p 16 – 17 - Selangor Times

Sweating
for Orang
Asli
No graft
in tender
process
p
8
p
16 – 17
Temple
to serve
community
p
4
February 18 — 20, 2011/ issue 12
community
Forrest Medical Centre
radiographer Elly Nadia Che
Afzar demonstrates how an
ultrasound examination is done
on a patient during breast cancer
screening. Selangor sponsors
1,000 breast cancer detections
per constituency per year.
• Stories on page 12 – 13
Security barriers stay for now
By Alvin Yap
PETALING JAYA: The Petaling Jaya
City Council’s (MBPJ) move to dismantle
unauthorised security barriers in neighbourhoods is on hold until public concerns are
addressed.
“Local authorities must know that people
are worried about their security. They are not
breaking the law because they want to. The
issue is physical safety,” said state executive
councillor Ronnie Liu in an interview on
Wednesday.
Liu, who is in charge of local government,
said the state understands that residents have
taken their own measures to safeguard security
out of fear and as such, it was unfair to penalise
them.
MBPJ’s move to strictly enforce the Street,
Drainage and Building Act which makes it an
offence to block access roads has caused uproar
among residents’
associations (RAs) and
local leaders in the city.
The city council had
initially set March 31 as
the deadline for the removal of permanent
structures guarding residential streets.
While the move to
tear down the barriers is
now on hold indefinitely, Liu said that residents still needed to get approval from the
local authorities before taking matters into
their own hands.
“Local authorities must get a proposal
[from RAs] and know how [the barriers and
security measures] it will be carried out,” he
said. Proposed plans must include the
specifications of the barriers and must ensure
free movement of emergency and trash collec-
tion vehicles.
This MBPJ policy shift
comes in the wake of a
town hall meeting on
Sunday in SS22 Damansara Jaya between some
100 irate ratepayers,
councillors and elected
leaders who lashed out at
the city council’s directive.
Former MBPJ
councillor Michael Soon, who chaired the
meeting, had to keep reminding residents to
maintain their cool. He reiterated that the
town hall-styled meeting was an avenue for
residents to air their views, and not to point
fingers or single out parties for blame. It was
also not the venue for issued to be resolved.
However, residents had a hard time
following Soon’s plea as they took apart MBPJ
on a host of issues related to residential
security at the Sunday meeting.
From the start, residents ticked off the city
council for not being furnished with minutes
of the council meetings on the issue.
“This is about making the councillors
accountable. We don’t know what has been
said or done. Councillors, get this right. Don’t
waste our time,” Lim Jiran said at the meeting.
L im, representing Damansara Utama
Residents and Owners Association (DUROA)
said he wanted to know what local councillors
were saying and doing on the issue of gated
communities.
Residents lambasted the city council for
not sending staff to attend the town hall
meeting.
“MBPJ should have sent their staff to
correctly represent the city council, to listen
to us. We are the grassroots,” said Johan Tung
Abdullah.
• Turn to page 6
2
news
February 18 — 20, 2011
Selangor WEATHER
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Morning
Afternoon
Girl, 12, molested
on way to school
By Alvin Yap Night
Source: Malaysian meteorological department
Villagers showing Santiago a pothole in this road.
Villagers see
red over illegal
factories
By Gan Pei Ling
PORT KLANG: Factory owners in Telok Going are being
urged to legalise their operations and contribute towards
improving the condition of roads.
Klang Member of Parliament Charles Santiago, who visited
the area yesterday, pointed out that more than three quarters
of the factories here are illegal and contribute nothing to
improving surrounding roads.
“They do not contribute to the road-maintenance fund set
up by legal factory owners and villagers have been complaining
to me about bad road conditions,” said Santiago.
Roads in the industrial area are in deplorable condition and
riddled with potholes. Villagers say they are fortunate that there
has been no accident so far. However, they have appealed to Santiago to resolve the
long-standing problem.
Klang councillor Ismail Arsat, who was present yesterday,
also urged illegal factory owners to legalise their operations.
He said the state had extended the discount provided for
these factories to change their land status from agricultural to
industrial till year’s end.
He added that only 20 per cent of the illegal factory owners
had taken advantage of the offer.
AMPANG JAYA: A single mother
whose 12-year-old daughter was molested
here while on the way to school on
Monday yesterday came out to warn other
parents to safeguard their loved ones.
Although the culprit was caught by
neighbours and handed over to police the
same day, the hawker is coming out to
raise awareness of the scourge. “I want to speak out now so that this
doesn’t happen to anyone else,” said the
36-year-old mother of two.
The woman, who runs a food stall, was
speaking at a press conference at the office
of Teratai assemblywoman Jenice Lee. She
said she wanted other parents to keep a
watchful eye on their children.
On Feb 14, her daughter was on her
way to buy exercise books at a stationery
shop before going to school when she was
sexually assaulted.
“My daughter usually had lunch at my
stall before going to school, but that day
she was almost 15 minutes late,” she said.
The woman, suspecting something
amiss, went to look for her, only to find
her daughter crying as she came out of the
alley behind the hawker area.
The girl, who recounted the incident,
told her mother and people having lunch
in the stalls that she had been molested in
the alley.
She also described her assailant as male,
wearing a brown t shirt and aged about 20.
“As soon as my daughter described the
suspect, I immediately realised that I had
actually seen him 30 minutes before that,”
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The single mother (right) and Lee at the press conference.
the woman said.
Outraged neighbours finally caught
the suspect after a struggle.
Lee said there were cases of delinquents extorting schoolchildren from
the nearby secondary school.
“I have written a letter to the headmaster of the school to inform him that
his students have been extorted and
also bullied by delinquents in the area,”
she added.
Residents have also found evidence
of glue-sniffing in the parks and alleys
in the area, Lee said.
Lee has appealed to the state to
provide more financial assistance to
fund youth civic programmes in her
constituency.
Strays desecrating graves
The Muslim cemetery in Teluk Gong
which is being threatened by strays.
phone (603) 5523 2288
fax (603) 5523 1188
email [email protected]
EDITORIAL
CHIEF EDITOR
COMMUNITY EDITOR
KL Chan
Neville Spykerman
Tang Hui Koon, Chong Loo Wah, Gan Pei Ling, Basil
Foo, Yasleh Hani Mat Yassin, Alvin Yap
COPY EDITORS James Ang, Deborah Loh
WRITERS
DESIGNER
Jimmy C. S. Lim
PHOTOGRAPHER
ADVERTISING
ADVISORS
Victor Chong
Timothy Loh, Ivan Looi
Faekah Husin, Arfa’eza Abdul Aziz
By Alvin Yap
PORT KLANG: The Klang member of Parliament is
urging authorities fence up the Muslim cemetery in Teluk
Gong here, to prevent dogs from digging up graves.
“I hope the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department
( JAIS) can act immediately,” said Charles Charles Santiago
yesterday.
During the visit, Santiago listened to grouses of the residents who were concerned about the situation. Village chief Abdul Razak Karim said they had appealed
to JAIS in 2005 but nothing had been done.
“Sometimes even the bodies can be seen,” he told the press,
adding that the villagers have been covering up the disturbed
graves.
Abdul Razak hopes JAIS will act fast to prevent the strays
from entering the cemetery.
Used by six villages in Teluk Gong, villagers have caught
around 20 stray dogs this year in order to reduce the number
of graves disturbed.
SELANGOR TIMES ⁄ February 18 – 20, 2011 ⁄ 3
4
news
February 18 — 20, 2011
Events
Triple Prosperity
A Chinese New Year celebration tomorrow from 5.30pm
to 9.30pm. Attractions include 888 Riddles Challenge,
24 Seasons Chinese Drum, Chinese Classical music
ensemble, King of Masks and Classical Dances. For
more information, contact 03-3343 2255. Venue: Setia
Alam Welcome Centre.
Shanghai Night
Another Chinese New Year celebration tomorrow
from 7pm to 10pm. Features: Fortune telling and
palm reading, Chinese calligraphy demonstration,
traditional games galore, Shanghai-themed dance
show and songs, Acrobatic lion dance and fireworks.
It is exclusive for Setia Eco Park’s property purchasers.
RSVP to Rohana or Rebecca at 03-3343 2228. Venue:
Sales Gallery, Setia Eco Park.
Chap Goh Meh Celebration
Lovely Disabled Home hosting a Chap Goh Meh
celebration to raise awareness of the home tomorrow.
The Lovely Disabled Home website is at http://www.
lovelydisabledhome.com/ and is reachable by phone at
03 7873 9622. Venue: SRJK Yuk Chai, Taman Megah.
Kencana SIC Bikeathon Mass Jamboree
The Jamboree starts at 10am on Sunday with a lap
around the F1 track before taking the participants
another 38km on off-road terrain around the vicinity of
the racing complex. A criterium for the junior category
starts at 2pm and covers five laps of the F1 track.
Everybody will have a chance to win prizes as there will
be lucky draws at the end of the race. The top three
winners will win cash prizes and F1 tickets. Entry to
the jamboree and criterium is RM30 for each category.
There will be no charge for the kids’ event. For more
information, go to Facebook/SIC Bikeathon 2011 or
call Alia from Human Voyage at 03-92229786 or Nizam
of Sepang International Circuit at 03-87782230. Venue:
Sepang International Circuit, Sepang.
Amir Yussof Concert
Performing original works on Feb 21 at 8.30pm. Amir is
the 1996 winner of AIM’s Best English Album of the Year
and has been a familiar name on the local entertainment
scene for the past 23 years. Admission is RM48 for all
seats and RM38 for early birds. Dress code is smart
casual. Venue: Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, Level 2,
Tower 2, Petronas Twin Towers, KLCC, Kuala Lumpur.
National Craft Day 2010
Participated by craftsmen from all around Malaysia,
this programme aims to promote and market crafts
and products directly to domestic and international
consumers. Activities include craft sales, exhibitions,
sales missions, fashion shows, cooking demonstrations
and much more. From Feb 23 – March 7 from 10am
to 10pm daily. Admission is free. Venue: Kuala Lumpur
Craft Complex, Jalan Conlay, Kuala Lumpur.
MIA Grafine Art & Design Exhibition
Malaysian Institute of Art (MIA) holding a Grafine Art
& Design Exhibition, a solo exhibition by Norlisham
Selamat, from Feb 14-Mar 5. Free admission. The
gallery is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm.
and Saturday from 10am to 1pm. Venue: MIA Art
Gallery, 294-299, Jalan Bandar 11, Taman Melawati
53100 Kuala Lumpur. Closed on Sundays and public
holidays. For details, call MIA at 03-41088100 or visit
www.mia.edu.my
Kickboxing sessions
Join YMCA KL to enjoy intense kickboxing sessions.
Classes every Thursday evening and are currently open
for new intake. For more information, contact sports
coordinator Sharon at 03-22741439. Email: sharon@
ymcakl.com or visit www.ymcakl.com Venue: YMCA
of Kuala Lumpur, 95, Jalan Padang Belia, 50470 Kuala
Lumpur.
Finally, a place
to call home
By Alvin Yap
shah alam: A foundation stone marked
the centre of the new Sri Maha Mariamman
temple here and ends the painful relocation
from its former century-old site.
The start of the relocation from Section 19
to its new home at Section 23 last Sunday was
commemorated with a brick-laying ceremony
and closes a controversial chapter in Selangor
which contained racial undertones in 2009.
Worshippers say they now look forward to
serving the needs of the community in the area.
“I am relieved that we finally have a home for
the temple,” said Jayamanalan Suppiah, 59, a
Section 23 resident. He said that the temple,
once built, will also serve as a community centre
especially for Indian youths. “It’s a nice place for
our youth to receive spiritual guidance,” said the
retired aircraft engineer.
Even though the new site is encircled by
factories, Suppiah said the location was quiet
and peaceful enough for devotees to carry out
their religious duties and to attend temple
classes.
“I want to thank the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) for giving us the
land,” Suppiah said.
The new temple will also be able to accommodate a larger crowd of worshippers as there
is ample parking in the 22,500 sq ft lot.
Temple treasurer R Sugumaran said the new
temple would serve at least 10,000 worshippers
in the area. Although it is not within a residential area, the temple is less than a 10-minute drive
from surrounding housing areas.
The temple, he added, would also function
as a community hall where the Indian community will be able to hold functions like weddings
or seminars.
Lau Peng Lee, 40, said he looked forward to
worshipping in the new Sri Maha Mariamman
temple.
“My heart is glad and peaceful now that I
know can worship here,” said the welder, who
married a Hindu.
There are also plans to run a kindergarten,
said M. Baskaran of Malaysia Hindu Sangam.
Baskaran, secretary general of the Hindu
Welfare group, said his organisation will assist
the temple committee in setting up a kindergarten.
“Temples, in our view, must be service oriented, providing training and promoting volunteerism,” he explained.
Sri Maha Mariamman temple is now
150-years-old, and as such, will actually not be
demolished. Instead it will be deconstructed
brick by brick and reassembled in its original
form in Section 23.
The state will assist the committee in the
monumental effort, said state executive council-
lor Dr Xavier Jayakumar.
“I call on PKNS to speed up the move,” Dr
Xavier said at the brick-laying ceremony.
The former estate temple in Section 19 was
forced to relocate when housing development
sprouted around it, creating a Muslim enclave.
Another site at Taman Ixora, Section 23 was
initially chosen but the issue became a political
firestorm for the State Government when a
group used a severed cow’s head to protest the
relocation at the State Secretariat building at
the end of Aug 2009.
