No joke. A bowl that can cure erectile dysfunction!!!

Monday January 18, 2010

Hard-to-believe tale that will bowl you over

By R.S.N. MURALI

BESUT: Here’s a hard to believe tale — a Public Works Department retiree here is claiming that an ancient Chinese bowl which he inherited has magical powers and can even cure erectile dysfunction.

It’s magical: Mohd Nor showing the bowl that he inherited from his father.

The bowl, believed to date back to the 16th century, was given to his ancestors probably by traders from China, says Mohd Nor Daud, 70.

He claimed that even seawater could turn into freshwater that was safe for consumption if stored in the bowl for eight hours.

“Those suffering from illnesses like impotence can be cured if the water in the bowl is consumed,” he said.

Mohd Nor said cooked food such as chicken curry could be kept in the bowl for days without refrigeration — and the food would not go bad.

“I have tested it myself. Surprisingly, the food can be preserved for days. It’s like being stored in a refrigerator,” he said.

His father who died years ago had told him that the bowl had supernatural powers.

“He asked me to treasure it until my last breath.”

His father also revealed to him that his great-grandfather had given him the bowl, he added.

Mohd Nor from Kampung Seberang Jerteh, said the bowl, measuring 132cm and 16cm, would also produce a violin-like melody when it was slowly tilted to its side.

He also said those who intend to hold the bowl must clean their hands thoroughly or they would not even be able to lift it.

Mohd Nor also claimed that an old man appeared in his dream once, revealing to him how to use the bowl to cure illnesses.

However, he said he was unable to comprehend the message in the dream.

He has been keeping the bowl safely and “would hand it to my children when the time is right.”

Mohd Nor said a relic collector from Kelantan had offered him RM5,000 for the bowl but he had refused to sell it.

Student claims trial to 'offensive' Facebook posting

UPDATED 12.10PM A 'not guilty' plea was recorded from Tasyrif Tajuddin before the PJ Sessions Court Judge Aslam Zainuddin who allowed bail of RM6,000 with one surety this morning.

Two days after being remanded, Tasyrif Tajuddin, a film studies student with the government-owned Aswara National Academy of Arts and Heritage in Kuala Lumpur, was produced in the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court today, where he claimed trial to allegedly posting offensive remarks on social networking site Facebook.
He was charged with 'making threatening comments with the intent to cause harm' and was represented by counsel Mohd Radzlan Jalaludin, while DPP Amirah Mohamed Yusoff prosecuted. Wearing a blue t-shirt, Tasyrif looked weary when he was first brought to court. His parents and college-mate were present to give support. An Aswara college official was also present.
(Source: Malaysiakini)

Makkal Sakti: Another rotting race-based party in danger of becoming irrelevant

January 18, 2010 16:21 PM

Rot Begins In Makkal Sakti, Well Before Bloom

By S. Retnanathan

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 18 (Bernama) -- The leadership tussle in the Makkal Sakti party is expected to prolong, with nary a light at the end of the tunnel, as dark clouds gather with a looming threat of dragging the three-month-old party into legal tangles.

It appears that Makkal Sakti, (meaning People's Power in Tamil) might not even have the relevant people to power the party!

It is in danger of becoming irrelevant -- even before it begins a mass membership drive.

Political pundits also predict that if woes faced by warring factions within the party are not solved fast, the party will die a natural death in the coming months.

Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria said the tussle in Makkal Sakti, which started with a "bang" and once captured the imagination of the Malaysian Indian community, has discredited the party.

"In light of the emergence of so many parties in the Indian community, Makkal Sakti too, has fallen victim to a similar situation faced by the others. They put personality conflicts and internal bickering as priority, instead of the plight of the community," he said.

Denison, a socio-economic analyst and a commissioner of Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), predicts that in light of the latest development in Makkal Sakti, it would be an uphill battle for the party to recover in the short term, unless its leaders "sit down or get an intermediary" to solve the tussle.

"Like many other Indian-based parties, personality conflicts and internal problems dominate over community interest. They are shooting at themselves and hope the community would still support them. So far, I do not see them as leaders of the community.

"When they launched the party, they managed to capture the imagination of the Malaysian Indian community. But sad to to say, this has fizzled out," he added.

Yesterday, the Makkal Sakti party's central committee voted to kick out its embattled president, R. S. Thenenthiran, for failing to respond to several allegations levelled against him.

