WHAT DOES LANGSAT FRUIT TASTE LIKE ?

SOUR when not fully ripe but sweet when ripe, reminds me of a bittersweet grapefruit. I’m not a fan of langsat (aka ‘lanzones’) - the seed is a bummer leaving not much room for flesh in each fruit - although they are fairly popular in Malaysia. The orb-shaped transculent fruits are cultivated all over southeast Asia and India.

While enquiring about langsat you might as well check out “duku langsat” — can be very sweet. Duku is a name in Malay (botanical family: Meliaceae). It is native to Malaysia but now grown in southeast Asia too. Duku belongs to the same family as the Langsat. The Langsat is also another favorite fruits in Malaysia that shares many similarities with Duku.

How to tell the difference between duku and langsat:

Duku – the fruit is round like a golf ball with a very hard thick skin. They don’t bruise easily, an unripe fruit is very sour! You can only eat it fresh when it is ripe, tastes tangy and sweet - it is a better fruit to eat than langsat. (Malaysia “Duku” do not have latex in the skin; “Longkong” is a Thai sterile cross between langsat and duku, without the latex).

Langsat – looks similar to duku (exterior) but are always sold on the stem (if they drop off they are no longer fresh, don’t buy the loose ones). The skin is much thinner than duku and langsat skin has a whitish latex, you need to open it properly (another reason why I dislike langsat).

^^thin skin langsat is sweet when ripe.

-Anton Taiki

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Most prized moment from Pak Lah’s state funeral: The few secs PM8 & PMX put aside their animosity

 

A PRO-MADANI influencer made an apt observation that the passing of soft-spoken Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who is fondly known as Pak Lah has been an eye-opener for many – most striking of which is that political and ideological differences should not be allowed to turn into personal grudges.

Specifically, he was referring to a short clip of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ‘bumping’ into his current political arch-rival and eighth premier Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at the state funeral of the fifth premier who breathed his last aged 85 at 7.10pm on Monday (April 14).

But it did not take long for such prized moment to get politicised when Madani government backers praised PMX for being a gem of character by “gracefully extending his hands to someone who incessantly condemn and humiliate him”.

In fact, much of the spotlight fell on Muhyiddin who is currently helming the opposition front as he was best remembered for having pushed for the resignation of Pak Lah by having joined forces with the latter’s predecessor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Apparently, Pak Lah who reigned for six years from Oct 31, 2003 to April 3, 2009 had openly expressed his disappointment with Muhyiddin for failing to toe the line as per what was internally agreed upon during discussions within their then UMNO party.

Not wanting this issue to prolong and affect the rakyat and the country, Pak Lah announced his resignation as PM and party president soon after the shocking Barisan Nasional (BN) performance in the 2008’s 12th General Election (GE12).

The moderate Islam Hadhari advocate’s deed of delivering a landslide victory for BN in 2004’s GE11 during his first term as PM (BN won 198 out of 220 parliamentary seats and wresting control of Terengganu from PAS) was quickly forgotten with BN having lost its two-third majority four years later.

Despite been instrumental in orchestrating Pak Lah’s downfall, the gentleman in Pak Lah did not take to heart or was he angered at Muhyiddin’s betrayal and had even forgiven the latter for his action during his final speech to announce his stepping down as PM.

Aside from Muhyiddin who is currently the Bersatu president and Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman, twice former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was also chided for having remarked that “Pak Lah has been exemplary for his preparedness to vacate his premiership”.

After all, many pro-Madani netizens see that as an insinuation directed at his nemesis PMX from the now opposition coalition adviser.

“There’s no stopping of you urging (every) PM to resign. Tun should be ashamed of using the phrase ‘follow Pak Lah’,” reacted a pro-Madani digital creator to a Malaysiakini article of the soon-to-be-centenarian making such call.

“After his resignation, was Pak Lah still being power-crazy and working 24×7 to bring down any other leader? ” –  Focus Malaysia

Penang hit by flash floods

 

GEORGE TOWN: Flash floods have affected parts of the city following heavy rain at midnight.

