STORY TO BE TOLD

by Amir Hisham Albakri | 07 Mar 2011


Mentor 5: Persaingan Merebut Gelaran Juara Bermula!

Mentor musim kelima membuka tirai malam tadi dengan persembahan sulung sebagai pengenalan untuk semua protege. Konsert ini telah dipancarkan secara langsung dari Auditorium MBSA bermula pada pukul 9 malam selama 1 jam setengah.

Kombinasi Ally Iskandar dan Nas Ahmad yang dikekalkan untuk mengemudi program realiti ini masih mengekalkan identiti masing-masing dengan gaya kendalian mereka, Ally petah di atas pentas manakala Nas di belakang tabir.

Pembukaan konsert ini telah menyaksikan juara-juara terdahulu, iaitu Pija, Fiq, Black dan Mohd dengan masing-masing menyanyikan medley lagu seperti Layar Impian dan Opera Hidup. Kerinduan peminat pada vokal mereka terubat, terutamanya sekali pada Pija yang telah lama tidak muncul baik di media elektronok mahupun media cetak.

Para penonton telah dihiburkan dengan persembahan dari semua protege yang mana mereka telah mendendangkan lagu Tak Ada Logika (Ratnah / Afdlin Shauki), Hapus Aku (Ayish / Noh Hujan), , Hanya Kau Yang Mampu (Shiha / Dato' Sharifah Aini), Kau Dan Aku (Aiman / Rahim Maarof), Aku Cinta Padamu (Iqa / Edry Abdul Halim) dan Bertamu Di Kalbu (Salma / Erra Fazira).

Secara keseluruhan, semua persembahan boleh dianggap sederhana. Kemungkinan besar kesemua protege masih belum membiasakan diri dengan persembahan secara langsung di hadapan penonton. Namun begitu pujian harus diberikan kepada Salma yang berjaya memukau penonton dengan alunan vokalnya yang mantap.

Untuk musim ini, Dato' Ramli MS telah dilantik sebagai juri professional tetap manakala Ajai bertindak sebagai juri mingguan (Ajai juga dikekalkan sebagai penasihat vokal). Komen utama yang diluahkan oleh mereka adalah keperluan untuk semua protege menguasai melodi dalam penyampaian mereka dan juga menghayati maksud lirik lagu yang dipersembahkan. Penguasaan vokal juga masih belum memuaskan. Ada di kalangan protege yang terlalu memberi penekanan kepada vokal sehingga mencacatkan sedikit persembahan.

Melalui penilaian dari juri professional, para protege telah dibahagikan kepada 2 kumpulan. Kumpulan A dibarisi oleh Ayish, Ratnah dan Shiha manakala Kumpulan B dianggotai oleh Aiman, Iqa dan Salma.

Konsert kedua akan diadakan pada Ahad, 13 Mac yang bakal penyaksikan pertarungan pertama Kumpulan A.

Read more: http://www.gua.com.my/

Special thanks and credits to/ source taken from: http://www.gua.com.my/

Man riled by women wearing short pants

A MIDDLE-AGED man has been attacking women wearing short pants in Johor Baru, China Press reported.

The 48-year-old claimed that such attire were meant to seduce him.

The man would also spit on any woman with short pants, including children, the paper said.

It added that he had been behaving strangely in the past few years.

The man’s female neighbour lodged a police report on Saturday after the man tried to attack her with a wooden stick while she was in her kitchen.

The woman, 44, said the man tried to attack her although she was wearing jeans during the 1.30pm incident on Saturday.

The paper said when policemen approached the man, he claimed that he was gay and that he hated women wearing short pants.

When asked why, he told them they were trying to seduce him.

Read more/More news on: http://thestar.com.my/news/

Credits to and source taken from: http://thestar.com.my/news/

Darren Choy is not father of Daphne Iking's child

In a shocking turn of events, Darren Choy has declared that he is not the biological father of Isobel Daniella Iking Chong. He has also been acquitted and discharged of his enticement case involving showbiz personality Daphne Iking.

The parties in the case reached a settlement involving a public apology by Choy to Iking's ex-husband Ryan Chong Yiing Yih, said Choy's lawyer Datuk Jagjit Singh Monday.

Corporate figure Choy was discharged and acquitted from the charge of enticing TV presenter Daphne Iking after the complainant in the case, Iking's ex-husband Chong, withdrew the private prosecution.

Magistrate Engku Ahmad Rashdi Engku Abdillah made the decision on Monday after being informed by Choy's lawyer Jagjit that the parties in the case have reached a settlement that involved a public apology by Choy to Chong.

In the statement read out in court by Jagjit Monday, Choy declared:

1. I, Darren Choy, does duly hereby acknowledge that my relationship with Daphne Iking has caused embarrassment and humiliation to Ryan Chong, his parents, siblings and relatives.

