Torres named - man of the match

Torres named - man of the match Spain 1 Germany 0

Germany were outclassed, and for captain Ballack his catalogue of misery in major finals continues having lost two Champions League finals and also been suspended for the 2002 World Cup final when they lost to Brazil.

Match-winner Torres enhanced the reputation he forged at Liverpool last season, but this was an all-round effort for a side that is young enough to already be marked down among the favourites for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. . . more

Capt Casillas lifted the Henri Delaunay trophy for Spain

PAS: We're just partners in Perak

Piala Hamdan Tahir : HKSBP

Cagers are the CHAMPION, again

5th Championship: 26-05-08
against MOZAC 52 - 30.

the semifinal
against SMS Hulu Selangor 65 - 49

Group A Champ
4th game against SBPI Gombak 61 - 22.
3rd game against SESMA 50 - 33
2nd game against SMSKuching 62 - 40
1st game against SDAR 66 - 43


A blog on the Cagers activities

cagers in action

John Bolton escapes citizen's arrest at Hay Festival

John Bolton, the former American ambassador to the UN, managed to escape a British journalist's attempt to place him under citizen's arrest Wednesday evening at a festival in Wales. He had brushed off an attempted citizen’s arrest at the Hay Festival in Wales as “comic”.

Mr George Monbiot argues that Bolton helped plan the war in Iraq when he was undersecretary of state for arms control at the State Department, using information he knew to be false.

Mr Bolton said the war was legal, partly because Iraq had failed to comply with a key and binding UN resolution after the end of the Gulf War in 1991. On the war's legality, he added: "This is not my personal opinion, this is the opinion of the entire legal apparatus of the US government."

Mr Monbiot blocked by security guards

A crowd of about 20 protestors, one dressed in a latex George Bush mask, chanted "war criminal" as Mr Bolton was ushered away. Mr Monbiot was blocked by two heavily-built security guards at the end of the one-and-a-half hour appearance, before he could serve a "charge sheet" on him. Mr Monbiot said moments later he was "disappointed" that he had been blocked from making the citizen's arrest.

"This was a serious attempt to bring one of the perpetrators of the Iraq war to justice, for what is described under the Nuremberg Principles as an international crime," he said.

A citizen’s arrest is legal in certain circumstances under the under the Serious and Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.

But Peter Florence, director of the Hay Festival, said on Wednesday that they had sought legal advice and been told carrying out such an arrest would be “completely unlawful” given the circumstances.

Countries to Adopt Cluster Bomb Ban

30/05/2008

Countries from across the globe were to adopt a landmark convention banning cluster bombs in a formal ceremony on Friday, in a move supporters hope will stigmatize the lethal weapons as much as landmines. Diplomats from 111 countries were to adopt the treaty in a closing ceremony at Croke Park in the Irish capital after 12 days of robust negotiations at the Gaelic games stadium.




A Cluster Bomb Explsion

The convention, agreed Wednesday, outlaws the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions. It also provides for victim welfare and clearing contaminated areas. Politicians and campaigners insisted it was a hugely significant pact despite the absence of key powers like the United States, China and Russia. Diplomats will adopt the treaty before Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin closes the conference.

Norway has spearheaded the treaty initiative and the convention is due to be signed in Oslo on December 2-3. States then have to ratify the pact. The United States, China, Russia, India, Pakistan and Israel did not participate in the convention talks, leading some commentators to question its worth. However, Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere insisted the treaty would stigmatize the use of cluster bombs among those countries keeping their stockpiles.

Cluster munitions are among the weapons posing the gravest dangers to civilians, especially in heavily bombed countries. Dropped from planes or fired from artillery, they explode in mid-air, randomly scattering bomblets, with many civilians having been killed or maimed by their indiscriminate, wide area effect. They also pose a lasting threat as many bomblets fail to explode on impact.

The treaty is due to be signed in Oslo on December 2-3. The cluster munitions treaty requires the destruction of stockpiled munitions within eight years -- though it leaves the door open for future, more precise generations of cluster bombs that pose less harm to civilians. The treaty was welcomed by the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC), an umbrella group of non-governmental organizations, which hopes it will stigmatize cluster munitions.