Areas affected include Jalan P. Ramlee and Kampung Masjid, where several houses were flooded.

Members of the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) who arrived at the scene found water levels rising and entering homes by about 1.40am on Wednesday (April 16).

The victims and their belongings were moved to higher ground for safety.

By 3am, the rain had stopped and water levels began to recede.

However, at about 8.15am, rain began again.

No evacuation centres have been set up so far.

Earlier, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) issued a thunderstorm warning at 11.45pm. - Star

Quake of 5.6-magnitude rattles southern Philippines

 

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake hit Maitum in Sarangani province on April 16 morning, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. — Phivolcs/Facebook

MANILA: A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck off the southern Philippines on Wednesday (April 16), the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said, with no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The quake off the coast of the island of Mindanao had a depth of 30km (18.6 miles), the USGS added.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology placed the epicentre about 43km southwest of the town of Maitum, located in a mountainous and sparsely populated area.

Local authorities told AFP early indications were that the quake had caused no significant damage.

"It was strong but didn't last long. We have checked but it was negative (for damage or casualties)," said Gilbert Rolifor, a fire department official in Maitum.

Quakes are a daily occurrence in the Philippines, which sits along the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arc of intense seismic and volcanic activity that stretches from Japan through South-East Asia and across the Pacific basin.

Most are too weak to be felt by humans, but strong and destructive quakes come at random with no technology available to predict when and where they will happen. - AFP

Myanmar hit by 4.1-magnitude quake near Mae Hong Son border

 

BANGKOK: A 4.1-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar early Wednesday (April 16)morning, with tremors felt in Thai-Myanmar border areas, according to the Thai Meteorological Department.

The Earthquake Observation Division of the department reported that the quake occurred at a depth of 15km at 12:24am (Thailand time).

The epicentre was located at latitude 18.604° North and longitude 96.442° East, approximately 160km northwest of Mae Hong Son province.

The tremors were reportedly felt by residents in several northern border provinces. No damage to property or casualties has been reported at this time.

The division also noted that a mild 1.5-magnitude earthquake occurred at 2:51am on the same day, with the epicentre in Saen Hai Subdistrict, Wiang Haeng District, Chiang Mai province, at a depth of just over 1 kilometre.

As of 7:40am Wednesday, a total of 11 earthquakes have been recorded — 10 in Myanmar and one in Chiang Mai, Thailand — with magnitudes ranging from 1.5 to 4.1.

The division also reported that a total of 547 aftershocks have been recorded following the massive 8.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28.

The initial earthquake, with a magnitude of 8.2 and a depth of 10km, occurred at approximately 1:20pm near Mandalay, about 392km from Pang Mapha district in Thailand’s Mae Hong Son province.

The tremors affected northern and central Thailand, particularly Bangkok, where buildings were damaged in several districts.

As of 7am on Wednesday, the division reported 547 aftershocks in Myanmar and surrounding areas. These included 231 aftershocks with magnitudes between 1.0–2.9, 223 with magnitudes between 3.0–3.9, 78 with magnitudes between 4.0–4.9, and 15 with magnitudes between 5.0–5.9. - The Nation/ANN

Pak Lah better PM for coalition govt than Anwar

YOURSAY | 'Next to Anwar, Pak Lah showed less ketuanan tendencies.'

Ex-PM Abdullah Badawi dies at 85

JWKK3: The best way to assess deceased former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as PM is to make comparisons and use a bit of hindsight.

Comparing him to Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Abdullah hardly showed his bigotry. He did not have to act the way Mahathir did, to be more Malay than Malays.

Despite winning his term as PM with a huge majority (in 2004), he did not let it go to his head by, say, emboldening any corruption tendencies in him.

That is, he was a far cry from jailed former PM Najib Abdul Razak - the man born with a golden spoon and ended up as the world-famous “klepto”.

