~您是屬於星辰命~
您是財富的星辰，物質生活條件佳。熱情有禮，喜歡有智慧，守承諾的人。個性聰明靈巧，學習能力強，但做事卻常常只有五分鐘熱度。
根據命理來分析您的個性，潛意識，以及行為模式，您是屬於「星辰命」，因此您天生具有星辰的特質，天上的星辰閃爍不定，因此您思考比較快速，也容易有五分鐘熱度。星辰雖多，但光亮不如日月，因此您比較不喜歡出風頭，也不喜歡給人很強勢的感覺。星辰光芒不強，只照耀某些地方，因此您比較感性，好惡分明，您願意為喜歡的人犧牲奉獻，但是對於不喜歡的人卻不想往來。星辰高掛天空，看盡世間，因此您天生就很聰明靈巧，學習能力強，對事物有多方面的興趣，也能侃侃而談，但卻有滾石不生苔的問題，缺乏堅持到底的毅力。
此外，您喜歡老實誠信的人，不喜歡自以為是的人，而能讓您佩服的人，多半是有想法，才華與智慧的人，能夠在心靈上讓您提昇的人。您的一生，像星辰一樣，明亮閃爍，受到眾人矚目，但是星辰並非隨時都光彩奪目，有時也會光芒黯淡，這時就是您的磨練，只要您經得起外在的考驗，不怨天尤人，進而學習成長，一旦通過考驗，您的成就將不可限量，是領袖級的人物。
您本命五行金太旺，呼吸系統機能比較弱，容易呼吸不順，感冒咳嗽，或有氣喘等症狀。
根據命理分析，您天生呼吸系統功能比較差，在年輕的時候不會有太大的問題，頂多是容易鼻子過敏、流鼻水、咳嗽、感冒、胸悶、腹瀉或便秘，但是如果您現在不照顧呼吸系統，隨著年紀越來越大就很容易導致鼻竇炎、氣喘、肺炎、支氣管炎、大腸息肉、直腸炎等問題。因此您不能過度勞累，而且千萬不能抽菸，要維持正常作息，早睡早起，才可以保護先天比較弱的呼吸系統。
此外，所謂「病從口入」，人類大部分的疾病來源都跟飲食有關，根據中醫理論，食物可以分成金、木、水、火、土等五種五行。您可能偏好吃重口味，辣口味的東西，像是麻辣火鍋，四川菜，應該都符合您的口味。因此，您的細胞中，充滿太多「金」的五行，會導致健康，財運與事業的不圓滿，建議您平時最好能飲食均衡，菜色均衡，則陰陽五行調和，生活美滿幸福。
但是您八字缺土，胃腸的機能也比較弱，容易有腹脹，腹痛，腹瀉，消化吸收的問題。
根據命理分析，您天生胃腸功能比較弱，在年輕的時候不會有太大的問題，等多是腸胃不適、胃酸過多、脹氣、腹瀉、腹痛等問題，但隨著年紀越來越大，胃腸功能需要更多的照顧，不然很容易導致消化系統病變，例如食道炎，胃炎、胃潰瘍、腸炎、大腸息肉、痔瘡、糖尿病等問題。因此您不能過度勞累，要調適壓力，維持正常作息，早睡早起，三餐要定時定量，不能喝酒，少吃刺激性飲食，才可以保護先天比較弱的胃腸功能。
此外，您是屬於容易緊張的類型，生活也比較缺乏規律性，因此三餐常不定時不定量，甚至因長時間工作而來不及用餐，導致胃腸的消化吸收功能受損。如果您想改變這種現象，一定要三餐定時定量，不可暴飲暴食。身體要放輕鬆，精神要保持愉快，不要給自己過多的壓力。只要您每天保持好心情，那您的命運將會有很大的改變，身體健康，財運順利，事業圓滿，家庭幸福。
簡易愛情分析，您是屬於雙方平等，保持距離的愛情。您的愛情不是屬於濃情密意的那一型，反而有一點像朋友，雙方地位比較平等，相互間追求一種平衡。您不是小鳥依人、百依百順的女生，也不容易找到很聽話的男生。
您愛情的模式，根據命理分析，在您生命中出現的異性，常常第一眼就很容易喜歡上您，只要對方追得到您，您們的愛情會火速發展，雖然感覺很甜蜜，但不容易長久，常常半途而歸，因為要從頭到尾都維持相同的熱度確實有點難。一般來說，異性對您的第一印象都會覺得很不錯，尤其您有才幹又有魅力。但是隨著交往時間越長，您的熱情不再，衝勁不再，新鮮感不再，取而代之的是爭執，雙方都不願意退讓。換句話說，您很容易被人喜歡，因為得天獨厚，所以也就不太滿足現在擁有的。相反地，您的戀愛對象對於您會非常滿意，如果您要分手，他會死纏爛打來維繫感情。因此，如果您在等待美好的愛情，您可以試著把自己的外在美收斂起來，讓對方不是只因為看到您的青春美貌或聰明才幹而跟您交往，而是要對方真心覺得適合您才跟您交往。如此之前的桃花都會煙消雲散，而真正的愛情也將降臨。
在人生的旅程中，您的戀愛或結婚對象很容易出現，多半是「近水樓台先得月」，因為常常在住家附近，學校，社團，或是工作場合見面而認識，一不小心就天雷勾動地火，迸出愛的火花。至於，結婚的對象，因為比較早熟的結果，因此您很有可能會早婚。若是您到現在，對象還沒有出現，您身邊認識的人中，長得最俊俏，長得最帥的那一位就是了，只要您真心誠意給對方一點暗示，幸福就在您身邊。
簡易事業分析，您的工作類型大部分都需要專業，從事一些技術導向的工作。這類型的工作，需要專業知識，經驗累積，以技術為導向。
每一個行業中都有不同的職位，而您的工作類型，不論在哪一個行業中發展，大部分都需要專業，從事一些技術導向的工作。例如，財務、金融、會計、資訊、工程、律師、法務、顧問等擁有專門技術的工作。這類型的工作，需要專業知識，經驗累積，以技術為導向。如果您選擇從事這類型工作，您會比較順利，輕鬆，也更能發揮所長。但是世界上跟您一樣有專業的人很多，唯有不斷進步才有無可取代的價值。
另外，您的工作類型容易產生下列迷思。一、越是專業的人多半從本位角度思考，不容易跟其他領域的人溝通。二、越是專業的人越不喜歡油腔滑調，阿諛奉承，除非上司有眼光，否則不容易得到提拔。三、越是專業的人只專注於自己的領域，對於其他領域缺乏興趣，所以一旦進入領導階層，在整體策略上，容易見樹不見林。此外，對於其他工作領域，像是文化藝術的工作，協調整合的工作，瑣碎事務的工作，或體力勞動的工作，都是您比較不適合的工作類型，您會覺得乏味無趣，不願意做，也做不久。
簡易財運分析，您每次缺錢，很自然就會有錢進來。未來的您，很會賺錢，但也很會花錢。
