Jim Paull

In March 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 vanished without a trace of the aircraft or any of the 239 people on board. And now, more than three years later, the carrier is the first to sign up for new technology that’ll allow it to track and analyze its entire fleet of aircraft via satellite.

The new satellite service, which will allow Malaysia Airlines to monitor its aircraft all around the globe, including their speed, altitude, location and heading, will be provided by the US-based Aireon, FlightAware and SITAONAIR. The new technology can track of its aircraft in locations where there is currently no coverage, such as over polar, oceanic and other remote regions. In addition, controllers will be alerted more quickly if a plane diverts from its flight path. Malaysia Airlines is expecting to begin implementing the technology sometime next year.

As you may remember, MH370 disappeared on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014. Since its disappearance, debris from the plane was found on Reunion Island, off the coast of Madagascar, however, the main wreckage was never found and the search was called off earlier this year. It’s not clear if the satellite technology would have made a difference in solving the mysterious disappearance of MH370, but it’s a step by the carrier to address the issue and, perhaps, begin to win back the trust of travelers.

H/T: Bloomberg

(Image credit: Feasting at Home)

Figuring out what to make for lunch every day can be tricky. You want something relatively easy to whip up that will give you energy to fuel through the rest of your day. A sandwich is always a good bet — especially if it's this vegetarian chickpea and avocado one.

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(Image credit: Lauren Volo)

I've never feared dry, flavorless chicken breasts because I've always had honey curry chicken in my life. This dish has been in my family for as long as I can remember — sweet honey mingling with tangy Dijon mustard, fragrant curry powder, and a bit of rich melted butter to make the most flavorful and yet most ridiculously simple sauce for the meat.

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(Image credit: Lauren Volo)

Who doesn't love dinner in just one bowl? We have a vegetarian spectacular for you today, one that looks fancy as all get-out, but hello! It only takes 30 minutes to make, and it's gilded with a sauce of tahini and golden turmeric that's as easy as open sesame!

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(Image credit: The Recipe Critic)

Still looking for tonight's dinner recipe? How about shells stuffed with chicken, broccoli, and mozzarella, all topped with Alfredo sauce? Pick up a rotisserie chicken and a few other ingredients on the way home from work, and you'll have this comforting meal on the table in no time.

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KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom said no halal certificates have been issued by the Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) for “halal beer” or any product using a name similar or associated with any prohibited drink.

According to him, the use of the name, “halal beer”, was contrary to the Malaysian Halal Certification Procedure Manual (MPPHM) and the Malaysian Standard (MS1500: 2009), which formed the basis for Jakim and the State Islamic Religious Departments (JAIN) in the management of halal certification.

“In the manual, it is clearly stated that products using names or names synonymous with non-halal products or misleading terms, such as ham, bak kut teh, bacon, beer and the like, are not eligible to apply for halal certification in Malaysia.

“Halal food and halal artificial flavours shall also not use names which are synonymous with any word referring to non-halal food such as ham, bak kut teh, bacon, beer and so on,” he said in reply to Senator Khairiah Mohamed, who asked the government to declare the list of “halal beer” approved in the market as well as the conditions set for the sale of such beer.

The first meeting of the Fifth Session of the Dewan Negara began today and will end on April 27.

Jamil Khir said some of these drinks carried halal certificates from private companies or foreign halal certification bodies, and there were among them that did not carry any halal logo on their products.

“It should be stressed here that Jakim and JAIN are the authority for halal certification in Malaysia. Each application must comply with MPPHM or the fatwa (religious decree), and decisions and regulations adopted in halal certification in the country.

“Therefore, Jakim constantly monitors the situation to ensure that drink manufacturers are not abusing the Malaysian halal logo on their products,” he said.

In protecting the interest of consumers, Jamil Khir said legal action taken under the Trade Description (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011 provided for a fine of up to RM200,000 for the manufacturers, if such products available in the market had been using the Malaysian halal logo.