The decision to expel the 46-year-old "president" was made by 14 out of the 27 central committee members at a meeting in Shah Alam, on Sunday, by a faction led by party deputy president A. Vathemurthy and secretary-general Kannan Ramasamy.

Kannan had said that the party would inform the Registrar of Societies (ROS) of the outcome of the meeting in the next few days, and that a new president would be announced next month.

He had also revealed that the party was trying to "lure" Klang-based businessman Oms Thiyagarajan and the Hindu Rights Action Force leader V. Ganabathirao to take up the vacant post.

Apart from informing the ROS, Vathemurthy's faction also wants to inform Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on the latest development. Makkal Sakti, a Barisan Nasional-friendly party was launched by Najib with much pomp and splendour on Oct 10, last year.

However, Thenenthiran, who is currently overseas, is not about to take this sitting down.

The first salvo from his side was issued by his brother, R. S. Ramesh, who is also Makkal Sakti vice president, when he said that Thenenthiran's group would not recognise his expulsion from the party and insisted he was still the president.

However, Ramesh said Thenenthiran's group would only accept the sacking if the ROS accepted it.

While this is easier said than done, an Indian political observer feels that even if the ROS decides on the matter, either faction would eventually challenge the decision in court.

"ROS is not a solution to this problem. The solution must come from within the party. Both factions need to sit down and reach an amicable solution if they want the party to be taken seriously.

"They have not even gone on a mass membership drive. How are they going to do that with a leadership problem like this?," he asked Bernama, requesting anonymity.

Makkal Sakti is a splinter of the once-banned Hindu Rights Action Force and at the initial stage, it looked set to be a formidable force to challenge the MIC as the voice of the nation's 1.8 million Indians.

However, its current leadership tussle has left nagging questions on the party's future.

"Either, they think of the party first or risk becoming irrelevant," said a Barisan Nasional component leader who declined to be named for fear of being accused of meddling in the affairs of another party.

Unless Makkal Sakti leaders join forces and put their differences aside, power to ride the political landscape and be a force to contend with, seems to be a far cry.

-- BERNAMA

Is Pm Najib having some kind of aberration?

PM Najib says church attacks "minor aberration"
RIYADH : Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said attacks on churches in his country were a "minor aberration" that did not reflect the feelings of most Malaysian Muslims, in an interview published on Sunday.

"This is a minor aberration. National unity and mutual respect between various racial and religious communities in Malaysia has been a cornerstone of Malaysia for a long time," he said in the interview with Okaz newspaper and published in its English-language sister, the Saudi Gazette.

"It should not be seen as a widespread attempt by the larger Muslim community to attack churches in Malaysia," he said.

Several churches in predominantly Muslim Malaysia have been attacked after a court ruled on December 31 that non-Muslims could use "Allah" as a translation for "God."

Nine churches were hit with Molotov cocktails, splashed with black paint and had windows smashed with stones, triggering tighter security at places of worship nationwide.

The offices of lawyers for Malaysia's Roman Catholic Church were also burgled and ransacked.

Najib downplayed the attacks.

"I would like to clarify that only one church was burnt and only its administrative portion was set ablaze," he told the Saudi newspaper.

"The others were minor incidents, which do not really constitute burning at all. And in some cases various objects were reportedly thrown into the compounds of some churches."

Najib also questioned a US travel advisory for Malaysia that warned of possible attacks on foreigners.

"I am quite surprised they came up with the travel advisory. We have no credible information regarding the perceived threat," he said.

On Friday, the US State Department issued a travel alert advising Americans to "consider the risks associated with travel to eastern Sabah in Malaysia due to the threat from both terrorist and criminal groups."

Najib was speaking while on a short trip to Saudi Arabia, where he met King Abdullah and other top officials and visited educational institutions.

- AFP/ir

Definition of aberration:
- a state or condition markedly different from the norm
- a disorder in one's mental state
- an optical phenomenon resulting from the failure of a lens or mirror to produce a good image

Muslims must avoid being totally immersed in Facebook, Twitter: Rais

2010/01/16

SEREMBAN,Sat: Malaysians, especially Muslims, must avoid being totally immersed in the internet culture, especially Facebook and Twitter, said Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim. He added that facilities like internet cannot be accepted totally because it is a form of business introduced by the West and we are just users.

