Raja Petra vows to die in silence if re-arrested

Rebel blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin has vowed to die in silence as a sign of protest if he is re-arrested on what many believe are politically motivated grounds. His pledge came as a court was due to rule whether he is to return to prison under Malaysia's Internal Security Act (ISA),

Raja Petra, who has risen to prominence as a pro-opposition blogger, was arrested on 12 September after accusations lodged by several religious groups who claim that he offended Islam in an article published on 8 August.

He was released on 7 November last year but the government has appealed the court decision and a verdict is expected on Tuesday (today –ed.).

“I shall no longer open my mouth or utter one word during my detention. I shall maintain the silence of a mute person. I shall not sign any documents of the so many documents that they make you sign when under detention," he said.

"My signature is not going to be placed on a single shred of paper,” he wrote in his blog, ‘Malaysia Today’ acknowledging that the move could have dire consequences.

”I shall refuse all medical treatment and visits to the hospital. I shall refuse to accept any food and water supplied by the authorities.

"I shall refuse to leave my cell or to meet any of the prison authorities. In short, I shall shut myself out from the world and keep to my own world of my eight feet square cell.

“This action will mean I shall survive at the most seven to eight days,” he added.

Raja Petra blamed deputy prime minister Najib Razak for his arrest and for what he calls his political persecution.

Najib has been among Raja Petra’s main targets in his blog.

In his most controversial article “Let’s Send Altantuya’s Murderers to Hell”, published on 25 April, Raja Petra said that Najib and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, were involved in the killing of Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Translator and former model, the Mongolia-born Shaariibuu, 28, was shot twice in the head, and her body was blown up with explosives, in a jungle outside Kuala Lumpur in October, 2006.

“I am totally sure that Najib (Razak) is involved. And at the very least, he should be investigated,” Raja Petra told Adnkronos International (AKI).

““I am aware that I have raised the stakes with this article and I am prepared to go all the way,” he added.

Najib has denied any involvement in the case and has sworn at a mosque that he never met Shaariibuu. He has also denied any involvement in the arrest of Raja Petra.

The ISA was inherited by Malaysia after it gained independence from Britain in 1957. In essence, it allows for the arrest of any person without the need for trial in certain circumstances. – AKI via DSAI

George Clooney smitten by Fatima Bhutto

Hollywood's most eligible bachelor may be about to be taken off the market - by a member of Pakistan's greatest political dynasty.

George Clooney is known for dating cocktail waitresses, actresses and models - and is famous for betting on his own bachelorhood.

Fatima Bhutto is the niece of slain Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto - a 'brainy foreign beauty' 21 years younger than the actor, who is 47.

Fatima Bhutto is a poet and journalist who lives with her brother and stepmother in Karachi. – DM pix

But an American report that, despite the odds, the pair are embroiled in a secret affair, has thrown all of Pakistan into a frenzy.

The National Enquirer claimed Clooney is smitten by the 26-year-old Bhutto, an outspoken poet and journalist who lives with her brother and step-mother in a Karachi suburb.

'George has courted her by phone and email, and arranged to meet her abroad when their schedules allowed,' a friend of the actor's told the Enquirer.

'Now he wants her to spend time with him in Hollywood.

'He's still out there with his usual assortment of eye candy hanging from his arm.

But George insists those days could be coming to an end if Fatima wants to take their relationship to the next level.'

But the eye candy and the long distance may not be the biggest stumbling block that Clooney faces in his quest to get the girl.

Fatima Bhutto was also said to believe their age differences made any relationship 'impractical'.

She was educated at New York's prestigious Columbia University and well aware of Clooney's heart throb status before they met, the newspaper reported.

'But she didn't take his advances seriously because she thought their age difference would make a serious relationship impractical,' it claimed.

However Clooney's profound interest in world affairs - which has often carried him into the political realm - may provide him and Bhutto with some common ground.

Fatima is reported to be contesting her late aunt's former seat in the Larkana constituency in the next elections.

She is also a prominent intellectual who has published a book of poetry, The Whispers of the Desert, and a memoir of the 2005 Kashmir earthquake.

And her journalist background - she often writes newspaper columns criticizing Pakistan's government - will strike a chord with Clooney, whose father Nick Clooney is a famous newspaper reporter and politician in the United States. – DM via NST

‘Anu Dalam Botol’: She is courting trouble

Writer-producer Raja Azmi Raja Sulaiman (pix) is going to produce a film on a subject so taboo that it may well be banned by the National Censorship Board.