Dunia fesyen hari ini berada di luar jangkaan. Setiap masa ada sahaja perkara baharu, ada kalanya langsung tak kena dengan norma diperkenalkan atas nama fesyen.

Terbaru, sebuah jenama fesyen terkenal di Perancis, Vetements tampil dengan fesyen seluar jeans yang bukan sahaja mahal mencapai harga AS$1,500 (RM6,600) tetapi rekaannya pelik dan tidak masuk akal.

Pelik kerana seluar jeans keluaran terbaru ini mempunyai zip di bahagian punggung, sekali gus memberikan pengguna pilihan untuk mendedahkan aset jika mereka mahu.

Pilihan menunjuk bahagian punggung?

Mungkin terlalu kreatif sehingga tidak fikir sensitiviti atau moral, rekaan Vetements bagaimanapun dikritik pengguna selepas mempromosi rekaan tersebut di laman sosial.

Menggelarkan ia sebagai rekaan paling bodoh dan hodoh, pengguna akui ia fesyen melampau walaupun digayakan oleh artis terkenal seperti Sarah Snyde.

Laman Instagram Vetements dipenuhi persoalan jika rekaan itu benar dan bukan lawak April Fool yang terlewat.

Dalam pada itu, perekanya, Demna Gvasalia pula menyifatkan jeans itu sebagai rekaan masa kini, berkata harga yang mahal dikenakan termasuk bagi logo syarikat yang bernilai RM1,000, petik Daily Mail.

Apapun, anda lihat rekaan jeans tersebut dan tentukan sendiri jika ia satu rekaan yang praktikal atau sebaliknya.

Kalau saya, bagi free pun tak nak!

Vetements sebelum ini pernah terlibat dalam kontroversi fesyen apabila menjual singlet berlengan dengan rekaan logo syarikat logistik, DHL pada harga lebih RM800.

ALOR GAJAH: An immigration officer claimed trial in the Sessions Court here today to two sex-related charges and one criminal intimidation charge involving a Thai woman.

On the first charge, Chua Siong Kiat Frankie, 30, is accused of raping the woman at the immigration depot at Machap Umboo here on March 9 this year, between 1pm and 1.15pm.

He faces a minimum five years and not more than 30 years jail and whipping if convicted, under Section 376(2) of the Penal Code.

On the second charge, Chua allegedly forced the woman to perform a sex act on him against the order of nature, as charged under Section 377C of the Penal Code, which carries a minimum five years and not more than 20 years’ jail on conviction.

He is accused of committing the offence at the same place date and time.

On the third charge, he is accused of criminal intimidation against the woman at the same place, date and time, as charged under Section 506 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum imprisonment of two years or a fine or both, upon conviction.

Judge Wan Mohd Norisham Wan Yaakob set RM12,000 as bail in one surety for each charge and fixed May 8 and May 9 to record the alleged victim’s statement and to engage a Thai interpreter for the case.

Deputy public prosecutor Ifa Sirrhu Samsudin appeared for the prosecution while the accused was represented by counsel Rengganathan Abdullah.

KUALA LUMPUR: If the city is getting too cramped for you and you’re looking for a home that isn’t too far away from the Klang Valley, the new township of Bandar Sri Sendayan may be a viable option.

It’s being developed by Matrix Concepts Holdings Berhad and is located about 70 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur, about an hour’s drive away.

Built on 5,233 acres of land, the self-sustainable township has landed houses and an industrial park that is home to low-emission factories producing automotive parts and industrial supplies.

It also home to the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s new training and academic centre. There are also private and public primary and secondary schools.

In time, a private hospital, a convention centre and a shopping mall will be built.

Speaking to FMT at the Malaysia Property Expo 2017 (Mapex 2017), a Matrix representative said the response to Bandar Sri Sendayan had been good so far, with most units sold out even before they were completed.

“We’ve delivered 8,000 homes and there are another 7,000 being developed,” he said.