Top: Temple chairman
R Selvakumaran
officiating at
the brick-laying
ceremony for the new
temple on Sunday.
Bottom: Temple
committee members
welcoming state
executive councillor
Dr Xavier Jayakumar
(left).
Forum on elections
petaling jaya: Bersih 2.0, the
Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections,
is hosting a public forum with the Election Commission (EC) on Feb 21.
The forum, entitled “Moving Forward with Electoral Reforms”, will discuss the amendments the EC has promised it will make with regards to the
election process to make it more transparent, clean and fair.
Bersih 2.0 chairperson Datuk S Ambiga will moderate the forum, directing
questions to the panellists and also taking questions from the floor.
On the panel will be Datuk Wira
Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, the EC deputy chairperson; Dr Wong Chin Huat,
Bersih 2.0 steering committee member;
and Jasmine Ng, chairperson of Growing Emerging Leaders (GEL).
The forum will be held from 8pm to
10pm with the first half hour reserved
for arrivals, registration and introductions, and the last one hour and a half
dedicated to the question-and-answer
session.
The forum will be held at Bilik Gerakan, First Floor, Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya, Jalan Yong Shook Lin, 46675
Petaling Jaya. Selangor.
news
By Basil Foo
PUCHONG: A 200-meter road has
been built at the cost of RM526,000
along Persiaran Taman Tasik Prima
(PTTP) to alleviate traffic congestion
and frequent accidents.
“There used to be daily accidents at
the crossroads of Persiaran Puchong
Perdana and Persiaran Taman Tasik
Prima,” said Subang Jaya councillor Ng
Sze Han (right).
This was caused by vehicles from
both roads merging into a single threelane stretch on PTTP with no divider
separating both streams of traffic.
The absence of traffic lights at the
crossroads also contributed to the accidents and congestion. The situation is
better now after the road was completed
last December.
“ The project took four months to
complete and the cost included drainage, road pavement, road furniture,
electric works, and traffic lights,” said
Ng.
The missing link was essential after
more than five years of high traffic volume coming from over 10,000 homes at
the far end of PTTP which leads to
Sepang and Dengkil.
“Connecting the missing link on this
side leads to the LDP interchange which
the council hasn’t built as we do not have
sufficient funds for the project,” he said.
“ The total project cost is RM20 million and we will be collecting from the
developers of the surrounding housing
areas,” he added.
Developers have to pay a sum to the
local councils, depending on the scale of
their housing project, for building infra-
Missing Link Found
structure like roads. This sum is called
“sumbangan infra” or infrastructure
contributions.
As of last August, the council has
received RM8 million in contributions
from developers and is
still waiting for the surrounding areas to be developed in order to receive
additional funds.
“Instead of waiting for
the full amount for the
project, we decided to use
what resources we have to
finish the missing link to
solve part of the problem,”
Ng added.
February 18 — 20, 2011
5
New road built to alleviate traffic
congestion along Persiaran Taman
Tasik Prima.
USJ residents learn about their rights as citizens
By Alvin Yapi
SUBANG JAYA: Residents from USJ were
educated on their constitutional rights and how
the different levels of government function in
Malaysia at a Bar Council workshop here last
Sunday.
“Educating people on the rights granted to
them in the Constitution is needed for making
the country a better place, an essence of being
part of a democratic country,” said Subang Jaya
Municipal councillor (MPSJ) Rajiv Rishyakaran at the launch of the workshop.
Participants from MPSJ’s Zone 3, comprising USJ2-USJ15, said the workshop created a
better understanding of their rights and duties
as citizens.
“I am now more aware of my rights as a Subang Jaya resident and also as a Malaysian. It is
something I feel lacking in present day society,
especially among youth,” said Joe Gomez.
The workshop at MPSJ Auditorium was
organised by Rishyakaran’s office and the Malaysian Bar Council’s Campaign for Constitutional education, MyConsti.
Yee Siew Meng, 42, said the workshop gave
him better understanding in discharging his
duties as a residents association (RA) member.
“I know what the different levels of governments, and how I can engage them to press them
to make changes in the law,” said the RA treasurer. “I can serve the community to the best of
my ability.”
The Constitution, said accountant Elizabeth
Wong, underscored the importance of laws and
regulations.
“For anyone in any country, the Constitution
is the reference point. It is the rule book,” said
Wong, who is the RA Zone 3 secretary.
Wong said the workshop was an opportunity to ask questions on governance and policies.
“If we can learn more about how our local
government works, we can solve issues on the
ground by suggesting laws or regulations,” Wong
said, adding that the same concept of problem
solving should also apply to national issues.
The workshop was attended by 40 participants from USJ2-USJ15.
Subang Jaya assemblypersonw Hannah Yeoh
also took part.
6 ⁄ February 18 – 20,2010 ⁄ SELANGOR TIMES
news
Housing areas
are like war zones
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• From page One
“I want the state assemblypersons here
today to tell MBPJ off that they should be
here to listen to our concerns. Tell them
off,” said Tung, who is the head of All
Petaling Jaya , Selang or Residents
Association Coalition (APAC).
He also called for local councillors to
take up their cause. “If the local councillors
won’t support us, then if [we have] local
council elections, we will vote them out,”
Tung said heatedly.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Tung
told Selangor Times that housing areas had
indeed, the appearance of “war zones”.
“It looks like a warzone, but the crime
rate has dropped and we have peace of
mind,” said Tung, explaining that it was a
short-term solution until the police steps
up patrols in housing areas.
Similarly, said George Chong of Taman
Megah: “We want concentrated security
in our areas, that is static; gated and
guarded structures is the answer.”
Residents singled out the state, saying
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Johan Tung
the administration was not doing enough
to take their side on the issue of gated and
guarded communities.
As such, residents wanted the state to
enact laws to give local councils - and RAs
especially – the right to maintain gated and
guarded structures.
“[If ] the state can call an emergency
session to change the law to deal with the
appointment of the State Secretary, why
can’t they change the law to provide better
security?” asked Datuk Yew Cheng Hoe,
who represented Damansara Jaya Residents
and Owners Association (DJROA), to
loud applause.
“We will take the barriers down if the
state or Federal government increases police presence,” said Yew heatedly to state
assemblyperson Elizabeth Wong who was
present.
In reply, Wong, a State Exco member,
reassured residents that MBPJ will not
demolish the gates and barriers.
“There’s a stay on the demolition of
barriers, even permanent structures like
cement-filled drums,” she said.
She said Selangor would look
into local government by-laws and
state law to see if local councils can
be given the power to close roads
for security reasons.
“We are studying the Street,
Drainage and Building Act and will
bring it to Parliament for our MPs
for debate and possible amendments to look into the legality of
gates and guard houses,” Wong said,
urging residents to approach their
Members of Parliament to raise the
issue in Parliament.
Another meeting with elected
officials, local councillors and the
MBPJ is slated for Feb 16. Representatives from RAs are advised to
prepare proposed guidelines on
gated communities to be presented
to MBPJ.
Chance for young
talent to shine
By Basil Foo
PETALING JAYA: The Sweet Obsession of Stuff (SOS 2011) was an extensive
affair with 14 back-to-back performances
by local musicians, film producers, and
photographers.
“There are many young talents in Malaysia who need opportunities to showcase
their abilities and this is intended to be one
of the platforms,” said SOS 2011 organiser
Sim Jia Kent.
While a large portion of the acts were
indeed undergraduates, highlights of the
night included award-winning singer songwriter Juwita Suwito and local artiste Reza
Salleh.
Sim was relieved Suwito responded to
his request to perform at the show willingly, as the show’s budget did not allow
for much compensation for a singer of her
calibre.
“It is quite a low budget event as we
only charged RM2 per entry. Unfortunately, Malaysians don’t like to pay large
amounts for music events,” he said.
About 150 people packed the Mosaic
Community Studio on the second floor of
Centrepoint Bandar Utama for the event
on Feb 9.
Sim also performed for the night with
his friends in a band called Lyon. The group
has been performing at various shows
around town since mid 2010.
“Most of the invited performers were
those I met online through YouTube and
from previous shows at places like Frontera
in Jaya One,” he said.
Performances for the night included
artistes Melinda Wong, Priscillia Xavier,
Jenn Chia, Azim Zain, Alif Azizi, and Soo
Wei Wen, film producers Sundae Productions, photographer Nicholas Chin, beatboxer A Beat C, and bands Decimal and
Traffic Lights.
Sim and a few friends from Taylor’s
College took two weeks to organise
the inaugural show. He said he was interested in organising a second show next
year.
“I will be leaving for Australia to further my studies but maybe the next one
could be when I come back for the summer
holidays,” he added.
news
february 18 — 20, 2011
Mixed
reactions
to proposal
By Alvin Yap
SHAH ALAM: Selangor’s proposal for
auxiliary police to be set up improve security
got mixed reaction from rate-payers. Residents, on the whole, say that they want
to know more about the proposal before they
can give their opinions. Looi Meng Wai, 55, a church care taker,
said he welcomed the idea of an auxiliary
police force because the crime rate around his
work-place is high.
“There have been snatch theft cases in the
day time over the past year,” said Looi, whose
office is in Taman Mayang and stays in
nearby Kg Cempaka.
Motorcyclists, he said, would survey the
area looking for victims. Heightened police
presence, he said, would ensure the public’s
safety by keeping would-be criminals at bay.
However, he asked if the auxiliary police
force would have ‘full’ arrest powers of their
own, or if they still needed to be accompanied
by a regular duty police officer.
“Are they like Rela, or like Neighbourhood
Watch (RT)?” he added.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, on Feb 10, had shot down
Selangor’s proposal for the formation of an
auxiliary police force, saying that it was “disrespectful” of the police.
He also said that the crime index in Selangor was on the decline.
College lecturer Chong Eu Choong, 40,
said the setting up of an auxiliary police
would help the police force as it had its hand
full in fighting crime.
“The auxiliary police should have proper
and adequate training, together with the right
equipment,” Chong said.
Some rate-payers said the Royal Malaysian
Police should pull more officers from other
duties and place them on patrols. Rennie Martin (right), 73, said: “It is the
duty of the police to provide security. I’m sure
they can arrange their staff to assist in crime
prevention duties.”
The retired teacher, who stays in Petaling
Jaya’s Section 6, said the police should deploy
its famed General Operations Force to patrol
the streets in Selangor.
The paramilitary unit, which dealt with
Commun ist
insurgents
during the
Malayan
E m er g en c y,
should be
“walking the
streets in Peta l i n g Ja y a”,
Martin said.
He sug gested the police return to
“walking the
beat”, that is conducting foot patrols in housing and commercial areas.
“We feel more secure when we see police
conducting foot patrols near us,” Martin said.
In relation to the crime rate, citizens have
also asked authorities to go to the heart of the
problems, which are the socio-economic issues like lack of education and poverty.
“Firstly, we have to ask if there’s poverty or
hardship that is causing people to resort to
petty theft,” said social worker Lee Soo Choo.
She said the authorities should look further into alleviating poverty by carrying out
studies on crime and poverty. She suggested
that ‘micro-loans’ be given to poor families.
“Poverty breeds poverty and that causes a
host of problems like crime,” Lee concluded.
Some rate-payers were sceptical that crime
rate can be lowered with the formation of an
auxiliary police force.
Johan Tung Abdullah said the additional
number of officers would not be enough to
cover Petaling Jaya, let alone Selangor.
“200 extra police for the whole of Petaling
Jaya isn’t enough; you will end up with
maybe two police officers for one Residence
Association area the size of Damansara Jaya,”
said Tung, adding that there were 52 RAs in
the Petaling Jaya district alone.
In relation to the issue of security and
crime prevention, some rate-payers want their
gated and guarded schemes to remain, instead
of an auxiliary police force.
“Instead of an auxilliary police, we want
concentrated security in our areas that is
static. Gated and guarded structures are the
answer to keeping crime index low,” said
George Chong of Taman Megah.
Unisel gets new chief SHAH ALAM: Raja Tan Sri Arshad Tun
Uda is the new chancellor of Universiti Industri Selangor (Unisel).
The director of Sime Darby Bhd takes over
from the Prime Minister’s wife, Datin Seri
Rosmah Mansor. Public Services Department former director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam was named
new pro-chancellor.
State executive councillor for education
Dr Halimah Ali (right), who announced the
appointments on Monday, said they would
take effect on Feb 21. “The new appointments go to show that
we do not want to politicise the education
system in Selangor and are also in response
to the suggestion by Unisel students who
want a non-politician as chancellor,”
she said. Raja Arshad is
also a panel member of Tax Panel
Review, chairman
of the Raja Muda
Selangor Foundation, a member of
th e Ma l ay s i a n
Multimedia and
Communication
Commission and Fellow of Accredited Institute of Accountants England and Wales.
Ismail had served as secretary-general of
the Health Ministry.
7
Adnan bidding farewell to his colleagues from MPSJ yesterday.
Adnan bids farewell to MPSJ
By Basil Foo
SUBANG JAYA: A farewell ceremony was
held for outgoing Subang Jaya Municipal
Council (MPSJ) president Datuk Adnan
Mohd Ikhsan on Wednesday.
“I hope everyone will cooperate with the
new president and that MPSJ will continue to
improve,” said Adnan.
He was appointed deputy secretary general
of the Federal Territory Ministry on Feb 14.
He described the appointment as a promotion and admitted that he appreciated the
honour of getting such a job.
