Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Short on Ringgit?

Ringgit expected to fall to RM3.50 against USD........

27-08-2008: Ringgit falls to 10-mth low

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit fell to a 10-month low of RM3.3910 against the US dollar yesterday, as it slid for a second straight day on concerns a global economic slowdown could hurt exports and after Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) kept interest rate at 3.5% on Monday.

The ringgit slide came amid soaring inflation at 8.5% in July, the highest in almost 27 years. BNM, however, decided to maintain the overnight policy rate (OPR), seeing the economic downturn as a greater risk than inflation.

In a research note, Goldman Sachs said that although the country’s strong current account surplus and undervalued currency would support the ringgit in the medium term, BNM’s interest rate reaction could hurt the ringgit’s value further.

“The risks associated with sluggish central bank responses as well as the unsettling political landscape could further hurt the ringgit’s sentiment in the near term,” it said.

Meanwhile in a Bloomberg report, CIMB Investment Bank Bhd rates and currency strategist Suresh Kumar Ramanathan said: “The focus has shifted to slowdown concerns and the bias is for a weaker ringgit. Investors are also keeping an eye on the risks associated with the by-election.”

In Singapore, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp analyst Tetsuo Yoshikoshi said the ringgit was expected to fall further to RM3.50 versus the greenback by year-end, against a previous forecast of RM3.295.

“I would say 80% of the decline in the ringgit is in line with other Asian currencies, due to the perception that the global economy and Asian economies will slow down.

“The other 20% is the perception that the central bank is behind the curve in tackling inflation. You can compare the ringgit with the Singapore dollar. There’s been some loss of confidence,” he said.

He added most Japanese investors were now not interested in Malaysia, as the political situation was “quite bad”, affecting the country’s economic success story.

Reuters data showed the local currency has been among the worst performers in Asia in the past four months, falling more than 7%. On the offshore market, it slid to RM3.389 to the US dollar in six-month non-deliverable forwards, against RM3.371 on Monday.

Permatang Pauh: Winners and losers

Who are the Winners and Losers selected from the Malaysian Insider?

Must Read....

AUG 26 Every election produces winners and losers. Here is The Malaysian Insider's take on who emerged from Permatang Pauh with credit and who should hit the soul-searching button.

WINNERS

- Anwar Ibrahim The Barisan Nasional threw the kitchen sink and everything in it at him but by next sitting he will take his place in Parliament. This all but completes his rehabilitation from a political has-been 10 years ago to possibly the next prime minister of Malaysia. He now faces the near impossible task of persuading at least 30 BN MPs to cross over to Pakatan Rakyat and forcing the collapse of the Barisan Nasional by Sept 16. But for today at least he can savour the taste of victory. And yes, the debate on who should be the prime minister-in-waiting is over.

- Pakatan Rakyat For the past two months, there have been serious questions over the future of this alliance. Some Pas leaders seemed keen on joining forces with Umno, concerned that Malay rights and the position of Islam were being diluted in Pakatan Rakyat. DAP and Pas also disagreed publicly on who should be the prime-minister-in-waiting and squabbled over the spoils of Election 2008. Guess what? All the differences were forgotten as members of PKR, DAP and Pas descended on Permatang Pauh. They outwitted and outfought the formidable BN machinery.

- Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat When others wavered, the Pas spiritual leader stood firmly beside Anwar, campaigning tirelessly and defending the Opposition icon against the sodomy charge. By far, he was the single most powerful antidote against Saiful Bukhari Azlan swearing on the Quran that he had been sodomised by Anwar. He has emerged with reputation and image among PKR supporters burnished.

LOSERS

- Umno The charade is over. This is a party without spirit. This is a party without a leader. Ministers, deputy ministers and other senior party officials all campaigned in Permatang Pauh but it was more out of duty than anything else. There was no fire in their bellies. Some could not care less how Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah performed in the polls. They showed up in the constituency to canvass for support in the upcoming divisional elections in October. One former menteri besar, eyeing a top position in the party, holed up in a hotel and dished out cash to streams of divisional officials. This is a party made of politicians who are consumed with their own interest and completely detached from reality. This could be the beginning of the end of this once powerful party.

- The Barisan Nasional machinery There was a time when the Opposition used to shudder at the prospect of facing the formidable machinery, the women who used to campaign tirelessly from dusk to dawn, the men who braved the elements to tear down Opposition posters and ferry voters to the polling station. Not anymore. Dispirited, they just did the bare minimum in Permatang Pauh. In fact, it was the Pakatan Rakyat machinery which caught the eye. Their workers displayed the spirit of volunteerism which was once patented by the BN. How the mighty have fallen.

- Abdullah Ahmad Badawi He was not in charge of the BN by-election team but the president of Umno and the chairman of the BN will not be able to absolve himself of blame for this dismal showing. The unvarnished fact is that he has not been able to inspire his party or the ruling coalition since March 8. If his party workers are listless, it is because they do not see him as a general capable of galvanising the troops in the face of an enemy's onslaught. If his coalition partners are feeble, it is because they do not see him as a leader capable of reviving the BN. In all likelihood, there will be calls for him to speed up the transfer of power.

- Najib Razak Without a doubt, the deputy prime minister is hurting. The uninterrupted stream of attacks on his character, his wife and allegations that he was involved with the murdered Mongolian model Altantuya Shariibuu have damaged him in the eyes of the public. His words once used to carry weight but now they ring hollow. His decision to swear in a mosque that he was not involved with Altantuya did not find popular support. Still, he remains best placed to take over from Abdullah. But he will need much repair to his image before he can claim to have the support of Malaysians.

- Saiful Bukhari Azlan He claimed it was a coincidence but his decision to swear on the Quran on the eve of nomination day that he was sodomised by Anwar does not look very clever now. A snap poll of 544 Malay voters by the Merdeka Centre painted him as a pawn in a political game. He should stay out of the limelight till the trial begins.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Breaking News: Anwar Ibrahim is leading in Permatang Pauh

According to the various sources gather from malaysiakini and babble fish, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is leading now by huge majority in Permatang Pauh.....

7.45 pm For Seberang Jaya, KeADILan just took 1834 votes and BN 416. In Kg. Pelet, 930 votes went to KeADILan while BN got 485. In Permatang Tengah, Anwar got 1522 votes while Arif Shah got 519 and Tuan Haji Pi had a surprising 8 ballots. In Permatang Pauh, Anwar just had another 1179 voters supporting him while Arif got 291 and Haji Pi got 1 more vote.
Now, unofficially, PKR is leading at 12,451 votes, BN is 4,824 and AKIM has a miracle 21. More cheers from the PKR supporters here!