“I believe the response has been good because of the reasonable pricing. The prices for the homes begin from RM220 per square feet, whereas in the Klang Valley, the average is around RM500 to 800 per square feet.”

This means the cheapest house in Bandar Sri Sendayan, a double storey terrace unit of 2,400 square feet, costs about RM550,000.

Bandar Sri Sendayan lies outside the Klang Valley, but it is accessible through the North-South Expressway and the Kajang-Seremban Highway and is just five kilometres away from a proposed Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail station.

In recent years, increased demand for landed properties has seen the development of new townships close to Seremban, including Seremban 2 and Bandar Ainsdale.

Mapex 2017 is organised by the Real Estate Housing and Developers’ Association. It is held at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre until Sunday from 10am to 10pm.

Reflecting a galaxy, this stunning galaxy mirror cake will cause your taste buds to leap into space. Sweet and moist with a surface that looks like a galaxy, this cake will add some sparkle to a space-themed party, fun event, or large party.

• Makes: 10-15 servings

EditIngredients

• Two round 6 inch dark chocolate cakes
• 8 ounces white chocolate chips
• 1 cup white sugar
• ½ cup cold water + ¼ cup warm water
• ½ cup light corn syrup
• ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
• 5 teaspoons powdered gelatin
• Vanilla buttercream frosting
• Gel food coloring (black, white, navy blue, electric blue, purple, and pink)
• Edible glitter or disco dust (optional)

EditSteps

EditPreparing the Cake

1. Make the cake layers. Slice the round dark chocolate cakes into a half using a cake cutter. You will be left with four cake pieces.
   
2. Assemble the cakes. Place one of the cake layers on a cake turner or cake stand. Frost and stack each cake piece using the vanilla buttercream frosting. Spread out the frosting using a large butter knife.
   
3. Allow the cake to chill for about 20 minutes until it starts to set slightly.
   
4. Spread and cover the whole cake with more frosting. Use an offset spatula to evenly spread it around.
   
5. Chill the frosted cake again for about two hours until firm.
   

EditMaking the Mirror Glaze

1. Bloom the gelatin. Pour the cold water with the gelatin and stir well until the mixture has the texture of applesauce. Set it aside for about 5-10 minutes to allow it to bloom.
   
2. In a large saucepan, combine the corn syrup, warm water, and sugar. Whisk well until fully combined.
   
3. Heat up the mixture for about 7-8 minutes on medium low heat. Allow it to boil so the sugar can dissolve.
   
4. Shut off the stove and remove the sugar mixture from the heat.
   
5. Add the bloomed gelatin into the sugar mixture and whisk.
   
6. Pour in the condensed milk into the mixture and whisk once more.
   
7. Pour the liquid mixture into the white chocolate. Allow it to sit for about 2-3 minutes until the hot mixture melts the chocolate, and the chocolate begins to soften.
   
8. Blend the white chocolate mixture with an electric mixer until creamy.
   
9. Pour out and strain the mixture into a medium-sized bowl with a strainer on top. This helps remove any excess air bubbles and will keep the glaze smooth.
   
10. Divide the glaze into five bowls and add the food gel. Add a couple of drops of food gel into each bowl and stir to create the color. Use the black food gel and white food gel to make the colors darker or lighter. Mix well.
    

EditGlazing and Serving

1. Prepare the cake. Place a vase or large glass on top of a baking tray where the cake can stand when you apply the glaze. Remove the chilled cake from the fridge and place it on the vase or glass.
   
2. Swirl the electric blue glaze with the navy blue. Gently swirl it around with a spoon but do not mix.
   
3. Slowly pour the swirled glaze all over the cake carefully. The cake will begin to drip down on the sides and will fall onto the baking tray. This is normal to help let the glaze spread.
   
4. Add the extra colors and finishing touches. Swirl the rest of the colors on top of the cake using a spoon. Feel free to add the remaining colors anyway you like so be creative when topping off the galaxy mirror cake.
   
5. Using an offset spatula, carefully and gently spread the colors evenly on top of the cake. This helps blend in the colors together to form a galaxy-themed look.
   
   • Be sure you brush off the glaze carefully. Spreading too hard will cause the frosting to expose.
6. Sprinkle the edible glitter or disco dust over the cake, if desired.
   
7. Gently splatter a few dots of white food gel over the cake. This is optional but creates an extra galactic look.
   
8. Allow the cake to sit for about 20 minutes to remove any excess glaze and to allow the glaze to set.
   
9. Serve. Cut a slice of galaxy mirror cake with a cutting knife. Lay the cake on a serving plate. Garnish with extra edible glitter or disco dust, if desired. Enjoy!
   

EditVideo

EditTips

• Ensure the mirror glaze is 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) before adding it onto the cake. If the glaze is hotter than that temperature, the glaze will come out thin, and if it's colder than that the glaze will become thick and won't spread on the cake.
• You can also use another type of cake flavor or a different type of frosting such as vanilla or strawberry if desired.

EditWarnings

• When mixing the colors for the glaze together, be sure to stir quickly as the glaze sets rather quickly.

EditThings You'll Need

• Cake cutter
• Cake stand
• Spoon
• 5 medium-sized bowls
• Stovetop
• Whisk
• Electric mixer
• Large bowl
• Strainer
• Vase or large glass
• Baking tray
• Fridge
• Frosting pipe
• Large butter knife
• Offset spatula
• Cutting knife
• Serving plate

EditRelated wikiHows

• Make a Violet Galaxy Cake
• Make a Milky Way Cake
• Ice a Cake
• Make a Rainbow Cake

EditSources and Citations

• https://chelsweets.com/2016/08/28/easy-5-ingredient-mirror-glaze-recipe/ - research source

When you’re meeting a dog for the first time, it’s hard not to slip into that high-pitched, “goochy-goo” voice people use to talk to babies. A new study suggests puppies actually love that voice, but you might be wasting your breath with older dogs.

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Montana Cowgirl Blog: Sorry, voucher fans; yet more research shows public schools outperform private ones.

Intelligent Discontent: Sorry, Montanans, but Donald Jr. is coming to campaign in your state.

Rewire: Sorry, Tennessee Republicans, but the Supreme Court said you can’t do that.

VoxEU: Sorry, supply siders, but new research suggests less progressivity in the tax code only increases income inequality, not economic growth.

Speaking of which, your quote of the day:
"Taxes were less progressive in 2006 than in 1996, and consequently, tax policy also contributed to the increase in income inequality between 1996 and 2006." (Congressional Research Service, December 2011.)

Guest blogging Mike's Blog Round Up this week is Jon Perr from Perrspectives. Send your tips, recommendations, comments and angst to mbru AT crooksandliars DOT com.

(Image credit: Christine Han)

When I was 23 and newly married, I moved to England with a couple of duffel bags, a few boxes of wedding gifts, and my family's banana bread recipe. The banana bread recipe was my aunt's, who passed it along to my mother, who handed it down to me. It was a reminder of home, a familiar treat I could make in my newlywed home so far from my childhood home.

It was also, it turned out, the secret to making friends.

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Here are nine of the best photos that readers added to the Consumerist Flickr Pool in the last week, picked for usability in a Consumerist post or for just plain neatness.

Want to see your pictures on our site? Our Flickr pool is the place where Consumerist readers upload photos for possible use in future Consumerist posts. Just be a registered Flickr user, go here, and click “Join Group?” up on the top right. Choose your best photos, then click “send to group” on the individual images you want to add to the pool.

NEW DELHI: A baby born with eight limbs, including two protruding from his stomach, has undergone surgery in India to successfully remove the extra arms and legs, in an operation being hailed as a world first.

Seven-month-old Karam was born in Iraq with an extremely rare condition where a conjoined twin did not fully form and was partially absorbed, resulting in the additional limbs.