根據命理分析，您每次缺錢，很自然就會有錢進來。未來的您，很會賺錢，也很會花錢。您從很年輕的時候就知道錢財的重要性，因此您會比一般人更早開始理財，所以當別人在揮霍金錢，享受生命的時候，您在計劃未來，所以未來自然能夠累積更多的財富。此外，您天生比較精明，不會在不必要的地方花錢，但是您會有許多計畫性的支出，您也希望未來能夠自己當老闆，有自己的事業。如果以一生的時間來衡量，您今生大部份的財富會被您儲蓄起來，或是理財，或是置產，或是投資創業，或是投資自己。之後，這些財富大半會遺留給夫家。
祝琬苡生日快乐； 永远都青春美丽； 幸福快乐； 爱情与事业都顺顺利利！！！ (^_^)
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Day 1: Malaysia on Headlines (Sept 25)
Six injured in LRT accident
By ELIZABETH LOOI
KUALA LUMPUR: About 300 people escaped serious injuries in an accident involving two Light Rail Transit (LRT) trains at 6.30pm at the Bukit Jalil station.
Cheras district police chief ACP Ahmad Amir Mohd Hashim said a coach from Sungai Besi stopped suddenly about 200m from the train station before it was rammed into by another train from the rear on the same track.
RapidKL executive Suffian Baharuddin confirmed that six passengers were slightly injured. He also said the train services would resume as normal today.
RapidKL communications division general manager Ebi Azly Abdullah said the company would bear the medical costs for the injured passengers.
Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat, who visited the accident site and one of the injured passengers at the hospital later at night, said he would wait for the reports from investigations into the incident.
“I’m relieved to see that the injured passengers were given immediate attention and treatment as they were immediately brought to the hospital,” he said.
Road traffic safety officer R. Perumal, 48, who was in the moving train, said that everyone fell off their seats on impact.
“Everybody started panicking and some contacted their loved ones on their handphones,” said Perumal, who suffered a whiplash when he hit against handle bars.
Airline customer service officer Andrews Pillai, 42, who was trapped along with the other passengers for about 20 minutes in the stationary train, pushed the emergency door lever to get out.
“A few men and myself helped other passengers out and we walked along the tracks back to the Bukit Jalil station,” he said.
(article extracted from: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/25/nation/2116102&sec=nation)
Over 130,000 use the LRT daily
Before Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd (SPNB) took over ownership and operations of the Ampang Line, it was known as Sistem Transit Aliran Ringan Sdn Bhd (Star LRT).