2. I do further acknowledge that my relationship with Daphne Iking has resulted in a private prosecution by Ryan Chong against me being the subject matter of the current proceedings in court.

3. I regret that the issues raised in the cross-examination by my counsel may have tarnished and sullified the reputation, character and image of Ryan Chong, his parents, siblings and relatives.

4. I further acknowledge the allegations:

i) that Ryan Chong has promised money to any woman in China for keeping confidential any relationship in China;
ii) that Ryan Chong has promised Daphne Iking money when she agreed to marry Ryan Chong;
iii) that Ryan Chong was promised inheritance by his grandfather;

on hindsight may now appear to be questionable and I do hereby retract these allegations.

5. I do hereby state that I am not the biological father of Isabel Daniella Iking Chong.

6. I do hereby tender my sincere and unreserved apology to Ryan Chong, his parents and siblings.

It is understood that the apology will be published in major newspapers Tuesday.

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Diana Danielle Belajar Berlakon Di Los Angeles April Ini

PETALING JAYA: Pelakon Diana Danielle, 20, (gambar) bakal melanjutkan pelajaran dalam bidang lakonan di Sekolah Filem & Lakonan Akademi Filem New York di Los Angeles pada bulan depan.

Menurut Diana yang tidak sabar memulakan pengajiannya di akademi terkenal itu, dia merasakan keputusan itu merupakan idea yang bagus untuk menggilap kemahiran lakonannya.

“Walaupun kita sudah menjadi pelakon berbakat, beberapa teknik lakonan mampu membantu untuk meningkatkan penghayatan lakonan kita," kata pelakon cantik berdarah Inggeris ini.

Dia baru menyelesaikan pengajian matrikulasi dalam jurusan Biosains di Universiti Nottingham, Semenyih, Selangor.

Diana akan terbang ke Los Angeles pada 5 April ini untuk memulakan kursus intensif selama sebulan sebelum meneruskan kursus lakonan pada jangka masa panjang.

“Saya cuba berunding dengan pihak pengurusan untuk mengikuti pengajian mengikut masa yang fleksibel. Jadi, saya boleh pulang ke Malaysia selepas beberapa bulan untuk menyelesaikan kerja di sini.

“Saya masih terikat untuk menyelesaikan beberapa penggambaran produk yang menaja saya,” kata duta Nano White, Public Gold dan Sunsilk itu.

Tambahnya: "Kebanyakan pelakon hebat terlibat dengan latihan lakonan. Saya mahu menjadi seperti mereka. Ia sangat berguna kepada saya apabila mendapat watak yang lebih mencabar. Sekurang-kurangnya saya mendapat beberapa teknik lakonan untuk dibawa pulang ke sana."

Menariknya, kelas lakonan di akademi itu hanya mempunyai enam hingga lapan pelajar dalam sebuah kelas.

Menurut ibu Diana, Norsiah Ramli, program di akademi itu menyediakan teknik-teknik lakonan kamera moden di samping asas berlakon teater kepada para pelakon. Tenaga pengajar profesional terdiri dari pelakon, penulis, pengarah, penerbit dan individu berpengalaman di Hollywood, filem indie dan televisyen.

Semua pelajar akan mendapat latihan peribadi dan disiplin ketat sebelum memulakan karier dalam filem dan televisyen.

Bagi pelakon filem Magika itu, pengalaman belajar di Sekolah Filem New York bakal melengkapkan kemahiran lakonannya.

“Saya akan terdedah dengan banyak perkara baru dan belajar banyak perbezaan seni lakonan filem, drama dan teater serta peluang bekerja dalam dunia dan produksi filem sebenar.

“Saya berharap apabila pulang nanti, saya menjadi pelakon yang lebih bagus kerana itulah yang saya impikan iaitu melakukan yang terbaik dalam setiap kerja yang dilakukan,” kata pelakon filem Hanyut dan … Dalam Botol ini.

Menyentuh tentang peluangnya memenangi anugerah Pelakon Filem Paling Popular pada Anugerah Bintang Popular (ABP) 2010 di samping pesaingnya iaitu Lisa Surihani, Liyana Jasmay, Maya Karin dan Scha Alyahya, Diana berkata, "peminat akan membuat keputusan terbaik."

"Saya jangka Lisa Surihani tetapi calon lain juga mempunyai peluang besar untuk memenangi anugerah itu. Saya gembira dengan siapa sahaja pilihan peminat untuk menang," kata model dan pelakon yang mula diperkenalkan menerusi filem Idola.

Diana juga akan memulakan karier nyanyiannya pada tahun ini. Dia bakal menerbitkan single pertamanya bergenre rock balada akustik berjudul Tak Pernah Ada sebelum hujung tahun ini.

