Foul!

Haresh Says, as published in Malay Mail today. MY friend Rosman turned up at my house on Saturday in a not so pleasant mood. Instead of exchanging pleasantries, he started shouting about open burning. After allowing him to rant for a good five minutes, Rosman proceeded to explain what ticked him off. “I’ve been noticing this group of people, whom I believe are residents of this particular Taman (a neighbourhood in Ampang, Selangor) setting trees on fire for the past week,” said Rosman. “I’m sure they don’t own the land as it is located by the side of the main road. They are also destroying trees for other vegetation. But more importantly, such open burning activity is not helping the current hot and dry spell, contributing to hazy conditions.” I told Rosman he was free to complain to the Department of Environment (DOE). After all, it’s director-general Datuk Halimah Hassan, had last month, said a strict ban was imposed on open burning in Selangor, Malacca and Johor t

 The national hockey team were whacked 8-1 by the English national team before they were given a 4-2 lesson by Trinidad and Tobago in the on-going Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Naturally, fingers are being pointed at the players and coaches. Some alleged the poor performance could be a form of "protest". Do read '5 euro sehari '. Others have, typically, demanded for a total revamp. Here's a question though, why not seek for a total revamp within the Malaysian Hockey Confederation as well? After all, there are plenty of officials there who CLAIM they are part of the national body but are often no where to be seen and responsibilities remain dubious. Don't just say the national hockey team has produced a humiliating episode. The officials too are party to this national embarrasment. By the way, Trinidad and Togabo is famous for its calypso, carnivals and goat-racing (picture). HD says: Instead of making up excuses and justifying the results on

As published in Malay Mail today.  The roar of the crowd lifted her spirit as it was a bittersweet night for Fatehah Mustapha, Malaysia's flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. The national cyclist told Malay Mail that it was an emotional march as the team paid tribute to the 298 lives lost in the Flight MH17 tragedy. Fatehah walked with the Jalur Gemilang flying at half-mast while six other national athletes and two officials donned Malaysia Airlines (MAS) cabin crew uniform — a plan engineered by Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin to honour the victims of the airlines' second aviation disaster after the disappearance of Flight MH370 on March 8. “It was sad as I was thinking of MH17 (while marching),” said 25-year-old Fatehah. “At the same time, I am honoured to have led the national contingent. Walking in front of the contingent has motivated me to do well in my event.” Fatehah was chosen as th

As published in Malay Mail today. PETALING JAYA – It was a parade that won the admiration of many. Not only was the Jalur Gemilang flown at half-mast but six athletes and two officials donned Malaysia Airlines (MAS) cabin crew uniforms as they marched in front of a roaring crowd, winning the hearts of those in the stadium and the millions watching from their homes. As national cyclist Fatehah Mustapa, the flagbearer, led the national contingent at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games in Celtic Park yesterday, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaludin could only smile. He was, after all, the man who engineered the need for the Malaysian team to pay tribute to the 298 lives lost in the Flight MH17 tragedy. “It was the night we found out about the plane. By the time we learnt it was shot down, I knew we had to do something in Glasgow,” revealed Khairy. “I thought about black armbands, which we also used, and felt it wasn’t enough. So I though