“I was quite surprised at the sudden appointment and have not finished many projects. So
I might return to MPSJ for a week to finish my
work,” he said.
In his speech before councillors and about
500 council staff, he encouraged them to be
helpful. He said he managed to work well with
the people.
He also congratulated the council’s Revenue
Department for collecting more than 95 per
cent of their targeted revenue for 2010, exceeding the state’s target of 70 per cent.
“MPSJ still has some areas to improve on
like the working relationships with outside
agencies like the Real Estate and Housing
Developers Association of Malaysia,” he said.
On his relationship with the local councillors, he said that there were initial tensions but
after having worked with them for the past two
years, conditions had improved.
8
news
february 18 — 20, 2011
‘No graft in waste tender’
By Alvin Yap
SUBANG JAYA: Local councillors from the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) have refuted graft allegations in its open
tender process for waste management.
“Since we launched the open
tender, we’ve received 7,813 bids
from 1,124 companies,” said councillor Pooi Weng Keong, at a press
conference here on Monday.
Using the statistic as an example,
Pooi said that certain parties would
be aggrieved at failing to secure the
lucrative contract worth RM25,000
a month for a duration of two years.
“The parties that failed to secure
the contracts are complaining that
they lost out because of bribes or
abuse of the tender system, but the
selection is open,” Pooi said.
Councillors going through the tender documents.
Pooi said MPSJ’s tender selection
committee will judge applicants
based on their capacity, competence,
assets, equipment and experience.
MPSJ, he explained, will vet the
sub-contractors based on their staff,
equipment and track record while
the state economic planning unit
(UPEN) will check the financial
records. “This way, we can check if
they are shell companies and also if
they have the right equipment and
Wet do brings
neighbours closer
By William Tan
Yeoh addressing problems faced by restaurant owners.
Restaurateurs air grouses
By Basil Foo
Subang jaya: Thirty restaurateurs here aired
their complaints regarding longstanding cleanliness,
licensing and summons issues with local authorities at
a meeting on Feb 14.
“One of our problems is officers inspecting our
premises during peak hours like lunch time,” said Petaling Jaya Coffee shop Association vice-president Danny
Lim.
Lim, who also runs the Bandar Sunway Ming Tien
restaurant, said even highly accredited hotels would
have less than pristine hygienic conditions during peak
hours.
Another point of contention was about the placement of tables and chairs on sidewalks and parking lots
bordering the restaurants and coffee shops.
Lim said they were initially allowed to apply for the
placement of tables outside their premises but only a
few outlets in Subang Jaya had their applications approved.
“There is also the slow approval process for putting
promotional banners in our shops. By the time they get
approved, the promotions would have already been
over,” said Lim.
“We are requesting that the council grant a blanket
approval for all promotional banners hung up on our
premises,” he added.
Lim also related instances when enforcement officers would repeatedly insist on checking whether his
shops had renewed their licences.
Subang Jaya assemblywoman Hannah Yeoh, who
attended the meeting, said Majlis Perbandaran Subang
Jaya had formed a subcommittee to tackle these issues.
“The subcommittee will convene next week together with councillors, restaurant representatives and
enforcement officers to review unfair summonses issued
during peak hours,” said Yeoh.
She said the time of summonses issued would be
taken into account and advised restaurateurs to check
the time written by enforcement officers on the fines.
Yeoh added that there could not be a blanket approval for banners in shops as the council would still
have to check the contents of the banners to see if they
were fit for public viewing.
Addressing the placement of tables and chairs, MPSJ
councillor Pooi Weng Keong said restaurateurs could
put them along sidewalks from 6pm to 12am.
“The licence is RM30 per table monthly, or RM1 per
table daily. It is only allowed on sidewalks so long as
they do not block people, and not on carparks,” said
Pooi.
He also said licence officers were supposed to check
outlets only once a year and restaurateurs should report
to MPSJ if they were being checked repeatedly and
solicited for bribes.
vehicles to carry out sanitation
work,” explained Pooi.
Alam Flora will still manage the
sub-contractors, but MPSJ will directly select the companies.
The open tender system will save
MPSJ RM3.5 million a year in its
health and sanitation budget.
“This is based on the bidders telling us how much they are offering
to get the job done; some have said
they can do the job at a lower price
than others,” said councillor Dr Loi
Kheng Min, explaining that some
companies won the bids based on
their competitive pricing.
Dr Loi said MBPJ was looking at
ways to save costs, as health and
sanitation accounted for a third of
its yearly operating budget. There
are 61 contracts for rubbish collection and 180 contracts for sanitation services in the MPSJ area.
SERI KEMBANGAN: Heavy
rain might have affected the turnout
at Seri Kembangan’s Chinese New
Year festival on Sunday but it did not
dampen the mood.
More than 400 residents turned
up to partake of the free food and
the entertainment provided by children and residents. “This is my second time I have
attended this event, me and my family were invited by our friends,” said
Perumal Murugasau, a resident of
two decades.
The pensioner said the event was
a good way to meet his Chinese
friends and bring the community
closer.
Lai Yok Long, who is also a resident of 20 years, echoed the same
sentiments. The 63-year-old local leader was
seen making preparations before the
arrival of Serdang Member of Parliament Teoh Nie Ching and Seri
Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong
Hian Wah.
“These events are a good opportunity to see if people around the
area are driving even bigger cars,” Lai
quipped.
“The rain really affected us but I
am not too bothered by it, that just
happens sometimes,” said Subang
Jaya councillor Loka Ng Sai Kai, 46,
who was one of the organisers.
The funds for the annual event
were allocated by Teo and Ean Yong.
Perumal Murugasau at the Chinese New Year function.
news
february 18 — 20, 2011
9
Funds for community policing
By Basil Foo
SHAH ALAM: The Petaling Jaya City
Council (MBPJ) will provide funds of up to
RM5,000 to each rukun tetangga association and residents association for facilitating
community policing programmes.
“The allocations are for the over 200 rukun
tetangga and residents associations in Petaling
10,000
turn up
for state
CNY do
Jaya,” said Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman.
The Petaling Jaya mayor told reporters at
the launch of a disabled-friendly park on Feb
12 that the policy announcement has been
made and residents could begin to apply.
The council would then judge the applications based on the residents’ patrolling plans
before giving approval.
“They will also have to make known what
they intend to spend the money on, such as
flashlights, batons, and reflective jackets,” he
said.
Under the community policing programme, residents will receive their training
and patrolling guidelines from the police.
“The police will then check on the residents
to ensure that the guidelines are being adhered
to,” he said.
By Basil Foo
KAJANG: About 10,000 people
attended Selangor’s annual Chinese
New Year carnival in Jalan Sulaiman
last Saturday.
“This carnival has managed to show
the cooperation between government
and non-governmental bodies as part
of an effort to develop the Kajang community,” said Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.
Guests of all ages were entertained
with performances, some of which
included a Chinese orchestra, “Diabolo” jugglers, and Chinese drummers,
who were from SMJK Yu Hua.
The Menteri Besar reminded the
people of Selangor to use opportunities like this to work together as a
family for the success of the state.
He also touched on the RM1 million allocations to state assemblypersons for repairing roads and hoped that
the funds would go to where they are
needed.
“I hope that in February, the states
of Selangor, Penang , Kedah, and
Kelantan can meet to discuss programmes to lighten the burden of rising prices through market intervention,” he added.
Top: Khalid,
state
executive
councillors
and event
organisers
extending
their wishes.
Right: Khalid
meeting wellwishers at the
celebration.
Hearty meal for less fortunate
By Alicia Mun
subang jaya: About 150
residents from eight welfare
homes were treated to a grand
luncheon at Empire Hotel ballroom last Saturday.
The event for orphans, senior
citizens and single mothers
was organised by local elected
leaders in conjunction with the
Lunar New Year celebration.
State executive councillor Teresa Kok also presented donations totaling RM4,000 to the
homes.
“This year, we decided not to
host an open house in order to
save money to be donated to the
less fortunate because it is more
meaningful,” said the Kinrara
assemblywoman. The eight
homes which received RM500
each were Destiny Starting Point,
House of Joy, Malaysian Spring
Single Mother’s Society, Pertubuhan Kebajikan Kanak-Kanak
Selangor, Pertubuhan Kebajikan
Yesuvin Mahligai, Rumah Charis,
Rumah Shalom, and The Salvation Army.
Puchong MP Gobind Singh
Deo said the event was part of the
state’s efforts to ensure every one
has an opportunity to celebrate
the occasion. Destiny Starting Point home
co-ordinator Julian Amaarjeet
said the boys from the shelter
were very happy to attend the
luncheon. “We feel blessed and we truly
appreciate this donation from the
state government,” he added.
Subang Jaya assemblywoman
Hannah Yeoh and Pas Puchong
chief Sufyan Ismail were also
present at the event.
Senior citizens enjoying the delicious spread at the luncheon.
He said the funds were initially intended
for an auxiliary police force but since the state
did not receive approval for it, the funds were
now being diverted to community policing
programmes.
The state’s requests to the Home Ministry
for granting local council officers limited
police powers to prevent crimes since July last
year was rejected by the Federal Government.
News
10
February 18 — 20, 2011
Disabled-friendly
park opened in PJ
Know Your
Councillor: Edward
Ling Sieak Meeng
chairs. Maybe they could upgrade both entrances.”
PETALING JAYA: A park in
Despite precautionary meaSection 6 here had its facilities
sures by the local council,
upgraded to become the first ofnearby residents were called
ficial park catering for disabled
upon to keep an eye on the
residents needs.
state of the park to prevent
“The walkways were installed
vandalism.
with blind-friendly tac-tiles, paths
“The problem used to be
were made disabled-friendly, and
motorcycles running their
the entrance is now wheelchairtyres on the ground and damfriendly,” said Petaling Jaya counaging the soil,” said Datuk
cillor Anthony Sivabalan during a
Mohamad Roslan Sakiman.
simple ceremony to launch the
The Petaling Jaya mayor said
facilities last Saturday.
residents from the surrounding
Additional features of the one400 homes should monitor the
acre-sized park include lighting at
park and report to the council
night, barriers to stop motorcycles
if any vandalism or rubbish
from entering, and a sign to indidumping occurs.
cate the wheelchair entrance.
Selangor executive council“At one point or another every- Sivabalan: Wheelchair friendly.
lor Elizabeth Wong, who was
one will become old and disabled,
also present at the launch,
but that doesn’t mean we should
handed over a certificate to
be excluded from life,” said Anthony, who has been us- residents to take care of the park.
ing a wheelchair for 40 years.
“Malaysians seem to have an innate gift of vandalLim Chee Hoong, a 48-year old disabled resident izing and throwing rubbish. Elders should admonish
said, “The upgrades look very good. It should be better and teach the younger ones not to do so,” she said.
for us when we want to visit this park.”
She urged the community to be the eyes and ears of
Gurdip Kaur, who visits the park occasionally said, the local council as their officers could not be every“I am quite impressed with the changes made. But I’m where at once, and to call their 24-hour hotline at 03not happy because there is only one entrance for wheel- 79542020.
SUBANG JAYA: At 29, Edward
Ling Sieak Meeng is among the
youngest of councillors. But he
doesn’t feel his age is an issue as far
as the job is concerned.
“The Prime Minister himself was
already a deputy minister at age 25.
If he can serve as a minister at that
age than I don’t see why
at 29 I can’t do a good
job as councillor,” said
Ling.
A graduate of Monash
University, Australia,
Ling is serving his first
term with the Subang Jaya
Municipal Council
(MPSJ).
Currently, he is focused on addressing housing issues
in the Sunway area where houses are
being turned into hostels for students attending Sunway University
College and Taylor’s College.
Residents in the area are complaining that the makeshift hostels
are overcrowded and the occupants
noisy. Another complaint is the lack
of parking space as a result of the
hostels.
Ling said that so far, MPSJ has
By Basil Foo
By William Tan
PETALING JAYA: A refuge for the
disabled - the Lovely Disabled Home
(LDH) – needs greater awareness and
support for their work.
Located on Jalan SS 2/5, the home is
both the residence and workplace to some
30 special individuals but space is fast
running out and there are mounting bills
to be paid.
“Sometimes I wish there was more
being done formally by the government.
At the moment we are running mainly on
the goodwill of local businesses” said
LDH committee member, Andy Chan,
41.
The home needs around RM8,000 for
its monthly expenses.
The home does manage to generate
some of its own income by having those
under its care perform simple tasks such
as recycling newspapers or card boxes, and
occasionally packing products for local
businesses.
The simple work allows participants
to exercise motor skills and socialise, and
is a precious opportunity to Tan Lay
Beng, 44.
“My 17-year old daughter is disabled,
spastic and confined to a wheelchair.
Thus, this home is a big help to me and
her, as it gives her a chance to work and
allows me to better manage her fits when
she is here,” said the homemaker.
Tan said her daughter helps to pack
newspapers into 4kg bundles which the
home sells at 40 cents per bundle.
Tan also volunteers at the home by
managing its accounts, and she wishes the
home will one day be able to afford its
own premises.
On Saturday, Petaling Jaya Utara
By Yasleh Hani Mat Yassin
no guidelines on such situations
where houses are turned into hostels. Ling said a sub-committee was
recently formed, headed by the
MPSJ president, to look at regulating this practice.
Besides this concern, Ling is also
aiming to shorten the length of time
taken to get business license approvals.
He is also trying to
get more MPSJ services
online so that the public
do not need to be physically present at the
MPSJ headquarters to
conduct transactions.
