Selangor yakin raih minimum satu piala tahun depan

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MENGAKHIRI musim 2012 tanpa sebarang piala apabila sekadar menduduki tangga ketiga Liga Super dan separuh akhir Piala Malaysia, Penolong Jurulatih Selangor, P Maniam yakin The Red Giants akan merangkul sekurang-kurangnya satu piala musim depan.

Bagaimanapun  jelasnya, anak buah Irfan Bakti harus berusaha gigih dari sekarang kerana sudah pasti Selangor akan mendapat tentangan sengit daripada pasukan lain terutama juara Liga Super 2012, Kelantan.

"Tahun lepas kita tidak memperoleh sebarang piala apabila sekadar menduduki tangga ketiga Liga Super dan separuh akhir bagi Piala Malaysia.

"Jadi, musim depan saya yakin sekurang-kurangnya satu piala menjadi milik skuad Merah Kuning," kata Maniam ketika dihubungi Sinar Harian Online, hari ini.

Begitupun, Maniam berkata, usaha gigih harus diperkuatkan dalam diri pemain kerana bukan mudah untuk merangkul sesuatu kejuaraan.

"Pemain harus rajin berlatih, bersemangat dan tumpukan setiap taktik yang diajarkan oleh Irfan. Sekiranya semua itu dapat dipratikkan dengan baik oleh pemain, tidak mustahil kita mampu bergelar juara.

“Apa-apa pun, saya yakin Irfan mampu membantu Selangor muncul sebagai juara Liga Super pada musim depan," kata Maniam.yang menaruh kepercayaan sepenuhnya kepada Irfan.

Dalam pada itu, ketika diminta mengulas ketiadaan Safiq Rahim mulai musim depan, Maniam mengakui bahawa ia sedikit sebanyak memberi kesan kepada Gergasi Merah selepas kehilangan pakar sepakan percuma itu.

“Tidak dapat dinafikan, kehilangan Safiq memberikan kesan kepada Selangor. Dia merupakan seorang ketua pasukan yang bagus serta pakar dalam gerakan set-piece.

“Namun, bola sepak adalah semangat berpasukan dan ia bukan dalam bentuk individu," jelas Maniam lagi.

Tambah Maniam, beliau turut yakin dengan kombinasi pemain baru dan lama mampu memberi satu keputusan positif buat Gergasi Merah bagi mengharungi saingan Liga M musim depan.

“Kami kini berwajah baharu dan saya menyeru kepada pemain-pemain baru dan lama Selangor agar menamatkan penantian untuk memenangi trofi Liga Super musim depan.

“Justeru, saya berharap mereka dapat bekerjasama dalam usaha untuk membentuk persefahaman lebih mantap dan mengekalkan reputasi Selangor,” ujar beliau.

Hoki Piala Sultan Johor: Malaysia tewas 5-2

MALAYSIA gagal mengekalkan momentum memburu kemenangan kedua berturut-turut apabila tumpas 5-2 kepada New Zealand pada Kejohanan Hoki Piala Sultan Johor di Stadium Hoki Taman Daya di sini, malam tadi.

Faktor keletihan menjadi punca skuad bimbingan Mohd Dharma Raj Abdullah gagal menandingi rentak pasukan New Zealand yang melancarkan serangan bertali arus untuk mencapai kemenangan mudah.

Perlawanan yang bermula lewat sejam berikutan hujan menyaksikan pasukan New Zealand menguasai perlawanan dan terus membolosi benteng pertahanan negara pada babak kedua perlawanan.

New Zealand berjaya menghasilkan gol pembukaan menerusi Ben Radovonich pada minit ke-17 sebelum Malaysia, selaku juara bertahan, menyamakan kedudukan melalui strok yang disempurnakan oleh kapten Muhammad Noor Faeez Ibrahim.

Sorakan lebih 7,000 penonton yang hadir menyaksikan perlawanan itu bagaikan meniup semangat kepada pasukan negara untuk menambah jaringan dan dua minit Muhammad Noor Faeez menyempurnakan pukulan sudut penalti.

Bagaimanapun, New Zealand mengambil kesempatan daripada kealpaan benteng pertahanan negara untuk menyamakan kedudukan menerusi Parker Brennan Alexander pada minit ke-30.

Tidak cukup dengan itu pasukan negara yang dilihat agak keletihan sekali lagi dikejutkan oleh jaringan Radovonich pada minit ke-32.

Selepas berehat separuh masa pertama, harapan penonton untuk melihat kebangkitan pasukan negara tidak kesampaian apabila gawang negara terus digegarkan oleh jaringan Kane Russel pada minit ke-46 dan Michael Ritchie minit ke-52.

Beberapa pukulan sudut penalti yang diperoleh pasukan negara dalam separuh masa kedua gagal dimanfaatkan untuk mengejar pasukan Kiwi.

Sementara itu, Muhammad Dharma Raj memberikan alasan bahawa anak buahnya terlalu keletihan selepas berhempas pulas mengalahkan Jerman 3-2 pada perlawanan pembukaan semalam.