7.25pm: There are signs of significant swing to PKR despite the lower turnout. In the state constituency of Penanti, which PKR won at the March 8 general elections, the party has bagged the sole polling station, Telok Wang, it failed to win five months ago.
March 8 result: BN - 261 votes, PKR - 227Aug 26 result: BN - 232 votes, PKR - 260
Anwar is also making gains in the state constitutency of Seberang Jaya, where PKR had lost to BN candidate Arif on March 8.
7.25pm: Anwar's press conference at 9pm is believed to declare his victory. The press conference was rescheduled to 9pm from its original time of 7.45pm.
7.20pm: Unofficial results so far: Anwar 5,855; Arif Shah 1,910

Breaking news: The BIg Freddie Mac

McDonald's Corp. held a press conference today to unveil its latest sandwich: the Big Freddie Mac. Priced at 50 cents, the Big Freddie Mac is the first fast food hamburger to be subsidized by the federal government."The economy - not that there's anything wrong with it - is causing Americans to cut back on eating hamburgers," explained McDonald's spokesperson Donald McDonald (no relation). "Washington has decided that the burger is too big to fail, so the Treasury Department has agreed to kick in three bucks for every Big Freddie Mac sold."The Big Freddie Mac, while similar in appearance, is significantly different from the McDonald's mainstay - the Big Mac.

Big Freddie's bun is inflated to look twice as large as it actually is, while the two all-beef patties are actually one all-beef patty sliced in half width-wise and pumped up by puffy lettuce. The "special" sauce is French dressing which is this week's "special" at the dollar store next to McDonald's headquarters.

The number of sesame seeds has been reduced to one with a promise of more in two years if the burger market bubble continues. Each Big Freddie Mac comes in a special wrapper printed with suggestions on how to "flip the burger" for profit by selling it to people who are new to fast foods or kids who haven't learned to read yet."The Big Freddie Mac program does not mean we will be bailing out other fast food menu items," said Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. "As they say in the business, it's for a 'limited time only'."

However, he did not rule out a similar plan to help Starbucks, which has recently been forced to close 600 stores. Rumors out of Starbucks headquarters in Seattle hint that the company is about to roll out a government-subsidized coffee called the Frappe Mae.


ha ha the above is just a joke.......

The most beautiful Olympian Champion in the history

何雯娜被網友稱為「史上最漂亮奧運冠軍」

He Wenna was dubbed as one of the most beautiful Olympian champion in the history.

What say you?
















Monday, August 25, 2008

China mulls 370b stimulus package

When everyone was expecting China government to come out with measures to support local stock market during the Olympic month, the expectation was fade away as no action was taken by China's leader. Today, the Standard Hong Kong reports another news of China's leader considering an economic package about 370 billion Yuan...... Can we trust the news source?

HSI is up 500 points now........


KathyWang

Monday, August 25, 2008

China's leaders are carefully considering an economic stimulus package of about 370 billion yuan (HK$420.7 billion), including a 220 billion yuan new expenditure and 150 billion yuan of tax cut plan, that may ease the government's monetary policy by the end of the year, China Business News reported.

"Although the details are yet to be sorted out, there is such a plan, and it has been approved by a central finance planning team," state-run Xinhua News Agency said in a report yesterday.

The expenditure part will include the spending of 45 billion yuan on social welfare, 46 billion yuan on agriculture, 38 billion on education, 35 billion yuan on construction, and 28 billion yuan on import of energy and commodity products.

The package will also propose tax cuts of 150 billion yuan in total, including measures to raise the threshold of personal income tax, export tax rebate, and preferential tax packages for small and medium- sized enterprises.

However, concerns over whether to launch the plan within the year rose because officials aren't certain if the country has planned enough budget for it.

This year's snowstorms in southern China and earthquake in Sichuan have already cost China 35 billion yuan.

In the first half, China generated fiscal income of 3.4 trillion yuan, running a fiscal surplus of 1 trillion yuan.

Last week, JPMorgan released a report saying Chinese authorities were considering an economic stimulus plan of at least 200 billion yuan to 400 billion yuan. The controversial news, although unconfirmed by the authorities, helped boost the A-share index by nearly 8 percent in a single trading day.


Sunday, August 24, 2008

Najib, Please do not threaten us............

Again, we have seen an arrogant Umno leader publicly threatens rakyat that the BN government will withdraw fuel rebates if rakyat never appreciate its initiative to reduce fuel price yesterday by a meagre 15 sen.

Najib, please go out from your air-cond room and go to the ground. How can rakyat appreciate when the policies implemented in June has deeply hurt rakyat ? Don't you know that rakyat have been struggling to make ends meet since then. I bet you don't know because you politicians only work in air-cond room and only go out once every four years.

Najib, please do your homework before threatening us. It is because of enormous fuel hike implemented by BN that has caused Malaysia's inflation rate surging to 8.5% now compare to 3.25 % in March 08. Please do not forget that we are net oil exporter. Net oil importer countries like Hong Kong and Singapore only recorded inflation of 6.5% and 6.6% respectively.

BN government always said that by reducing the fuel subsidies, they can allocate more money to other areas which will benefit rakyat. Sadly, they are good in talking only. No concrete measures or plan has come out so far. For example, the government has promised so many times that they would improve public transport system in KL. However, nothing has been done so far. Pak Lah, who has a feel of our public transport system few days ago, has shown his dissatisfaction publicly.

Najib, you have no right to threaten us. BN government is just a custodian for this country's natural resources and wealth. We have the right to complain if we feel that the policies implemented has not benefited rakyat.

Najib: No more fuel rebates if you don't appreciate them

By ROSLINA MOHAMAD(The Star)


PEKAN: The Government might reconsider issuing rebates if the people did not appreciate its initiatives to help reduce their financial burden, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

His response came about after a question noting that some people felt that the prices of diesel and petrol that had been reduced between eight and 22 sen a litre from Friday was too little.

Najib, who appeared to be a bit annoyed, said the people must understand that for every litre, the price was subsidised 30 sen.

He also said they have forgotten about the RM625 rebate given to owners with vehicles up to 2,000cc that was announced in June.

“The rebate, if translated, will cost between 35 sen and 40 sen a litre. If the people do not appreciate the rebates, it is better for us not issue any more in the future.

“It is better for us to transfer the allocation for the rebate to reduce the fuel price,” he told reporters after visiting an education and career exhibition here on Saturday.

Najib added that the decrease was not the market price but only a further reduction in the fuel price.