Next to current PM Anwar Ibrahim, Abdullah showed less “ketuanan” (supremacy) tendencies. While he had his Islam Hadhari, he never came across wearing Islam on his sleeves, unlike Anwar.

He was far more focused on doing well for all Malaysians, unlike Anwar who, in addition to Islamic focus at home in Malaysia, seeks to be a hero on the world stage, leading some to label him, frustratingly, PM of Palestine.

Abdullah was more a PM for a unity government than Anwar has proven so far. And he showed more integrity than Mahathir, Najib and even Anwar thus far.

Outside of being a PM, Abdullah came across as a decent man, one with humility and grace.

I believe the large number of people who voted for him, including non-Malays, to give him a large majority in winning the election that forestalled him as PM, was a testament to his decency, humility and grace.

Such human characteristics could also be found in former US president Jimmy Carter. But such characteristics are unfortunately considered frailties in today’s high-level politics. A shame.

In the end, it is the quiet Abdullah’s integrity as PM and decency as a human being that will find a way into Malaysia’s history.

COMMENT | In death, Pak Lah stirs old sorrows and nation's reflection

Salvage Malaysia: I consider the late Pak Lah as the true “Bapa Reformasi and Perpaduan (Father of Reform and Unity)”.

He really wanted the nation to be united living in a country where the system has high integrity. A tall order but he tried his best.

Traveloka WINNING: One notable point that former law minister Zaid Ibrahim raises is the influence of the deep state; it’s so powerful that it defeats even the PM with the highest mandate from the people.

Especially if the PM is a nice guy like Pak Lah. To stand a chance against the deep state, you need a strong man like US President Donald Trump and a capable sidekick like billionaire Elon Musk.

But, is such a combo good for the country in the long run? A strong man would seek to abolish all checks and balances, bend everyone to his will and become a de facto dictator (not a distant possibility even for the US).

True, he might do some good initially by dismantling the deep state that everyone loathes, but the price is that you have the rise of a dictator.

History is littered with examples of extraordinarily capable people with extraordinary vision for the country who did an extraordinary amount of damage to the country or even the world.

Steven Ong: Pak Lah exposed the “evil and wicked” in Malaysia. Being right and good is not welcomed by the people taught and trained to blindly support the evil and wicked ones who use the people for their own benefit and pleasure.

He died an unhappy man and Malaysia continues on its destructive path by the racists and religious bigots.

Anon.ymous: Thank you for the wonderful tribute to Pak Lah, Zaid. Having been handpicked by him to be the law minister and worked alongside him, you would know the man more than any of us ordinary citizens will.

If anything, we remember Pak Lah as the PM who was continuously ridiculed by his predecessor because he (Pak Lah) did not submit to his wishes.

Hats off for standing by your principles when you resigned in the dignified manner you did. Perhaps, there is still time for us who are in our 60s to see real change in this beloved nation of ours with leaders like you, PKR’s Hassan Abdul Karim, Muda’s Syed Saddiq Syed Abdui Rahman and other like-minded politicians. Don’t give up the fight! -Mkini

Man slashed with machete in Seremban mall attack

A man was injured after being attacked by a group of men, including one wielding a machete, at a shopping centre in Seremban yesterday.

Seremban police chief Mohamad Hatta Che Din said they received a report regarding the incident at 8.15pm, adding that the 40-year-old victim, who was slashed, sustained injuries to both arms, his back, and his right leg and is reported to be in stable condition.

He added that investigations also revealed that a group of men were seen running from the staircase heading downstairs towards the victim, with one of them armed with a machete.

“They attacked the victim, who managed to escape and was rescued by his friend, who witnessed the incident, before sending him to the hospital,” he said in a statement today.

Hatta said efforts to track down the suspects are ongoing, adding that police have not ruled out elements of gangsterism, and the motive for the attack is believed to be revenge.

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“The case is being investigated under Section 324 of the Penal Code, and those with information can contact investigating officer Tharvin at 019-3666048 or the nearest police station,” he said.

The incident, which was recorded on the CCTV camera, has since gone viral on social media.

- Bernama