Read more/More news on: http://www.mstar.com.my/

Credits to and source taken from: http://www.mstar.com.my/

Imam Muda 2 Dekati Warga Singapura, Indonesia & Brunei
Oleh SITI AZIRA ABD AZIZ

Juara Imam Muda, Asyraf (kanan) turut hadir memberikan sokongan kepada peserta uji bakat di Kompleks Pusat Islam, Kuala Lumpur, Sabtu. Turut serta selaku pemerhati dan juri adalah Pengetua Imam Muda, Datuk Hassan Mahmood. - Foto AZHAR MAHFOF

KUALA LUMPUR: Musim baru program Imam Muda bukan sahaja memberikan cabaran baru kepada para peserta malah turut menerima penyertaan daripada negara jiran iaitu warga Indonesia, Singapura dan Brunei.

Menurut Pengurus Saluran Astro Oasis, Izelan Basar yang turut menjadi salah seorang juri untuk peringkat akhir pemilihan uji bakat Imam Muda musim kedua, tidak dinafikan kebanyakan peserta yang hadir ke sesi uji bakat lebih berkualiti berbanding musim lalu.

Namun, dari segi penyertaan menurun sebanyak 30 peratus berbanding musim lalu.

“Mungkin ada penonton tidak berani menghadiri uji bakat setelah melihat tugasan dan cabaran yang dilalui oleh peserta Imam Muda musim pertama lalu.

Antara peserta yang hadir ke sesi uji bakat di Kuala Lumpur.

“Namun, kami berbesar hati apabila menerima sambutan peserta yang bukan berwarganegara Malaysia.

“Kami mengalu-alukan penyertaan mereka kerana menganggap Islam merupakan agama sejagat yang tidak eksklusif kepada sesuatu bangsa sebaliknya mahu melahirkan remaja berilmu di persada dunia. Namun begitu, mereka perlu fasih berbahasa Melayu,” kata Izelan ketika sesi uji bakat Imam Muda 2 di Dewan Muktamar, Kompleks Pusat Islam, di sini, Sabtu.

Sebelum ini, Imam Muda 2 telah melalui sesi uji bakat di lima lokasi seluruh Malaysia. Antara yang paling mendapat sambutan peserta paling ramai adalah di Masjid Zaher, Alor Setar pada 25 dan 26 Februari lalu serta Wisma MUIS, Kota Kinabalu (12 dan 13 Februari).

“Untuk cabaran baru kali ini, kita akan mengetengahkan tentang ekonomi seperti pasaran saham serta isu halal dan haram dalam urusniaga.

“Kita juga akan memberikan pendedahan tentang perubatan Islam mengikut al-Quran dan hadis. Sebolehnya, kita mahu melahirkan imam muda yang mempunyai pengetahuan am yang meluas dan bukan sekadar ilmu agama,” ujar Izelan lagi.

Tambahnya: “Seseorang itu perlu ada keseimbangan antara ilmu dunia dan akhirat. Kita mahu mencari remaja Islam yang boleh seimbangkan antara pengetahuan am dan ilmu akhirat.

Izelan Basar.

“Setakat uji bakat yang diadakan sebelum ini, ada yang bagus dalam ilmu agama dan bacaan ayat al-Quran tetapi tidak mengetahui tentang pengetahuan am. Sebab itu kami perlu membuat dua peringkat sesi uji bakat di setiap lokasi sebelum menentukan 10 peserta yang betul-betul layak.

“Pada peringkat pertama sesi uji bakat dihakimi oleh wakil Jabatan Agama Islam setiap negeri dan setiap peserta diuji dari segi bacaan surah Al-Fatihah, surah lazim dan pengetahuan agama Islam.

“Bagi yang berjaya ke peringkat kedua akan diuji dinilai tentang pengetahuan am dan penampilan. Selain itu, alumni Imam Muda 1 turut berpeluang mengadili sesi uji bakat ini.

“Peserta yang berjaya ke peringkat seterusnya akan diadili oleh saya dan Pengetua Imam Muda, Datuk Hassan Mahmood Al-Hafiz pada minggu depan.”

Untuk sesi uji bakat di sini, juri yang terlibat adalah Ustaz Tarmizi mewakili Jabatan Agama Islam Negeri, penerbit eksekutif Nizam Mansah, Nizam Hamid, Izelan Basar, Asmawi (Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan), Imam Muda Asyraf dan Imam Muda Miril.

Peserta yang hadir berusia antara 18 hingga 27 tahun terdiri dari pelbagai latar belakang seperti sekolah pondok, universiti dan golongan profesional seperti doktor dan jurutera.

Barisan juri untuk peringkat pertama yang diketuai oleh Ustaz Tarmizi (tengah). Turut serta adalah Imam Muda Miril (kiri).

Sesi uji bakat di sini berakhir pada 6 Mac bermula pukul 8 pagi hingga 5 petang. Peserta yang berminat perlu membawa salinan kad pengenalan dan dua keping gambar bersaiz 4R.