Sebelum itu dalam perlawanan lain, naib juara tahun lepas, Australia mengalahkan Pakistan 5-1 manakala India mencapai kejayaan kedua apabila menundukkan Jerman 3-1.

Hari ini, kejohanan antarabangsa bawah 21 tahun itu berhenti rehat sempena sambutan Hari Deepavali.

Esok, Jerman akan menentang New Zealand (4.05 petang), Malaysia bertemu Australia (6.05 pertang) dan India menentang Pakistan pada pukul 8.05 malam.

Muktamar: Pas Kedah tonjol model tadbiran Islam

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Ketua Penerangan Pas Kedah, Muhammad Sanusi Md Noor

ALOR SETAR - Pas Kedah akan menonjolkan model pentadbiran Islam dalam masyarakat majmuk pada Muktamar Pas Pusat kali-58 yang berlangsung di Kelantan minggu ini.

Ketua Penerangan Pas Kedah, Muhammad Sanusi Md Noor berkata, mereka akan menggunakan sepenuhnya peluang pentas muktamar untuk mengetengahkan pencapaian serta kejayaan Pas dalam menerajui sepenggal kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat (PR) di Kedah.

Menurutnya, usaha berkenaan bagi membolehkan segala maklumat berkenaan pencapaian itu sampai sepenuhnya kepada pengetahuan Pas Pusat serta Pas negeri lain.

Pas mengetuai pentadbiran Kerajaan Negeri Kedah sejak Mac 2008.

“Walaupun kita menghadapi cabaran dalam mentadbir kerajaan, namun tidak besar hanya sedikit cabaran sahaja,” katanya kepada Sinar Harian di sini, semalam.

Mengulas mengenai kenyataan Naib Presiden Pas, Salahuddin Ayub berhubung perwakilan Pas bebas membentangkan sebarang usul walaupun pada tahap mengkritik pemimpin sendiri, Sanusi turut menyambut baik usaha itu.
Menurutnya, bagaimanapun isu yang lebih penting untuk diketengahkan perlu menyentuh usaha untuk mengukuhkan pendirian Pas dari dalam terutamanya menghadapi situasi negara yang semakin mencabar.


“Muktamar kali ini juga dilihat sebagai medan untuk pembahas mempersiapkan isu menjurus kepada usaha Pas menerajui Kerajaan Persekutuan termasuk mengukuhkan Pas dalam komponen PR.

“Perwakilan tidak boleh menjadikan pentas muktamar sebagai tempat melepaskan geram semata-mata tetapi untuk kemajuan Pas,” katanya.

Sanusi yang juga Timbalan Ketua Pemuda Pas Kedah berkata, muktamar berkenaan turut membantu mempersiapkan Perwakilan Pemuda Pas yang boleh menyediakan pelbagai jawapan untuk berhadapan dengan pertanyaan pengundi baru tentang pelbagai isu politik.

“Golongan pengundi muda sekarang memerlukan jawapan kukuh serta pantas bagi menjawab tohmahan serta pertanyaan isu yang sering diputarbelit  oleh pihak mempunyai kepentingan tertentu,” katanya.

Menurutnya, mereka juga akan memfokuskan isu yang dapat mendekati kelompok pengundi muda yang pertama kali mengundi melalui media baru termasuk jaringan laman sosial serta blog.

Sementara itu, Ketua Dewan Muslimat Pas Kedah, Datuk Siti Ashah Ghazali berkata, antara isu yang akan disentuh oleh perwakilan mereka turut memfokuskan isu pendidikan dan ekonomi termasuk isu lain.

“Bagaimanapun maklumat secara terperinci kita belum terima kerana Dewan Muslimat Pas Kawasan menghantar terus usul berkenaan kepada Muslimat Pas Pusat,” katanya.

Bendera Malaysia dibakar berhampiran kediaman Duta Besar di Jakarta

JAKARTA - Isu tiga anggota polis Malaysia yang didakwa merogol seorang wanita rakyat Indonesia di Pulau Pinang baru-baru ini menyebabkan sekumpulan penunjuk perasaan berdemonstrasi berhampiran kediaman Duta Besar Malaysia ke Indonesia, di Jalan Patra Kuningan Utara di sini pada Selasa.
   
Dalam demonstrasi pada pukul 1 petang itu, kira-kira 20 orang yang mewakili kumpulan Benteng Demokrasi Rakyat (Bendera) mendesak kerajaan Indonesia mengusir Duta Besar Malaysia dari republik itu selain bertindak membakar bendera Malaysia bagi menunjukkan kemarahan terhadap kejadian yang berlaku ke atas wanita berusia 25 tahun itu.
   
Demonstrasi itu diadakan kira-kira 100 meter dari Kediaman Rasmi Duta Besar Malaysia itu kerana pihak polis Indonesia telah menutup jalan di hadapan kediaman itu dan menghalang kumpulan penunjuk perasaan daripada beraksi di hadapan kediaman itu.
   