Incorporated on Nov 13, 1992, it was the country's first LRT project.
The company signed a franchise agreement with the government for the development, ownership and operation of the system on Dec 22, 1992. Work on the project began two years later.
It started operations between the Ampang and Sultan Ismail stations in 1996, followed two years later by the branch line from Chan Sow Lin station to Sri Petaling station. The line from the Sultan Ismail station to Sentul Timur station began operations in 1998.
In 2002, SPNB took over the ownership and operations of Star LRT under the first phase of Kuala Lumpur's public transport restructuring exercise. SPNB renamed the system Starline.
The operations of Starline was transferred to RapidKL in 2004 but ownership of assets remained with SPNB.
Starline (now called Ampang line) carries between 130,000 and 150,000 passengers daily on weekdays and an average of 120,000 passengers on weekends.
It has 25 stations throughout the 27km stretch, transporting passengers from the northern, north-eastern and south-western suburbs in the Klang Valley.
Unlike the fully automated Kelana Jaya line, trains on the Ampang line have drivers.
(article extracted from: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/Frontpage/2359369/Article/index_html)
By ELIZABETH LOOI
KUALA LUMPUR: About 300 people escaped serious injuries in an accident involving two Light Rail Transit (LRT) trains at 6.30pm at the Bukit Jalil station.
Cheras district police chief ACP Ahmad Amir Mohd Hashim said a coach from Sungai Besi stopped suddenly about 200m from the train station before it was rammed into by another train from the rear on the same track.
RapidKL executive Suffian Baharuddin confirmed that six passengers were slightly injured. He also said the train services would resume as normal today.
RapidKL communications division general manager Ebi Azly Abdullah said the company would bear the medical costs for the injured passengers.
Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat, who visited the accident site and one of the injured passengers at the hospital later at night, said he would wait for the reports from investigations into the incident.
“I’m relieved to see that the injured passengers were given immediate attention and treatment as they were immediately brought to the hospital,” he said.
Road traffic safety officer R. Perumal, 48, who was in the moving train, said that everyone fell off their seats on impact.
“Everybody started panicking and some contacted their loved ones on their handphones,” said Perumal, who suffered a whiplash when he hit against handle bars.
Airline customer service officer Andrews Pillai, 42, who was trapped along with the other passengers for about 20 minutes in the stationary train, pushed the emergency door lever to get out.
“A few men and myself helped other passengers out and we walked along the tracks back to the Bukit Jalil station,” he said.
(article extracted from: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/25/nation/2116102&sec=nation)
Over 130,000 use the LRT daily
Before Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd (SPNB) took over ownership and operations of the Ampang Line, it was known as Sistem Transit Aliran Ringan Sdn Bhd (Star LRT).
Incorporated on Nov 13, 1992, it was the country's first LRT project.
The company signed a franchise agreement with the government for the development, ownership and operation of the system on Dec 22, 1992. Work on the project began two years later.
It started operations between the Ampang and Sultan Ismail stations in 1996, followed two years later by the branch line from Chan Sow Lin station to Sri Petaling station. The line from the Sultan Ismail station to Sentul Timur station began operations in 1998.
In 2002, SPNB took over the ownership and operations of Star LRT under the first phase of Kuala Lumpur's public transport restructuring exercise. SPNB renamed the system Starline.
The operations of Starline was transferred to RapidKL in 2004 but ownership of assets remained with SPNB.
Starline (now called Ampang line) carries between 130,000 and 150,000 passengers daily on weekdays and an average of 120,000 passengers on weekends.
It has 25 stations throughout the 27km stretch, transporting passengers from the northern, north-eastern and south-western suburbs in the Klang Valley.
Unlike the fully automated Kelana Jaya line, trains on the Ampang line have drivers.
(article extracted from: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/Frontpage/2359369/Article/index_html)
Day 2: Malaysia on Headlines (Sept 24)
ISA: Raja Petra under two-year detention in Kamunting
By : Alang Bendahara, Sushma Veera and Alina Simon
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin was detained for two years under the Internal Security Act yesterday for writing articles considered to have maligned Islam, and being malicious and seditious.
He was sent from Bukit Aman police headquarters, where he had been held since Sept 12, to the Kamunting detention centre in Perak around 11am.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar signed the detention order under Section 8(1) of the ISA on Monday evening on a recommendation by police.
Syed Hamid said the ministry would review the detention order at the end of the first three months and again after six months.
Raja Petra's lead counsel, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, said he would file a habeas corpus application next week against the new detention order.
Syed Hamid said there was strong evidence supporting action to invoke the ISA against Raja Petra.
He said the decision was made after police investigations into articles posted by the blogger on his website showed that they could incite racial and religious tension and disrupt peace in the country.