Siaran uji bakat Imam Muda 2 akan bermula pada 1 April ini, pukul 9 malam di Astro Oasis (saluran 106) manakala 10 peserta yang terpilih akan berentap pada 29 April.

Angry students gang up on class monitor
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KANGAR: A Form Three student at Simpang Empat here was assaulted by three schoolmates who were apparently upset that he had reported them to a teacher about their misconduct.

Muhamad Shahfaly Anoar, a class monitor, sustained a fractured arm, twisted shoulder and cuts on his left cheek after the attack on Friday.

He claimed yesterday that his assailants were angry with him for reporting them to a teacher.

He said he was in a classroom when a student dragged him outside where 10 students were waiting. However, he said only three of them hit him.

“I could not do anything but endure the pain. A friend later helped me back to the classroom,” he said at his home yesterday.

Anoar Ahmad, 38, said he was shocked to see his son’s condition when he fetched him from school at noon.

He lodged a report at the Simpang Empat police station.

“I sent my son to the Tuanku Fauziah Hospital. They found that his left arm was fractured,” he said.

Kangar police chief Supt Abdul Rahman Noordin said four suspects had been remanded. — Bernama

Read more/More news on: http://thestar.com.my/news/

Credits to and source taken from: http://thestar.com.my/news/

Kitten killer claims to be depressed over parents’ divorce

SERDANG: A woman who gained notoriety after a video showing her abusing kittens was uploaded on Facebook has apologised. She claimed that she was suffering from depression after her parents divorced.

“I could not control my emotions at that moment, but now realise I had made a terrible mistake after watching the video myself,” said Chow Xiao Wei, whose cruel act was captured on a CCTV in a backlane near here.

Full of regret: Chow apologising at the press conference held at Ean Yong’s office in Serdang.

The 20-year-old said she regretted her actions and was prepared to face the consequences.

She was also willing to do community service with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

The five-minute video was posted on Facebook about a week ago.

In the CCTV footage, a person wearing a cap is seen hitting kittens with an umbrella, then stomping and kicking them to death.

After the video went viral, Chow’s acquaintances, who recognised her from the video, posted her name and phone number online.

Chow soon began receiving threatening SMS messages and warnings on her Facebook account.

Out of fear, she quit her job as a sales assistant and lodged a police report.

Chow claimed that she was suffering from depression at that time as her parents had divorced.

“Please give my daughter a second chance,” pleaded her mother Cheong Poh Ling, who accompanied her to the press conference at Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah’s office.

Cheong said she had taken her daughter to a psychologist after hearing about the video, though she had not watched the video herself.

“I had to close my stall at the market because reporters kept coming around,” she said.

A group of animal lovers, including members of Petpositive and Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB) gathered outside Ean Yong’s office, demanding to meet Chow.

A few representatives from animal welfare groups were later allowed to meet Chow – with Ean Yong present.

MDDB is planning to file charges against Chow for animal cruelty, under Section 44 of the Animals Act 1953.

If found guilty of abusing the kittens, Chow faces either a fine of RM200, six months in prison or both.

`Singapore wishing well' collects RM51,000

A bowl-like sculpture with a swirling whirlpool has been pulling in the crowds at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) - and sucking in serious cash as well.

The acrylic and stainless steel art installation is part of the integrated resort's Art Path of giant works by renowned international artists.

But passers-by view the sculpture as a wishing well and have tossed in a remarkable S$22,000 (RM51,040) in coins since the installation opened late last year.

It is not known how much the artwork, titled Rain Oculus and by American artist and sculptor Ned Kahn, is worth.

But it is awash with cash, going by the number of shiny coins LifeStyle spotted over three visits in its see-through bowl perched above the central retail atrium of The Shoppes at MBS.

The bowl, which spans 22m, has a hole through which water flows down into the atrium.

Source: The Straits Times/ANN
Published March 6 2011

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Kitten abuser apologises, blames depression

By Qishin Tariq

The woman caught on CCTV abusing several kittens has apologised for her actions, claiming she was suffering from depression when she committed the act.

"I could not control my emotions at that moment, but now realise I made a terrible mistake, after watching the video myself," said Chow Xiao Wei.

The 20-year-old added that she was prepared to face the consequences, saying she was willing to do community service at the Society for Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals (SPCA).

The five-minute video clip surfaced on social networks about a week ago and was quickly spread by horrified viewers. In the CCTV footage, a person wearing a cap was recorded hitting kittens with an umbrella, then stomping and kicking them.

After the video went viral, Chow's acquaintances, who recognised her from the video, posted personal information like her name and phone number online.

Chow soon began receiving threatening messages through SMS and on her Facebook account. Due to the threats, she quit her job as a sales assistant and also lodged a police report.

Published March 6 2011

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Credits to and source taken from: http://dailychilli.com/