Ling finds it beneficial and important to
attend all council meetings because he feels the
views of the people are best heard in
these forums. The meetings help
him stay up to date with issues when
dealing with ratepayers, he said.
Being a councillor is anything
but ordinary, Ling added
When not busy at his job at a
information technology company
or attending to his duties as councillor, Ling enjoys doing outdoor activities like hiking and playing
badminton.
Lovely Disabled
Home perseveres
(From Left)
Tan, Pua
and home
director K
K Lum.
Member of Parliament Tony Pua applauded the efforts of the home during
a visit.
“By offering work, you not only restore their self-confidence and dignity
but also it allows the disabled to claim
subsidies from the government,” said
Pua.
To raise awareness, the home will
host a Chap Goh Meh celebration tomorrow.
The event will be held at SRJK Yuk
Chai, Taman Megah. It has been held
annually for the past five years to celebrate the lives of the residents of the
home. “It entirely for them, we won’t even
collect any money on the day of the
event and the event itself is free, though
people may give them ang pow,” said Tan
Joo Gin, chairperson of the LDH com-
(From Left) LDH committee members Andy
Chan and Cecilia Chen standing in front of the
newspapers the home recycles.
mittee. The home expects as many as 450
people who have committed to attend
the event, which is higher than the
original goal of 300.
However, Tan admits they are still
short of RM10,000 of the RM 30,000
for the event, but he has faith that they
will be able to collect it before the event.
“I believe people do care, and having
this event that allows us to share our
lives and cultures. It may well lead to
more and better partnerships in the
future,” he added.
The home does hold numerous fundraising events throughout the year.
Lovely Disabled Home was first established in November 2005. More
information about the home can be
found at http://www.lovelydisabled- (From Left) Tan Lay Beng and her daughter Phua
home.com/ or by calling 03-7873 9622. Yan Shuen at Lovely Disabled Home.
Views 11
February 18 — 20, 2011
Tripping Zero 3
Sharyn Shufiyan
S
hah Alam, tainted by cringeworthy events such as Teoh
Beng Hock’s death and the
cow head protest, is actually a very
pretty place. It was a real joy driving
past public parks and rows of shady
trees and flower bushes that line the
roads on my way to the Sultan Alam
Shah Museum, also known as the
Selangor State Museum.
My previous visits to Shah Alam
were clouded by frustration over
notorious roundabouts and useless
signboards that marred its beauty.
Now that I’m slightly more familiar
with the roads, the capital city appeared to me in a different light.
The Selangor Museum was first
established in 1899 at the site where
the current National Museum
stands in Kuala Lumpur. Before it
was bombed during World War II,
the building was a typical colonial
building, unlike the Minangkabau
structure we see today.
I was surprised to discover that
some of the artifacts saved from the
bombing were moved to Convent
Bukit Nanas - my former school,
while others were moved to the
Taiping Museum in Perak. After
independence, then Prime Minister
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj
commissioned Ho Kok Hoe to
design a new museum with a more
local flavour.
The museum was completed in
1963 and became the National
Museum. It continued to be owned
by Selangor until Feb 1 1974, when
Kuala Lumpur was declared a Federal Territory.
The blue brother to the National
Museum, the Sultan Alam Shah
Museum, was inaugurated in 1989
by Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Abdul
Aziz Shah Al-Haj and named in
honour of the 6th Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Hishamuddin Alam
Shah Al-Haj.
The museum is compartmentalised into five galleries; history, culture, sports, Islamic and natural
history. I thoroughly enjoyed the
section on Selangor history, refreshing my memory of its past and picking up new information, such as
detailed demographic and territorial histories of Selangor’s nine districts - Gombak, Hulu Langat, Hulu
The gallery on culture.
Museum Dialogue
In 1824, the
population of
Selangor was
estimated to be
6000 and by 1891,
the population
grew to more
than 81,000, with
the migration
of Chinese and
Indian settlers due
to the booming
economy of
trade, mining
and plantations.
Situated on
the west coast
of Peninsular
Malaysia,
Selangor was
an ideal trading
ground.”
Selangor, Kuala Selangor, Kuala
Langat, Klang, Petaling, Sabak Bernam and Sepang.
Selangor’s origins in record could
date back to the 15th century, when
it was ruled by the Sultanate of
Malacca and the people were Minangkabau settlers from Sumatra.
The sultanate was taken over by the
Bugis in 1740, whose lineage continues till this day.
In 1824, the population of Selangor was estimated to be 6000 and
by 1891, the population grew to
more than 81,000, with the migration of Chinese and Indian settlers
due to the booming economy of
trade, mining and plantations. Situated on the west coast of Peninsula
Malaysia, Selangor was an ideal
trading ground.
I moved on to the natural history
gallery and was curious to see how
they would organise knowledge regarding this area. It wasn’t much of
a surprise to find that the natural
history gallery was the saddest part
of the museum.
The space was occupied by nothing more than a section on PERHILITAN and threatened species,
The entrance to Sultan Alam Shah Museum.
some types of birds, some preserved
animals in jars, a bunch of rocks on
display (okay, fancy mineral rocks.)
and some fruits. Yes, fruits. It was a
bit too much to expect a section on
Darwin’s evolution theory but there
was not even an attempt for taxonomy nor explanations on research
and development of natural history
in Malaysia and information on the
displays was appalling
(Bird one: Mynah. Bird two:
Hornbill.)
As I made my way out, I stepped
into the Islamic gallery. I was impressed by the model of the Blue
Mosque - no doubt it is a magnificent architecture, but not so much
on the biographies of the Selangor
Mufti and the “Digression in Islam”
section where confiscated goods
such as a shirt adorned with the
words ‘Allah’ in Arabic and various
charms were displayed. I can appreciate the focus on Islam but I question the omitted, deliberately or not,
heritage of our Hindu past as I feel
it is equally important.
I’m bringing up this issue because
Some of the artifacts on display.
cultural and historical institutions
such as museums carry the weight of
representation and can play a more
a c t i v e r o l e i n e n c o ur a g i n g
understanding and dialogue – the
exhibitions are in themselves, a
dialogue.
It was a real shame that such incidents like the cow head protest
have to happen in the first place;
because not only was it an insult to
the Hindus, it was an insult to the
Malay heritage. The Hindu roots of
the Malay culture are a blind spot
that we fail to acknowledge and respect, yet throughout the displays in
the museum we see hints of it, such
as the use of kendi, a word derived
from Sanskrit Kundika to mean a
water container and was a common
attribute for Hindu deities such as
Brahma.
In relation to art museums specifically, Alain de Botton wrote,
“While exposing us to objects of
genuine importance, they nevertheless seem incapable of adequately
linking these objects to the needs of
our souls.”
But I wish to extend his statement to include historical accounts,
artifacts and cultural traditions that
in their own right, could potentially
guide us to being better citizens, as
we claim ownership of our past,
present and future. Drawing on
Hegel’s definition of art, de Botton
asserted that “Good art is the sensuous presentation of those ideas
which matter most to the proper
functioning of our souls, and yet
which we are most inclined to forget.” Like the kendi, a simple artifact
reminds us of our relationship with
the Sanskrit language, the Hindu
culture that we’ve inherited and the
bond that Malaysians across ethnicities share. We do not exist in
isolation from each other but in relation to each other.
The way we organise our museums, state level or national, should
move away from just presenting the
past but to actively contribute to the
development of a thinking and
progressive society.
The verdict? The Sultan Alam
Shah Museum is in dire need of a
curator who is not ancient.
Sharyn Shufiyan works with an organisation working to promote environmental
and social sustainability. Sometimes you
can find her sitting in a coffee shop with
her nose plastered to a book.
insight
12
febrUARY 18 — 20, 2011
State gives free breast cancer screening
A little-know programme by the state government
is Mammogram Selangor (MammoSel) which
provides free breast cancer screening for women.
It was started in mid-2010 and has since benefited
more than 3,600 women in the state as of January
2011.
Under the programme, women above 35 years
old, either born in Selangor or who have resided in
the state for more than 10 years, can register for
the free screening at their state assemblyperson’s
office.
“We picked breast cancer screening over other
screenings like pap smear (for cervical cancer)
because breast cancer is the number one cancer
among women,” said Rodziah Ismail, the state
executive councillor in charge of women’s affairs.
Although the programme is for all women
regardless of their economic status, Rodziah
expects it to benefit women from the low-income
group, in particular.
Indeed, most programme participants whom
Selangor Times spoke to admitted that they would
never have done a mammogram if they had not
signed up for MammoSel.
A mammogram would usually cost RM150 to
RM200 and women above 40, who are at higher
risk of getting breast cancer, should ideally do a
mammogram every one to two years.
“Awareness is insufficient if women cannot
afford the screening, and early detection and
treatment can help save lives,” said Rodziah.
After registering at their state assemblyperson’s
office, the women would be fetched at an
arranged date from the office to the Forrest
Medical Centre, a diagnostic centre in Kepong.
The centre has been operating for four years and
is located next to the Kepong Carrefour. The state
government pays the centre RM90 per screening
cancer
By Gan Pei Ling and Yasleh
Hani Mat Yassin
A
lmost all of us know or have heard of a
friend or relative affected by breast cancer. One of the most common cancers
among women, it is also one of the most survivable, if detected early. And thanks to modern xray technology, it is now possible to detect breast
cancer even before any lumps are felt by touch.
But what happens when the cancer is discovered? Not all women opt to have it removed, as
Selangor Times discovers in one the following
interviews. Women vary in their reactions and
way of coping with the disease.
Michelle (pseudonym), 47, was saved by early
detection through mammography. Her lump was
so small she probably would not have been able
to detect it through self-examination.
“It was about the size of a green bean,” said
the homemaker from Rawang who requested
anonymity because she does not want more
friends to know about her condition apart from
those who already do.
Friends told her about Selangor’s free mammogram programme for women above 35.
Michelle signed up last July.
“In hindsight, I was lucky my friends told me
about the programme and asked me to join,” said
Michelle, whose mother had also been diagnosed
with breast cancer earlier.
Michelle was referred to the Sungai Buloh
Hospital and the biopsy subsequently confirmed
that the bean-size lump in her breast was cancerous. She underwent surgery to remove the lump
at private hospital Gleneagles in Kuala Lumpur
as she did not want to wait for a few months at
the Sungai Buloh Hospital.
“I just wanted to get it over and done with,”
said the working-class parent, who had to borrow
money from her siblings to cover the RM10,000
Toothpaste,
facial
cleaner, hair
and body
shampoo...
Nor Fadilah
has been
using
products
with lingzhi
in the hope
of curing
her breast
cancer.
bill for surgery.
Post-surgery, she continues radiotherapy
treatment to destroy any remaining cancer cells in
her breasts and has to take medicine for the next
five years to prevent the cancer from recurring.
To save cost, Michelle did not continue her
treatment at Gleneagles but is currently going
through radiotherapy at Tung Shin Hospital in
KL and getting her medicine for free from Sungai
Buloh Hospital.
The mother of four no longer wears fitting
clothes now as she is afraid that it would reveal
her breasts which are no longer of the same size.
“There’s a special type of bra, but we can’t afford
it,” said Michelle, who had lost around 8kg after
she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
ings as often as before.”
Fortunately, her family has been very supportive and Michelle also found comfort by sharing
stories with other cancer patients at the treatment
centre. “They also have a counseling session for
cancer patients every Tuesday afternoon at Sungai Buloh Hospital but I have to fetch my son to
his tuition class so I can’t make it.
“But I would really like to join a support
group, I think only a cancer patient could
truly empathise with another cancer patient
and fully understand what she’s going through,”
said Michelle.
Compared to Michelle, Yeoh Lai Choo, 61,
was more fortunate as she had insurance to cover
most of her treatment costs.
The homemaker from Teratai was also diagnosed with early stage breast cancer last July
after a lump was found in her breast through a
mammogram. She later removed part of her right
breast at Pantai Hospital in Bangsar.
Yeoh said the surgery cost about
RM3,000. She continues her treatment at Hospital Universiti KeThe doctor told
Malaysia (HUKM) inme as long as I finish bangsaan
stead of Pantai Hospital to save
the chemotherapy
costs. The following six sessions of
and radiotherapy, I’ll chemotherapy cost would cost her
be able to outlive the another RM3,000 but she said the
same would cost ten times more at
cancer for another
Pantai Hospital.
10 years. The most
others, she suffered from hair
important thing is not lossLike
after the chemotherapy sessions
to give up hope.”
and usually wears a scarf now to cover
her head.
Michelle also no longer plays badminton now.
The non-smoker and non-drinker is also keeping
to a stricter diet, eating mainly vegetables and
fish. “I haven’t had any chicken since the surgery.
Sometimes I would let myself have some pork,
but only occasionally,” she added.
Michelle admitted that she was very scared
at the beginning when she was diagnosed with
breast cancer and suffered sleepless nights.
“I used to cry…The first time I stepped into
the cancer treatment centre at Tung Shin Hospital for radiotherapy, seeing the word ‘cancer’,
I couldn’t really accept it [that I was a patient],”
recounted Michelle, who initially also found the
daily medicine repulsive.
She also did not tell her friends about her
disease until after her surgery
and became a little antisocial: “I didn’t want friends
to visit, and didn’t feel like
going out to join their gather-
Nurse S Anjalai (right) with patient Teh Khon You.
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” she said.
The mother of two used to work as a babysitter but stopped after being diagnosed with breast
cancer. “Now I no longer have an income, I have
to be thriftier lah,” said Yeoh, whose husband is
a retiree.