Kumpulan penunjuk perasaan itu turut mendesak Presiden Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono bertindak tegas berhubung kejadian itu dengan mengusir Duta Besar Malaysia ke Indonesia dari republik itu.
   
Mereka menyalahkan Yudhoyono yang didakwa gagal melindungi warganegara Indonesia di Malaysia dan meminta Presiden Indonesia itu mengundurkan diri jika beliau gagal mengusir Duta Besar Malaysia.
 
Dalam demonstasi selama 50 minit itu, beberapa peserta termasuk kanak-kanak dan wanita memegang kain sepanduk berwarna merah yang antara antara lain bertulis 'Usir Duta Besar Malaysia, Ganyang dan lawan Malaysia'.
   
Pasukan Polis Indonesia, termasuk anggota dari unit pemusnah bom, mengawal ketat di kawasan sekitar Kediaman Rasmi Duta Besar Malaysia itu sepanjang demonstrasi berlangsung.
   
Sejumlah besar anggota polis Indonesia turut berkawal di luar bangunan Kedutaan Besar Malaysia di Jalan H.R. Rasuna Said, Kuningan bagi mengawal keadaan jika berlaku demonstrasi di situ, namun bas yang membawa kumpulan dari Bendera itu hanya melalui kawasan itu.

Wan Azizah: 'Biar cahaya kemenangan bangkit semula'

Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail

SHAH ALAM – PKR menyeru rakyat Malaysia mengingati mereka yang sedang menghadapi "kegelapan" - kesukaran dan keperitan hidup masing-masing - sempena sambutan Deepavali.

Presidennya, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail berkata, ingatan tersebut wajar bersesuaian dengan erti sambutan perayaan ini yang bermaksud ‘sebarisan pelita’dan melambangkan simbol kemenangan cahaya apabila berhadapan dengan kegelapan.

“Apabila anda menyalakan pelita dipa bersama keluarga anda, harapan saya bahawa anda mengingati Indra, yang masih menantikan keadilan untuk anaknya Kugan yang telah menjadi mangsa keganasan polis ketika dalam tahanan.

“Tatkala anda menjamu laddoo dan barfi, ingatlah ibu-ibu seperti Suppama yang dinafikan bantuan kerajaan, malah tidak diizinkan mengisi borang e-kasih,” katanya dalam perutusan sempena Deepavali, hari ini.

Tambahnya, Deepavali dari segi spiritualnya meraikan cahaya – meraikan kebaikan yang wujud dalam hati setiap insan.

Sehubungan itu, beliau berharap perayaan itu merupakan suatu kemenangan atas segala kegelapan – baik yang lahir dari kejahilan dan prejudis, mahupun penganiayaan yang membabitkan seluruh masyarakat.

“Saya mengingatkan diri saya serta rakyat Malaysia bahawa perjalanan kita masih jauh, dan perjuangan kita terlalu hampir untuk kita pandang leka.

“Biarlah cahaya kemenangan itu bangkit semula, dan biarlah ia terus menerangi perjuangan kita rakyat Malaysia,” katanya lagi.

Dalam pada itu, beliau juga mendakwa, masih terdapat ribuan penduduk berketurunan India yang tidak diiktiraf status kewarganegaraan untuk membuktikan bahawa mereka rakyat asal Malaysia.

Dr Wan Azizah turut mendakwa, seramai 1,758 orang India yang membesar di rumah-rumah kebajikan yang  dibiayai kerajaan tidak mempunyai kerakyatan dan dokumen pengenalan diri.

AES: Kelantan tunggu penjelasan kementerian

Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan

KOTA BHARU – Kerajaan Kelantan tidak menolak sepenuhnya penggunaan Sistem Penguatkuasaan Automatik (AES) sebaliknya menunggu penerangan Kementerian Pengangkutan mengenai keberkesanan sistem tersebut.

Bagi tujuan itu, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kerajaan Tempatan, Pelancongan dan Kebudayaan, Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan berkata, Kerajaan Negeri terpaksa menangguhkan AES berikutan banyak perkara yang masih belum jelas termasuk keberkesanannya.

“Kami tangguh dulu pemasangan AES kerana masih belum mendapat apa-apa penerangan yang jelas tentang fungsi, kebaikan dan keberkesanan sistem tersebut. Ia masih tidak jelas sama ada sistem tersebut memberi manfaat atau tidak,” katanya kepada Sinar Harian semalam.

Menurutnya, kerajaan Kelantan akan mendengar penjelasan dan mungkin akan mempertimbangkan pemasangan AES jika ia terbukti berkesan dan tidak membebankan rakyat.

Ketika ditanya mengenai denda yang dikenakan ke atas pemandu yang tidak mematuhi had yang ditetapkan, beliau berkata, jumlah yang dikenakan terlalu tinggi dan boleh membebankan rakyat.

“Jika ia merupakan pengajaran, tidak perlu kenakan jumlah denda yang tinggi, ini bukan pengajaran tapi satu hukuman.

“Hak kebenaran untuk pemasangan AES di negeri terletak pada Kerajaan Negeri, maka kami menunggu kementerian untuk datang beri penjelasan, rakyat pun sedang menanti keputusan kami,” katanya.