To another question, Najib said if the people still viewed the fuel price as high, the Government could always transfer the rebates to pump prices.

“However, we do not resort to such measure because if we transfer to pump prices, people driving big cars such as Bentley, Jaguar and BMW 7 series will also enjoy the subsidies.

“Is that fair?” he added.

On whether the reduction in fuel price would result in lower food prices, Najib said the Government hoped that the inflation trend would decrease.

He also said there would be further reduction but it would depend on the world fuel price.

In June, the Government announced the rebate payout to private vehicle owners. For motorcycle owners with engine capacity of up to 250cc, the rebate is RM150.



Saturday, August 23, 2008

Jim Rogers Says Oil Price Rise to Continue for Decade

Aug. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Jim Rogers, who in April 2006 correctly forecast the oil price would reach $100 a barrel and gold $1,000 an ounce, said he expects oil to continue to increase over the next decade.

``Over the course of time, it's a bull market,'' the chairman of Rogers Holdings said today after an investor conference in Kuala Lumpur. While the oil price could fall to $75 or rise to $175, the market will continue to increase over the next 10 years, he said.

Crude oil futures have dropped 22 percent since touching $147.27 a barrel on July 11, the highest since trading began in 1983. Oil slid more than $6 a barrel yesterday, falling the most in percentage terms since December 2004, as the rising dollar curbed demand for commodities as an inflation hedge and BP Plc restored shipments on a Caspian Sea pipeline through the former Soviet republic of Georgia to Turkey.

Rogers said Aug. 21 in Bangkok that declines in commodity prices from record highs represented a temporary reverse in a bull market that will last for several years.

David Cohen, director of Asian forecasting at Action Economics in Singapore, said the rise in the crude oil price ``was a recognition'' of the growing demand of emerging economies like China and India.

``Those countries will continue with their development process and continue to outpace global growth,'' he said.

Dollar Gains

Soybeans, copper, platinum and crude oil have dropped from all-time highs after a rally in the dollar curbed demand for raw materials as a hedge against inflation and concerns increased that economic growth will slow. The Reuters/Jefferies CRB Index plunged 10 percent in July, the biggest drop in 28 years.

Crude-oil futures for October delivery fell $6.59, or 5.4 percent, to $114.59 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange yesterday. Crude oil may rise next week because of a weakening dollar, rising tension between the U.S. and Russia, the world's second-biggest crude exporter after Saudi Arabia, and falling gasoline stockpiles.

Sixteen of 29 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News, or 55 percent, said prices will increase through Aug. 29. Seven of the respondents, or 24 percent, said oil will be little changed and six said there would be a drop in prices. Last week, 63 percent expected prices to increase.

`` I can certainly see crude continuing above $100 a barrel for the longer term,'' Cohen said. ``The fundamentals of supply and demand should be supportive'' of prices.

It 's frightening!!!!!!!!!!!! Inflation hits 25 year high of 8.5% !!!!!!!!

What a shocking news !!!!!!!!!!!

Malaysia 's annual inflation has soared to 25 years high i.e. 8.5% in July, no thanks to BN stupid policies of drastic petrol and electricity hike in June 08.

Again, this has proved that stupid BN government has failed people with a poor measurement and the damage is already done. Inflation will easily hit 10% and some drastic measures need to be taken immediately to tackle this woes. A meager 15 sen cut in petrol price will not help people at all.

Look around, rakyat have been struggling to make ends meet, consumer spending was hurt and businesses has been sluggish .

Just ask yourself a simple question. Are you a happy Malaysian under current administration now or do you want to see a change?

If yes, please do something now......

You people have a power to change to country

Permatang pauh voters, it's all start from you............

22-08-2008: July inflation surges 8.5%, fuel prices cut

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian's annual inflation soared to 8.5% in July, way above analyst forecasts for 7.8% in a Reuters poll, and sharply up from 7.7% in June.

The July data was the steepest rise since 8.5% in December 1981 and the government also on Friday announced that the price of petrol will be cut to RM2.50 per litre from RM2.70 effective Aug 23, a move which will dampen inflation.

It was unpopular petrol price hikes in June and electricity price rises in July that catapulted inflation from 3.8% in May.

The cuts in fuel prices were brought forward from Sept 1 and will now take effect before a key by-election in which opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim challenges the government.

Despite the surge in inflation, Bank Negara Malaysia, alone in southeast Asia, has kept interest rates unchanged for over two years at 3.5%.

Governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz has said slower economic growth and weakening commodity prices would help reduce price pressures ahead, especially next year.

Bank Negara Malaysia meets again on Monday to decide on rates after it surprised markets in July by leaving rates unchanged.

According to some economists, that decision damaged its credibility and showed it had buckled under government pressure to refrain from a hike at a time when the ruling coalition felt threatened by an opposition alliance which has surged in polls. -- Reuters

Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu: I was set up

News that you will not get to read in Umno controlled news paper....

Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu has told his side of story in the interview with Guang Ming Daily ..

(霹靂‧怡保)霹州2名民聯行政議員被指涉嫌索賄12萬令吉,以使中霹靂一項耗資1億8000萬令吉的房屋發展計劃獲得加速處理一事發生後,其中一名行政議員奧斯曼眼角泛淚但卻斬釘截鐵的說,事發時,他和前波打州議員烏賽里正在茶室喝茶,而3名巫裔男子忽然出現並把一個公事包放在他們的桌面上,然後打開公事包向他們展示裡頭的現款,接著,反貪污局官員就衝入餐館逮捕他和烏賽里及那3名男子。

他說,他根本不認識那3名男子,而這3名男子即是於本週三(20日)與奧斯曼及烏賽里同時遭反貪污局扣查的中霹靂縣議員、霹州發展機構技術員及一名商人。

情緒激動含淚訴冤情

奧斯曼今日週五,22日)向《光明日報》記者重提事發經過時,數度情緒激動,且雙眼泛紅。

詢及他被反貪污局官員逮捕的過程時,他先是臉色一沉,且不發一言,隨即雙眼蓄滿淚水。不過,他在沉默逾10秒後,即以沉穩堅定的語氣強調,他不但不認識那3名嫌犯,而且也不曾見過對方。

奧斯曼稱不認識對方

“當局指我們曾索取性賄賂,以及他們是在一家酒店逮捕我們的事情根本就不存在。”

他披露,週二下午5點30分,當他準備離開辦公室時,即接到烏賽里的來電,對方邀約他出外喝茶,而他以為對方準備與他討論峇東埔補選事宜,於是,他一口答應,並約對方在辦公室附近一家茶室見面。