The outgoing and cheerful lady remains
hopeful that she w ill be able to recover from the
disease. “The doctor told me as long as I finish the
chemotherapy and radiotherapy, I’ll be able to
outlive the cancer for another 10 years. The most
important thing is not to give up hope,” she said.
While Michelle and Yeoh used Western
medicine to treat breast cancer, Nor Fadilah
Puteh from Bukit Beruntung is putting her faith
in Chinese traditional medicine using lingzhi, a
kind of mushroom.
Nor Fadilah, 49, spends a few hundred ringgit a month on direct sales products, including
coffee and personal care products, made with
lingzhi extract.
She consumes six packets of the coffee a day
which adds up to around nine boxes costing
RM295 per month. On top of that, Nor Fadilah
also uses lingzhi-based products like toothpaste,
facial cleaner, hair and body shampoo.
“I feel my lump is smaller now,” said the
homemaker, who is reluctant to remove her left
breast and is confident that she can recover by
using these products.
“The doctor from Sungai Buloh Hospital
had called me many times since last year, asking
me when would I do the surgery to remove the
lump…I told him I’m still considering,” she said.
She said she no longer suffers migraines and
under MammoSel.
At the centre, the women are given a briefing on
breast cancer. A video of how the mammogram is
done – compressing and x-raying the breasts – is
also shown to them.
“Those who had never done mammogram
before might be scared,” said S. Anjalai, a senior
nurse at the centre. She said the compression
might be a bit painful but most participants are
able to tolerate it.
Anjalai’s job at the centre also allows her to
counsel the women and answer some of their
varied questions. “Some have asked me how to make their
breasts bigger, others have asked if they should
wear bras with wire,” she said. She has told them that plastic surgery is
definitely not an advisable method to enlarge one’s
breasts and under-wire bras are fine as long as
they are not too tight.
After the briefing, participants are called one
by one, beginning with the eldest, to do a clinical
breast examination by the nurse before proceeding
with the mammogram. A movie is screened in the
waiting hall for the others while they wait.
During the examination, the nurse asks each
participant about their family history of breast
cancer, whether they have breastfed before, and
if they have taken hormone pills like birth control
pills. These questions help identify a person’s risk
of breast cancer.
Participants are also taught how to do breast
examinations by themselves and are urged to do it
every month, and to teach their daughters as well.
The mammogram results are out after about
two weeks. A follow-up breast ultrasound is done
for patients with suspicious or abnormal findings.
Those suspected of breast cancer are further
high blood pressure after using these products.
She has heard that cancer as well as leukemia
patients have recovered after consuming these
products.
If she could afford it, Nor Fadilah said she
would buy the lingzhi tablets, which cost RM310
per bottle with 60 tablets. But one bottle has
to be consumed in three days and her husband
cannot afford to buy her ten bottles, amounting
to RM3,100, every month.
Nor Fadilah used to sell kuih and sew clothes
to complement the family’s income but she no
longer has the energy to do so. Her husband,
an army retiree, is relying on his pension and
making handicrafts to sustain their family of six.
Their eldest daughter is already married, but the
second child is still in college and another three
are still in school.
Nor Fadilah joined the state’s free mammogram programme after discovering a lump in her
breast through self-examination.
More than 3,600 women have been screened
since the state-sponsored mammogram programme started last June. The free screenings are
conducted by Forrest Medical Centre in Kepong.
Of the 3,600 screened, 41 were referred to hospitals for suspected breast cancer and seven were
affirmative cases while two were benign lumps.
S Anjalai, coordinator of the programme at
the centre, is tasked to follow-up with patients.
The senior nurse said she has been trying to
convince Nor Fadilah to accept modern treatment to no avail.
referred to government hospitals.
So far, 41 patients have been referred to
government hospitals with seven confirmed to be
diagnosed with breast cancer.
Anjalai said some patients did not want to know
if they had cancer, and refused to go hospitals for
fear of what they might find out.
Despite that, the centre keeps in touch with the
patients and encourages them to follow through
with the referrals.
Currently, the most
active state constituencies under MammoSel are
Batu Caves, Selat Klang, Teluk Datuk, Sri Serdang
and Gombak Setia, among others. Rodziah noted
that five out of the ten most active constituencies
are under Barisan Nasional assemblypersons.
“We don’t discriminate,” she stressed.
Each of the 56 constituencies in Selangor are
allocated 1,000 women participants per year, and
the state aims to screen 56,000 women every year.
Rodziah added that Selangor’s programme
is benchmarked against the National Population
and Family Development Board’s MammoSubsidi
programme.
Under MammoSubsidi, Malaysian women
only have to pay a minimal fee of RM50 for a
mammogram but the state decided to go a step
further and provide it for free to Selangor women
above 35.
For now, awareness about the programme is
spread mainly through word of mouth. Hopefully,
as more get to know about it, MammoSel can help
prevent breast cancer in more women.
*Note: The Forrest Medical Centre does not
take walk-in participants. Interested women
who are above 35 must register with their state
assemblyperson’s office to sign up for MammoSel.
Mammogram participants.
Things you should know about breast cancer
Around one in 20 Malaysian women has a risk of getting breast cancer. All women above
the age of 20 are at risk, but the risk increases with age.
Other risk factors include:
• Family history – Women who have family member(s) who has breast cancer are at higher
risk
• Early menstruation (before the age of 12) or late menopause (after the age of 50)
• Never having a full-term pregnancy or giving birth after the age of 30
• Not having breastfed
• A diet high in fat and low in fibre
• Obesity in post-menopausal years
• Excessive alcohol consumptions
Despite what some people believe, tight-fitting or underwire bra does not cause breast
cancer, neither do the fondling of breasts.
Breast cancer is curable and there are methods of early detections. Women below 35
are advised to do a breast self-examination every month. For women above 35, breast
examination by a doctor every year is recommended. But the best method to detect breast
cancer before any lumps can be felt is via mammogram.
When doing self-examination, women should look out for lumps, bleeding or discharge
from the nipple, change in the breast’s shape or skin. Not all lumps are cancerous, but do
see the doctor if you notice any unusual changes in your breasts.
The earlier a breast cancer is detected, the higher the chances of recovery. Treatment
may usually involve a combination of surgery (partial or total removal of breast tissue),
radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
For more information, visit www.breastcancer.org.my and www.makna.org.my/breastcancer.asp.
VIews
14
February 18 — 20, 2011
Flight From
Incheon
By Avie Azis
I
n the week leading up to Valentine’s Day,
LoyarBurok (www.loyarburok.com)
hosted a series of posts on love – all kinds
of love. “Flight From Incheon” by Avie Azis
ran in three parts; below is an excerpt from
the series. To read the posts in full, and to view
the rest of the posts in the #LoyarBerkasih
series, go to http://www.loyarburok.com/
tag/loyarberkasih/.
NOT long after I moved to KL, I came to
know a Burman refugee named Zaw. Well,
that wasn’t really his name, it was an alias. I
Ask Lord Bobo is a weekly column by
never knew his real name.
LoyarBurok (www.loyarburok.com)
where all your profound,
Others called him Ko Zaw. I referred to
abstruse, erudite, hermetic, recondite,
him as the General, after General Than Shwe,
sagacious, and other thesaurusthe untouchable head of the ruling military
described
queries are answered!
government in Burma. Ko Zaw did have this
uncanny resemblance to the junta leader.
Minus the uniform, of course.
And I imagine the real Than
Shwe would never wander around
in a foreign town, carrying a pink
umbrella, like he did.
It was from the General that I
learnt of something that I refer to as
the Malaysian symptom. Too many
of my respondents among the refusenting me with the
gees complained of a “heart condigrand gesture, he
tion” which did not exist prior to
really left. I had
their migration.
spent the previous
“The problem started when I got
weeks convincing
here,” the General said. He didn’t
him to abandon
know what exactly caused it but his
plans for such a risky
heart beats very rapidly now.
journey, but in the
According to the narratives I General Than Shwe: Head of the junta
end it was his
have collected, the displaced believe government in Burma.
choice.
that it was the kind of life they led
It was a dangerin Malaysia that caused the condi- panorama. We let Rela conduct ous undertaking, but it was not irtion. “Ini bukan biasa macam raids wherever they please. (I re- rational. It logically came down to
hidup.”
member hiding for hours on end this. There are methods of resistMy respondents describe living with my “illegal” respondents from ance. First, you take space. When
in Malaysia as, “curi-curi di rumah a Rela squad in a little Burmese shop you cannot take space, you take
orang.”
in Kota Raya). We put people in jail speech. When that’s not allowed,
The rapid heartbeats are mostly just because they have no papers.
you take flight.
associated with their constantly livI heard Mat Nur left via Penang.
ing in fear, heartache and heartbreak
“DO you like cintawan?”
Penang again. How many hours
from the bad treatment they have
“Eh?” Cinta means love. But I does Penang sleep a day? The pelarreceived.
wasn’t sure what he meant. In Ba- ian slip in and out of the country,
Exile is eating them away, and the hasa Indonesia, the suffix – wan - living their nightmares in motion.
first organ to go is the heart, be- refers to someone who does. So The locals slip in and out of concause, as one young man explained, would cintawan mean someone who sciousness, unaware or don’t care.
“Hati hakikatnya adalah sesuatu loves? Do I like lovers? What kind
yang lembut.”
of question is that?
Here in Malaysia, I have come to
I have my own documentation in
“Here, cintawan,” he showed me the conclusion that love exists, but
order. But I could still empathise. It a plastic bag full of mushrooms.
is often very exclusive. No, no, no,
is not hard for me to see how Ma“Oh, cendawan,” I finally knew no, no. Love with a big L is a lanlaysia can instill a certain fear in the what he meant.
guage we no longer understand. We
undocumented. I myself do not dare
“Yes, cintawan, I’m cooking cin- understand only loves that start with
go anywhere without my passport, tawan for you.”
the little l’s. It is the love we have for
even if only to the mamak stall
Mat Nur then disappeared to the our lovers, parents, children, friends,
across my flat. Friends think I am kitchen, turning fresh cintawan to a pets. Selfish loves that come so easbeing extremely paranoid but Ma- pot of curry. I knew now that it was ily for us because these people are
laysia has bitterly taught me how the mushrooms, but it still sounded to one of our own.
IC epitomises the dominant tech- me as if he was about to cook some
Amitav Ghosh once said the opnology of self.
lovers. Lovers curry, I learnt about posite of love is not hatred but
One Rohingya man I met elo- an hour later, was burningly spicy cowardice, and so we have become,
quently lamented, “The world we and delicious.
people who do “what is technically
live in is no longer one that is
The last time I saw him, Mat Nur correct, but not what is right”.
guided by the norms of religion. It and his wife gave me a box of chocoI don’t judge Malaysia or Malaydoes have faith, but it subscribes to lates. Nothing fancy, of course, but sians, but I do deeply resent this
a faith in technology and docu- still it was special. Nobody had ever difficult world of fictional but dements.”
given me a box of chocolates before, finitive boundaries.
With that faith, we citizens ac- my love life being rather uneventful,
There is a school for Rohingya
cept appalling scenes as normal, as obviously. Little did I know it was a children in Puchong. I often came
if they are naturally a part of daily farewell gift. A few days after pre- just to watch the children sing as
Some
refugee
children of
Burma in
a crowded
detention
cell in
Mae Sot,
Thailand,
along the
Thai-Burma
border
loudly and as off-key as they could.
One of the songs had the following
lyrics:
The place to be happy is here;
And the way to be happy is to
make others happy;
And to make a little heaven down
here.
Tell me, why does Malaysia refuse
to get heaven in this life and after?
Discriminating against children is
something that I completely refuse
to understand. OK-lah, you don’t
want to accept the parents, but how
are children guilty of their parents’
migration?
I came to know some of these
children in Puchong well. They
would sing ‘Negaraku‘ proudly, not
yet aware that their Negara considered them unworthy foreigners and
put “warga negara asing” in the nationality column of their birth certificates. If they were given birth
certificates at all.
They have no memories of Burma. How can they be warga negara
asing when they only know Malaysia?
There was a memorable Rohingya girl in Klang, named Robizan.
She had experienced a brutal police
raid. Not satisfied with taking her
parents, they took her to detention
too. They shaved her head and she
screamed like hell. When I met her,
her hair had not grown back to a
length proper for a girl. But she did
not indulge in sad stories.
She was more interested in my
own tragic situation. “Kakak dah
kawin ke?”
Girls around Robizan’s age were
always so disappointed when I replied negatively to the question.
To appease the dismay and to
render myself a less pitiable singleton, I’d entertain them with tales of
an imaginary fiancé back home.
Sometimes he’s a veterinarian, other
times he’s an information technology guy. I could never get my story
straight.
Those who saw through my b.s.
offered to set me up with their
brothers/uncles/etc. The matchmaking reminded me of a “mencari
jodoh” advertisement pinned on a
tree near the Bank Negara KTM
station. One of the lines in the ad
say, “Tak kisah apa status Anda”.
And I wondered if I would live
to see a day when Malaysia decides
“tak kisah” about the one particular
status they now stamp on those
without papers: “Illegal”.
The regular series “Ask Lord Bobo”
resumes next week. Ask Lord Bobo is
a weekly column by LoyarBurok
where all your profound, abstruse,
erudite, hermetic, recondite, sagacious, and other thesaurus-described
queries are answered!