Beliau turut menjelaskan, kawasan terpilih pemasangan AES di negeri ini juga tidak munasabah kerana keadaan kawasan tersebut kurang jumlah kemalangan dan tidak melibatkan kemalangan maut.

“Kami akan kaji dulu kawasan yang terlibat kerana dari apa yang saya lihat, ada di antaranya tidak munasabah kerana kawasan tersebut jarang berlaku kemalangan dan had laju yang ditetapkan juga sudah bersesuaian,” katanya.

Sebelum ini, negeri-negeri yang dikuasai Pakatan Rakyat mahu Kerajaan Persekutuan menangguhkan pelaksanaan AES di negeri ini kerana tidak mendapat penjelasan yang menyeluruh tentang keberkesanan sistem tersebut.

Butler bimbing T-Team

Kemelut PBSNT dengan Peter Butler bakal berakhir apabila jurulatih tersebut akan membimbing T-Team musim hadapan. Butler bakal mencipta rekod sebagai jurulatih import yang paling banyak membimbing pasukan dalam Liga Malaysia bermula dengan Sabah, Kelantan, Terengganu dan yang tebaru T-Team.

Menjelang perlawanan persahabatan

Rajagobal menggugurkan 4 pemain sebelum aksi persahabatan menentang Hong Kong malam esok. Pemain yang digugurkan Amiridwan Taj, Nik Shahrul Azim, Rizal Fahmi Rosid serta Yong Kuong Yong atas alasan ingin mendapatkan pemain yang berkebolehan bermain dibeberapa posisi dengan baik. Sementara itu Irwan Fadzly Idrus serta Ahmad Hazwan Bakri dipanggil semula untuk memperkuatkan pasukan.

Real’s Ronaldo to have tests after blow to face

MADRID – Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo will undergo tests at a clinic in the Spanish capital after sustaining a nasty gash above his left eye in Sunday’s 2-1 La Liga win at Levante, coach Jose Mourinho said.

Ronaldo was caught by David Navarro’s elbow in the opening minutes of the match in Valencia and after being patched up on the side of the pitch returned to the fray to score Real’s 21st-minute opener.

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after he scored against Levante during their Spanish first division soccer match at the Ciudad de Valencia stadium in Valencia November 11, 2012. 

He was replaced by Raul Albiol at halftime and Mourinho said his vision in both eyes was affected by the blow, which left one side of the Portuguese international’s face covered with blood.

"It was impossible for him to play on so when we get back to Madrid he’ll go to hospital to have the necessary checks," Mourinho said.

Messi nets twice as shaky Barca beat Mallorca

MADRID  – Unbeaten leaders Barcelona extended their near-perfect start but again suffered the defensive lapses that have plagued them this season when Lionel Messi netted twice in a 4-2 La Liga win at Real Mallorca on Sunday.

Their 10th victory in 11 matches, in which Xavi and Cristian Tello also scored, maintained their three-point advantage over second-placed Atletico Madrid, 2-0 winners at home to Getafe.

However, Barca coach Tito Vilanova will be wondering how inept defending allowed Mallorca to score twice early in the second half to get back to 3-2 before Messi struck his second of the night with 20 minutes left.

It was the World Player of the Year’s 76th goal of 2012 for club and country – 64 for Barca and 12 for Argentina – and he is closing in on the record for a calendar year of 85 set by German Gerd Mueller in 1972.

The 25-year-old has 15 in La Liga this season, four ahead of Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who has a chance to add to his tally at Levante in Sunday’s late kickoff (2030 GMT).

Real are third after a poor start to their title defence, 11 points adrift of arch rivals Barca and eight behind neighbours Atletico.

"The team is in a situation right now when any little mistake costs you a goal," Vilanova told a news conference.

"Maybe one goal against would have been a just reflection of how the match went but not two," added Pep Guardiola’s former assistant, who stepped up to take the top job at the end of last season when Guardiola quit.

Barca, whose only dropped points came in October’s 2-2 draw at home to champions Real, took a 28th-minute lead at Mallorca’s Iberostar stadium when Xavi left goalkeeper Dudu Aouate rooted to the spot with a sumptuous free kick.

Messi, who had his new-born son’s name Thiago written on his boots, made it 2-0 when Aouate let his low drive squirm past him in the 44th minute and Tello cut in from the left and curled into the far corner a minute later.

Mallorca kept plugging away and were rewarded 10 minutes into the second period when Javier Mascherano surrendered possession on the right and the ball eventually fell to Michael Pereira who smashed it past Victor Valdes.

Victor Casadesus scored from the spot two minutes later after a Sergio Busquets handball in the penalty area and the home fans sniffed an unlikely comeback.

However, substitute Alexis Sanchez chested down a Daniel Alves centre for Messi and he took a touch before sending a blistering shot into the roof of the net.

BAD LUCK

The victory equalled the best start to a league campaign of 31 points from 11 matches achieved twice by Real – in the 1968-69 and 1991-92 seasons.