"We are not saying that they cannot use Facebook or Twitter but when using such facilities they must upkeep the values taught by Islam, Buddhism or Christianity to maintain our culture," he told reporters after opening a Seminar on the 1Malaysia concept here today.

He added that Malaysians who used internet services on social networking sites should be careful with what they see and hear.

"We must be strong in our believes and culture because the identity and image of our country depends on us. They are just selling Facebook, Twitter, L-Band and various other services, even through space, as a product but we do not do such business. We accept all this in a state of cultural shock," he said.

He chided some Malaysians who belittled those who were no savvy of the Facebook and Twitter culture.

"We should not be quick to condemn or look down on those who do not use Facebook. Newspapers are still relevant, so is Facebook, but do not be carried away with everything and disregard the old system," he said.

Rais also praised the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (SKMM) for its success in tracking down a student from the National Arts Culture and Heritage Academy for posting a public safety threatening comment on Facebook about the recent spate of attacks on churches while discussing the ongoing “Allah” controversy on the popular social networking website.

"Syabas to SKMM for its action in nailing those who used Facebook, Twitter and SMS for the wrong reasons. As a former analyze of the law in the country, I wish to advise the people that they cannot escape from the law for their actions," he said.

Speaking of 1Malaysia, Rais said the Information Department had also conducted a survey on the people''s understanding of the 1Malaysia concept and found 62 per cent of Malaysians understood the 1Malaysia concept.

He added that the government would initiate more programmes featuring the 1Malaysia concept, especially for students. -- Bernama

(Source: NST Online)

I concur with Rais. He should seriously look into the Facebook group ‘Menentang penggunaan nama Allah oleh golongan bukan Muslim’ that are planting the seeds of extremism and discord in young minds. The Muslims in this group are certainly totally immersed in fanning the fire of hatred even to the point of calling for jihad.

Read more here @ Centre for Policy Initiatives:

Immense organisation running this Umno-linked Facebook group!

Armani: I will never sell my empire

Armani’s empire is worth RM8.2 billion a year. — Reuters pic

MILAN, Jan 16 — Giorgio Armani will never sell his fashion empire and has no plans to hand over any of his workload, the 75-year old designer was quoted as saying today as his autumn/winter fashion shows kicked off.

Armani — whose business is worth around US$2.4 billion (RM8.2 billion) a year in sales — has recently delegated more responsibility to non-family members and last month said “there comes a time when you must hand it over.”

That added to speculation about his health since a bout of hepatitis left him frail last year, and Armani himself has kept investors guessing on the future of the company, at times hinting at a bourse listing and at other times signalling he could sell.

“I will never sell because I don’t need to and I don’t want to,” he told Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper in an interview published on the day of the autumn/winter menswear show for his Emporio Armani line.

“And I’m not stepping aside either, as long as I can, touch wood, keep up this pace,” he added.

“I don’t give a damn about a super-golden pension, I wouldn’t know what to do with it.”

The white-haired designer who started his own collection over 30 years ago is one of the best-known designers in the global fashion industry and his business also takes in interior design, hotels and perfumes.

“This is my life, I don’t have any other and I don’t want any other. If I could, the only thing I would change is my age,” he told Corriere della Sera.

Armani told the newspaper that the hotel he designed in Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, was “a special thing ... a sort of monument to what I have done in my life.”

The hotel spans 36 floors and includes five restaurants, Armani said.

The Burj Khalifa opened on Jan 4. It was developed by Emaar Properties — a venture 31.2 per cent owned by the Dubai government, which is struggling with a huge debt pile.

Armani has a joint venture with Emaar to develop hotels worldwide. — Reuters

(Source: The Malaysian Insider)

Allah row: Protect lawyers and judges

In the wake of the acts of arson and break-ins over the ‘Allah’ controversy, Amnesty International has called the government to take ‘decisive steps’ to...

The human rights group said the government must ensure the physical safety of lawyers and judges in the case of Catholic weekly Herald and those seeking to intimidate them should be prosecuted. The call was made following an incident on Jan 14 when Herald lawyer Derek Fernandez found that his Petaling Jaya office had been ransacked.

Let's hope and pray that High Court judge Datuk Lau Bee Lan whose controversial ‘Allah’ ruling that rocked the nation over who had rights to the term cited that the Home Minister and government’s actions had been illegal, unconstitutional, irrational and had failed to satisfy that it was a threat to national security, will be safe and sound.