Although Lord Bobo already
knows your question before you even
knew you had a question, as a practical display of your true desire to have
your query answered, His Supreme
Eminenceness has graciously allowed
you to communicate your questions
by –
• emailing [email protected], stating your full name,
and a pseudonym if you wish the
question to be published anonymously (and a good reason for anonymity).
• tweeting #asklordbobo.
The first 100 questions published
will receive LoyarBurok’s ONLY
merchandise you ever need (worth a
lot for humankind) courtesy of Selangor Times. Now, what the hell are
you waiting for?
Liberavi Animam Meam! I Have
Freed My Spirit!
News
Concert to
aid unheard
community
By Basil Foo
KUALA LUMPUR: A concert to aid
Malaysia’s transgender community was held
by the “Justice For Sisters” ( JFS) coalition
at Solaris Dutamas last Saturday.
“We are raising funds to pay for their legal
fees and to bring together Malaysians of all
backgrounds to stand against the persecution
of the transgender community,” said spokesperson Angela Kuga Thas.
After a concert at Central Market marked
the initiative’s launch last December, this was
their third concert with local musicians and
artists in tow.
“We want to tell people that they are normal people. If we get to know them, they are
like any other family
member or colleague,”
said Angela.
Members of Corporate Youth, one of the
bands that performed,
expressed similar sentiments regarding feeling s towards the
transgender commuThilaga, a JFS
nity.
volunteer.
“I think many
people are not
aware of the Mak
Nya h b e caus e
their voices go
unheard most of
the time,” said 24year old drummer
Hanafi. “But they
are people who
have feelings too,”
he added.
Tanesh, a graduate of Segi Colleg e and band The band Corporate Youth performing at Solaris Dutamas.
vocalist, said he
did some research on the subject and is glad thing frustrating.
to support the cause.
The plight of the transgender community
“After I realised who the show was benefit- is described as a vicious cycle with many of
ing, I decided this is a definitely a cool thing them realising they are different as early as
to do,” he added.
seven years old and attempting the transition
Artists Buka Kolektif brought their own in their teens.
brand of stage performance to the show and
Angela explained that most of them put off
expressed their support for the cause.
the transition due to the environment they are
An interesting performance was by Buka in.
Kolektif member Sharon Chin, whose show
They are then forced to leave home without
involved screaming into a pillow with the finishing formal education and end up on the
audience after asking them to tell her some- streets.
February 18 — 20, 2011
15
Part of the hardships faced by this community also stems from arrests and assaults
by religious officers.
“Section 66 in the Negeri Sembilan Islamic Enactment, among other sections,
criminalise them. They can be fined RM1,000
and jailed after their third arrest,” said Justice
For Sisters volunteer Thilaga Sulathireh.
The coalition hopes to assist 15 transexuals
from Seremban who are facing hefty fines.
“We are seeking RM60,000 to help them
fight the court cases,” said Thilaga.
Features
16
February 18 — 20, 2011
Sweating off for T
the Orang Asli
By Gan Pei Ling
Extraordinary People Impacting Community focuses on improving the lives of the Orang Asli.
Growing Emerging Leaders aims to register two million voters.
ired of merely talking about change, a group of youths decided
to take things into their own hands and got down to the ground
to help the Orang Asli.
Since January 2010, volunteers from Klang Valley have been going
to two Orang Asli villages – Kg Jawa Kerling and Kg Hulu Tamu – in
Kuala Kubu Bharu to help construct basic amenities.
Jasmine Ng, a co-founder of Growing Emerging Leaders (GEL),
said these trips provided the youth a glimpse into the lives of the Orang
Asli.
“The young people enjoyed interacting with the Orang Asli kids,
one of them even brought balloons to play with them.
“It also shows the Orang Asli that we care about
them,” she added.
Since 2006, Ng has been mentoring a group of young
adults including undergraduates, educating them about
the application of leadership principles in real life.
“One of the issues with the education system worldwide is that we emphasise too much on skills like
memorisation, but not enough on character development. Part of being a leader is learning to be considerate
to others,” she explained.
“In late 2009, the youths decided that they have had
enough talks and hence it’s time to put their ideas into
action and that’s how project EPIC was born.”
EPIC or Extraordinary People Impacting Community focuses on “improving the plight of the Orang Asli”.
The first project EPIC started was building a toilet
Kg Jawa Kerling.
During their first visit in late 2009, the urbanites were
“shocked” to discover that Kg Jawa Kerling did not even
have a proper toilet.
“So we asked them if we could build a toilet for them.
It wasn’t so much for the Orang Asli, but for their visitors,” says GEL’s co-founder John-son Oei, a graduate
from Taylor’s University.
The 23-year-old said that they also noticed that most
of the houses in the village needed a paint job.
They created an event page on Facebook to gather
volunteers and over 60 people, answered their call for
assistance last January.
“I was quite sceptical at first on the number of volunteers we could get…but some of them even skipped
Features 17
February 18 — 20, 2011
Oei: Sceptical of number of volunteers initially.
work or classes to join us,” said Oei.
As for the some of the expatriate volunteers, they had
heard about the toilet-building and house-painting
project through CouchSurfing.org (an international
travel website).
Since then, EPIC have moved on to bigger projects
such as rebuilding homes for the Temuan tribe.
“We wanted to engage the community and develop
a close relationship with them,” says Oei.
Similarly, they put out a call for volunteers, who
helped to identify the needs of the villagers during the A house, designed by EPIC, which can be
built in three days.
first visit.
“Many Orang Asli complained about their
roofs, floors or walls so we brought our contractors. After examining the houses, they identified 30 houses that needed to be rebuilt,” Oei
said.
Subsequently, they designed a house that can
be built in three days and successfully secured
funds from a sponsor to build the prototype.
Pak Cihong, an old Temuan, cried upon the
completion of his new house.
Unfortunately, he passed away due to cancer
this January but both Ng and Oei were glad
that they had provided him a more comfortable
house to live in during the last few months of
his life.
Pak Cihong’s widow and son will inherit the
new house and move into it a month after his
passing according to the Temuan tradition.
This April, GEL wants to build the remaining 29 houses for the villagers in Kampung
Hulu Tamu.
“A lot of people say we’re too idealistic, but
we’re just putting our ideals to test,” says Oei.
GEL is currently looking for sponsors to
fund their second house-building project this
April, interested individuals or groups can
contact them at johnsonoei@dosomethinge- Ng: Trips provide youths a glimpse into the lives of
pic.net.
the Orang Asli.
Empowering voters
Besides improving the lives of
Orang Asli, non-profit organisation
Growing Emerging Leaders (GEL)
is also spearheading a voter registration campaign.
A non-partisan group, GEL’s
target in Voice Your Choice voter
registration campaign, is to register
two million eligible voters.
“We’re non-partisan. We believe
people can decide for themselves
who they want to vote for,” said
Jasmine Ng, GEL co-founder.
Currently, there are around four
million eligible voters in the country
who have yet to register to vote.
Their campaign, launched last
April, has attracted community
and faith-based groups nationwide
to join in and help register new voters.
From Perlis to Johor and Sarawak,
the campaign has united citizens
and groups that have been carrying
out the initiative on their own.
Collectively, they had success-
fully registered more than 140,000
new voters last year.
Ng, a former banking consultant,
said that the Election Commission
has been very cooperative throughout the campaign.
In January, the commission has
officially appointed GEL as an Assistant Registrar. The organisation
can now register new voters directly.
Ng explained that previously,
they had to rely on assistance from
political parties such as Gerakan
and DAP when the Election Commission was unavailable during their
voter registration drives.
“We had to get the voter registration forms from them and one of
their representatives had to be there
to sign off the forms,” she said.
Although the Voice Your Choice
campaign is non-partisan, many
continue to associate them with
political parties.
“Many people equate us as being
political, but it’s not the same as we
can be politically aware yet remain
independent,” John-son Oei, another co-founder of GEL, pointed
out.
They will continue to champion
the campaign this year and are looking for interested sponsors to support it.
Individuals or groups interested
to open a voter registration booth
can also contact them at [email protected].
Apart from voter registration,
Oei reveals that they are currently
planning a voter education campaign as well.
They are working on setting up a
website which will contain our
elected representatives’ relevant information to help citizens make
informed decisions during the elections.
“Everything they should know
about their parliamentarian or state
assemblyperson will just be a click
away,” said Oei.
Independent
Directors for PKA
Among the many disturbing
developments and non-developments in the Port Klang Free Zone
(PKFZ) fiasco, TI Malaysia and
the public are gravely concerned
that the proposal for the reappointment of Datuk Rajasingam as an independent
director in the Port
Klang Authorit y
(PKA) board was rejected by the Minister of
Transport even though
the board had recommended his extension.
Although under the Act, t h e
minister has the power to appoint
directors, the PKA Ad-Hoc Committee on Governance had recommended that one-third of the
board members be independent
directors. This practice is crucial
for good governance.
The PKFZ fiasco exposed serious failures in governance, with
serious impact on the public and
taxpayers.
The recommendation for independent directors was made specifically: (1) to provide a check and
balance and (2) to bring in members with the relevant competencies to help with the oversight of
PKA.
From my participation (by invitation) in PKA board meetings
for about six months, I have observed the lively and fruitful discussions at board meetings.
Rajasingam came across to me
as someone who is highly competent and very knowledgeable in the
affairs of the PKA and the operations of the ports. Being a past
general manager of PKA, where
during his tenure, PKA had operated efficiently and had accumulated a cash surplus of about
RM500 million, he had shown the
greatest passion and dedication to
make sure things are done in good
faith and in the interest of PKA.
Therefore, it is a great disap-
pointment that his term was not
extended.
What message is the Ministry
conveying to the public in its commitment to improve governance at
PKA?
Currently, apart
from reports filed by
PKA with the MACC
and Police, there are
several civil suits
filed against some
parties implicated
in the PKFZ fiasco.
Our greatest concerns are:
(1)Whether the required number of independent directors will
be appointed. These new appointees must be people who act without fear or favour and in the public
interest.
(2) Whether the reconstituted
PKA board will be as diligent to
safeguard the interests of PKA and
to ensure that the current suits are
pursued to the logical conclusion.
(3) Whether in the course of
time when more evidence surfaces,
the board will be able to act independently to bring wrongdoers to
book.
(4) Whether the previous members of PKA Board will be held
accountable if found to have failed
in discharging their fiduciary duty.
There are many important lessons to be learnt from the mismanagement of PKFZ and we must
ensure the remedial measures put
in place to improve governance in
the public interest are not compromised or reversed for political
convenience.
Removing or not reappointing
persons of good faith such as Rajasingam and perhaps Datuk Lee
Hwa Beng when his chairmanship
comes up for renewal, would be
retrogressive and deplorable.
Datuk Paul Low
President, Transparency International (Malaysia)
Travel
18 February 18 — 20, 2011
The quest for great
Malaysian cuisine is a
never-ending one. LIN
ZHENYUAN braves the
traffic to Puchong for its
famous yong tau fu.
F
Step on the gas for
Puchong yong tau fu
rankly, Puchong isn’t much to look at unless
you are staying there. It used to be a
sprawling landscape of tin mines but time
and progress have changed everything.
There are now more housing estates than you
care to count. The toll plaza and traffic jams will
deter any outsider without a specific agenda from
visiting the place.
But one thing is sure, the Puchong yong tau fu
is as good today as it was years ago. It rivals the
much-praised Ampang yong tau fu, which now
has branches across the Klang Valley.
The same goes for the Puchong yong tau fu, or
so I was told. There may be various branches of
self-proclaimed “Puchong yong tau fu” elsewhere,
but the “original”, or “ori” – the slang word used
by some people – is located at Batu 14, Jalan Besar,
Kampung Baru Puchong. Look for Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Han Ming and the yong tau
fu restaurant is directly opposite it. The school is
a landmark you don’t want to forget, otherwise
you will end up like me, walking boldly into a
eatery nearby to ask for yong tau fu and finding
none. The bewildered owner knew I wasn’t meant
to be his customer so he graciously told me the
yong tau fu restaurant is another 100 metres away.
Even though yong tau fu is a subjective food
item, quality YTF (yong tau fu) is easily recognisable by the size of the crowds at an outlet.
I am not a yong tau fu fanatic but I will yield to
the majority’s choice whenever I am outvoted by
more than three people or vetoed by the chief financier.
What’s unique about the Puchong yong tau fu
The big sign that says you are at the right place.
is that it’s freshly prepared. That
means you pick your selection of
vegetables or tau fu and the fish
Be sure of what you want from the
paste will be stuffed in just before
long
list of yong tau fu items. Many
boiling or frying.
customers,
including yours truly, have
Oily stuff always tastes better, as
the food connoisseurs will tell you.
unintentionally gone overboard and
If you are the type who counts caloordered more than necessary.”
ries and who is timid about how
your heart reacts to food, stop reading this and go and watch TV.
If you do not want rice to go with the long list of yong tau fu items.
Anyway, yong tau fu is a fairly the yong tau fu, dry pan mee is an Many customers, including yours
healthy type of food as far as Chi- option. It is sold at a separate stall. I truly, have unintentionally gone
nese cuisine is concerned.
don’t think it belongs to the same overboard and ordered more than
The tables at the Puchong yong establishment.
necessary.
tau fu restaurant are usually full durA young woman who looks Thai
When the dulang-sized bowl
ing weekends. So if you can, go runs the pan mee stall. Her dry pan comes with the yong tau fu floating
during weekdays, otherwise you will mee actually tastes quite good and happily on the sea of soup, your
end up standing, scanning for an it blends in well with the yong tau gastronomical courage will make a
empty table and receiving pitiful fu.
quick exit.
glances.