The boy’s father Sarwed Ahmed Nadar flew the infant to India for surgery, where doctors performed a three-stage operation to remove the unnecessary limbs.

There are just five or six known cases worldwide of this condition, making the task more difficult for the doctors, said senior orthopaedic consultant Gaurav Rathore, who was part of the surgical team.

“He was brought to us when he was just two weeks old and his condition was quite unique. Most of the surgeries we performed had not been attempted before,” Rathore told reporters in Noida, a satellite city outside New Delhi.

“Till now our journey has been quite successful. Karam is a very courageous young baby. He is in fact a very happy child.”

The team of doctors at Jaypee Hospital conducted the surgery in three stages, first removing the limbs sticking out from his stomach before correcting a cardiac complication.

The final procedure saw doctors remove all the extra limbs, though he will require more procedures as he grows older to correct other anomalies.

A hub of medical tourism, India attracts thousands of patients from all over the world, owing to low costs and high quality of medical care.

Karam’s father Nadar, who was initially horrified when his son was born, said his only hope was that his son now grows up normal and healthy.

“He is my only child and the first-born is always special,” said Nadar, 28.

“There were a lot of risks but I never lost hope.”

BOAC: Whipping their backs to a bloody state and nailing themselves to crosses, devotees in the fervently Catholic Philippines marked Good Friday with extreme acts of faith that have become tourist attractions.

In towns north of Manila at least five people were nailed to crosses, while in an island to the south hundreds of residents dressed up as Roman centurions as part of decades-old traditions in the Southeast Asian nation.

These customs flourish, although they are not officially endorsed by church leadership.

In the island of Marinduque, about 150 kilometres (100 miles) south of the capital, residents in centurion outfits and heavy wooden masks, played at hunting down a renegade Roman soldier called St. Longinus.

Legends say Longinus thrust his spear through the side of the crucified Christ.

Christ’s blood spurted on his face, healing the centurion’s blindness and convincing him to change sides.

The climax of the week-long drama is on Saturday when the centurions capture Longinus and dramatically “behead” him.

Organiser Raymond Nepomuceno said they were now encouraging children to take part even if they used lighter plastic or fibreglass masks.

“I feel like it’s a dying culture and to preserve it for the new generation we let the children join whether as a vow (to God) or just to enjoy,” he told AFP.

Nemesio de los Reyes said he was taking part in the re-enactment so he and his family would remain healthy.

“Being a Morion (centurion) is part of my vow in life. While I’m still strong and healthy I will do this. It’s also my sacrifice and I’m hoping that my prayers will be answered that my friends and family will stay healthy,” he said.

Half-naked men showed their devotion in a cemetery by flogging their backs that had earlier been sliced by a razor as part of their vow to God.

“I’ve been doing this for 15 years. I do this so my sins will be forgiven,” said Sammy Matre.

Newcomer John Allen Jamig, 17, briefly fainted after his flogging drew blood.

“I don’t know why I felt dizzy, I think because I didn’t have enough sleep last night,” he insisted.

In San Pedro village north of Manila, 56-year-old Ruben Enaje underwent his 31st crucifixion after surviving a construction accident.

Dozens of other devotees whipped their backs in a macabre procession under the burning sun, with foreigners and local tourists in the normally sleepy village watching the spectacle in awe.

In a nod to commercialism, vendors hawked soft drinks, snacks, hats and umbrellas with banners of major telecom firm Smart Communications, a sponsor of the Good Friday event, in the background.

(Image credit: @oohowater)

Plastic water bottles are a waste of resources and damaging to the environment. But with consumption of bottled water on the rise, sustainability becomes a big issue. Now, a sustainable packaging startup has created a water blob that eliminates the need for plastic.

London-based Skipping Rocks Lab introduced their innovation, called Ooho, in 2014, but it only now is going viral. The concept is simple: Package water in 100 percent plant-based biodegradable materials. The water bubble is essentially an edible jelly-like sphere with a membrane made of calcium chloride and brown algae that keeps water contained inside of it.

