reward and punishment to get arrears p 6

Yellow Dinner: A night to remember

p

11

councillor lodges report against riot police p7

community

July 22 24, 2011/ issue 34

participants of the relay for Life walk at universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia stadium in Bangi last Saturday, which featured 300 cancer survivors who gathered to share stories on their battles with the big C.

STorY on page 6

MPSJs whistleblower policy blows hot air

By Brenda Chng

suBang JaYa: The decision of the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) to appoint its own officers to investigate complaints of graft and maladministration in the council has received the thumbs down. While making history on June 29 as the first local government to implement a whistleblower policy, MPSJs move to appoint three officers from its Human Resource Department to receive and investigate

information is being viewed as a half measure. The council should look at the whistleblower system again and improve it before it backfires. They should start it off on the right footing because this is a serious matter, saidcouncillor Loi Kheng Min. During the council's full board meeting last month, Loi and his fellow councillors had urged MPSJ to appoint independents or third parties such as an ombudsman to receive complaints, but the suggestion fell on deaf ears.

MPSJ legal adviser Anita Abd Jalil claimed the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 (711) only allows the appointment of internal officers. Her rationale is that the Act empowers MPSJs legal department to prosecute officers who leak sensitive information that may cause harm to whistleblowers. However, her reading of the Act has been disputed by two senior lawyers. Based on the Act, the chosen point-person is not limited to only

officers within the council, said lawyer Balan Nair. He pointed out that the law, which was written up to protect all informants, states that a person may make a disclosure of improper conduct to any enforcement agency. The definition of enforcement agency means any ministry, department, agency or body set up by the federal, state or local government which has investigative and enforcement powers. The 60-year-old litigation lawyer said this means MPSJ can appoint

third parties with enforcement powers to oversee the whistleblower system. Private individuals or bodies can be appointed by MPSJ to form an independent unit to receive and investigate information from the public and council staff, said Seah Chin Lee. The 52-year-old lawyer said the involvement of independent third parties who are not working directly under MPSJ will instill confidence in the system. Turn To page 2

news
July 22 24, 2011

By Gho Chee Yuan

SHAH ALAM: While theres an air of excitement in Pulau Ketam over their upcoming village head elections, it is business as usual for folks in Jenjarom. Residents of both New Villages are scheduled to go to the polls for the historic elections on Sunday. Nomination will start from 10am to 11am at both Chinese New Villages. The campaign period will last for a week, and villagers are expected to cast their vote to elect a village chief on July 31. The winning candidate will be officially appointed by the state government as the chief of the village security and development committee ( JKKK).

Mixed reactions ahead of historic village head elections

Selangor Times was informed that three candidates in Pulau Ketam have requested for the nomination form, but villagers are expecting at least six candidates to contest in the inaugural local election. In Jenjarom, only incumbent village head Tan Ching Han has expressed interest to take part in the elections. However, Tan may not qualify to stand in the elections as the address on his identity card is not located within the village. Tan lives in Jenjarom town but not in the vicinity of the Chinese New Village. Meanwhile, federal governmentappointed village heads have said they will not participate in the elections conducted by the Pakatan Rakyat (PR)-led state administration. Klang District Officer Datuk Bakhtiar Hussin, the returning officer for the elections in Pulau Ketam, said 3,568 voters will be eligible to vote in the upcoming polls. As for Jenjarom, there are 5,554 voters, while Pandamaran has the most voters at 13,896. Pandamarans village elections will be held from Aug 7-14. All candidates will have to pay RM1,000, with RM500 as electoral deposit to the district office and another RM500 for the local council. Those who fail to secure less than one eighth of the total votes will lose their first RM500, while candidates who fail to clean up their campaign material post-elections will lose their second RM500 to the local council. Selangor is the first state to hold village polls, and the state is considering electing all JKKK chiefs rather than appointing them if the polls are successful. The three elections are being carried out without the Election Commissions assistance. The state hopes that the move to hold village elections will be a precursor to the restoration of local government elections in Selangor. Local government elections were suspended and later abolished by the Alliance in 1965 due to the Confrontation an undeclared war between Malaysia and Indonesia over the future of Borneo from 1962 to 1966. However, local elections were not reinstated after the Confrontation. PR had promised to reinstate local government elections if they were elected during the 2008 general election.

To place your Advert in

Contact Timothy Loh 019-267 4488, Ivan Looi 014-936 6698

Selangor mourns Dr Lo Los passing

SHAH ALAM: The state is saddened by the death of Dr Lo Lo Ghazali on Sunday night, said the Menteri Besar on Monday. On behalf of the state and its people, I would like to express our condolences to her family, said Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim in a press statement. He described her as an inspiration to all her duties as an elected official was exemplary; especially women, who looked up to her for her sincerity as well as courage in fighting for the rights and welfare of the people. The Member of Parliament for Titiwangsa succumbed to lung cancer after a long battle with the disease. She was 53.