Be sure of what you want from
That is why I always have a stain-
That’s what you come for – great yong tau fu.
less steel tiffin carrier in my car boot.
I have used it on numerous occasions and on my very first to this
particular yong tau fu restaurant, I
used it.
On a scale of one to 10, the Puchong yong tau fu scores an eight.
The Ampang yong tau fu gets a
seven from me. There are some
people who say that both the Ampang and the Puchong yong tau fu
are over-rated.
If you haven’t had the Puchong
yong tau fu, you should give it a try.
There’s nothing like an unhurried
meal in the middle of nowhere and
sometimes it looks as if a thunderstorm is around the corner.
You can easily work up a bill in
excess of RM40 at the Puchong yong
tau fu restaurant, if you come with
a party of four. But what are four red
notes. Think of the amount you have
to pay at one of those fancy foreign
restaurants at an upmarket shopping
complex.
Don’t forget to order a pot of hot
Chinese tea. It helps with digestion
and you won’t feel so greasy or full
as you waddle your full belly out of
the restaurant and towards your car.
Did I mention that there’s hardly
any parking space during weekends?
You may have to park along one of
the tiny side lanes but that’s the price
you have to pay for good yong tau
fu.
C’est la vie, bon appétit and have
a great Malaysian meal. By the way,
the GPS co-ordinates for the Puchong yong tau fu restaurant
is N02 59.729 E101 37.435
The dry pan mee goes down well with the yong tau fu.
Fiction 19
February 18 — 20, 2011
By Fadzlishah Johanabas
E
very family has their own
secrets. Mine is no exception.
Earlier this morning Daddy received a phone call that sent
him into the dining room where we
were having our breakfast. “It’s time,”
he said.
And now we’re two states away,
with Daddy parking the car beside
Uncle Jamil’s in front of his parents’
estate. From the number of cars and
motorcycles crammed in the big
yard, almost every one – if not all
– is here.
We burst out of the car before
Daddy even turns off the ignition.
Mama carries my youngest brother.
He’s too young to walk without falling, much less to know what’s going
on, but our excitement seems to have
caught on him. He’s wide awake and
jumping in Mama’s arms.
My grandparents’ house is big,
filled with antique furniture that
Mama tries so hard to prevent us
from touching or knocking over
every time we come to visit. But
Mama is a grown-up. She doesn’t
understand the grand adventures my
cousins and I have up and down the
stairs, in and out of the many rooms,
and up and around the four shady
rambutan trees in the backyard.
Even with the whole family
crowding the hall, the house is quiet.
I see Uncle Jamil’s children and I go
to them while Daddy and Mama
settle down at another corner, my
sister trailing them. I don’t see my
grandparents, but I think they must
be in the middle of the room.
“What’s happening?” I ask Cousin Asri.
“Nothing the past hour we’ve
been here.” My taller cousin rolls his
eyes. “It’s boring.”
“Shh,” says Uncle Jamil. His eyes
are stern.
From somewhere beyond the
wall of uncles and aunts comes a
weak squawk. After a collective gasp,
I see everyone looking up. I follow
their gaze. The crystal chandelier
hanging from the high ceiling is
glowing red, except that light is not
coming out of it, but from underneath. A small bird is flying in a slow
circle. It looks wrong, not like the
beautiful bird I remember. The
crimson feathers have lost their
sheen, the gold beak lacks its usual
luster. I feel a lump forming in my
throat when I look at its eyes. The
bird is saying goodbye to us.
=“Fly, Garuda, your final flight,”
comes Grandfather’s voice. At first
I don’t understand what’s going on,
but looking at Daddy standing
across the room, I remember the
story he told my little sister and me
when we first saw the bird years ago.
Garuda is a special bird, a secret I
can never tell anyone, not even my
best friend Kit Wan.
It has been looking after my family for generations, when Grandfather’s grandfather was young. I remember telling Daddy it’s impossible, but he said that this is Garuda’s
eighth incarnation. I still don’t understand what that means.
The bird flies toward us and hovers over Uncle Jamil’s head. I see
everyone nodding, as if agreeing
with a well-chosen decision. Uncle
Jamil is smiling. It feels wrong,
somehow, to see him happy when
the bird is giving off such a sad feeling. The bird sighs. I sigh with it.
With gentle flaps of red wings, it
floats down to land.
Not on Uncle Jamil, but into my
arms.
I hear everyone gasping aloud. I
see them clearing a circle around me,
but right now I don’t care. I stroke
Garuda’s little body. It feels light and
soft. And warm. Tears start to drop
on its belly. I’m crying and I don’t
know why.
“Put it down, Khir,” says Grandfather, his tone gentle.
I ease the bird onto the marble
floor and sit in front of it. Garuda
squawks at me and lifts its head. It
sighs again, before going limp and
lifeless. I cry out and reach for it, but
it suddenly bursts into flames, gold
and red. It feels warm, but not scalding like fire on a stove.
I hear Mama crying out, but I
reach out anyway. The fire tickles my
skin. It feels like clothing fresh out
of the dryer. I touch Garuda’s burning beak and gasp not in pain, but
in surprise.
The bird crumbles into ash, and
in the middle is a gold egg slightly
smaller than chicken egg.
“Garuda has chosen you, Grandson, to be its next keeper.” I look up
and see Grandfather smiling at me.
Daddy too.
Mama looks worried, though.
“The egg feels warm.”
“When it hatches, Garuda will be
reborn the ninth time. Whomever
it chooses is destined for greatness.
I hope I’ll live long enough to see
you achieve it.” Grandfather chuckles, and the whole family laughs with
him. Except for Uncle Jamil, although I can’t understand why.
“Guard our secret well, and
Garuda will watch over you and
your family, Khir.”
I cup the egg with both hands
close to my heart. I feel a quiver, a
pulse, matching my heart.
I don’t understand much of what
Grandfather has just said, but I
know this much is true: I will have
a lifelong friend, and no matter how
dark things can get, there will always
be light.
RM42k for eight NGOs
By William Tan
PETALING JAYA: A total of
RM42,500 in aid was handed out
to eight needy organisations during
Chinese New Year celebrations in
Section 17 last Saturday.
The allocations, from Petaling
Jaya councillor Tang Fuie Koh and
Bukit Gasing Assemblyperson
Edward Lee’s allocation budgets,
were given to resident associations,
charities, a temple and school.
“I’m happy that we got the funds
as quickly as we did” said 41-yearold Lim Chee Pang.
The treasurer of SJK © Yuk
Chun Building Fund, said the RM
12,500 received will go towards
building new classrooms for the
local Chinese school.
He said the school still needed
to raise RM1million but he said the
contribution from the local leaders
was a step in the right direction.
Lim added that he was positive
that their fund raising which started
in October will reach its targets to
help the school.
✂
Family Secrets
Take 5 minutes to fill this form up and drop it off at
the nearest police station to have regular checks
at your house while you are away.
Ibu pejabat Polis Daerah Subang Jaya
Tel: 03-5637 3722 Fax: 03-5631 9815
Borang maklumat
Memaklumkan tentang meningalkan rumah kediaman untuk
bercuti.
Kepada Kawasan Pentadbiran Balai Polis
..............................................................................................
Butiran penduduk:
Nama: ..................................................................................
Alamat: .................................................................................
..............................................................................................
..............................................................................................
Nombor telefon bimbit/kediaman: ........................................
Nombor telefon yang boleh dihubungi: ................................
..............................................................................................
Tarikh meninggalkan rumah: ................................................
Tarikh dijangka balik ke rumah: ...........................................
Kenderaan yang ditinggalkan (jenis model & nombor daftar
kenderaan).
1. ..........................................................................................
2. ..........................................................................................
3. ..........................................................................................
Lain-lain maklumat:
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Tandatangan
Lee (fourth from the left), Haniza and Hee with leaders of eight
NGOs who received a total of RM42,500 during the Chinese New
Year open house in S17 last Saturday.
Reverend Sek Chan Wen of the
Yuan Lin Xiao Zhot Buddhist
Temple Fund was also thankful for
receiving the financial aid so quickly.
“The RM 3,000 will be used for
general purposes such as food,
repairs and printing,” he said.
Yap Kian Kong from the Bandar
Lama Petaling Jaya resident
association also received RM6,000
on behalf of the association.
Yap, who is also the president of
his resident association, said the
funds will be used to hold events
such as cultural festivals in his area.
The event was also jointly
org anise d by Taman Me dan
assemblyperson Haniza Mohamed
Talha and PJ Selatan member of
Parliament Hee Loy Sian.
.......................................
Tarikh
Have you checked
your electrical
switches before
leaving home?
Before ieaving your home for a holoday, have you
checked all your electrical switches and turned off
your gas tanks?
Call the SS17 Bomba for advise at
03-5634 9444
Technology
20 February 18 — 20, 2011
By Edwin Yapp
T
he idiot box has come a long way since
it was invented close to a hundred years
ago. For a long time, the use of the cathode ray tube (CRT) was the only way to receive
TV broadcast signals and project images of
moving pictures on a screen.
But some 15 years ago, alternate technologies besides the CRT started coming to the
fore, namely plasma TVs and more recently,
LCD TVs.
So what’s the difference?
Plasma and LCD are two competing technologies that produce images that have very
similar characteristics. Plasma screen uses a
matrix of tiny gas (Xenon and Neon) cells
charged by electrical voltages to create a plasma
which then excites phosphors to emit light and
display images.
LCD display, on the other hand, is made
of liquid crystals sandwiched between two
glass plates illuminated by a backlight. Images
are created when electrical signals are varied
through the crystals thus either blocking the
light from shining or allowing it to pass
through.
Both are bright, crystal clear and brilliant in
colour presentation. So if that’s the case, which
do you choose?
Generally speaking, LCDs are cheaper than
Plasmas if they are 36-inch and below. As the
size of the screen increases, Plasma TVs become
more economical.
Plasmas are favoured because they have a
very high contrast ratio compared to that of
LCDs. The contrast ratio is a measure of the
blackest black against the whitest white. This
is because of the fact that in a LCD display, the
crystal cannot fully block the backlight resulting in some light leakages through the pixels,
while in a plasma TV, individual cells are either
lighted or blackened.
A good contrast ratio increases the amount
of detail you can see in the shadows thereby
making the picture look more three-dimensional. This is where it becomes quite subjective
as some people can spot the difference, while
others cannot.
However, LCDs are brighter in presentation and can be a plus point if you are viewing
under bright lights.
Plasmas vs LCDs
Plasmas are also cited for their superior fast
moving playback capabilities. Because of its
high contrast levels, plasma produces brilliant
images from video sources such as sports and
action movies, as well as console games.
LCDs are somewhat more prone to a phenomenon known as “trailing/blurring,” where
individual pixels seem to be out of step and
Plasmas have a
very high contrast
ratio compared to
that of LCDs.
The dawn of flat
screen television
“trail” from what is shown on the screen, but
of late, blurring in LCDs are not that observable anymore due to better technology. Of
late, LCD TVs have caught up and higher end
models have technologies that can deal with
this blurring of fast moving images.
An oft-cited comparison between Plasmas
and LCDs is that plasmas do not last as long
as LCD TVs due to their active illumination
of individual cells while LCDs do not have
this limitation because only crystals are used
to filter light through.
This used to be true up to a few years ago
when plasmas used to lose half of their brightness after more than 20,000 hours of viewing
but they have since greatly improved. Today,
some claim plasmas can work up to 60,000
hours before losing their brightness. This
equates to about 20 years of TV viewing at
8 hours per day.
Plasmas do consume more energy than
LCDs although manufacturers have made
great improvements in this area also in the
last year or so.
LCD vs LEDs?
With the introduction of LED TVs in the
last year or so, there has been much confusion
over the battle between these two technologies, but in actual fact, the two can be quite
easily distinguished once the marketing hype
and speak are stripped away.
The first thing to note about
the term LEDs is that it’s a misnomer. When vendors and advertisers use the term LED TV,
it conjures images that it’s a new
kind of TV powered by a new
kind of technology, which is not
actually quite true.
To understand this clearly,
we have to go back one step to
consider how LCD TVs work.
As mentioned earlier, LCD TVs
have liquid crystals sandwiched
between two glass plates illuminated by a backlight. The source
of the backlight of an LCD TV is
usually in the form of cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs).
In LED TVs, the source of that
backlight is in the form of light
emitting diodes (LEDs), a new
kind of light source that uses less
power and which are very much
thinner and smaller than CCFLs.
Thus, an LED TV is nothing
more than an LCD TV pow-
LED TV has been
much confusion
over the battle
between two
technologies,
LED TV is nothing
more than an LCD
TV powered by LEDs
backlight instead of
CCFLs. The underlying
technology of the
LCD TV is essentially
the same. To avoid
confusion, think of an
LED TV as an LEDbacklit LCD TV.”
ered by LEDs backlight instead of CCFLs.
The underlying technology of the LCD TV is
essentially the same. To avoid confusion, think
of an LED TV as an LED-backlit LCD TV.
That said, LED TVs do have their advantages over older LCD TVs. First up, LED TVs
use less power by virtue of its more efficient
lighting. At the same time, the brightness is
not compromised, as LED TVs are much
brighter than conventional LCD TVs.