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Does yogurt go on your grocery list on autopilot? You don't have specific plans for it, but you know it will at least get eaten with berries and granola. I'm guilty of this and find myself eating it with berries day after day until I'm bored to death. So I'm challenging myself to a better, non-boring week of breakfasts using that tub of yogurt. Here are a few ideas I'm going to try out. Take a look and see what inspires you too.

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PETALING JAYA: Hooters, the US franchisor and operator of more than 420 restaurants in 29 countries, has opened its first Indonesian outlet in Kemang, South Jakarta, on March 24.

Hooters Jakarta appears to be more family-friendly compared to its other outlets worldwide.

Its general manager, Sherry Suradji, said the outlet offered a similar sports bar concept to the US flagship chain by providing sports match screenings.

“We also serve American food with a local twist, such as burgers and chicken with rendang sauce,” Sherry told The Jakarta Post recently.

“Hooters Jakarta has a no-smoking rule and has no age restriction,” said Sherry.

However, she said, the outlet would not be selling alcoholic beverages to underage guests.

Although Hooters has a reputation for employing scantily clad waitresses in most of it outlets, the girls’ uniform in the Jakarta outlet has been adjusted by making the neckline higher to cover the cleavage.

“We have a very strict set of regulations,” said Sherry.

“The girls are not allowed to have an out-of-work relationship with customers or staff members,” she said, adding that if the rules were flouted, then they would be sacked.

Sherry said the eatery had received a positive response after having opened for less than a month, reported The Jakarta Post.

“The public is curious about Hooters and how it is implemented in Indonesia. However, once they come to Hooters Jakarta and see for themselves, they will understand,” she said.

If you pack a lunch for work, or snacks for your kids for after school, then there's a good chance you also use some kind of plastic bag or aluminum foil to transport them. These items — especially the bags — really add up in terms of cost and the impact on our environment.

Luckily there are a few great alternatives that are available to you. Right now on Amazon you can by a set of these reusable "Lunchskins" bags. For $9 you get a small, patterned sandwich bag, and a small snack bag. Normally they go for $11, so that means you save $2 today.

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If you’re running Google Chrome 57 or above, it turns out there’s a hidden dark mode. Reddit user _paul- found the menu, which you can enable with a quick jump into the console menu.

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(Image credit: Lauren Volo)

If you love breakfast for dinner, particularly when it involves eggs, this miracle meal needs to be in your rotation. This riff on shakshuka, the dish of eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce, adds tender chickpeas to the mix for extra heartiness and comes together beautifully in the microwave. Allow yourself just five minutes — yes, really just five minutes! — and it can be yours when you need dinner for one, fast.

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(Image credit: Lauren Volo)

I have so much to tell you about this cake. At its heart, it's humble — it comes together from a few pantry ingredients and bakes up to be far from a show-off. But slice into it and before you even take one bite, you'll suspect it's one of the most moist and tender cakes you've ever baked. Dig into it and you'll be greeted with the spongy yet delicate crumb.

At first it's sweetly rich from the honey, but the tang from the Greek yogurt keeps it in line. Then the savory notes come through — earthy olive oil sings out, and just a touch of chopped fresh thyme and lemon zest perfume it ever so slightly. If you hadn't baked it yourself, you'd be left guessing how such an unassuming cake could taste so complex.

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What takes longer than waiting for water to boil while you watch it? Nothing, that's what. Instead of mentally trying to will those little bubbles to rise, consider taking those five or 10 minutes to do something good for yourself. Use that time to do some kitchen sink squats.

Related: The One Exercise to Do While Your Coffee Brews

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Three years ago, Kevin Bates created a Tetris-playing business card to showcase his engineering skills to potential employers. But his creation quickly went viral on the internet, and everyone reminiscing about their beloved childhood Game Boy clamored for their own. After testing the waters with the equally tiny…

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PETALING JAYA: PAS Youth chief Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz has hit back at Rafizi Ramli following the Pandan MP’s revelation today, saying he is fond of making baseless accusations.