“我當天原本打算到峇東埔為公正黨顧問拿督斯里安華助選,所以,我與烏賽里交談一陣子後,便向烏賽里表明我必須離開。這時,3名陌生的巫裔男子突然出現,其中一名男子還把手中提著的公事包放到我們的桌面上,然後拉開公事包的拉鏈,向我們展示公事包裡的現款。”

“我感到很驚奇,還未來得及反應,反貪污局官員就出現在餐館內,馬上逮捕我和烏賽里及那3名男子。”

反貪污局沒回應

本報記者欲通過電話聯絡霹靂州反貪污局局長桑霞,卻被其辦公室的職員告知,她並不在辦公室,也不曉得她是否回去,故無法針對行政議員奧斯曼的談話取得回應。

開會體力不支
請半天假休息

霹州民聯行政議員奧斯曼被反貪污局扣留2天後,回家休息不到14時,週五一早就帶著滿佈血絲的雙眼及一臉倦容返回辦公室上班。不過,他在參加由霹州臣拿督斯里莫哈末尼查召開的行政議會會議中途,終因體力不支,而向大臣請假半天,以回家休息。

奧斯曼是於週五早上8點30分準時到辦公室打卡上班,他當天穿著白色長袖衣及黑色長褲,並將頭髮梳理得非常整齊,但仍難以掩飾倦容。

他看見本報記者一早守候在他的辦公室前面時,先是一臉驚訝,接著便問明記者的來意,接著,他還說,他想不到記者正等著訪問他。

過後,他也向記者表示歉意,因為他必須趕著出席行政議會會議,所以或無法接受記者訪問。

經過記者再三央求後,他終答應給記者5分鐘的時間,接著,他就一邊處理手中的文件,一邊接受訪問,還吩咐秘書取消週五所有的預約。

他告訴記者,他是於週二被帶返反貪污局問話,隔日凌晨約2點,他便被送到怡保警察總部的拘留所,而他與另外4名嫌犯都被安置在不同的房間。

“我的房間內只有一張床,第二天, 我因為背痛,所以就向警員要求換房,最後被換到一間擁有一張雙人沙發的房間,晚上就睡在沙發上。”

記者問他是否滿意拘留所的食物時,他只是淡淡說道:“他們對我很好,我很滿意。”

“他們以為我是白痴”
奧斯曼慶幸沒摸公事包

“他們(給錢的人)以為我是白痴,膽敢在大庭廣眾下收取他們的錢。”因被指涉嫌索賄12萬令吉而遭反貪污局扣捕的霹州行政議員奧斯曼以忿忿不平的語氣,向《光明日報》記者發洩他的“冤”氣。

他眼角泛淚地強調,他根本沒有觸摸到那個裝著鈔票的公事包,而他也慶幸自己完全未摸到公事包,否則,就算他跳入黃河水,也洗也不清他的冤屈。

莫哈末奧斯曼簡介
官職:霹靂州行政議員,出任霹靂州旅遊、人類發展與非政府組織委員會主席職業:退役上尉
黨職:州委
年齡:56歲
◆曾是巫統黨員,他於1998年響應“烈火莫熄”運動,加入公正黨。
◆2008年大選,他打著公正黨的旗幟,在武吉干當國會選區屬下的章吉遮令州選區上陣,擊敗原任州議員兼州議會議長拿督末依沙,並出任霹靂州行政議員。

Thursday, August 21, 2008

PM now you only know ah.........

PM unhappy with City rail services

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took rides on the commuter and Kelana Jaya rail line from Serdang to the city centre Thursday to get a feel of the transportation problems faced by the people and came away less than satisfied.

Throughout the one-hour journey, during which he switched trains, the prime minister noted the congestion, especially during the peak hours, and spoke to his fellow passengers to get their feedback.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi taking a ride on the KTM Komuter from the Serdang station to the City yesterday to gauge the effectiveness of the train services in the City. The Prime Minister came away less than satisfied.- Bernama

Speaking to Bernama after disembarking at the Masjid Jamek LRT station, he said he was not satisfied with the rail services and wanted immediate improvements to be made.

He said the existing services were not systematic, there were not enough coaches and coverage was not comprehensive, leaving many areas not serviced.

“I just saw the plight of people using the trains to get to work every morning. They were jostling to get on board every time a train arrived. There appeared to be no system.

“I’m not happy with this because the people are not getting satisfaction from riding the trains. This, we must fix,” he said.

“I found the trains really packed with so many passengers. Some had waited for three trains and yet could not board. “There’s no queue. People push their way in, women with children and old people are pushed aside,” he added.

Abdullah arrived at the Serdang Komuter KTM station at 8.15am but could not get on board the first train that arrived because it was packed.

He got on the next train, which arrived 15 minutes later, and headed for KL Sentral, the modern transportation hub for the various rail services.

There he also had to wait a while to switch to the Putra LRT service to get to the Masjid Jamek station because again, the first train to arrive was full.

On both the trains that he took, the prime minister had to stand although the passengers offered him their seats.

Upon arrival at the Masjid Jamek station at 9.15am, he chatted with members of the the public and bought several types of local cakes from the sellers there before leaving.

“There were many more suggestions given me by the passengers for my attention. I will strive for improvements, I will propose changes,” he said. – Bernama

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Anwar has '40 MPs ready to cross over'

According to the latest news reported by the Singapore's Strait Times, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (DSAI) has 40 MPs ready to cross over. But first, DSAI has to win the mother of all the by-election in Permatang Pauh first....

Malaysia's de facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim (C) and his party leaders wave to supporters as they leave after submitting his nomination papers for the Permatang Pauh constituency by-election in Permatang Pauh, 370 km (230 miles) north of Kuala Lumpur, August 16, 2008.
The Straits Times

PERMATANG PAUH AND IPOH, Aug 20 - Once Anwar Ibrahim wins the Penang by-election next Tuesday, he is expected to reel more than 40 government MPs into the opposition coalition within weeks, sources close to the three-party alliance suggest.

The Straits Times learnt that the 40-plus ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs who are ready to jump ship include 'several federal ministers'.

They also include MPs from Umno, the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and Parti Gerakan, a source said.

"Some of the Umno MPs will jump once they see that their branches are about to snap," said another source.

BN leaders however pooh-poohed the plan, saying it is part of Anwar's mind games to destabilise the government.

"If he is about to do this, we certainly haven't detected anything," said a BN leader who recently visited Sabah and Sarawak to keep tabs on potential crossovers.