Yet, the feisty director said she would fight tooth and nail to get Anu Dalam Botol made and released.

(Anu is colloquial Malay for the male genital.)

"The film will be based on a true story of a friend," said Raja Azmi.
"I want to get it made because I don't want others to suffer like him."

The film tells the story of a homosexual who decides to cut off his private part to show his love for his lover. The private part was kept in a bottle.

Unfortunately, his lover wants him as a man, not a woman, and they break up. When the unlucky man later falls in love with a woman, he regrets losing his manhood.

"My message is simple -- don't do stupid things for love."

The project, scheduled to roll in April, is considered too "hot" to handle by two actors who were offered the part - Anuar Zain and Aaron Aziz. They declined the offer.

Anuar declined because he was not ready to act again after Bintang Hati in 2004, which was a box office failure.

Aaron turned it down upon advice by a men's skin care product company, for which he is the spokesperson.

"The actors I've short-listed for the two leading roles will come for a closed-door casting session on Feb 24.

"I'm confident of finding my two same-sex lovers."

Raja Azmi said the film would feature several intimate scenes, including kissing.

Among the actors on her short-list are Jehan Miskin, Ashraf Muslim, Awal Ashari (pix), Remy Ishak and Iqram Dinzly.

But will the film get past the National Censorship Board, which banned Hollywood's Brokeback Mountain, an award-winning film about two gay cowboys because it was deemed unsuitable for Malaysian audiences?

The board also banned Bukak Api, an independent film directed by Osman Ali about a group of transvestites, made in 2000.

"I don't want to worry about censorship now. I want to make the film and tell the story," said Raja Azmi. – NST

'Leaders must formulate goals, objectives well'

Leaders of the public sector must identify well-formulated goals or objectives and constantly articulate them repeatedly to get everyone to work in the same direction.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said when making recommendations, they must stick to the ones with the biggest payoffs.

"Firstly, when thinking of solutions, think of the elevator speech -- the solution should be so crisp and clear that you can explain it to someone in a 30-second elevator ride.

"Secondly, leaders must be able to energise people to get things accomplished and allow them to solve the most vexing problems."

Najib said the coming decades were periods to lay the foundation for substantial growth and change.
He said this in a speech, read by International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, at the closing of the "Public Sector Young Executive Conference" at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre yesterday.

The two-day conference was opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Tuesday.

Najib said qualitative case analysis as well as rigorous studies were beginning to provide leaders with knowledge to allow them to bring forth and effectively address key issues. [like this Perakmen: a fait accompli -ed.]

He said it was his observation that the leadership in the public sector was now facing an array of daunting challenges, including inverse global competition, changing demographics, issues of integrity and accountability, political aberrations and those relating to risky human behaviours.

"While we are slowly working from differences to similarities, the challenges are not minimised but, in fact, becoming more complex."

Therefore, Najib said, the leadership in the public sector must be about handling information and knowledge to achieve competitive advantage and effectiveness.

He added that the skill to envision various alternatives, expected or otherwise, was not a luxury anymore.

"The idiom of thinking outside the box should become a matter of habit to facilitate creativity which will help towards realising wisdom.

"We have to be both smart and wise to display a successful public sector leadership to face the challenges of a globalised world." -- text: NST

Rihanna postpones Friday's concert

R&B star Rihanna postponed a concert in Malaysia's capital, organisers said Tuesday, after pulling out of the recent Grammy awards following an allegation of domestic violence involving her boyfriend.

The Malaysian organisers, Pineapple Concerts, said the William Morris Agency in Los Angeles had told them Friday's concert would be rescheduled.

It did not refer to the alleged assault, but said that "in light of recent events involving Rihanna", a new date would be set within two weeks.

Rihanna's Concert in Kuala Lumpur Postponed

Organizers have confirmed that Rihanna's concert in Kuala Lumpur (Friday, 02/13/09 –ed.) will be rescheduled due to recent events involving the singer.

According Razman Razali, Managing Director of Pineapple Concerts Sdn Bhd, a new date for the event will be confirmed two weeks from now.