Courtesy almanartv

Malaysia to develop oilfield in Iran

Fri, 23 May 2008 12:56:09

Malaysia signs a $300-million agreement with Iran for developing an oilfield in the Persian Gulf, a senior Iranian oil official says.

The memorandum of understanding, signed between the Iranian Offshore Oil Company (IOOC) and its Malaysian partner in Kuala Lumpur, is worth $300 million at initial phase and is expected to grow to $1.5 billion later, Mohammad-Ali Ghayem, an IOOC director, said.

The joint project to develop an Iranian oilfield is part of a Tehran-Kuala Lumpur bid to expand cooperation in oil and natural gas sectors, Ghayem, director of the IOOC Engineering, Procurements, Construction and Project Execution, was quoted by IRNA as saying.

Ghayem did not name the oilfield. However, the field is located in southern Bushehr province in the Persian Gulf.

The contract will be finalized next month and its implementation phase will begin next year, he added.

Implementation of the project adds to the country's energy capabilities and creating 500 permanent jobs and 2,000 temporary jobs, the official concluded.

coutesy presstv

Dikir untuk PaK Lah

EPL - Manchester United the Champions

Rangers 3-1 Dundee Utd

Page last updated at 13:26 GMT, Saturday, 10 May 2008 14:26 UK

By Thomas McGuigan Novo punished United with some razor sharp finishing Rangers moved to within a point of league leaders Celtic with a game in hand following a controversial victory over Dundee United. Nacho Novo calmed early Rangers nerves in the seventh minute when he headed home Kevin Thomson's free-kick. The Spaniard doubled Rangers' lead soon after with a superb volley. . . . read more

Championsleague semifinal liverpool 3 - Chelsea 2

UK Culture - Rugby

Muhammad emerging from a
tunnel formed by MCOBA
in the annual
MCOBA - MCKK match @
Oldboys weekend 2008

In the U.K, an old saying goes "football is a gentleman's game played by ruffians and rugby is a ruffians game played by gentleman". In most rugby-playing countries, rugby union is widely regarded as an "establishment," historically amateur sport, played mostly by members of the middle classes.

For example, many students at private schools and grammar schools play rugby union. By contrast, rugby league has traditionally been seen as a working and middle class, professional, pursuit. A contrast to this ideology is evident in the neighbouring unions of England and Wales. In England the sport is very much associated with the public schools system (i.e. independent/private schools).

In Ireland, rugby union is also associated with private, education and the "D4" stereotype, and this image of the spoilt, ignorant, wealthy rugby-playing jock inspired the best-selling Ross O'Carroll Kelly novels. In Wales, rugby is associated with small village teams which consisted of coal miners and other industrial workers playing on their days off.

Exceptions to the above include New Zealand, Wales, France except Paris, Cornwall, the Borders region of Scotland, County Limerick in Ireland, and the Pacific Islands, where rugby union is popular in working class communities. Nevertheless, rugby league is perceived as the game of the working class people in the English counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria, and in the Australian states of New South Wales and Queensland.

In the United Kingdom, rugby union fans sometimes use the term "rugger" as an alternative name for the sport, (see Oxford '-er'). Also the kick off is known to be called "Rug Off" in some regions. In the US, people who play rugby are sometimes called "ruggers", a term little used elsewhere except facetiously.

Those considered to be heavily involved with the rugby union lifestyle — including heavy drinking and striped jumpers — sometimes identify as "rugger buggers". Retired rugby union players who still turn up to watch, drink and serve on committees rank as "alickadoos" or, less kindly, as "old farts". An alternative name for the game adopted primarily in local rugby comps is known as "Ra-Ra" referring to the pomp and circumstance associated with the sport

Because of the nature of the games (almost unlimited body contact with little or no padding), the rugby world frowns on unsporting behaviour, since even a slight infringement of the rules may lead to serious injury or even death. Because of this, governing bodies enforce the rules strictly.

French rugby league supporters sometimes call themselves "treizistes", reflecting the French title of their sport (jeu à treize). The epithet occurs almost universally in France, but its use has also spread to English-speaking countries.