The only obvious potential defectors were two MPs from the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), which is well known for its criticisms of the Abdullah administration.

The Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition is mulling one of three legal means to oust the BN administration, including directly approaching the Malaysian King with signatures from the 82 opposition MPs and 40-plus defectors.

"The plan is definitely still on, and Anwar keeps stressing the country's stability in doing this," said one source.

Adding to the rumour mill, the Sabah-based vice-president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat, Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, said yesterday that 13 MPs from the state - two from SAPP and 11 from Umno Sabah - will jump to PR after Anwar wins the by-election.

"We speak the truth. I am talking about the 13 MPs who will join Pakatan Rakyat after Anwar wins this by-election," he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

Anwar has just 28 days left from today to pull in the defectors by Sept 16, which is midway through the Muslim fasting month.

The date was picked because that was the day Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak agreed to form Malaysia in 1963, as the two Borneo states form a big part of Anwar's plan.

Singapore left the Malaysian Federation in 1965.

The pressure is now on Anwar to deliver this audacious promise. But views are mixed on how much credibility he will lose if he fails to do so.

Said an Umno leader: "We will whack him on the head if he can't do it because he will lose all credibility."

Political scientist Agus Yusoff of National University of Malaysia said, however, that due to Anwar's charisma, people would still believe that the promised big changes have merely been delayed.

"Politics is about giving hope and if he fails to deliver on that date it should not have much impact as people would still believe that changes are coming soon."

But Anwar has to watch out for investor concerns, because since independence Malaysia has always been ruled by BN and its predecessor Parti Perikatan (Alliance Party).

The former deputy premier is expected to win the Permatang Pauh election in Penang easily, and return to Parliament for the first time in 10 years.

On Monday evening, he repeated his promise and even described how this could be done.

"Once Anwar is in Parliament, we will see the Agong (Malaysian King) and get him to appoint Anwar as prime minister," he told a crowd of about 500 people at a village in Permatang Pauh.

The PR consists of Anwar's multiracial Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), the Chinese-led Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS).

Together, they won 82 seats in the federal Parliament in the March polls. The opposition coalition needs defections from at least 30 MPs to replace BN as the government in the 222-seat Parliament.

But big challenges remain even if Anwar manages to grab federal power.

He would have to pacify Malays in the peninsula and those in PAS who worry about the dilution of Malay-Muslim political dominance in Malaysia.

"I don't know if PAS would remain in Pakatan if there are only a few Malay- Muslim MPs who defect," said a top PAS leader.

In the meantime, BN and Umno are not expected to sit still in the face of this Anwar-led onslaught.

Rather than see itself losing power, BN is expected to approach the King to dissolve Parliament and call for fresh elections.

Only then would the people's real wish be seen.

Property Prices in Hong Kong Shrink.......

Property prices in Hong Kong also suffer a setback.....It seems that Cash is King now......





18 Aug 2008: Sales volume, prices shrink in Hong Kong

The residential real estate market in Hong Kong is showing chinks in its armour. The sales volume and prices in July continued to fall from June after a slight rebound in May, according to the July property market report by Vigers Research.
According to the Hong Kong Land Registry, 8,930 sales and purchase agreements were filed in July, down 24.8% from the previous month. Transactions also dropped 19.7% on a year-on-year basis. Sales volume was valued at HK$32,697 million (about RM13.91 billion), representing declines of 43.1% month on month and 14% year on year.
July figures are less than half those in November 2007, during which 18,105 sales contracts were signed. In November 2007 alone, total sales volume was worth HK$32.7 billion, already down 4.3% from the previous month and down 14% from the previous year. A combination of inflation, weakening stock market, expected higher mortgage rates and the worldwide credit crisis have hit the local market hard, says Vigers.
Entering 2Q2008, the real estate market began to soften after five years of steady growth. As early as in March and April this year, the market was already showing signs of sales slowdown, with home prices having declined by 5% to 8% off their 2007 peak. It is expected that home prices will bottom out in the summer of 2009, by which time they will be 20% off the peak, with no appreciable gain in prices for another year.
According to the Vigers report, it is reasonable that after a 25% surge in prices between 2Q2007 and 1H2008, the marketplace would correct itself naturally and slowly become a buyer's market.

The highlights
Of the sales pacts filed in July, 7,433 were deals done for residential properties, amounting to HK$25,139 million in transaction volume, down 27.7% from June and 19.1% on a y-o-y basis. Total consideration dropped by 50.2% m-o-m and 12.5% y-o-y.
Prime residential locations, such as the Mid-levels, held up better than most other places due to limited supply. But neighbourhoods on the island side, where the inventory pool is bigger, like Taikoo Shing and South Horizons, have been hit harder, as are some developments on the Kowloon side and The New Territories. It is expected that the housing market will weaken measurably over the remaining months of this year.

Mass sector
Looking closer at the four developments indicative of the mass-market performance that Vigers Research has tracked, the upward trend was sustained in July but at a slower pace, beginning early 2008, with average capital values dropping 1.11% from 2Q2008 to HK$5,575 psf during the month. Taikoo Shing and Whampoa Garden saw mild growth of 1.35% and 0.88% compared with 2Q2008, reaching HK$7,500 psf and HK$5,700 psf respectively. Residence Oasis in (TKO) and City One Shatin prices were recorded at HK$5,000 psf and HK$4,100 psf in July respectively, seeing declines of 5.66% and 2.38% from 2Q2008.

Luxury market
The number of transactions of prime properties saw a sharp fall between June and July, with 332 deals struck worth about HK$10 million in July - a 70.8% dip from June and 17% from last year.
The median capital value of the tracked properties was HK$12,350 psf as of July, down 1.79% from 2Q2008. The Arch and The Waterfront were respectively priced at HK$14,700 psf and HK$10,300 psf in July, representing a decline of 3.92% and 1.9% from the previous quarter. Sales prices at Residence Bel-Air (Phase 3) were down 1.6%, falling to HK$12,300 psf in July, but in Hong Kong Parkview, they were up 0.83% to HK$12,100 psf in capital value.