"The police gave their recommendation and provided strong basis for him to be detained under ISA. It is their right to recommend to the Home Minister to sign the two-year detention order if they found strong proof and reason.
"If they (the articles) are proven to be threatening as well as causing uneasiness among Muslims and members of the public, then it is proof," he said.
On the fact that he had signed the order as Raja Petra's habeas corpus application on his earlier detention under Section 73(1) of the ISA was scheduled to be heard in the High Court yesterday, he said they were not related.
"That is Raja Petra's right and is a totally different issue."
In the High Court, Raja Petra's application came to a halt with judge Suraya Othman saying that it had been overtaken by events.
She fixed Oct 28 to hear submissions by Malik and Senior Federal Counsel Abdul Wahab Mohamad on the order issued by Syed Hamid.
Malik told the court that he was only informed yesterday morning by Wahab that his client had been detained under Section 8 (1).
"I was not informed of my client's detention despite the police having my contact numbers," said Malik.
To this, Wahab said he himself had been told of the order at the same time.
Malik replied that he was surprised that Wahab "was well-prepared with written submissions for someone who said that he was only informed about it this morning".
He submitted that the detention order issued by the minister on Monday night was done to avoid the consequences of the habeas corpus hearing.
"Raja Petra's detention under Section 73(1) of the Act was done without basis, unconstitutional and was done in bad faith," he said.
He said Syed Hamid's order "could only have been the result of the inquiry by the police".
"Because they are inter-related, the question whether the earlier detention was lawful or not is a matter which is relevant for argument of the current order," he added.
Suraya was herself surprised by Raja Petra's two-year detention order, saying: "I had not expected a lot of matters to be overtaken by events."
She said Syed Hamid's order superseded the previous order under Section 73 (1).
Earlier, Wahab, submitting that the habeas corpus application should be dismissed, contended that since Raja Petra was no longer detained under Section 73 (1), and that the new detention order had come into operation, all issues pertaining to his earlier detention were academic.
(extracted from: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/Frontpage/2358214/Article/index_html)
By : Alang Bendahara, Sushma Veera and Alina Simon
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin was detained for two years under the Internal Security Act yesterday for writing articles considered to have maligned Islam, and being malicious and seditious.
He was sent from Bukit Aman police headquarters, where he had been held since Sept 12, to the Kamunting detention centre in Perak around 11am.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar signed the detention order under Section 8(1) of the ISA on Monday evening on a recommendation by police.
Syed Hamid said the ministry would review the detention order at the end of the first three months and again after six months.
Raja Petra's lead counsel, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, said he would file a habeas corpus application next week against the new detention order.
Syed Hamid said there was strong evidence supporting action to invoke the ISA against Raja Petra.
He said the decision was made after police investigations into articles posted by the blogger on his website showed that they could incite racial and religious tension and disrupt peace in the country.
"The police gave their recommendation and provided strong basis for him to be detained under ISA. It is their right to recommend to the Home Minister to sign the two-year detention order if they found strong proof and reason.
"If they (the articles) are proven to be threatening as well as causing uneasiness among Muslims and members of the public, then it is proof," he said.
On the fact that he had signed the order as Raja Petra's habeas corpus application on his earlier detention under Section 73(1) of the ISA was scheduled to be heard in the High Court yesterday, he said they were not related.
"That is Raja Petra's right and is a totally different issue."
In the High Court, Raja Petra's application came to a halt with judge Suraya Othman saying that it had been overtaken by events.
She fixed Oct 28 to hear submissions by Malik and Senior Federal Counsel Abdul Wahab Mohamad on the order issued by Syed Hamid.
Malik told the court that he was only informed yesterday morning by Wahab that his client had been detained under Section 8 (1).
"I was not informed of my client's detention despite the police having my contact numbers," said Malik.
To this, Wahab said he himself had been told of the order at the same time.
Malik replied that he was surprised that Wahab "was well-prepared with written submissions for someone who said that he was only informed about it this morning".
He submitted that the detention order issued by the minister on Monday night was done to avoid the consequences of the habeas corpus hearing.
"Raja Petra's detention under Section 73(1) of the Act was done without basis, unconstitutional and was done in bad faith," he said.
He said Syed Hamid's order "could only have been the result of the inquiry by the police".
"Because they are inter-related, the question whether the earlier detention was lawful or not is a matter which is relevant for argument of the current order," he added.
Suraya was herself surprised by Raja Petra's two-year detention order, saying: "I had not expected a lot of matters to be overtaken by events."
She said Syed Hamid's order superseded the previous order under Section 73 (1).
Earlier, Wahab, submitting that the habeas corpus application should be dismissed, contended that since Raja Petra was no longer detained under Section 73 (1), and that the new detention order had come into operation, all issues pertaining to his earlier detention were academic.