Because they are smaller than CCFLs,
LED TVs are markedly thinner than LCD
TVs, which make them more ascetically
pleasing to look at. LED TVs also have better contrast ratios, a measure of the blackest
black against the whitest white, which make
the picture more realistic looking.
LED TVs also have better viewing angles
and this is especially true viewing from off
centre and they also last longer thanks to LED
backlight technology.
Next issue, we shall examine some other
details of the modern flat screen TV, namely
trying to understand what high definition
video is all about and finally drill down details
of what kind of flat screen TVs you should
consider.see in movies.
Media 21
Ajmal creates new perfume
for celebrity couple
February 18 — 20, 2011
Mo receives
the mock
key to her
brand new
Toyota Vios
from Lim
(middle,
with tie) at
an outlet in
Seremban
last month.
Mo joy for accountant
SEREMBAN: The Year of the Rabbit hopped
in to an auspicious start for 49-year-old Mo Mun
Ying, who was chosen as the grand prize winner of
Da Ma Cai’s Drive a Toyota Vios in 2011 contest.
Mo’s entry form was selected in a lucky draw
out of a total of 2.2 million entries that were
submitted nationwide during the month of December last year.
The accountant received the amazing prize of
a Toyota Vios 1.5J (AT) worth RM78,000 at a
prize-giving ceremony at the Da Ma Cai outlet in
Jalan Nunis, Seremban, where the winning ticket
was purchased.
Andy Lim, general manager, NFO, Pan Malaysian Pools Sdn Bhd presented her with the keys
to her brand new car.
Lim said: “We are happy to be able to make
Chinese New Year all the more memorable for
our loyal customers”
A resident of Taman Bukit Galena, Seremban,
Mo had a shock when she received a phone call
from Da Ma Cai informing her that she had won
the contest.
Mo said: “This is the first time I have ever won
anything and I was in such disbelief when they
called to tell me, I had to ask them to repeat
themselves many times. My colleagues at work
have now started calling me Lucky Star for winning the grand prize.”
During the ceremony Lim also presented
a cheque for RM5,000 to Lai Kim Tin, the sales
operator from whom Mo purchased her ticket.
Additionally, as consolation prizes, 20 shopping vouchers worth RM500 each were awarded
to the first 20 names drawn from the pool of entries before the grand prize.
DAP Selangor wishes
“Happy Birthday”
to
Sdr. Kit Siang
on the occasion of his
70th birthday
A dinner will be held to celebrate the occasion at Shah
Alam Convention Centre on 27th Feb (7.30 pm).
Those interested please contact
Mary Joseph at 016-291 3453 or email to
[email protected].
SHAH ALAM: Love was definitely in tive director and renowned perfumist
the air for celebrity television host and Abdulla Ajmal.
personality Soo Kui Jien when he was
Based on their individual personalities,
invited to create a one-of-kind, exclusive Abdulla suggested a blend of ingredients
fragrance perfume for the love of his life, to make the base, middle and top notes of
celebrity Channel [V] VJ, Sarah Tan, at the perfume.
the Ajmal Perfumes Store located in the
Jien selected three simple ingredients
Pavilion Shopping Centre last week.
- Jasmine, Musk and Citrus Fresh - which
“They say the best gifts anyone can get was diluted with another diluting liquid
are gifts that come straight from the heart. called Floral Fresh.
I chose to create a special fragrance, which
“When selecting ingredients, it’s best
perfectly captures the essence of my wife, to keep simple. It’s important to not comSarah.
plicate the smell. Jien shared that Sarah
“I could not have thought of a better and himself are simple people who like
gift than the ‘My Inspiration’ perfume that simple things.
I created at Ajmal,” said Soo, who is more
He also wanted something light and
popularly known as ‘Jien’.
fresh for Sarah as she was into light fraA great gifting idea, Ajmal’s ‘My Inspi- grances. That is why we suggested Jasmine
ration’ Perfume allows the creator to not to be one of the ingredients,” said Abonly capture magical
dulla.
memories in a bottle, but
Introduced to reflect
also to relive it over and
Ajmal’s brand philosophy
over again.
– Creating Memories –
For the inexperienced
the ‘My Inspiration’ retail
perfumist, the process of
concept is one of Ajmal’s
creating a fragrance from
innovative concepts
scratch can be a mindwhich have been introspinning experience; but
duced to all their stores
it is definitely one that is
located worldwide; inwell-worth the effort and
cluding Malaysia.
time in the end.
The Ajmal Perfumes
To help him start off
store in Malaysia is the
the creation process of a
135th outlet worldwide
perfect Valentine’s gift,
and the first one outside
Abdulla: Jasmine is one of
Jien sought the help of the ingredients.
of Middle East and the
Ajmal Perfumes execuGCC.
Gallery
22
February 18 — 20, 2011
Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid
Ibrahim and state executive councillors “lou
sang” during the state’s Chinese New Year
celebrations in Kajang last Saturday.
Reverend Sek Chan Wen of the Yuan Lin Xiao Zhot
Buddhist Temple and Mohd Azwar enjoying the
festivities at Seksyen 17 Chinese New Year open
house last Saturday.
A rukun tetangga representative of Section 6 Petaling Jaya and Petaling Jaya
City Council mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman installing a park sign while
councillor Anthony Sivabalan (on wheelchair) and Selangor exco Elizabeth Wong
(right) look on last Saturday.
MPSJ Local counciler Pooi Weng Keong checking a parking meter that shows
“Tidak Perlu Bayar!” at Jalan USJ 8/2A on Monday.
Nurse S Anjalai of Forrest
Medical Centre
briefing women
waiting for their
mammograms
last Friday. The
Selangor State
Government
sponsors 1,000
women a year
per constituency.
A girl performing an Indian folk
dance during the Joy of Combined Festival organised by KRT
2 and KRT 6 at Subang Avernue
on Tuesday.
culture 23
FEBRUARY 18 — 20, 2011
INTERVIEW
❚ COMPILED BY ZEDECK SIEW
Celebrate unrequited love
F
eaturing fun and heartfelt music, The Annexe Gallery’s Torch Song Massacre concert evenings, “where
we kill everyone with those oh so tragic love songs”,
tend towards titillation and inclusivity. Whatever gender
or kind of love you profess, you’ll be bound to come away
touched.
Its latest installment, “Battle of the Sexes”, is this weekend
and will feature the talents of ROZZ, Elvira Arul, Liyana
Fizi, Reza Salleh, Aaron Khaled, with special guest appearances by Salamiah Hassan, Junji Delfino, Ida Mariana and
Nabila Nasir. I talk to Torch Song Massacre’s regular host,
drag queen extraordinaire Shelah!!! about what
the concert’s about,
I usually
what we can expect, and
why we’re fighting the
tell people that
gender war.
Shelah!!! is
actor/director
Edwin Sumun’s
altered ego. Very
altered.”
Describe yourself.
Shelah!!! is everything
you know that is good
and fabulous with this
world we live in. She is a bringer of joy and hope and love and
fabulousness, with a size-13 heel thrown in, for good measure.
I usually tell people that Shelah!!! is actor/director Edwin
Sumun’s altered ego. Very altered.
You’ve been in most of the Torch Song Massacre gigs. Just
what, exactly, is Torch Song Massacre? Isn’t it just an
evening of musicians playing covers?
Yes, it’s a night of cover songs — done fantastically well. But
first, you must understand the term “torch song” — a sentimental love song about unrequited love that everyone can relate to
— and you’ll get the idea of what this gorgeous mini-concert is
all about.
This edition of Massacre is a special one. We have a great
bunch of performers — including living legend Salamiah Hassan, who will be one of our cameo singers. It also marks my last
appearance as host of the series.
Why “Battle of the Sexes” lah? Why so confrontational?
As a drag queen, I’m constantly battling with my sexes! It’s quite
thrilling.
With the show, we’ve asked the performers to go beyond
themselves, and tackle songs they would never otherwise think
of doing. So, you know, it’s all self-confrontational.
Knowing the boys and girls who are performing, though,
they can sing anything.
What does gender mean, to you?
Gender? Isn’t that a kind of goose?
Which fellow Torch Song Massacre performer are you
looking forward to sharing the stage with, the most?
Well, seeing as this may be the last time I host it, I’m looking
forward most to sharing the stage with our audience. Yes, I’m
very Miss World that way.
It is fabulous to be on stage with all these talented performers — but, for me, it’s the people who come to watch us that
makes me click my heels with joy.
Torch Song Massacre — Battle of the Sexes! happens 17 — 20
February 2011. RM45; 03-2070 1137; www.annexegallery.com.
PLAYS
Editor’s
Pick
Arts Festival Map KL @ Publika
19 — 27 February 2011
admission variable
03-6207 9732
www.mapkl.org
LiFest
The week-long LiFest wants to be everything. It’s billed as a “festival
celebrating Art, Photography, Music, Culture and Fashion”; it’s got an
exhibition, talks, dances, concerts, book launches, and a “Special Circus
Act”. Feeling tired, yet?
Well, all this fanfare is for a good cause — the Yayasan Orang Kurang
Upaya Kelantan (YOKUK): a non-profit committed to improving the quality
of life of Kelantan’s disabled. Proceeds of LiFest’s art exhibition, featuring
work by Alife Omar, Azli Wahid, Daud Rahim, Husin Hourmain, Najib Ahmad,
Rafiee Ghani, and many others, will be donated to the foundation to help
fund its efforts.
Other highlights of the festival include “The Party and the Feasting”, a
talk by academic Eddin Khoo with accompanying Mak Yong performance;
“Keep it Short, Stupid”, a programme of short film curated by Amir
Muhammad and Azharr Rudin; the launch of Readings from Readings,
edited by Bernice Chauly and Sharon Bakar; and “The Secret Garden”, a
true-blue “classy ballroom dance event”.
Life Sdn Bhd 6: ABUSE
Terima Kasih Cinta
Theatre Performance;
The Actors Studio @ Lot 10;
22 — 27 February 2011; RM33;
03-2142 2009;
www.theactorsstudio.com.my
The Actors Studio’s Life series began in
2004; it’s confessional theatre, featuring
performers delivering true stories about
Big Subjects like cancer and HIV. This
year, the tearjerker platform tackles an
equally painful subject: “almost every
day we read or hear about sad, gory,
despicable stories of abuse relating
mainly to humans but also to animals.”
Ouch!
Musical;
Istana Budaya;
Tomorrow — 6 March 2011; RM30; 03-4026 5555;
www.istanabudaya.gov.my
2006’s Cinta, directed by Kabir Bhatia, was a Love Actually
clone: five intertwined love stories set in contemporary
Kuala Lumpur. Now, that set-up gets a stage adaptation
with Terima Kasih Cinta, a musical based on the sappy
movie.
Directed by Pat Ibrahim — a veteran of the genre, having
previously worked on Puteri Gunung The Musical and P
Ramlee The Musical — this looks to be promising. Featuring
the talents of Latif Ibrahim, Tony Eusoff, Norish Karman,
Vince Chong, and Nadia Aqilah (among others) singing over
20 “carefully selected hit songs”.
Gong Xi
Fa Cai!
Setia Eco Park ushers in the year of the
Rabbit with the launch of Phase 10B
a series of luxury Semi-Ds and Bungalows.
To commemorate this auspicious occasion,
all Setia Eco Park home buyers during
the month of February 2011 will enjoy
an attractive CNY angpow package
of RM100,000 furnishing cost*.
Building-Integrated
Photovoltaic
24
Gated
& Guarded
Mere minutes from the
landscaped pathway that
leads directly to the
Tenby International & Private
Schools, Phase 10B is the ultimate
enclave for learning, for love
and for laughter.
Solar Heating
System
Rainwater Harvesting
System
Bungalow - Helenus 2
Exclusive Residents’
Clubhouse
Premium
Fixtures
For more information, please call
Semi-D - Phoenix 2
03-3343 2228
For our location, please log on to www.spsetia.com.my/setia_eco_park
Our sales office opens daily, including public holidays, from 10 a.m to 6 p.m
Developer:
Bandar Eco-Setia Sdn Bhd (566138-A)
5A Jalan Setia Nusantara U13/17, Seksyen U13,
Setia Eco Park, 40170 Shah Alam, Selangor DE, Malaysia
T. +603 3343 2228 F. +603 3343 7228
E. [email protected]
Developer License No.: 9586-11/11-2013/1284 • Validity Period: 10/11/2010 – 09/11/2013 • Advertising & Sales Permit No.: 9586-11/2259/2011(11) • Validity Period: 18/11/2010 – 17/11/2011 • Land Tenure: Freehold • Land Encumbrances: OCBC Bank (M) Berhad • Approving Authority: Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam (MBSA) • Reference No.: MBSA/BGN/BB/600-1(PB)/SEK.U13/0247-2008, MBSA/BGN/BB/600-1(PB)/SEK.U13/0330-2009,
MBSA/BGN/BB/600-1(PB)/SEK.U13/0223-2008, MBSA/BGN/BB/600-1(PB)/SEK.U13/0256-2008, MBSA/BGN/BB/600-1(PB)/SEK.U13/0222-2008 • Completion Date: Dec 2012 • Total Units: Semi-D - 78 units / Bungalow - 33 units • Min Price: Semi-D – RM2,127,000 / Bungalow – RM3,146,800 • Max Price: Semi-D – RM2,853,300 / Bungalow – RM4,725,700 • Terms and Conditions apply.
Published by Selangor State Government and printed by Dasar Cetak (M) Sdn Bhd No. 7, Persiaran Selangor, Seksyen 15, 40000, Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan.