TALKING POLITICS: LIM GUAN ENG HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

What an incredulous three weeks it has been for all of us since we all went to the polls on March 8 this month.

The drama that has been unfolding right before our very eyes has been unbelievable!

Tomorrow a brand new MB gets installed in Terengganu who is not our PM's choice. This, despite the fact that our PM had said on national television only about three days ago that he was confident that everything would soon sort itself out to the BN's favour.

This was obviously not what he meant or had in mind, surely. And it would be very interesting to see what he has to say about this tomorrow after the swearing-in ceremony of the person he didn't anoint.

It must be very difficult on our PM; not to mention, also embarrassing.

Penang CM Lim Guan Eng, meanwhile, continues to make positive ripples in everyone's lives.

I read in the newspapers how he slipped in and out of a local church on Good Friday to share in with Christians and their celebration of Easter this weekend.

That itself would have made a splendid lesson of humility and tolerance for all the worshippers.

The Star said the Chief Minister had no bodyguards but came into the church alone.

This next week is certainly going to add more hot and sizzling politics into our lives.

For now, that seems to be the only thing we can be sure about in this new political landscape that had bulldozed its way through on March 8.

aNt
TALKING POLITICS
2:30am Easter Sunday

Arthur Clarke Dies At 90

Here is a man I had admired, now gone. aNt



Writer Arthur C Clarke dies at 90

Sir Arthur C Clarke was famous for his science fiction writing Space Odyssey clips Terry Pratchett pays tribute

British science fiction writer Sir Arthur C Clarke has died in his adopted home of Sri Lanka at the age of 90.

The Somerset-born author came to fame in 1968 when short story The Sentinel was made into the film 2001: A Space Odyssey by director Stanley Kubrick.

His visions of space travel and computing sparked the imagination of readers and scientists alike.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse paid tribute, hailing the writer as a "great visionary".

Since 1995, the author had been largely confined to a wheelchair by post-polio syndrome.

He died at 0130 local time (2000 GMT) of respiratory complications and heart failure, according to his aide, Rohan De Silva.

Far-seeing scientist

"Sir Arthur has left written instructions that his funeral be strictly secular," his secretary, Nalaka Gunawardene, was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.

She said the author had requested "absolutely no religious rites of any kind".

A farmer's son, Sir Arthur was educated at Huish's Grammar School in Taunton before joining the civil service.

A great science fiction writer, a very good scientist, a great prophet and a very dear friend Sir Patrick Moore Obituary of Arthur C Clarke In quotes: tributes to writer

He served in the Royal Air Force during World War II, and foresaw the concept of communication satellites.

Sir Arthur's detailed descriptions of space shuttles, super-computers and rapid communications systems inspired millions of readers.

When asked why he never patented his idea for communication satellites, he said: "I did not get a patent because I never thought it will happen in my lifetime."

In the 1940s, he maintained man would reach the moon by the year 2000, an idea dismissed at the time.

He was the author of more than 100 fiction and non-fiction books, and his writings are credited by many observers with giving science fiction a human and practical face. He collaborated on the screenplay for 2001: A Space Odyssey with Kubrick.

'Great prophet'

British astronomer Sir Patrick Moore had known Sir Arthur since they met as teenagers at the British Interplanetary Society.

Sir Patrick paid tribute to his friend, remembering him as "a very sincere person" with "a strong sense of humour".

Tributes have also come from George Whitesides, the executive director of the National Space Society, where Sir Arthur served on the board of governors, and fellow science fiction writer Terry Pratchett.

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His writing inspired many people to wonder what might be possible

Pratik, California

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The author married in 1953, and was divorced in 1964. He had no children.

He moved to the Indian Ocean island of Sri Lanka in 1956 after embarking on a study of the Great Barrier Reef.

There, he pursued his interest in scuba diving, even setting up a diving school at Hikkaduwa, near the capital, Colombo.

"Sometimes I am asked how I would like to be remembered," he recalled recently.

"I have had a diverse career as a writer, underwater explorer and space promoter. Of all these, I would like to be remembered as a writer."

A statement from Sir Arthur's office said he had recently reviewed the final manuscript of his latest novel.

The Last Theorem, co-written with Frederik Pohl, will be published later this year, it said.

BBC ONLINE IN PICTURES OF YESTERDAY'S HINDRAF PROTEST

Pix 01: Malaysian police have broken up a demonstration against alleged government discrimination by about 2,000 ethnic Indians in the capital, Kuala Lumpur.











Pix 02: Demonstrators carried the portrait of Malaysian King Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin and carried roses to symbolise what they said was a peaceful demand for justice.














Pix 03: Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse Saturday's protesters, who had gathered despite a government ban.










Pix 04: Chemical-laced water was sprayed on some protesters. They argue the government systematically favours the Malay majority in jobs and education.













Pix 05: More than 120 people were detained, although most have now been released.















Pix 06: The demonstration was organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force, which is demanding the release from jail of five of its leaders.

BBC ONLINE: Police Break Up Protest

Malaysian police break up protest

The protesters carried roses to symbolise peaceful demands

Malaysian security forces have used tear gas and water cannon to break up a protest by ethnic Indians in the capital, Kuala Lumpur.

More than 20 people taking part in the banned march were detained by police.

The demonstration was organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force, which is demanding the release from jail of five of its leaders.

Activists say policies granting economic advantages to the ethnic Malay majority discriminate against Indians.

The Malaysia government has rejected claims of unequal treatment.

Detention without trial

Some 2000 protesters defied a ban on public gatherings, and carried roses to symbolise what they said was a peaceful demand for justice.

A heavy police presence kept them in the city centre - preventing their planned march to parliament to give the flowers to the Prime Minister, Abdullah Badawi.

The protest was meant to be led by a group of about 200 children. There were no reports of any children being injured.

Police used water canons thought to be laced with chemicals and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

The group behind the demonstration has become increasingly effective at rattling the government, says the BBC's Robin Brant in Kuala Lumpur.

It was behind a large demonstration on the streets of the capital last November which saw 10,000 people gather.

That rally exposed increasing unhappiness among some of Malaysia's minority Indians who feel they have fallen behind after decades of government policy which gives preferential treatment to the majority Malays, our correspondent says.

Five rights activists were arrested at that rally - the biggest protest involving ethnic Indians in more than a decade.

They are being held under a rarely used security law that allows indefinite detention without trial.

BBC ONLINE: Ledger Died Of Accidental Overdose

Ledger took lethal mix of drugs

Prescription drugs were found near Heath Ledger's body

Hollywood actor Heath Ledger died of an accidental overdose of six different types of prescription drugs, New York authorities have revealed.

The Brokeback Mountain actor, 28, was found dead in January in an apartment he had been renting in Manhattan.

The city medical examiner's spokeswoman said Ledger died "as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects" of the different drugs.

They include painkiller Oxycontin and anti-anxiety drugs Valium and Xanax.

Some of the prescription drugs were found near his body when it was discovered by his housekeeper.

Ledger's body has been flown home to Australia for a private burial, while a public memorial service is planned in Los Angeles.

Film suspended

Last week, his former partner Michelle Williams spoke publicly for the first time since the star's death, saying: "My heart is broken."

The pair met on the set of their Brokeback Mountain, in which Williams played Ledger's wife.

The couple, who had a daughter Matilda, now two, split up last September.

The makers of Ledger's most recent film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus - directed by Terry Gilliam - have suspended production.

Ledger had completed filming in London just before his death.

The star also plays The Joker in yet-to-be-released Batman film The Dark Knight.

Also last week, US TV shows Entertainment Tonight and The Insider pulled a video they had planned to show of Ledger at a Hollywood party saying he used to smoke cannabis.

The star is apparently heard saying he "used to smoke five joints a day for 20 years".

The shows released a statement saying the footage, believed to be have been recorded in January 2006, would not be shown.

VOA's Latest Update on Ledger's Autopsy

Actor Heath Ledger's Initial Autopsy Results 'Inconclusive'
By VOA News 23 January 2008

Body of actor Heath Ledger is removed from Soho apartment by NYC Medical Examiner team, 22 Jan 2008

New York City medical examiners say initial autopsy results of actor Heath Ledger are inconclusive and that more tests are needed to determine the cause of his death.

The Academy-Award-nominated actor was found unconscious Tuesday in a Manhattan residence with bottles of sleeping pills nearby. He was 28-years-old.

President Bush postponed an event Wednesday, promoting an advertising campaign on preventing prescription drug abuse. White House spokeswoman Dana Perino says the administration does not want anyone to think it is tying the actor's death to the issue.

The Australian-born Ledger was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the 2005 movie Brokeback Mountain.

He will appear later this year in the newest Batman movie, The Dark Knight, in the role of "the Joker."

Ledger has a two-year-old daughter, Matilda, from his relationship with actress Michelle Williams, who played his wife in Brokeback Mountain. The couple broke up last September.

My Tribute To Heath Ledger

It was a 8.44am when the news of Heath Ledger's death came on The Star's SMS News Alert Service.

I was up unusually and doing my radio review assignment for my column Air Raves.

Since it was also Thaipusam Day, my mood was spoilt somewhat.

I first ever heard of Ledger was after his lead role in the controversial gay movie Brokeback Mountain.

When I actually saw the movie, it wasn't about sleazy sex as one might have imagined. Rather it was about an incredible struggle of two people trying to have a relationship that was frowned upon by society.


They tried their best to live out the roles that society had dictated to them but in some uncanny way, kept coming back to each other like a magnet as far as having a relationship was concerned.

As a disabled person who constantly faces discrimination almost everyday of my life, I find it extremely difficult not to be sympathetic to others who also face discrimination through other means.

Not to be empathetic would be totally hypocritical on my part.

The death of Ledger at a young age of 28 is most tragic. At the time of writing this, the cause of his death is still not known. The authorities suspect either an overdose of drugs or suicide.

If suicide was a factor, then it is truly a pity as this budding actor truly had so much going for him.

To me, I think Ledger's greatest contribution was in his support for those against homophobia.

I don't think he was gay himself. But I think people will remember him most for his support for gay people and their struggles.


It must have taken him a hell of a courage to accept the role in Brokeback Mountain. Another hero and obviously a good man is gone.

May his spirit continue to live forever and his soul rest in eternal peace.

aNt