Pineapple also confirmed that the concert has not been cancelled merely postponed, advising ticket buyers to hold on to their tickets and wait for a future announcement regarding the replacement date.

"We sincerely regret this unavoidable shift in schedule and apologise to the fans for any inconvenience caused."

The singer, who reportedly was attacked by boyfriend Chris Brown, also pulled out of a scheduled appearance at the Grammy Awards on Sunday evening.

19 year-old performer Chris Brown handed himself in to police custody after the incident. According to a USA Today article, Brown was released after posting $50,000 bail on a felony charge of suspicion of making criminal threats.

The bad publicity has already cost Brown a lucrative deal with Wrigley's Doublemint gum, to promote its product in an upcoming commercial campaign, which the company has suspended.

Good Love Gone Bad : For more on Chris and Rihanna, click here. -- Johanan Sen, MSN - Tuesday, 10 February 2009

Malaysia's conservative Islamic party PAS had called for Rihanna's performance, part of the "Good Girl Gone Bad" tour, to be banned because her outfits were too sexy.

The 20-year-old Barbados-born singer had been due to perform early in the Grammy Awards on Sunday before organizers abruptly announced her withdrawal just before the event.

A Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman neither confirmed nor denied that Rihanna was the victim in an alleged domestic violence incident on Sunday involving her boyfriend, singer-songwriter Chris Brown. – Agence France-Presse - 2/10/2009 10:24 AM GMT

Yusuf Islam writes musical, Moonshadow

Yusuf Islam - formerly known as Cat Stevens - has written a musical featuring his classic tracks.

'Moonshadow' - which features classic songs from the artist, formerly known as Cat Stevens, including 'Morning Has Broken' and 'Wild World' - debuts in Northampton this July, and if successful it will have a run in London's West End.

Original 'Mamma Mia!' cast member Siobhan McCarthy is singing previews from the show as part of the Whatsonstage.com Theatregoers Awards, hosted by comic actors James Cordon and Sheridan Smith, at the Prince of Wales Theatre on February 15.

Yusuf, 60, recently revealed he is recording a new studio album with his old label Island Records, which released his acclaimed albums 'Teaser and The Firecat' and 'Tea For The Tillerman'.

Last month, the singer released cover version for charity of George Harrison's 'The Day The World Gets Round' - with long-time Beatles associate Klaus Voorman.

Yusuf said: 'George was also more responsible than any other artist for initiating pop music's movement to aid people and countries stricken by war and calamities. His 'Concert For Bangladesh' was the first of its kind. I hope this song will help remind people of the immense legacy of love, peace and happiness we can share when we get round to looking at mankind's futile wars and prejudices and start to change our foolish ways.' – Bang via MSN

Be the first to know, Microsoft-backed celebrity news website unveiled

Microsoft plunged into the crowded field of online entertainment and celebrity news on Thursday, taking the wraps off a new website known as Wonderwall.

Wonderwall.com is a joint venture between MSN, the Internet arm of the US software giant, and BermanBraun Interactive, a media company based in Santa Monica, California.

"Wonderwall offers people an engaging and visually dynamic perspective on the day's hottest pop culture stories, personalities and trends," MSN and BermanBraun said in a statement.

The main feature of Wonderwall.com is a nearly full-screen wall of pictures with links to stories, photo galleries and video.

The wall can be scrolled horizontally, an experience MSN and BermanBraun likened to "flipping through a favorite magazine."

The site features a feed of the latest celebrity news and categories such as "Top Celebs" and "LOL Pics," the "funniest photos of celebs from around the Web."

"Wonderwall offers a clever, thought-provoking and amusing voice to fans of celebrity and is a great addition to MSN's portfolio of entertainment content," said Rob Bennett, general manager of network programming for MSN.

Entertainment and celebrity news are among the most popular subjects for Web surfers and Wonderwall will be competing for audience with sites such as TMZ.com, people.com and perezhilton.com, to name just a few. -- Agence France-Presse - 2/5/2009 6:56 PM GMT

Rihanna too sexy for Malaysiakini

Malaysia's conservative Islamic party has called for R&B sensation Rihanna to be banned from performing here next month, saying her outfits are too sexy, a report said Wednesday.

The Pan-Malaysian Islamic party (PAS), which has mounted protests against the United States over its support of Israel, said that concertgoers would also contribute to an outflow of local currency to the United States.