"It’s not that we felt the win was in danger but I think the incident that led to the second goal was bad luck," central defender Gerard Pique, making his first start after a two-month injury layoff, said in an interview with Spanish television.

"We were tense towards the end because another similar passage of play could have brought them level," he added.

"In general we played well and we were superior although in the opening 15 minutes of the second half we suffered a bit."

Valencia’s poor away form continued when Aly Cissokho scored and was later sent off after conceding a penalty in a 1-1 draw at Real Valladolid.

Valencia had drawn one and lost four of their five away games this season and they had to hang on for the final half hour with 10 men at Valladolid’s Jose Zorrilla stadium after Cissokho was shown a straight red in the 64th minute.

The French fullback, who nodded his side ahead in the 14th minute, felled Julian Omar in the area and Victor Perez stroked the spot kick past Diego Alves to make it 1-1.

Valencia have 15 points in ninth, ahead of Valladolid thanks to a superior goal difference.

Athletic Bilbao also ended their match with 10 men but repelled intense late pressure to secure a 2-1 home win over Sevilla, only a fourth victory of the campaign that lifted the Basque club to 12th on 14 points.

Ander Herrera, who was also sent off at Valencia last month, picked up a second yellow card in the 76th minute after Oscar de Marcos and Markel Susaeta had put Bilbao 2-0 up at the break.

Alvaro Negredo pulled a goal back for the visitors, who are 10th on 15 points, from the penalty spot in the 79th minute after Andoni Iraola handled in the area.

Di Matteo rues misses as Chelsea held by Liverpool

LONDON  – Chelsea coach Roberto Di Matteo was left to rue his side’s missed chances as well as a potentially serious knee injury to skipper John Terry after their 1-1 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday.

Chelsea manager Roberto di Matteo gestures during their Champions League Group E soccer match against Shakhtar Donetsk at Stamford Bridge in London November 7, 2012. 

Despite their win over Liverpool in last season’s FA Cup final, Liverpool have had a good recent record against the European champions and are now unbeaten in their last four matches at Stamford Bridge.

They maintained that run when Luis Suarez headed an equaliser 17 minutes from time to cancel out Terry’s 20th-minute opener. The result stretched Liverpool’s unbeaten run in the league to six matches and left Chelsea without a win in three games.

"We knew that the second goal was crucial to the game," Di Matteo told reporters. "We had opportunities, their goalkeeper made some great saves. We couldn’t push on.

"We are still playing well and we are still creating chances, but we have to be clinical to take our chances and finish the game off."

Chelsea slipped to third in the table and lost two points to leaders Manchester United and second-placed Manchester City who both won over the weekend.

United lead the table with 27 points from 11 games, City have 25 and Chelsea 24.

But Di Matteo was looking on the bright side, even though Chelsea lost 3-2 at home to Manchester United in their last home match and had two players, Branislav Ivanovic and Fernando Torres, sent off.

"I think we are in much better shape than previous years," he said. "We are very close to our best as well.

"If we had won today it would have been great for us. But we are still in the mix. The United game was obviously a real blow because of the way it happened. Two players sent off and a goal that should have been disallowed."

NATURALLY CONCERNED

He was also naturally concerned about Terry, who left the ground in a brace and on crutches after damaging his knee, 19 minutes after scoring Chelsea’s goal.

"We have to wait to tomorrow to understand the extent of the injury. It was great to see him lead the team out there we just have to hope it’s not a serious injury we have to see him back soon.

"He’s in pain now but we hope it’s not serious. He will go to hospital tomorrow to have a scan. It’s a real shame he had to come off. He was playing really well."

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, back at the club where he worked under Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant and Luis Felipe Scolari, was pleased with his team’s performance.

"We were a wee bit tentative in the first half and we couldn’t quite press it as we like to. When we changed the formation we got more on to the front foot.

"There was great character from all the players. I know more than anyone how difficult it is to come here and get a result. So it’s great point for us.

"It’s a difficult place to come. They are fantastic players, European champions and it’s great club so I’m delighted for our young players.

"There’s great character and resilience and survival instincts in the squad but if we can get one or two in January that can turn those draws into wins that would be great."

Malaysia edge favourites Germany in opener

What a save: Malaysia’s goalkeeper Muhammad Hafizuddin Othman palms away a shot by Germany’s German’s Moritz Trompertz in the Sultan of Johor Cup match at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium Sunday night. Malaysia won 3-2. 

JOHOR BARU: As promised by their coach, the Malaysians were roaring tigers against junior world champions Germany.

The defending champions showed incredible fighting spirit to come back from a two-goal deficit to upset favourites Germany 3-2 in a thrilling encounter on the opening day of the Sultan of Johor Cup at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium yesterday.

It was a mixed performance from the Malaysians who were pathetic in the first half as they allowed the Germans to score twice. But they turned their game around after the breather with some breathtaking movements and stunned the European powerhouse, who are favoured to win the Junior World Cup in Delhi next year.