(extracted from: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/Frontpage/2358214/Article/index_html)
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Day 3: Malaysia on Headlines (Sept 23)
A mere RM4.50 a day for meals
By RASHITHA A. HAMID and DHARMENDER SINGH
KUALA LUMPUR: A Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department was shocked to learn that only RM4.50 per day is allocated for food to each detainee in the lock-up.
T. Murugiah said this was ridiculous, especially with the increase in the price of rice, petrol and other items.
The RM4.50 covers breakfast (60 sen), lunch (RM2) and dinner (RM1.90).
Murugiah said the allocation should be raised so that detainees could get decent food.
“A normal human being living in the city spends at least RM10 on meals a day,” he said after visiting the Travers police station here yesterday.
He visited the police station following complaints by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok about the food she was served during her detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
“Detainees should be treated with respect and given proper food,” said Murugiah.
He said he would ask the Prime Minister and Home Minister to revise the amount allocated per detainee.
“It is high time we increase the amount as I believe that it has been some time since the Government revised it,” he said, adding that foreign and local detainees should be treated fairly.
Murugiah, who is also the Public Complaints Bureau head, said he had investigated the matter and would leave it to the higher authorities to remedy the situation.
Murugiah had earlier met Kok for about an hour in her office at the state secretariat building in Shah Alam.
The meeting was to discuss the type of food Kok was served during her week-long detention.
Kok pointed out that she was wrongly quoted about the food served. She said she was served food which was slightly better than dog food and not that she was served food that was like dog food as published in a Malay newspaper.
“I am happy to see the initiative taken by the Deputy Minister in looking into this matter and I hope that conditions will improve.”
(extracted from: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/23/nation/2093043&sec=nation)
Now read this:
Guantanamo Is a Model Prison (Really)
By MARK H. BUZBY
(extracted from: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121253762342343273.html)
June 4, 2008
There is much talk in the media, in our capital and elsewhere about the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. I have paid close attention to this dialogue, and after a year in command, it is clear that there are two Guantanamos: the one that exists in popular culture, and the one most discover when they actually see conditions there.
We house enemy combatants in one of several facilities according to their compliance with camp rules. Highly compliant detainees, approximately 20% of the population, live in Camp 4. Here they enjoy a communal, barracks-style environment, with movie nights, classes in Pashtu, Arabic and English, shared meals and prayers, and up to 12 hours of recreation per day.
Many of the enemy combatants, however, fail to comply with established rules. Offenses often include head-butting, kicking, biting and splashing young soldiers and sailors with feces and urine "cocktails."
These detainees are housed in Camps 5 and 6 – modern, climate-controlled facilities modeled after existing U.S. prison facilities in the Midwest. They get a minimum of two, soon to be three, hours of outdoor recreation per day adjacent to three to five other detainees. And they are held in a block of single-occupancy cells where they communicate with other detainees, guards, medical staff, library assistants and mail delivery personnel. Prayers are led five times a day by a detainee-appointed Imam. Each cell contains an arrow that points to Mecca.
All detainees receive three-meals per day, a 4,000-calorie diet selected from six different menus that meet the halal cultural dietary requirements, and which provide for special needs such as low sodium, vegetarian or diabetic. We provide comfort items including sheets and bedding, uniforms, shoes, prayer beads, prayer rugs, toiletries and bottled water. Each detainee is issued a Quran in Arabic and one in his native language. An ever-expanding, 5,000 volume library is available for a weekly choice of reading material.
Detainees sent and received more than 27,000 pieces of mail last year. In addition to humanitarian phone calls, which have long been permitted, we allow annual phone calls to family members. Last year, more than 1,200 attorney visits were conducted. Suggestions that detainees are being held "incommunicado" are simply not true.
Medical-care standards afforded to detainees are the same that my troopers receive. Access to treatment is 24/7, with a detainee-to-medical-staff ratio of three-to-one that far exceeds Federal Bureau of Prison standards, and is frankly better than what most Americans enjoy.
Joint Task Force doctors have performed more than 370 surgeries, including restorative eye procedures, and a recent back surgery that restored movement and avoided possible paralysis for a detainee. Shortly after, that detainee sent me a note saying "Thank you, I have been wrong about Americans."
Our mental health facility, staffed by a variety of mental health-care professionals, includes a psychiatrist and a psychologist. Approximately 15% of our detainees are seen for such issues on a regular basis, about half the average experienced in the U.S. prison population.
We enjoy a very positive relationship with the International Committee of the Red Cross. Its professionals have access to all detainees and facilities, and they provide us with useful and supportive confidential comments and suggestions – which have helped in furthering the development of our detention programs.