Although Nik Abduh didn’t mention the incident which led to his outburst, it is believed he was referring to Rafizi’s claim that former PAS deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa was a recipient of funds allegedly from a former 1MDB subsidiary.

“(He) likes to dig (up information) so much that it has become a hobby. Even chicken droppings are exaggerated to be the droppings of the chicken’s owner,” the Pasir Mas MP wrote in a Facebook post.

“PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang was right that the Pandan (MP) doesn’t know sin from virtue.”

Rafizi last week claimed that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had traced the flow of funds from a former subsidiary of 1MDB, to an individual close to the PAS leadership.

Hadi denied the allegation and told Rafizi to repent.

But Rafizi did not back down and today filed a statutory declaration claiming he had information and evidence backing his revelation.

He said the information came from a former MACC senior officer who had led an investigation into 1MDB.

Rafizi also alleged that PAS Dewan Ulama information chief Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali had obtained the same information “straight from the horse’s mouth”.

To this, Nik Abduh said PAS, too, had received “a lot of information” but chose not to make any allegations without concrete evidence.

“They (PAS leaders) strive to practise good values, that when the evidence is not complete, then silence is a sheathed weapon. Let it (the secret) reveal itself.”

PETALING JAYA: The National House Buyers Association (HBA) has called on house buyers whose properties weren’t delivered on time to pursue their legal rights and entitlement to compensation under the law.

HBA honorary secretary-general Chang Kim Loong said this in the wake of a recent revelation in the Dewan Rakyat that the housing controller and urban wellbeing, housing & local government minister had given 304 extensions of time (EOT) to developers since 2014.

Under the statutory Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA), a housing developer is supposed to complete and hand over a unit to a buyer within a stipulated time frame – 24 months for landed property and 36 months for stratified property – failing which the developer will have to pay liquidated ascertained damages (LAD) to the buyer.

However, under “special circumstances”, the developer can appeal to the housing controller or the urban wellbeing, housing & local government minister for an EOT, which allows them to extend the delivery date of the unit without needing to pay LAD.

“Now, HBA is helping affected house buyers in seeking their rights in four cases where EOTs were granted to the developers.

“But there are surely more who have been affected. Our message to them is to seek independent legal advice or approach us with a view to seek legal redress. We will help guide them in seeking their rights which are enshrined under the law.”

Chang also reiterated his call to buyers to put off any decision to buy a property due to the uncertainty in the completion date of projects, since EOTs were being granted in such large numbers.

“Unless responsible developers can guarantee that they won’t seek an EOT from the minister or housing controller and unless the government can guarantee that it won’t issue any more EOTs, I think it is safer for house buyers to stay away from buying any properties.”

In a landmark decision in March, the High Court ruled against developer BHL Construction Sdn Bhd over a 12-month extension that led to house buyers not being able to claim compensation.

Housing ministry’s extension of time on projects “irrational”

(Image credit: Tara Donne)

With its combination of tender roasted pork, smoked ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard, a Cuban sandwich is pretty close to the ideal sandwich. It checks all the right boxes of salty, smoky, meaty, melty, and tangy.

But what if you were to take a classic Cubano and cross it with a grilled cheese? We thought it sounded like a good idea, too, when we spotted it on the menu at chef Richard Hales' Bird & Bone (the fact that it was served with waffle-cut fries didn't hurt either).

The biggest difference between your typical Cuban sandwich and Hales' riff is the choice of bread and the style of grilling; he also throws mayo into the mix and is particular about his ham. But before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let's back up a bit and take a look at what makes a Cuban sandwich.

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Around this time every year, I go a little crazy. It's spring cleaning season and for me, that means cleaning out my pantry. My Type A personality comes out loud and clear and my husband knows to just keep out of the way!

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