Grade-A office market highlights
Sales and purchase agreements intended for office property transactions totalled 209 in July, down 14.7% from June. In terms of transaction numbers, July saw a 17-month record low since February 2007, in which 193 deals were registered for office property sales. This is mainly attributed to fewer transactions recorded for commercial properties, worth less than HK$50 million.
However, in terms of transaction pricing, July saw deals with a combined valued of HK$2,349 million, surging 35.9% from June, mainly because of the more active transactions in the high-priced sector with valuation of above HK$50 million.
For the sector below HK$50 million, transaction numbers and values fell to nine and HK$305 million respectively, down 40% and 34.9% from the previous month. Transactions in the range of HK$20 million and HK$50 million saw the most significant decline.
For the lower-priced sector of between HK$10 million and HK$20 million, the month saw 11 transactions with values amounting to HK$1411 million, up 83.3% and 199% from June.
Notable deals of Grade-A office properties of the month are a full-floor space in 9 Queen's Road, which fetched HK$250 million; two full-floor units in Cosco Tower, sold for HK$227 million and HK$223 million respectively; and three consecutive floors in Silver Fortune Plaza, sold for HK$211 million.

A mother's grief.................

Heartbroken gorilla cradles her dead baby

Holding the lifeless body of her dead child like a rag doll, this female gorilla stares at the corpse in shock and bewilderment, unable to accept that her baby is dead.
It is a picture of pure grief. Inconsolable, hers is the raw pain of any mother who has lost a child.

While nature may indeed be red in tooth and claw, this moving image of Gana and her dead son Claudio seems to show that members of the animal kingdom can feel the pain of loss just as deeply as we humans.

gorilla

Gorilla Gana, aged 11, distraught and grieving over the sudden death of her dead three-month-old baby Claudio

Eleven-year-old gorilla Gana was holding her three-month-old baby in her arms on Saturday in her compound at the zoo in Munster, northern Germany, when it suddenly died.

Initially puzzled, Gana stared at the body, bewildered by its lifelessness.

For hours the distraught mother gently shook and stroked the child, vainly seeking to restore movement to his lolling head and limp arms. Visitors to the zoo openly wept as they witnessed her actions.

Hours passed, during which Gana continually prodded and caressed the dead child, to no effect.

gorilla

Baby Claudio is believed to have had a heart defect

But still she refused to give up hope. Gently placing it on her back and slowly walking around the compound, she stopped every few paces to look back and see if her much-loved son had returned to life.

'Claudio died in his mother's arms - we think from some heart defect,' said zoo director Joerg Adler.

'On Wednesday he didn't seem well. On Friday he wasn't eating or drinking and was growing weaker. We were keeping a close eye on him but suddenly, on Saturday morning, he died.'

The death is a double tragedy for Gana. For some inexplicable reason, Gana had previously rejected her six-week-old daughter Mary Zwo last year.

The baby was moved to a zoo in Stuttgart where she is now one of the star attractions.

Yesterday, zookeepers were still unable to get to the body of Claudio, so fiercely is Gana guarding him. ('In the wild, a gorilla mother can keep hold of a dead baby for weeks,' added Adler.)

This behaviour could be attributed partly to the gorilla's long pregnancy.

The gestation period of around 295 days - compared to 266 for humans and 108 days for lions - coupled with a high infant mortality rate, mean female gorillas successfully rear an infant only around every six to eight years.

This makes the loss of a baby even more poignant and goes some way to explaining Gana's apparent behaviour - as well as making her previous abandonment of Mary Zwo even more mysterious.

Gorillas usually have a strong attachment to their own kind. Like other apes with a well-developed social structure, gorillas mourn the death of loved ones.

They exhibit both care for the dead and sadness at their passing - even keeping the body close until it begins decomposing.

On occasion, gorillas have also been known to 'bury' their dead, by covering the body with leaves.

Most mammals show only a rudimentary interest in the bodies of their dead, with species such as lions pausing only briefly to sniff a fallen comrade before setting about devouring the body.

But gorillas are not the only animals who mourn their dead.

Both dogs and cats have been known to become 'depressed' by the death of their own, and dolphins have been known to spend weeks mourning the loss of a loved one.

A few years ago in a facility in the U.S., two out of the centre's nine dolphins died within six months of each other. On both occasions, the other dolphins refused to eat for a period, would not play and would make distressed sounds, as if in mourning.

The animal most profoundly affected by the death of their own is the elephant. They become highly agitated when they see other dead elephants and seem to demonstrate near ritual-like behaviour by swinging their trunk and prodding the bodies with their feet.

And even when confronted by the bones of long-dead elephants, other elephants will pay a form of homage by gently touching the tusks and skulls with their trunks and feet.

While such behaviour was once considered uniquely human, examples such as these and Gana's show that the gap between us and the animal world is not as wide as many believe.

'Many of the visitors were terribly shocked,' said Munster zoo director Joerg Adler.

'This, perhaps, is one of the greatest gifts that a zoo can bestow - to show "animals" are very much like ourselves, and feel elation and pain.

'Gana lost a child, but I think in that loss, she taught people here so much.' (By Marcus Dunk -Daily Mail)

Monday, August 18, 2008

Go ahead, sue me: Selangor MB

Tan Sri Khalid we salute for your stand.....Malaysia can only advance if we have a true politician like you.......

SHAH ALAM: Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has welcomed Universiti Teknologi Mara’s (UiTM) decision to take legal action against him over his statement calling for 10% of the varsity’s intake be opened to non-bumiputras.

Khalid said he welcomed the suit announced by UiTM Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Ibrahim Abu Shah last Saturday as it would provide an opportunity for the truth behind the statement to be highlighted to the people.

He said the suggestion he made on Aug 9 was not something that was altogether new and had been raised even before this.

“I feel the Malays and Malaysians as a whole are more matured and they know that such efforts (to open the intake to the non-bumiputras) are needed as we head towards globalisation.

“The openness in education is necessary to raise the skills of each member of the workforce in Malaysia as a means to ensure the country can effectively compete with other nations,” he said.

Khalid had on Aug 9 asked for UiTM to open 10% of its intake to the other races to raise the level of integration, competitiveness and the quality of graduates.

Prof Ibrahim and the student body council later slammed the Mentri Besar over the comment as the state government had no jurisdiction over the university and this was followed by student demonstrations in several states.

Khalid had on Wednesday defended his statement and said he would not apologise for his suggestion and the university then decided to initiate legal action against him.

(By DHARMENDER SINGH/Star)

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Money Not Enough !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Very disheartening when I read a news in the Star website regarding a malaysian who earns RM5,000 a month has to struggle with their daily life now. If I remember clearly, there are about 40% of the Malaysian population earn lesser than that amount. Just cannot imagine how they have managed their daily life especially the married couples with kids.

One just wonder a country blessed with natural resources such as petroleum and palm oil which are fetching very high price now, has seen their peoples suffering in their daily hood.

Seeing a change in leadership will be a good solution to tackle the woes. We need someone who is capable to manage the economy of this country.