An important part of the Guantanamo story routinely underreported by many in the media – but readily apparent to most who visit – is the dedication and professionalism exhibited every single day by the more than 2,200 soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and civilians who provide for the safe and humane care and custody of very dangerous men.
Regardless of what international opinion says, my troopers perform their mission honorably, professionally and to a level that would make any American proud. I had the very great privilege of leading these sons and daughters of America; that is the Guantanamo I know.
Rear Adm. Buzby was commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo from May 2007 until last week.
and this:
Food war: £12 meals for prisoners while NHS patients get just £3 per head
(extracted from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-527842/Food-war--12-meals-prisoners-NHS-patients-just-3-head.html)
Last updated at 00:31 07 March 2008
Prisoners held in police cells are having up to four times as much spent on their food as hospital patients.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw admitted that forces are given as much as £12 a day to feed inmates, who often have a choice of food from local takeaways.
By comparison, just £3 is spent per head in hospitals a day, while 70p is spent on ingredients for a single school meal.
It costs an average of £385 to keep a prisoner in a police cell overnight.
In a letter to Tory MP Andrew Rosindell, Mr Straw said the £12 meal figure might even be exceeded in "exceptional cases".
Mr Rosindell said there would be anger among patients at the news that prisoners are better fed.
He said: "I think it's inexplicable that prisoners should be eating food which costs four times what a patient gets in the NHS."
"I want to know why only £3 per head is being spent on patients in hospital, where you would expect to have good quality food, and £12 is being spent on prison food.
"It's an astonishing revelation. I think every NHS patient will want to know why people who are up for committing a crime are being treated in a style which is inappropriate.
"It is an issue many people will find it hard to understand."
Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert said: "It costs as much to keep an offender in a police cell as an overnight stay at the Ritz."
By RASHITHA A. HAMID and DHARMENDER SINGH
KUALA LUMPUR: A Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department was shocked to learn that only RM4.50 per day is allocated for food to each detainee in the lock-up.
T. Murugiah said this was ridiculous, especially with the increase in the price of rice, petrol and other items.
The RM4.50 covers breakfast (60 sen), lunch (RM2) and dinner (RM1.90).
Murugiah said the allocation should be raised so that detainees could get decent food.
“A normal human being living in the city spends at least RM10 on meals a day,” he said after visiting the Travers police station here yesterday.
He visited the police station following complaints by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok about the food she was served during her detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
“Detainees should be treated with respect and given proper food,” said Murugiah.
He said he would ask the Prime Minister and Home Minister to revise the amount allocated per detainee.
“It is high time we increase the amount as I believe that it has been some time since the Government revised it,” he said, adding that foreign and local detainees should be treated fairly.
Murugiah, who is also the Public Complaints Bureau head, said he had investigated the matter and would leave it to the higher authorities to remedy the situation.
Murugiah had earlier met Kok for about an hour in her office at the state secretariat building in Shah Alam.
The meeting was to discuss the type of food Kok was served during her week-long detention.
Kok pointed out that she was wrongly quoted about the food served. She said she was served food which was slightly better than dog food and not that she was served food that was like dog food as published in a Malay newspaper.
“I am happy to see the initiative taken by the Deputy Minister in looking into this matter and I hope that conditions will improve.”
(extracted from: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/23/nation/2093043&sec=nation)
Now read this:
Guantanamo Is a Model Prison (Really)
By MARK H. BUZBY
(extracted from: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121253762342343273.html)
June 4, 2008
There is much talk in the media, in our capital and elsewhere about the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. I have paid close attention to this dialogue, and after a year in command, it is clear that there are two Guantanamos: the one that exists in popular culture, and the one most discover when they actually see conditions there.
We house enemy combatants in one of several facilities according to their compliance with camp rules. Highly compliant detainees, approximately 20% of the population, live in Camp 4. Here they enjoy a communal, barracks-style environment, with movie nights, classes in Pashtu, Arabic and English, shared meals and prayers, and up to 12 hours of recreation per day.
Many of the enemy combatants, however, fail to comply with established rules. Offenses often include head-butting, kicking, biting and splashing young soldiers and sailors with feces and urine "cocktails."
These detainees are housed in Camps 5 and 6 – modern, climate-controlled facilities modeled after existing U.S. prison facilities in the Midwest. They get a minimum of two, soon to be three, hours of outdoor recreation per day adjacent to three to five other detainees. And they are held in a block of single-occupancy cells where they communicate with other detainees, guards, medical staff, library assistants and mail delivery personnel. Prayers are led five times a day by a detainee-appointed Imam. Each cell contains an arrow that points to Mecca.