The players seemed to have heeded coach K. Dharmaraj’s call to keep up a winning mentality and not be nervous when facing the world champions.

“It’s an important result that puts us in the proper frame of mind for the rest of the tournament. We must try to win every match no matter who the opponents are,” said a happy Dharmaraj after the game.

“In the second-half, the players showed they have the calibre to play good hockey and take the fight to their opponents,”

The coach made a surprise decision when he played youngster Mohamed Zulhairi Hahim in the starting lineup.

Zuhairi was among the two players who did not feature in the tournament last year or the Junior Asia Cup in Malacca. The other is goalkeeper Shahrul Azaddin Auskarzie.

Still, they had enough experience in the team, including four under-21 players in Mohamed Noor Feez Ibrahim, Mohamed Ramadhan Rosli, Amir Frid and Mohamed Forhan Azhaari.

The Malaysians began on a fast note and even forced four penalty corners in a row in the fourth minute. But it was all for nothing with German goalkeeper Victor Ally in great form.

Germany then struck in the 18th minute from only their second penalty corner when Tom Grambusch scored with a drag flick.

The five-time junior world champions were on a roll and scored their second from a field attempt by Moritz Trompertz.

Dharmaraj’s hairdryer blast must have done wonders for the young Malaysians as they stormed back after the break and quickly took control. They needed a mere three minutes to get back into the game.

Mohamed Syamin Yusof took a shot at goal from the right which had the goalkeeper beaten and Amir Farid had the easy task of slotting into an empty net. The Malaysians were in command and earned their fifth penalty corner in the 50th minute. A flick from Noor Faeez hit defender Mathias Mullers and the umpire awarded a stroke for Malaysia.

Faeez strode up and converted the flick to make it 2-2. The Germans were reeling and the Malaysians continued to push hard.

With just two minutes remaining, the Malaysians whipped up a winner. It came from Mohamed Ramadhan from the left with a superb reverse hit that had the German defence beaten.

Zulfahmi grabs second career podium finish at Valencia GP

PETALING JAYA: Zulfahmi Khairuddin closed his breakthrough 2012 season in splendid fashion by clinching third place in a thrilling Moto3 race at the Valencia Grand Prix yesterday.

Zulfahmi rode brilliantly from 17th place on the starting grid to grab his second career podium finish with a stunning overtaking move on the final turn.

In collecting another 16 precious championship points, the AirAsia-SIC-Ajo team rider climbed to seventh in the Moto3 standings with a total haul of 128 points.

The 21-year-old from Banting earned his first career podium by finishing second in the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix in Sepang last month.

Zulfahmi struggled to get the right set-up in qualifying and only managed 17th fastest in the final practice session.

The race began under wet conditions and Zulfahmi went for a cautious approach at the start despite keeping close to the leading group.

He then started to pull off a series of fastest laps and with three laps to go, Zulfahmi moved behind the Red Bull KTM Ajo Racing duo of Sandro Cortese and Danny Kent.

They maintained their positions until the last turn of the final lap 14 when Kent and Zulfahmi made their daring passing moves, overtaking Cortese and Binder respectively to give the Malaysian rider a well deserved podium.

Zulfahmi, in a telephone interview from Valencia, said he had to take a cautious approach due to the wet and slippery conditions.

“I’ve never liked racing on a wet track. I was very careful at the start and just followed the leaders, I saw some riders crashing out, so I was careful until the final stages of the races.

“I took a big risk to fight with the frontrunners on the final turn but it paid dividends.

“I’m so happy to get my second podium of the year, more so after starting 17th on the grid and struggling in the practice sessions earlier.

“Many thanks to the sponsors and everybody who gave me this chance,” said Zulfahmi, who was named the Most Improved Rider for Moto3 last week.

Kent won the race in 45:5.891, crossing the finishing line just 0.056 seconds ahead of world champion Cortese and 0.114 seconds in front of Zulfahmi.

FAM want coach to stop experimenting and identify his first XI

All the best: National coach Datuk K. Rajagopal with some of the 50 Felda players bound for a training stint with Cardiff City Sunday.

By NIK NAIZI HUSIN and SHAMSHUL FITRI -  KUANTAN: Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah wants results and has told national coach Datuk K. Rajagopal to stop experimenting with the side. 

In fact, he believes Rajagopal has had enough time to identify the best players for the AFF Suzuki Cup, which begins on Nov 24. The national side have failed to impress in recent friendly matches, losing 1-0 to Vietnam and 2-0 to Thailand.  

Rajagopal has been dismissive of the poor results, saying they were of no significance. 

But the team’s poor run has seen them drop even further in the FIFA rankings to number 163 in the world, their worst position yet. 

Tengku Abdullah said yesterday that Rajagopal must identify the actual cause for Malaysia’s defeats in the two friendly matches. 

“There is cause for concern. The tinkering must end. He should know his starting lineup by now,” he said. “Stop the experimenting and identify the first XI. The Suzuki Cup is just around the corner and we need to be at our best.” 