Australia is unusual in that rugby league is by far the more popular of the two codes. Support for both codes is concentrated in New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory. The same perceived class barrier as exists between the two games in England also occurs in these two states, fostered by rugby union's prominence and support at private schools. Australian followers of rugby league usually refer to rugby league as "league", "footy" or "football" and rugby union as "rugby" or "union". A popular television show dealing with rugby league, called The Footy Show screens weekly during the NRL season and television coverage is generally known as Friday Night Football, Sunday Football and Monday Night Football.

New Zealanders generally refer to rugby union simply as either "football", "rugby" or "rugby union" and to rugby league as "rugby league", "football" or "league". In New Zealand, playing rugby football has a reputation as the epitome of manliness for both Māori and Pākehā (non-Māori), as symbolised by a haka (war dance) at the start of important games. Kiwis see rugby as the accepted substitute for military heroism and an excellent training ground for soldiering. If Britain won the Battle of Waterloo on the playing-fields of Eton College, New Zealand long saw its role in the British Empire as intimately connected with the football field. Popular Kiwi mythology sees the encouragement of New Zealand rugby in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as the Imperial reaction to declining physical fitness in Britain's industrial slums.

(the above is UK Culture extracted from wikipedia, verbatim)

Chelsea 1-1 Wigan

Page last updated at 20:56 GMT, Monday, 14 April 2008 21:56 UK

By Paul Fletcher

Wigan's late equaliser left Chelsea's players and supporters stunned

Emile Heskey struck with an injury-time volley to earn a point for Wigan and leave Chelsea's hopes of winning the Premier League hanging by a thread.

Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland made fine saves from Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou while John Terry hit the bar.

Chelsea eventually took the lead when Michael Essien struck from 20 yards. . . read more

New "kids" on the blog.

When I say "kids" I don't mean small, what I meant is starters. RPK started blogging since DSAI (Datok Sri Anwar) was in the Sg Buluh Palace. I used to see him then at DSAI's corner lot house near Damasara Mosque. It was good and informative - Malaysiakini was free and popular then for us to be informed and have an update of DSAI's life then political, social - the court cases and his personal health including the blood HIV tests and the arsenic poisoning case.

I can't really tell when YB LKS started blogging before or after RPK ( Raja Petra Kamarudin ). For obviuos reasons YB LKS's blog was less intellectually informative and more related to his issues. Informative articles in YB LKS's blog are generally written by others and available to me through other sources including through my e-group. His interactive blog is good for we can read comments from others on issues he raised, gauge public opinions and make our own conclusion.

Take for instance his opposition to the MB of Perak being from PAS, not only him I too had a shock! I did anticipate that our "Barisan Rakyat" comrades would like to have a shouting match with YB LKS on his proposed 'swearing in' boycott. What shock me is his delayed reaction on realizing, the fact that we "Barisan Rakyat" supporters put DAP candidates there. The result was the YB's apology to the Sultan and Pemangku Raja Perak. That's the power of the internet. It is even more powerful than DAP's CEC. It reverses the DAP's CEC decision - public opinion did it at a lightning speed.

Clever people like Dr Khir Toyo would realized that. Why not he, when the President of Iran Blogs! He wants to stand as UMNO youth leader as televised by the RTM, then it may be more relevant if we were to assume that UMNO youth members are as IT savvy as their Barisan Rakyat counter part. There may be more UMNO personalities blogging in the near future. Have you visited our PM's blog?

Hopefully YB LKS has realized by now about Barisan Yakyat, he was so blank when it was raised after he made the protest was made. How on earth could he? When 3/4 of the signatories to the "Rakyat' Declaration" got elected as MP. Sdr Wee Chee Keong of MDP, Sdr Ronnie of DAP and Puan Dr Mariah of PAS except for Cik Gu Bad of PKR. His losses to Khairi, I believe is due to vote rigging, will PKR take his case to court?

Having said that, I personally feel that YB LKS owes Barisan Rakyat supporters an apology. Things have progressed well and Bravo to YB LKS, DSAI, DSA , TGHH for the recent crytalization of "Pakatan Rakyat", we do not tolerate nonsense and unnecessary critical of petty things. Have you all agreed to the tentative name "PR". It's okay with me!

Dr Khir Toyo's blog - a welcoming message.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Wadah Sebuah Perjuangan

Assalamualaikum w.b.t.