MPPA dives into picture controversy

KUALA LUMPUR: Controversy continues to rage over the front page picture of a man throwing a tear gas canister during the Bersih 2.0 rally two weeks ago. The photo showing a man wearing a t-shirt and a cloth wrapped around his head on July 9 was on the front pages of New Sunday Times and Berita Minggu a day after the rally. On Wednesday, the Malaysian Press Photographers Association (MPPA) lodged a police report over claims that the photo, shot by a NST photographer, was doctored. MPPA president Mat Salim Shaari, who lodged the report at the Cheras police headquarters on Wednesday, defended the authenticity of the photo. He said the allegations could tarnish the image of MPPA and their 400 members, most of whom are photographers in media organisations. The man at the centre of the controversy, Abdul Razak Endut, identified himself as the man in the photo during a Pas ceramah on July 16. Razak, a member of Pas Unit Amal, denied he was carrying a knife in his other hand. He said the knife was actually a Malaysian flag, in response to the caption in Berita Minggu that read: Seorang perusuh membawa pisau dalam perhimpunan haram (A rioter brings a knife to illegal rally) and Perusuh guna senjata, batu, lawan polis (Rioters use weapons, rocks to fight police). He also denied throwing rocks at the police. When the FRU fired tear gas, I saw the wind blowing towards the demonstrators ... I picked up a canister and tossed it to a field with the hope that the demonstrators would be safe, Abdul Razak told news website Malaysiakini.com. He said it would have been impossible for him to bring a knife from Termeloh into Kuala Lumpur as he had to pass through three roadblocks along the way.

Selangor WeaTHer
Friday Morning Saturday Sunday

afternoon

night

Move in the right direction, but finetuning needed

From page one
phone (603) 5510 4566 fax (603) 5523 1188 email editor@selangortimes.com

Source: Malaysian meteorological department

EDITORIAL
CHIEF EDITOR COMMUNITY EDITOR WRITERS

KL Chan

Neville Spykerman

Tang Hui Koon, Chong Loo Wah, Gan Pei Ling, Basil Foo, Alvin Yap, Gho Chee Yuan, Brenda Chng COPY EDITORS Nick Choo, James Ang
DESIGNERS

Jimmy C. S. Lim, Chin Man Yen Timothy Loh, Ivan Looi

ADVERTISING ADVISORS

Faekah Husin, Arfaeza Abdul Aziz

The public and even MPSJ staff would feel protected, and are more likely to expose maladministration or corruption if they can be assured that those receiving the information are not biased. This sentiment was echoed by MPSJ councillors, who fearthe policy will only be a facade under its current format. I dont see how this policy is going to successfully combat wrongdoings if both staff and public are supposed to whistle-blow back to the council, said councillor R Rajiv. He thinks MPSJs move for implementing this policy is an exemplary one, but there is still more room for finetuning. During MPSJs full board meeting last month, Rajiv had proposed for the

State Audit Department to be the appointed representative to receive information and conduct investigations. Meanwhile,Loi is urging MPSJ to review and hold aproper briefing with all their staff about how the system works. He suggested for hotline numbers, easily accessible forms, and a whistleblower box for the public and staff to drop their information in. The box should be locked and only be guarded by one person who will collect all the forms and process them before sending them off for investigation, he said. He suggested that MPSJ should allow the whistleblower system be conducted in three stages, none of which should involve heads of departments. The first stage is for a neutral om-

budsman to receive complaints; then to a third-party oversight committee formed by the council; and finally for the internal audit committee to review. This internal audit committee should comprise five MPSJ councillors who will have the final say in the whole investigation. MPSJ councillor Edward Ling Siek Meeng also held the view that the council was moving in the right direction, but that independent individuals should oversee the system. Appointing the head of MPSJ is like asking them to check themselves for wrongdoings, he said. Councillor Loka Ng added that thecommittee who oversees this system should have no vested interest in council affairs, and should be able to conduct a fair and unbiased investigation.

SELANGOR TIMES July 22 24, 2011 3

News
July 22 24, 2011

EvEnts
Allergy-testing forum
Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpurs consultant immuno logist and consultant ENT surgeon will speak at a public forum on The Importance of Allergy Testing tomorrow (July 23) from 10.30am to 1pm at Dewan Pantai, Ground Floor, Block C, Jalan Bukit Pantai, Kuala Lumpur. Admission is free and early birds will be given free IgE (food allergy) tests. To register, contact 032296 0773 or 2296 0610.