May be a solid combination of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (DSAI) and Tan Sri Dato Zeti Akhtar Aziz will be the answer to all these woes.

Permatang Pauh's voters, you have the big responsibility now. We need your votes to send DSAI to the Parliament.............................................

Malaysians tighten their belts as cost of living goes up

By LOONG MENG YEE (The Star)


LESS then five years ago when public relations executive Ng Mei Lai (not her real name) was finishing her course in a local private university, the Ipoh-born lass had envisaged living the city life with a starting pay of RM2,500.

Now, she earns about RM5,000 a month, plus bonuses and over-time. For a while, the going was good.

Cost conscious: Zuraimi giving his mother-in-law Rianah Said Abdullah a birthday peck during a party at home to cut down expenditure.

The 26-year-old used to go shopping with friends on non-working weekends, and was saving up to buy a house and even travelled overseas once every few years.

She also gives her parents about RM500 each month after paying her rent and car and study loans which amounts to about RM1,500 monthly.

However, with the rise in the cost of living, she has joined the chorus of many Malaysians saying, “money not enough!”

My company pays me about RM1,000 in transportation allowance. That seems a lot, but after the fuel price increase, I really use up that amount because I need to travel to visit clients daily, and parking in the city is not cheap either,” says Ng, who is renting a house with friends in Damansara.

She has cut down on weekend restaurant treats and shelved plans to visit Australia this year.

As for her work, Ng says it is fulfilling but time-consuming. As assignments are erratic, she dares not plan social engagements ahead.

This frustrates her because Ng believes there is more to life than just work.

”I am re-evaluating my life to see if the price to pay for work is too much, no matter how enjoyable the work is.

“I see my seniors struggling to juggle their family time with the long working hours and, quite honestly, the pay is nothing to shout about,” says Ng.

Worse still, the annual increment at work had been minimal at around 5%.

"Even the inflation rate is higher now. I feel employers should feel some solidarity with us and have a special salary revision to cover the increased cost of living,” she adds.

Ng is now thinking of purchasing medical insurance. She already has a life insurance and wants to add on medical protection just in case she decides to become self-employed.

A survey conducted by AXA Affin Life Insurance in 2007 revealed only 36% of Malaysians, like Ng, were satisfied with their careers.

However, this dissatisfaction was fleeting because 51% of the interviewees felt they would be confident of their careers in the coming 12 months.

Zuraimi Mansor, a young father in Cheras, says life in the city is challenging with three children aged between five and nine.

The 33-year-old businessman says he really needs to be creative to stretch the family's RM10,000 monthly income, a combination of his earnings and his wife’s salary as an assistant manager.

There is the RM1,200 monthly payment for the house loan, another RM600 for the car, and RM800 for the two younger children in kindergarten.

“The amount is just nice for us, with some savings for the future. But the fuel price hike really hit hard.

“Now, I can easily spend RM50 on fuel a day because I travel to many places across the city,” says Zuraimi.

Like all parents, Zuraimi wants the best for his children.

The family also pays for life and medical insurances in monthly instalments.

The AXA life outlook survey showed that 69% of their interviewees felt giving their children the best education was the only way for them to succeed in life.

Many were willing to trade off their current living standard to give their children a better education.

However, the interviewees acknowledged many challenges coming their way especially in the next five years – they were concerned about the rising cost of education, additional expenses such as higher tuition fees, and the need to save for tertiary education.

In the pre-fuel hike weekends, Zuraimi usually treated his family to meals in restaurants and took his children to the playground at shopping malls, often spending up to RM150 on each weekend outing.

Now, Zuraimi says, the family eats at home before going shopping and the children only get to play inside the playground twice a month.

“In such pressing times, we must improvise. The money saved can be used to buy household supplies or food.

“Also, no more impulsive shopping. We make a list of things we really need and we shop accordingly,” he says.

He adds that adjustments have to be made because the increase in the price of oil and certain foods was a global phenomenon.

Zuraimi says it is time to be self-reliant, but adds that he is looking forward to measures by the Government to help lessen the financial burden on the man in the street.

“I am open to suggestions. However, I feel there should be a bigger fuel subsidy because it directly helps Malaysians,” he says.

Malaysian, are you ready for the Clash of the Century tonite?

I don't want to say much regarding the big match between Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan in the Olympic Badminton final tonite. Have selected two articles from the chief editor of the Star and Sinchew, words for Han Jian , former China Badminton great for sharing.

Let's forget about politics in Malaysia. Let's us pray for Lee Chong Wei and Hopefully he can bring back first Olympic gold to Malaysia.

Lee Chong Wei, you deserve our praise ........You have shown us what is the true meaning of "Malaysia Boleh".

Date : 17.08.2008

Time : 8.48 pm

TV Live telecast : Malaysia :RTM 1 & 2,Hong Kong : Pearl TV and ATV, China :CCTV 5

Internet Live : http://2008.sohu.com/

Live Results: http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/Schedule/BD_2008-08-17.shtml

Historical Record of Lee Chong Wei vs Lin Dan-4 win 8 loss

李宗偉VS林丹交手紀錄--4勝8負

2008年湯杯半決賽(Thomas Cup) --李宗偉 (勝)(Lee won)
2008年瑞士公開賽(Swiss Open) --林丹(勝)(Lin won)

2007年香港公開賽(Hong Kong Open) --林丹(勝)(Lin won)
2007年日本公開賽(Japan Open) --李宗偉(勝)(Lee won)
2007年中國公開賽(China Open) --林丹(勝)(Lin won)

2006年香港公開賽(Hong Kong Open) --林丹(勝)(Lin won)

2006年澳門公開賽(Macau Open) --林丹(勝)(Lin won)
2006年台灣公開賽(Taiwan Open) --林丹(勝)(Lin won)
2006年大馬公開賽(Malaysia Open) --李宗偉(勝)(Lee won)
2006年全英賽(All England) --林丹(勝)
(Lin won)

2005年香港公開賽(Hong Kong Open) --林丹(勝)(Lin won)
2005年大馬公開賽(Malaysia Open) --李宗偉(勝)(Lee won)

Lee is our true Malaysian patriot

On The Beat
By WONG CHUN WAI

Lee Chong Wei and Misbun Sidek are showing how Malaysians can do so much if we put aside race and religion and focus on commonalities instead of differences.

LEE Chong Wei has to be the true Malaysian hero as the nation prays that he will deliver the first Olympics gold medal for the country. That would be the best National Day gift!

At a time when some of our politicians are spewing racist and intolerant religious views, watching our badminton hero keep the national flag flying is so refreshing and motivating.