"Whether Rihanna realises it or not, we know that the taxes she has paid also contributed to the war in Gaza," Kamaruzaman Mohamad, a PAS youth wing leader, told the Star daily.

Kamaruzaman said that the show planned for February 13, part of Rihanna's "Good Girl Gone Bad" tour, would be an insult to Asian values as she often performed suggestively and wore skimpy outfits.

The event was "akin to insulting Eastern culture, belittling local artistes, internationally causing losses to the country's economy and supporting Israel's war policy, which is supported by America," he said.

Kamaruzaman urged authorities who issue concert permits in Muslim-majority Malaysia to reject the organiser's application.

The concert's sponsor told the daily that Rihanna has agreed to follow local regulations for her performance but did not give details.

US singer Beyonce scrapped a planned concert in Malaysia last year due to fears of protests, while Gwen Stefani went ahead with a performance but was forced to cover up after complaints about her outfits.

PAS also mounted protests against Canadian rocker Avril Lavigne's concert last year after failing to have it banned, saying her performance would weaken the younger generation "morally and mentally." -- Agence France-Presse - 1/21/2009 4:11 AM GMT

PAS bantah konsert Rihanna 13 Februari

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia:
Dewan Pemuda PAS membantah penganjuran konsert Rihanna Live in Kuala Lumpur pada 13 Februari ini atas alasan ia tidak sesuai dengan budaya tempatan dan sentimen menghormati rakyat Palestin.

Ketua Pemuda PAS Wilayah Persekutuan, Kamaruzaman Mohamad berkata, pihaknya akan menghantar memorandum bantahan dalam tempoh terdekat kepada syarikat telekomunikasi tempatan, Celcom (M) Berhad yang menaja penganjuran konsert tersebut.

KETUA Pegawai Eksekutif Celcom, Datuk Seri Shazali Ramly pada sidang akhbar berhubung penajaan penganjuran konsert "Rihanna Live in Kuala Lumpur" di ibu negara semalam. - foto The Star oleh LOW LAY PHON

"Penganjuran konsert ini menunjukkan Celcom tidak sensitif dengan budaya ketimuran kerana keperibadian penyanyi tersebut boleh merosakkan akhlak masyarakat di negera kita khusunya golongan remaja," katanya kepada mStar Online.

Tambah beliau, tingkah laku serta cara berpakaian penyanyi antarabangsa itu sangat bertentangan dengan gaya hidup timur dan amalan umat Islam.

"Dalam konsert-konsertnya sebelum ini beliau mempamerkan aksi yang cukup tidak elok dengan budaya kita serta boleh melalaikan," kata beliau.

Selain itu menurutnya, bantahan tersebut juga berasaskan kepada perkembangan terkini apabila rakyat disaran supaya memboikot produk-produk Amerika Syarikat (AS) yang selama ini menjadi sekutu kepada kekejaman Israel ke atas rakyat Palestin.

"Kita perlu boikot bukan sahaja produk malah artis-artis mereka bagi mengelakkan pengaliran wang ke AS.

"Kita sibuk menderma untuk tabung kemanusiaan Palestin, tapi pada yang sama kita sumbangkan duit untuk konsert Rihanna yang secara tak langsung menyumbang kepada kekayaan AS yang akhirnya digunakan untuk kepentingan Israel," katanya.

Jelas Kamaruzaman, pihaknya sebelum ini pernah mengadakan perbincangan dengan Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) yang meluluskan permit penganjuran konsert tersebut.

"Kita sudah bincang dan mengemukakan surat bantahan kepada DBKL, tapi tiada sebarang reaksi positif, jadi nampaknya kita teruskan usaha bagi membantah penganjurannya dengan berjumpa dengan pihak pengurusan Celcom pula," katanya.

Bagaimanapun beliau berkata bantahan konsert tersebut bukan bererti PAS mengamalkan sikap antihiburan.

"Kita bukanlah antihiburan, tapi kalau hiburan atau konsert yang dianjurkan itu bertentangan dengan tuntutan Islam serta boleh merosakkan akhlak, kita tetap akan bantah.

"Kalau dianjurkan konsert yang mengikut lunas Islam, sudah pasti kita akan menyokong," katanya lagi. -- Oleh ARIFFUDDIN ISHAK, mstar - Rabu Januari 21, 2009