Foul!

Voice of the Valley as published in Malay Mail today By Pearl Lee THE effectiveness of surveillance cameras in the country has come under massive scrutiny over the past few weeks. ?First it was the shocking revelation that footage from Internet-Protocol (IP)-based closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras were screened illegally on Insecam.com. ?The website showed images from thousands of CCTVs around the globe, including more than 800 locations in Malaysia. Users were able to view and monitor what transpired in homes, offices, boutiques and even goldsmith shops. Even shocking is the locations of the images, in the form of coordinates, were made available on the website. The creator of the website wanted to prove a point — tapping into one’s system was easily done, especially so with generic usernames and passwords. It was to serve as a lesson, to understand and appreciate the importance of having an alphanumeric password. Even streets and government buildings in P...

As published in today's Mailsport Reports by Vijhay Vick vijhay@mmail.com.my SINGAPORE - Mahali Jasuli hopes to end Malaysia's jinx when they play Myanmar today.  “We need a positive start. If we drop points it could cause us problem when we face Thailand and Singapore, who are the favourites to reach the semis,” said Mahali, who is aware  Malaysia lost their last two opening matches in the AFF Cup in 2010 and 2012.  “A win over be the perfect booster after poor results in our recent matches. It will ease some pressure as well." Mahali would likely start at rightback as Dollah Salleh's preferred choice Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak was left out due to injuries. Mahali also stressed they must not let the poor preparations affect them. Harimau Malaya only have one win - 4-1 over lowly Cambodia - from five preparation matches since August. They lost to Tajikistan (4-1), Indonesia (2-0), Syria (3-0) and Vietnam (3-1). “Our results i...

As published in Sunday Mail today By Nicolas Anil nicolas@mmail.com.my PUTRAJAYA - Virgin Racing’s Sam Bird soared to a dominant win in an action-packed second race of the Formula E at Putrajaya yesterday. Bird, who finished third at the maiden race in Beijing two months ago, was emotional after his victory. “I want to dedicate this victory to a good friend of mine who is ill. It’s really unfortunate that he has to struggle so much right now, so this one is for him," said Bird without naming his friend. “It’s been an amazing week for me. I did well in practice and started second on the grid and my good start helped pave the way to a consistent race. This is our first win as a team in our first season. I’m delighted and hope we can keep this up.” Bird's masterclass driving saw him lead the 20-driver field from the first lap held a seven-second lead before he turned into the pitlane. The ex Formula 3 driver regained the lead, temporarily held by Audi Sport’s ...

As published in today's Mailsport By Prem Kumar premkumar@mmail.com.my SPEND five minutes with Nabil Jeffri and you know he lives and breathes racing. But long before the 21-year-old driver made his Formula BMW Pacific debut in 2010, his journey started on the lap of a Thai woman. “When I first sat in a go-kart at the age of four, it was on the lap of my maid,” recalls Nabil, shortly after we sit down for a chat. “I remember my family visiting a circuit in Kuantan and I really wanted to drive. Unfortunately I couldn’t reach the (accelerator) pedals so she placed me on her lap and took care of that part while I steered the wheel left and right. “We returned for holidays every year and I was always eager to drive. It was my maid who accompanied me and assisted me until I was old enough to reach the pedals.” Nabil may owe his interest in the sport to Kak Mah, 40, his family’s long-serving domestic helper who still follows his career, but if was not for grand...

As published in Malay Mail today Being Frank By Frankie D’Cruz WHEN young offenders are caned in court in front of the public gallery, including newsmen, the people’s capacity for outrage better be inexhaustible. The nastiness of courtroom whipping reflects one of several indecorous challenges to the legal system that have brought dismay about questionable sentencing. While disciplinary action deserves praise, caning young men in court is a cosmetic step towards rehabilitation — one that would probably harden a publicly-shamed teenager. Law aside, we are not meant to hurt our children in this manner. The courts did. This week, two young men aged 19 and 20 received seven and eight strokes of the rotan respectively for gang robbery at a Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur. Last week, an 18-year-old was whipped six times at a magistrate’s court in Ipoh for a break-in offence. The bench appears to have pushed rather hastily into the book, showing no sign of bein...

As published in Malay Mail today By Dr Amar-Singh HSS A paediatrician, who was recently  compelled to witness the caning of an 18-year-old in court, relives the trauma: LAST week I experienced one of the darkest days of my life as a paediatrician. I have been through tough times but none as despairing as my last experience. I have helped parents whose children died. I have spent sleepless nights worrying over ill children. I have agonised with teenagers on struggles with parents and peers. I have worked with abused children. But I have never before been party to state approved, legal physical punishment of children. I accepted an unusual written legal request through my hospital director from a court magistrate. We were asked to send a doctor to ‘witness’ the whipping of a child in court. We were requested by the court to certify that this child was in a fit state of health to undergo the caning. In writing about it, it not my intention to question the decision ...

As published in Malay Mail today Aud-ly Enough By Audrey Edwards SO, that had to be the best traffic jam one could ever get caught in. On the very same road that 20 electric cars will be on when the lights go out for the Putrajaya Formule E race. Getting onto the track in Precinct 2 after driving on the bridge located in the area, there was a slight thrill as the metal safety barriers on either side of the street circuit loomed ahead and way down the straight. Tonnes of vehicles have passed along this way and as the days speed up to race day on Saturday, the vision that started some two years ago is becoming a reality as seen by the grandstands and pit area that have been put up. Along the way, there are giant screens to show the race and I grinned to myself as the traffic halted to a stop as we approached the start/finish line. The unmoving traffic has never delighted me quite as much as those moments as it gave me the chance to take in the view outside. I mean, how...