All detainees receive three-meals per day, a 4,000-calorie diet selected from six different menus that meet the halal cultural dietary requirements, and which provide for special needs such as low sodium, vegetarian or diabetic. We provide comfort items including sheets and bedding, uniforms, shoes, prayer beads, prayer rugs, toiletries and bottled water. Each detainee is issued a Quran in Arabic and one in his native language. An ever-expanding, 5,000 volume library is available for a weekly choice of reading material.
Detainees sent and received more than 27,000 pieces of mail last year. In addition to humanitarian phone calls, which have long been permitted, we allow annual phone calls to family members. Last year, more than 1,200 attorney visits were conducted. Suggestions that detainees are being held "incommunicado" are simply not true.
Medical-care standards afforded to detainees are the same that my troopers receive. Access to treatment is 24/7, with a detainee-to-medical-staff ratio of three-to-one that far exceeds Federal Bureau of Prison standards, and is frankly better than what most Americans enjoy.
Joint Task Force doctors have performed more than 370 surgeries, including restorative eye procedures, and a recent back surgery that restored movement and avoided possible paralysis for a detainee. Shortly after, that detainee sent me a note saying "Thank you, I have been wrong about Americans."
Our mental health facility, staffed by a variety of mental health-care professionals, includes a psychiatrist and a psychologist. Approximately 15% of our detainees are seen for such issues on a regular basis, about half the average experienced in the U.S. prison population.
We enjoy a very positive relationship with the International Committee of the Red Cross. Its professionals have access to all detainees and facilities, and they provide us with useful and supportive confidential comments and suggestions – which have helped in furthering the development of our detention programs.
An important part of the Guantanamo story routinely underreported by many in the media – but readily apparent to most who visit – is the dedication and professionalism exhibited every single day by the more than 2,200 soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and civilians who provide for the safe and humane care and custody of very dangerous men.
Regardless of what international opinion says, my troopers perform their mission honorably, professionally and to a level that would make any American proud. I had the very great privilege of leading these sons and daughters of America; that is the Guantanamo I know.
Rear Adm. Buzby was commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo from May 2007 until last week.
and this:
Food war: £12 meals for prisoners while NHS patients get just £3 per head
(extracted from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-527842/Food-war--12-meals-prisoners-NHS-patients-just-3-head.html)
Last updated at 00:31 07 March 2008
Prisoners held in police cells are having up to four times as much spent on their food as hospital patients.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw admitted that forces are given as much as £12 a day to feed inmates, who often have a choice of food from local takeaways.
By comparison, just £3 is spent per head in hospitals a day, while 70p is spent on ingredients for a single school meal.
It costs an average of £385 to keep a prisoner in a police cell overnight.
In a letter to Tory MP Andrew Rosindell, Mr Straw said the £12 meal figure might even be exceeded in "exceptional cases".
Mr Rosindell said there would be anger among patients at the news that prisoners are better fed.
He said: "I think it's inexplicable that prisoners should be eating food which costs four times what a patient gets in the NHS."
"I want to know why only £3 per head is being spent on patients in hospital, where you would expect to have good quality food, and £12 is being spent on prison food.
"It's an astonishing revelation. I think every NHS patient will want to know why people who are up for committing a crime are being treated in a style which is inappropriate.
"It is an issue many people will find it hard to understand."
Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert said: "It costs as much to keep an offender in a police cell as an overnight stay at the Ritz."
Monday, September 22, 2008
Day 4: Malaysia on Headlines (Sept 22)
No peg for ringgit, fuel-price decision on Wednesday
PUTRAJAYA, MON:
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the ringgit will not be re-pegged, citing the government’s commitment to let market forces determine the currency's level.
The ringgit is currently in a managed float against a basket of currencies.
Najib, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, said the Cabinet will on Wednesday decide on the price of fuel at the pump.
Malaysians are expecting the government to further reduce the price after the global crude oil dipped below US$100 (RM349) per barrel, compared with the high of US$147 in July.
On Aug 23, the government reduced the price of petrol by 15 sen, from RM2.70 to RM2.55.
PUTRAJAYA, MON:
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the ringgit will not be re-pegged, citing the government’s commitment to let market forces determine the currency's level.
The ringgit is currently in a managed float against a basket of currencies.
Najib, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, said the Cabinet will on Wednesday decide on the price of fuel at the pump.
Malaysians are expecting the government to further reduce the price after the global crude oil dipped below US$100 (RM349) per barrel, compared with the high of US$147 in July.
On Aug 23, the government reduced the price of petrol by 15 sen, from RM2.70 to RM2.55.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Day 5: Malaysia on Headlines (Sept 21)
The PS3 is here, after a two-year wait
By CHONG JINN XIUNG
PETALING JAYA: Consumer electronics giant Sony Malaysia Sdn Bhd has officially launched the PlayStation 3 (PS3), with an 80GB version of the popular videogame console that sells for RM1,599.