Our champ: Lee has proven what sheer grit and training can do if we set our hearts and minds to doing something.

On Friday night, the nation cheered as Lee made history by becoming the first Malaysian badminton singles player to reach an Olympics final.

The 26-year-old Penangite is now assured of at least a silver medal following his victory over South Korea’s Lee Hyun-il. The last Olympics medals were a silver and a bronze, won by badminton players Cheah Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock in the men's doubles and Rashid Sidek in the men's singles respectively at the Atlanta Games in 1996.

But it was the front-page picture yesterday that said it all – a victorious Lee hugging his coach Misbun Sidek.

There is so much Malaysians can do if we put aside race and religion and focus on commonalities instead of differences.

We can talk of being a global player only when we can devote our attention to competitiveness and excellence. The world waits for no one; and on the international stage no one will have the patience to hear any kind of whining.

Like Rashid, Lee has proven what sheer grit and training can do if we set our hearts and minds to doing something. They prove that Malaysians, regardless of their race, can make it at the international stage where the rules are the same.

Lee is now one step away from achieving greater history. Certainly, we all believe that the gold medal is on Lee's mind, not just the RM1mil incentive.

When he steps into the court today to face Lin Dan - currently the world's no 1 - he knows the whole of Malaysia is behind him.

For a moment at least, no one would bother to listen to the negativity expounded by some of our politicians.

Lee is our champion - not the self-declared champion of their races, the very same people who extolled the virtues of our education system in the name of nationalism and yet packed off their children overseas, even at primary school level.

Not the ruffians who cannot tolerate a divergence of views and forcibly broke into the Bar Council forum.

Or the self-proclaimed heroes of our respective communities who talk about patriotism but whom we suspect of squandering the nation’s wealth.

Then there are the self-appointed moral guardians who decide for us what we can hear or see from their narrow perspective, and they haven’t even become the government.

If Malaysians are disgusted by our politicians, they have plenty of good reasons for being so, and since Aug 8, many have been seeking refuge by following the Olympics.

From fencing to equestrian, where we have little knowledge of how the scores are awarded, these sports are making more sense to us than the silly antics of some politicians and activists.

Together with my family members and friends, we are ready with our Jalur Gemilang to support Lee and we fervently hope he will beat China’s Lin Dan.

We are Malaysians, and like the rest of ordinary Malaysians, we want him to bring back the best Merdeka gift for all of us.

Let’s set the mood for National Day by celebrating our diversity as an asset for unity and achievements.

Chong Wei, thanks for what you have done. Malaysia is proud of you; you are a true patriot!

鄭丁賢‧馬來西亞的味道

我相信,李宗偉一定拿金牌。

或者說,不管今晚的決賽成績如何,在我心目中,宗偉都已經是冠軍了。

怎麼說?

看看他和韓國李炫一的半決賽,絕對是很高水平的競爭。

場上,兩人的球技和智慧,盡情揮灑;兩人的體力和腦力,相交激盪。

李炫一穩健準確的四角球,配合曼妙的網前落點,可以鎖死任何一流高手。

但是,李宗偉的動作刁鑽靈活,球路變化

難測,扣壓快低準,加上豐富的表現層次,略勝一籌。

而且,兩人都拼到底,把一切的條件和能力,都奉獻出來;讓大家看到一場已臻巔峰的競賽。

而另外一場半決賽,林丹對陳金。

兩人好像是在練球,好像勝負早已安排好。

我沒說他們打假球,倒是國際評述員一連說了三聲“strange, strange, strange”(奇怪,奇怪,奇怪)。

我的同事說,這哪像奧運會半決賽,倒像是林丹和謝杏芳傾傾我我,甜甜蜜蜜的在打情罵俏。

連場內愛喧囂的中國觀眾,也難得的一片寂靜,大概大家都睡著了吧。

結果草草了事,林丹兩局輕取陳金。

當然,也是預料中事。

這種作風,即使拿了金牌,也少了體育精神,沒甚麼可以榮耀的。

回頭說比賽,聽一位朋友說,比賽時,他在南北大道上,來不及回家觀賽,只好駛到休息站,看看有沒有轉播。

到了休息站,一片人潮,馬來人、華人、印度人都有,大家都擠在小小的電視機前,為宗偉吶喊加油。

那一刻,他有一陣溫馨的感覺。

李宗偉勝了球,擁抱米斯本,還吻了球衣上的大馬國旗。

我想,那就是馬來西亞的味道。

韓健:匯集力量速度技術 決賽值得期待

李宗偉與李炫一在奧運半決賽交鋒,第一局比賽是一場力量速度型與技術型羽球員的精彩對決!

雙方的表現可圈可點,出現不少拍數較多的攻防戰,兩種類型的球員,展現一場高水平的比賽。

著名教練韓健給予雙李第一局相當高的評價,他表示雙方表現很好,是一場高水平的比賽,並沒有存在什么問題。

李炫一是典型的技術型羽球員,以穩定發揮著稱,如韓健形容般,若對手未能把球打好,那他本身的穩定和技術即可打敗對手。

他說,在雙李對決的第一局,李炫一沉穩的展現技術型選手的特質,李宗偉則成功發揮自己的戰術,攻守皆佳,以自己的節奏拿下第一局。

急於求勝反敗陣

至于第二局,雙方表現有差距,韓健指出,李炫一穩定發揮,李宗偉急于求勝,只是單調的進攻,並未發揮自己的長處和戰術而敗下陣來。

“第二局,李炫一直發揮得很好,比數在5比5之后,就已經沒得看了。”

持平而論,若說第一局兩人呈現的是技術與力量速度的典型對決,那第二局就是一個反面教材,未能保持穩定和調適心態者,將會失去掌控全局的機會,老將李炫一給李宗偉上了一課。

李宗偉在第三局恢復第一局的表現,適當使用本身的戰術,打出力量速度型的特色,加上李炫一的體力下降,已無法阻止李宗偉拿下致勝一局。

進入奧運羽球決賽,李宗偉面對同樣是技術型的選手──林丹,這名世界排名第一的羽球高手不只有技術,還有李炫一所沒有的氣勢。

韓健認為這比賽贏面各半,李宗偉須全面發揮自己。

環視當今男子羽壇,以力量速度型佔有重要席位者,以李宗偉為代表,但技術型的球員卻不少,中國的球員近乎是屬于這類型,韓印亦是如此。

換言之,奧運羽球決賽也是技術型與力量速度的對決,是林丹證明技術型球員繼續稱霸,還是力量速度型球員登頂,答案就在明晚揭開。