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Showing posts from June, 2016

HARESH SAYS: Respecting traffic rules go a long way

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As published in Malay Mail today HARESH SAYS By Haresh Deol PEST, menace, imbecile and bodoh . These are among the words often uttered by drivers when a motorcycle zooms past them. Don’t get me wrong. I am a biker myself. I’ve been riding motorcycles ever since I left school and still do. On two wheels, it’s not about completing a journey but about enjoying an adventure. There are motorcyclists, including those on high-powered machines, who deserve a knock on their heads (and I’m being polite) for failing to respect other motorists. Respect, however, works both ways. Motorcyclists in Malaysia are often treated as “second-class citizens” as many drivers tend to disregard the fact those on two wheels have every right to be on the road as other motorists. Drivers complain of bikers who zig-zag dangerously and rempit where possible. But many forget that a motorcyclist is as important as the politician in a luxurious sedan, the clerk in a compact car, the cyclist o

BADMINTON: Let’s not get distracted over success, says Al Amin

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As published in Malay Mail today By Haresh Deol haresh@mmail.com.my PETALING JAYA — The BA of Malaysia (BAM) say it is unwise to place additional pressure on Lee Chong Wei as Malaysians continue to bank on the national shuttler to deliver the nation’s first Olympic gold medal in August.   The national body’s acting president Tan Sri Mohamed Al Amin Abd Majid said fans should keep calm and not brush aside Lee’s opponents at the Rio de Janeiro Games which will feature the best in the world,.     Lee got badminton fans elated after winning the Indonesian Open yesterday. His journey to the final earned him enough points to top the world rankings — a position he once held from 2006 to 2014.   “We are happy he is back at the top spot in the world rankings but let’s not get overly hyped up ... let’s not be caught in this (frenzy),” he said.   Al Amin, who is also the chef de mission for the Games, said it was unfair to say Lee was the only person capable of clinching the elusive Olym

KL City Supercar Extravaganza 'cancelled', City Hall and Sports Commissioner's Office say no application from organisers

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As published in Malay Mail today By Haresh Deol haresh@mmail.com.my Australia-based race series V8 Supercars has revealed the KL City Supercar Extravaganza “has been cancelled” as sources confirmed City Hall has not approved any street race in August. The championship was scheduled to be held in the Golden Triangle from August 12 to 14, mirroring the controversial KL City Grand Prix last year. Those behind the event, GT Global, were embroiled in a legal dispute with new promoters City Motorsports in March — fueling speculation the race would be called off. One of the GT Global shareholders had filed an application for a court injunction to stop City Motorsports from holding any street race in the city. The KL City 400 Supercar Extravaganza website, klcity400.com, has not provided any details regarding the race and its sponsors, except a countdown of the number of days before the supposed flag off. Insiders said the new promoters had only met City Hall once earlier this

HARESH SAYS: Big fat Selangor mess

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As published in Malay Mail today HARESH SAYS By Haresh Deol SO what’s brewing in Selangor? Plenty. There’s the widely speculated rift between Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail ahead of the Sungai Besar by-election. Residents in Petaling Jaya are up in arms over the proposed construction of an elevated highway which has been dubbed Kidex 2.0. Football fans are disappointed the state team, the Red Giants, have turned into dwarfs in the M-League. It is understood the Selangor Ruler, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has been keeping close tabs on the situation. PKR is experiencing yet another internal turmoil. It heightened after party secretary-general, Rafizi Ramli, lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and submitted evidence pertaining to allegation of graft and “requests for women” in dealings involving the state government. He was accompanied by several party members including Pa