The PS3 is part of Sony’s vision of delivering full high-definition entertainment to the home, Sony Malaysia managing director Naoi Sudo said at the official launch at the 1-Utama shopping centre here on Saturday.
“The PlayStation 3 isn’t just another videogame console; it is a complete entertainment system with Blu-ray playback and integrated Wi-Fi connectivity that allows you to surf the Web from your living room,” he said.
Despite having arrived here nearly two years after its worldwide launch in the United States and Japan, the Malaysia market -- with its young demographic -- is an important one for the company, Sony Computer Entertainment Asia president Tetsuhiko Yasuda claimed.
He said the timing of the PS3 launch couldn’t have been better as the market for high definition products and the broadband infrastructure to support the media were rapidly growing.
Sony also announced that it will launch a local version of Sony’s online multiplayer gaming and digital media distribution service, PlayStation Network (PSN), by the end of the year.
PSN will allow local gamers to set up their own accounts to purchase games and media as well as play games online.
Yasuda said Sony also aims to have global simultaneous launches of high profile games and consoles in the near future.
(extracted from: http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2008/9/20/technology/20080920163046&sec=technology)
By CHONG JINN XIUNG
PETALING JAYA: Consumer electronics giant Sony Malaysia Sdn Bhd has officially launched the PlayStation 3 (PS3), with an 80GB version of the popular videogame console that sells for RM1,599.
The PS3 is part of Sony’s vision of delivering full high-definition entertainment to the home, Sony Malaysia managing director Naoi Sudo said at the official launch at the 1-Utama shopping centre here on Saturday.
“The PlayStation 3 isn’t just another videogame console; it is a complete entertainment system with Blu-ray playback and integrated Wi-Fi connectivity that allows you to surf the Web from your living room,” he said.
Despite having arrived here nearly two years after its worldwide launch in the United States and Japan, the Malaysia market -- with its young demographic -- is an important one for the company, Sony Computer Entertainment Asia president Tetsuhiko Yasuda claimed.
He said the timing of the PS3 launch couldn’t have been better as the market for high definition products and the broadband infrastructure to support the media were rapidly growing.
Sony also announced that it will launch a local version of Sony’s online multiplayer gaming and digital media distribution service, PlayStation Network (PSN), by the end of the year.
PSN will allow local gamers to set up their own accounts to purchase games and media as well as play games online.
Yasuda said Sony also aims to have global simultaneous launches of high profile games and consoles in the near future.
(extracted from: http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2008/9/20/technology/20080920163046&sec=technology)
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Day 6: Malaysia on Headlines (Sept 20)
Govt to investigate Teresa Kok’s ‘dog food’ claim
By DHARMENDER SINGH
KLANG: The government will conduct a serious investigation into claims by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok that she was served food that was “almost like dog food” while detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department T. Murugiah said he would personally meet with Kok soon to gather her input, and also visit the police station where she was held.
He said he wanted to know who bought the food, where it was bought, how much it cost, what the allocations are for meals for detainees, and what type of food is supposed to be served.
“I am shocked with Kok’s comments on the food she was given while in detention and I will be handing in a report on my findings to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister,” he told reporters after launching a football tournament between Tamil vernacular schools from Selangor and Kuala Lumpur here on Saturday.
He said anyone arrested should be treated with respect and given proper food, and if Kok’s claims were true then what was done to her was patently unfair.
Murugiah, who is also the Public Complaints Bureau head, said the comments also put the Government and the police in a bad light.
“The Government’s credibility has been damaged and I want to solve the problem as well as ensure there is no such recurrence in the future,” he said, adding that he was upset with the entire episode.
(extracted from: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/20/nation/20080920195312&sec=nation)
By DHARMENDER SINGH
KLANG: The government will conduct a serious investigation into claims by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok that she was served food that was “almost like dog food” while detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department T. Murugiah said he would personally meet with Kok soon to gather her input, and also visit the police station where she was held.
He said he wanted to know who bought the food, where it was bought, how much it cost, what the allocations are for meals for detainees, and what type of food is supposed to be served.
“I am shocked with Kok’s comments on the food she was given while in detention and I will be handing in a report on my findings to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister,” he told reporters after launching a football tournament between Tamil vernacular schools from Selangor and Kuala Lumpur here on Saturday.
He said anyone arrested should be treated with respect and given proper food, and if Kok’s claims were true then what was done to her was patently unfair.
Murugiah, who is also the Public Complaints Bureau head, said the comments also put the Government and the police in a bad light.
“The Government’s credibility has been damaged and I want to solve the problem as well as ensure there is no such recurrence in the future,” he said, adding that he was upset with the entire episode.
(extracted from: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/20/nation/20080920195312&sec=nation)
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