. Seems like many people agree with me, since it’s now no.1 on the ERA charts. One question, why is everyone with named Fauziah automatically uses the nickname Ogy? Or Uji? Heck, even Fauziah Latiff also uses it.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Will Young/Westlife – evergreen

Evergreen

Eyes
Like a sunrise
Like a rainfall
Down my soul

And I wonder
I wonder why you
Look at me like that
What you’re thinking
What’s behind

Don’t tell me
But it feels like love

I’m gonna take this moment
And make it last forever
I’m gonna give
My heart away
And pray we’ll stay together
‘Cause you’re the
One good reason
You’re the only girl
That I need
‘Cause you’re more beautiful
Than I have ever seen
I’m gonna take this night
And make it evergreen

Touch
Like an angel
Like velvet to my skin
And I wonder
Wonder why you
Wanna stay the night
What you’re dreaming
What’s behind
Don’t tell me
But it feels like love

I’m gonna take this moment
And make it last forever
I’m gonna give
My heart away
And pray we’ll stay together
‘Cause you’re the
One good reason
You’re the only girl
That I need
‘Cause you’re more beautiful
Than I have ever seen
I’m gonna take this night
And make it evergreen

(Don’t tell me
But it feels like love)

I’m gonna take this moment
And make it last forever
I’m gonna give
My heart away
And pray we’ll stay together
‘Cause you’re the
One good reason
You’re the only girl
That I need
‘Cause you’re more beautiful
Than I have ever seen
I’m gonna take this night
And make it evergreen

[end]

Popularity: 6% [?]

2 hot issues that DPM Badawi had to handle during his 2 months of being acting PM – SARS and……the Iban Bible

To make a long story short: The Iban Bible (Bup Kudus) which has been in use for 15 years was banned recently but later the ban was lifted. The reason for the ban was the use of the word “Allah Tala” which is similar with “Allah Taala” used in the Quran.

http://www.malaysiakini.com.my/letters/200305020034357.php.

http://www.mcjonline.com/news/03a/20030430b.shtml.

Popularity: 8% [?]

In the local news: Wednesday, May 07, 2003

Boat with 22 Filipinos strayed from its course into Malaysia, says Army Chief
Explosives for wedding
MERSING: Explosives and ammunition seized by Malaysian security forces from a group of Filipinos who were in a boat off Sabah last week were meant for a wedding feast in the Southern Philippines and not meant to be smuggled into Malaysia.

Man with four wives jailed 18 years for raping daughter
KOTA BARU: A man with four wives and 50 children was sentenced to 18 years’ jail by the Sessions Court today for raping his 11-year-old daughter last year.

Popularity: 1% [?]

3/5/2003
Beck called me early afternoon to meet his bro in law Mysol who just returned from Singapore.
Later in the afternoon, a message came thru :7 cans already.
Still later in the evening (10 something) another message: 6 jugs already. Apparently he’s with the Butler, Jali Jambolt and Kusin Diasin. Mysol didnt come due to nonapproval of tourist visa from his wife.

Good omen for stirking it rich on 4D or even 6/49:
- parents in law cancelled last minute trip to Kuching due to SARS
- i ran over the orangish puppy – surely dead
- AiAi cut her hand with the toilet door

to try to buy: last 4 digits of hp, car reg no (3 ticket each?) lucky pick 6/49??

Popularity: 1% [?]

Were Einstein, Newton Autistic?
Thu May 1, 3:29 PM ET

LONDON (Reuters) – Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton were geniuses but British scientists believe they may have suffered from Asperger syndrome — a form of autism.

The condition, first described by Viennese physician Hans Asperger in 1944, is a disorder that causes deficiencies in social and communication skills and obsessive interests.

But it does not affect learning or intellect and many people with AS have exceptional talents or skills.

Although it is impossible to make a definitive diagnosis in people who are dead, Simon Baron-Cohen of Cambridge University and Ioan James of Oxford University studied the personalities of Einstein and Newton to see if the two scientists had symptoms of AS.

“Newton seems a classic case. He hardly spoke, was so engrossed in his work that he often forgot to eat, and was lukewarm or bad-tempered with the few friends he had,” New Scientist magazine said on Wednesday.

Baron-Cohen said Einstein was also a loner and as a child he repeated sentences obsessively. Although Einstein made friends and spoke out on political issues, Baron-Cohen suspects he showed signs of Asperger syndrome.

“Passion, falling in love and standing up for justice are all perfectly compatible with Asperger syndrome,” he told the weekly science magazine.

“What most people with AS find difficult is casual chatting — they can’t do small talk,” he added.

But Glen Elliott, a psychiatrist at the University of California at San Francisco, said geniuses can be socially inept and impatient with other people without being autistic.

“Impatience with the intellectual slowness of others, narcissism and passion for one’s mission in life might combine to make such an individual isolative and difficult,” he told the magazine.

Baron-Cohen said he hopes the research can improve understanding of Asperger syndrome and make life easier for people who suffer from the condition.

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Colorado Climber Amputates His Arm
Thu May 1,11:57 PM ET

MOAB, Utah – A Colorado climber amputated his own arm Thursday, five days after becoming pinned by a boulder, and he was hiking to safety when he was spotted by searchers, authorities said.

Aron Ralston, 27, of Aspen, was in serious condition late Thursday at a hospital in Grand Junction, Colo. Ralston was climbing Saturday in Blue John Canyon, adjacent to Canyonlands National Park in far southwestern Utah, when a 200-pound boulder fell on him, pinning his right arm, authorities said.

He ran out of water on Tuesday and on Thursday morning, he decided that his survival required drastic action. Using his pocketknife, he amputated his arm below the elbow and applied a tourniquet and administered first aid. He then rigged anchors, fixed a rope and rappelled to the canyon floor.

He hiked downstream and was spotted about 3 p.m. by a Utah Public Safety Helicopter. The search for Ralston had begun the same morning, after authorities were notified he was four days overdue reporting for work.

Ralston was described by authorities as an avid outdoorsman in exceptional physical condition. They said he was known to have climbed 49 of Colorado’s major peaks.

This news triggered the usual extremes of response on Yahoo’s Message Boards, ranging from “stupid and irresponsible sport” to “you can get hurt locking yourself in your room”.

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on leave for quite a few days 29/4 till 3/5
still, there’s so much to do……….not least servicing the car, sending and picking the daughter to/from school, paying the bills, all the while trying to evade the traffic jams…

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29/4/2003 (tuesday)
KOWANGAN biennial dinner
Magellan Sutera
6.30pm – 11.00pm
I am stage manager
arrived there 6.15pm – had buffet dinner at 5 sails with Romeo (2nd MC) – gobbled everything down by 6.30pm
From then on it was hectic till after the CM went home at around 10pm
Highlights:
- Magic Fingers magic show – Kevin Lee’s cute sidekick , Isma and the cucumbers
- DJ Zack – it was good working with u
- karaoke singing by CM, SUT, Supernesa Chairman cum Tempasuk ADUN, Hj Yusof

stayed in Promenade for the night

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Jeffrey Yong is the founder of GIM and a dedicated Christian.
http://www.gimguitars.com/Luthier.html

interesting: Temple Mount

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