Tengku Abdullah has reason to be concerned as Rajagopal has spent the better part of the year specifically preparing for the Suzuki Cup, apparently without much success. The coach had called up as many as 66 players as he continues to tinker in an indecisive manner. 

“If we frequently change the players, they will never be compatible with each other,” Tengku Abdullah said at an event to mark the birthday of the Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah, at the Darul Makmur Stadium. Malaysia are drawn in Group B with Indonesia, Singapore and Laos while Group A comprises Vietanam, Thailand, the Philippines and Myanmar. 

Malaysia open their Suzuki Cup campaign against arch-rivals Singapore on Nov 25. They play Laos three days later with the crunch match against Indonesia on Dec 1. 

However, Tengku Abdullah said failure to field the preferred first XI in friendly matches did not mean that Rajagopal had got it entirely wrong. 

“The objective is to identify new players but we need a winning momentum to lift the team ahead of the tournament. These defeats are bad for team morale. He has had more than enough time to determine his lineup,” he added. “We are the defending champions and must be able to put up a team strong enough to retain the Cup.”  

In Kuala Lumpur, Rajagopal hoped all the negativity surrounding the team would end ahead of their final preparation. 

“No coach wants to lose. The recent results come as a reality check but I know what is going on in the team,” said Rajagopal after giving a motivational talk to 50 Felda players who will be undergoing a three-week stint at the Cardiff City Football Academy in Wales. 

He added that the national team will play two more friendly matches — against Hong Kong (Nov 14) and Bangladesh (Nov 20) — before the Suzuki Cup. “I’m confident we will see an improvement this time. I know exactly who will feature in the first XI and those who will play the supporting roles,” said Rajagopal, who is expected to announce the 22-man squad a day before the tournament.

Happy Subra wants Malaysia to win big

Joy to all: S. Subramaniam (centre) and family at home in Sungai Siput, Perak, wishing Starsport readers a Happy Deepavali. 

PETALING JAYA: National footballer S. Subramaniam is in seventh heaven. 

The 27-year-old Kelantan centreback capped the finest season of his career after the Red Warriors won the treble this season. 

“It’s my best season since I turned pro in 2005 and I have won three championships medals in my seventh year as a professional,” said Subramaniam, who is back home in Sungei Siput for the Deepavali holidays. 

The only disappointment is that he had to drop out of the national team preparing for the Suzuki Cup later this month because of a nagging knee injury. 

“I was recalled to the national team after a four-year lapse but the knee injury meant I have to give it a miss. In fact, I’m due for an ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) surgery on Nov 22. Malaysia will play two days later and I hope they win big,” said Subramaniam, who wished all Hindus in Malaysia a Happy Deepavali.

Lynas shares drop 6% Monday after capital raising for M'sian plant

SYDNEY: Shares in Australia's Lynas Corp dropped 6.2 percent on Monday after the company said it raised A$150 million ($156 million) to help fund the start-up of its controversial Malaysian rare earths plant through a placement to institutional investors.

A further A$50 million will be sought from retail investors.

Shares in Lynas surged 12 percent on Thursday after a court lifted a suspension on its licence to operate the processing plant. The shares were suspended on Friday after it announced the capital raising.

The stock was down 5 percent at A$0.76 at 1110 GMT. ($1 = 0.9635 Australian dollars)

CIMB Research: Plunge in telco stocks presents buying opportunity

KUALA LUMPUR: CIMB Equities Research describes the recent plunge in Malaysian telco stocks as an opportunity to accumulate at better values.

It said on Monday the share prices of Axiata, DiGi, Maxis and Telekom Malaysia plunged 9%, 6%, 3% and 6% respectively and have lagged the KLCI by 2%-8% since Oct 1.

“We know of no adverse industry developments that had triggered the sell-off, which was probably the result of investors locking in their gains for the year,” it said.

CIMB Research said its four telcos returned 31%-43% to outpace the KLCI by 20%-31% in the 10 months for 2012.

“The sector is still a Neutral while Axiata remains our top pick, followed by DiGi. We think TM may struggle to be re-rated to its former levels given earnings headwinds from competition and a likely higher retirement age,” it said.

The research house said investors should accumulate the shares as they now offer higher dividend yields of 4.3%-6.0% versus 4.0%-5.8% previously while fundamentals are mostly intact.

Japan economy shrinks 0.9 percent in third-quarter, points to recession

"The GDP data confirms that the economy has fallen into a recession," said Tatsushi Shikano, senior economist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities in Tokyo. "It is set for a second straight quarter of contraction in the current quarter." - Reuters

TOKYO: Japan's economy shrank in the September quarter for the first time since last year, adding to signs that slowing global growth and tensions with China are nudging the world's third-largest economy into recession.

The 0.9 percent fall in GDP was in line with expectations, although a decline in capital expenditure was much steeper than forecast. Sony Corp and Panasonic Corp have slashed spending plans to cope with massive losses as they struggle with competitive markets and a strong yen.

The fall in GDP translated into an annualised rate of decline of 3.5 percent, government data showed on Monday. While U.S. growth showed a modest pick up in the third quarter, Japan and the euro zone economies are shrinking.