"Selamat Datang" ke blog ini. Insya-Allah, ia akan menjadi wadah untuk saya berkomunikasi dengan pembaca khusus dalam isu-isu politik dan sosial. Saya akan memanfaatkan blog ini untuk berbicara mengenai masa depan negara dan perjuangan UMNO sebagai wadah politik kit

On 1st April 08, my birthday, another interesting event took placed, YB Mohd Ali Rustam started blogging, is he positioning himself to contest for any post in the coming UMNO elections.

From: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

Dear fellow Malaysians,

Thank you for voting Barisan Nasional back into power. It is with great honour that I will serve you for another term. I want to share with you what I plan to do in the next four or five years to fulfil your aspirations for the country.

You used your votes to send me a message – a message that I didn't hear earlier, but which I hear now, loud and clear. Yes, it was a wake up call for a rude awakening and me for all of us at BN. We must never take the Malaysian public for granted.

One of the loudest things I hear from you is 'No more arrogant, inflammatory and racist rhetoric'. I admit several of my outspoken ministers and yes, even my own son-in-law, have said things that hurt the feelings of many segments of our society, especially the non-Malays. I should have rebuked them immediately but I didn't.

I didn't share their views, I'm sure you know that, but I was complacent in thinking such comments would eventually blow over. Little did I realize that many of you had actually taken them to heart. As a prime minister for all Malaysians, I should have been more sensitive. The next time any Umno leaders say things that are out of line, I guarantee you I will slap them down straight away. And if they don't apologise for the hurt they cause, I will ask them to resign whatever posts they hold in the party or the government. That is how seriously I take the matter.

I was mistaken in thinking that Malaysians would be content and grateful just to have peace and security in this country. But after 50 years, Malaysia has grown up. We are becoming a developed nation. Peace and security is not enough. Economic development is not enough. The people want and deserve civil liberties.

As such, I am going to take steps to honour not just the law but also the spirit of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. That means getting rid of the Printing Presses and Publications Act. In addition, all government parties will be required to divest itself of ownership in news media companies. I know this means opening myself and my government to critical articles by journalists, but that's what free speech is all about. And I accept that.

People will no longer need to apply for a permit from the police to peacefully assemble and even to protest. Of course if they make a nuisance of themselves or become rowdy, law enforcement officers will have to do their job to ensure public safety. But your right to peacefully assemble will be respected.

I am going to get rid of the dreaded Internal Security Act and the Kamunting detention facility will be torn down and converted into some new commercial development. To be honest with you, I didn't want to detain those five Hindraf guys without trial. It's against my nature to do such things. But alas, I listened to advisors who been giving me wrong advice. They will be freed, as will other ISA detainees, but if there is evidence against any of them, they will be charged and have their day in court.

Speaking of courts, I will be asking the King to set up a new Royal Commission of Inquiry and this time, the terms of reference will extend all the way back to the controversial sacking of Salleh Abbas. Many learned lawyers have highlighted that it was that incident which started the rot in our judiciary. I know we might be opening a can of worms but let the law take its course. I am determined to repair our judiciary.

The Official Secrets Act will also be removed and replaced by the Freedom of Information Act. People rightly view the OSA as an impediment to catching crooks within the government. In contrast, a Freedom of Information Act will help us catch those crooks. When you first elected me, I was known as Mr Clean. Nobody calls me that now but by the time my second term ends, that's what you'll be calling me again. Just wait and see.

Last but not least – and I've really saved the best for last – I am going to initiate something that will end communal politics once and for all. Umno will soon stand for the United Malaysian National Organisation and all component parties in the BN will be invited to merge with the old Umno that we can become one big multiracial party. Also, the NEP will stand for Newest Economic Policy that will help all Malaysians regardless of race. Take that, Anwar!

None of the things I've mentioned is going to be easy to implement. There will be resistance like you wouldn't believe. But if I am going to regain the trust you first gave to me four years ago, I will have to earn it the hard way – by not just talking the talk but walking the walk. Last time around I asked you to work with me. This time, watch me work for you, to build a better Malaysia that you deserve.

Humbly,

Pak Lah


source malaysiatoday

No rush for Anwar