"The GDP data confirms that the economy has fallen into a recession," said Tatsushi Shikano, senior economist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities in Tokyo. "It is set for a second straight quarter of contraction in the current quarter."

A recession is commonly defined as two consecutive quarters of contraction.

The data will keep the Bank of Japan under pressure to boost monetary stimulus even after it eased policy in October for the second straight month as a strong yen and a territorial row with China add to the impact on exports of the global slowdown.

Many analysts expect the BOJ to leave policy unchanged at a review next week, but some see it boosting stimulus again at a December 19-20 meeting, shortly after the U.S. Federal Reserve is due to meet.

External demand accounted for 0.7 percentage points of July-September GDP contraction, matching the median projection. Japan's exports fell 5.0 percent in July-September, the biggest decline since a 6.0 percent decline in April-June last year, the data showed.

A row with China over sovereignty of some islands in the East China Sea sparked violent protests in China and the boycott of Japanese goods, which added to the slide in exports, particularly for automakers such asNissan Motor Co.

Private consumption - which accounts for roughly 60 percent of the economy - fell 0.5 percent in the third quarter against a median forecast of a 0.6 percent drop.

Capital expenditure tumbled 3.2 percent, the fastest pace of decline since a 5.5 percent drop in April-June 2009, as companies turned more pessimistic about earnings from domestic and overseas markets.

Japan's ailing electronics sector is one good example of the extent to which companies are cutting back on investment.

Sony plans to reduce capital spending by 29 percent in the year to March 2013 and Panasonic plans a 27 percent cut, after incurring huge losses in their TV manufacturing businesses.

The companies are struggling to compete with more nimble rivals, such as South Korea Samsung Electronics and America's Apple Inc, and a steady rise in the yen, which makes exports from Japan more expensive.

Japan's economy outperformed most of its Group of Seven peers in the first half of this year on robust private consumption and spending for reconstruction from last year's earthquake.

But growth has stalled since then. Indeed, second-quarter growth was revised down by half to just 0.1 percent compared with an initial report. The last quarterly contraction was in the Oct-Dec period of 2011, when GDP fell 0.3 percent.

With the economic affect of rebuilding from last year's earthquake and tsunami fading, the government acknowledged last week that its index of leading indicators gauge fell to a level suggesting the onset of a recession.

"Judging from the coincident indicator index, the economy peaked in March and it is likely to bottom out in October or November, as the global economy is expected to pick up gradually," Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley's Shikano said.

The BOJ set a 1 percent inflation target and eased policy in February. It followed up with further stimulus in April, September and October on mounting evidence that the economy was on the cusp of recession.

The euro zone is expected to report on Thursday that the economy contracted by 0.2 percent in the third quarter, adding to a 0.2 percent contraction in the second quarter.

Petronas seeks to win over Canada on Progress bid-FT

"We've told them if you want more transparency from us we're prepared to increase the number of independent directors (on the Progress board). It's good governance," chief executive Tan Sri Shamsul Azhar Abbas was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

KUALA LUMPUR: Petroliam Nasional aims to overcome Canada's opposition to its $5.2 billion bid for Progress Energy Resources by adding more independent directors to the board of the gas producer, theFinancial Times reported.

The newspaper cited the Malaysian state oil firm's chief executive Tan Sri Shamsul Azhar Abbas as saying in an interview that Petronas was prepared to make the move to soothe Canada's concerns about a lack of transparency after the takeover.

Canada blocked Petronas's bid for Progress last month, with Industry Minister Christian Paradis saying it was unlikely to bring a "net benefit" to the country. Petronas and Progress are planning a multibillion-dollar liquefied natural gas plant on Canada's West Coast.

Petronas has said it plans to make further submissions to win approval.

"We've told them if you want more transparency from us we're prepared to increase the number of independent directors (on the Progress board). It's good governance," Shamsul was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Shamsul also said Petronas as a whole had become more transparent since he took over in 2010, even though he reported ultimately to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.

"In terms of governance and transparency we are not a publicly listed company but we behave as one. There is no interference from the government," Shamsul said.

Petronas is Malaysia's largest single taxpayer and its biggest source of revenue, covering as much as 45 percent of the government's annual budget.

Shamsul said Petronas has been in talks to cut special dividend payments to the government, which amounted to 28 billion ringgit last year. The dividend would be cut next year by a billion ringgit and likely fall further each year, he said. 

LDP, Sprint, SKVE among highways offering festive discounts

KUALA LUMPUR: Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP) is offering a 60 sen discount to its users in conjunction with the Deepavali celebration Tuesday, the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) said in a statement here Monday.

LLM said Sistem Penyuraian Trafik KL Barat (Sprint Highway) would be offering a 20 sen discount.

For both the tolled highways, the discounts are applicable to all classes of cash payment and electronic toll collection system.

Meanwhile, the South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE) is also offering a 5% discount in conjunction with Deepavali.

The three highways are among 20 highways offering discounts and rebates on toll in conjunction with Deepavali and Awal Muharram this week.