Selangor explores potential partnership with China

By Gan Pei Ling

Grand puja
Pertubuhan Penganut Samye Guan Yin Buddhist Centre will hold a twoday puja on July 3031 at the KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, 1 Jalan Maharajalela, Kuala Lumpur. Admission is free. For more details, call 012268 9528 (Grace) or 016381 8122 (Noreen).

SHAH ALAM: Apart from South Korea, China has expressed interest to invest in Selangors billion-ringgit Klang River rehabilitation project, said the Menteri Besar on Wednesday.. Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said a delegation from China State Construction, one of the largest construction companies in China, will visit Selangor in August to conduct initial surveys and feasibility studies on the Klang River. This is a serious exploratory exercise in order to ensure that weve the right

Sudoku class
The Senior Citizens Association of Selangor (Secita) will hold their monthly Sudoku class on Monday (July 25) from 9am to 10.30am at Bangunan Secita, 4A Jalan SS5D/6, Kelana Jaya, Petaling Jaya. Members of the Malaysian Sudoku Society will be on hand to help newcomers. Admission is free. For details, contact 019311 8147 (Lim) or 012234 1492 (Lee).

State launches Selangorku slogan

partners for our development, Khalid told the press after chairing the weekly executive council meeting. He said the state is exploring the possibility of inviting other private sector groups in China, Hong Kong and Malaysia to form a consortium to carry out the massive rehabilitation project, which is expected to span between 15 and 20 years. Selangor had sent a delegation, led by senior executive councillor Teresa Kok, to Shanghai on a two-day trip recently to meet with China State Construction representatives and visit the rivers it had rehabilitated.

Earlier, Khalid had announced that Korean companies were also keen on taking part in rehabilitating the 120km-long Klang River and transform it into a thriving property hub. We dont want to rush; we want to consider many options and select partners that give us the best and most inclusive option, said Khalid. He added that Selangor will work together with the federal government, which has its own River of Life project, to ensure there would be a coordinated effort to develop the Klang River. The Klang River rehabilitation project, expected to attract RM50 billion worth of investments, is part of Selangors economic stimulus package.

Hands-on experience
Hands Percussion will give audiences a preview of their latest performance titled Knocking on July 29 from 6pm8pm. The group, who are preparing for their performance at the KL Performing Arts Centre (KL Pac) next month, will feature six brand new pieces composed and choreographed by them. The performance will be held at their studio at Hands Percussion Studio, 18 Jalan SB Jaya 2, Taman Industri Sungai Buloh Jaya. For more information, contact 012241 2532 (Mon Lim) or visit www.hands.com.my.

Rock The Youth

Frinjan Community is calling all youths to be part of their Rock The Youth Festival 2011 tomorrow (July 23) from 10am till midnight. The event is aimed at empowering youths and updating them on political and social developments through forums, live performances and workshops. There will be music performances, a book bazaar, short film screening and voter registration booths. The event will be held at Complex 3K, Jalan SS13/1, Persiaran Kewajipan, Subang Jaya. For more information, contact 010512 6836 (Zulhabri) / 017 699 7684 (Naha), email frinjan@gmail.com or visit their website at http://frinjan.blogspot.com.

SHAH ALAM: The state is launching a new slogan Selangorku to further promote its Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor and Hasil Negeri Untuk Rakyat initiatives carried out since 2008. Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the slogan aims to instill a sense of responsibility and increase affection among the people towards their own state. The slogan will be used in all official affairs involving the state government and state-linked companies, the Menteri Besar announced on Wednesday after chairing the executive council meeting. Khalid said he hoped the slogan would inspire the people to support the state governments initiatives that

were implemented in a transparent and responsible manner. A festival will be held at Stadium Melawati on Sunday from 8am to 8pm to celebrate the launch of Selangorku. Twenty thousand coupons worth RM10 each will be distributed to visitors so they can purchase food and beverages from the stalls. Visitors can also take part in the futsal tournament, [as well as] pocket bike and pony rides for free, said Khalid. All Selangor residents are invited to join in the Sunday festival and take the opportunity to sign up or find out more about various welfare pro grammes provided by the state for senior citizens, women, and children.

Alcohol and cigarettes banned in MTV concert

SHAH ALAM: No alcoholic drinks and cigarettes will be allowed at the MTV World Stage Live concert at i-City on Sunday, and participants must be well-dressed. However, Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said on Wednesday that Selangor would not ban the concert as requested by certain groups. We feel that we need to remain open, he said. Concerned that it would encourage immoral activities, PAS Youth had opposed the concert, while Shah Alam Member of Parliament Khalid Samad said it was held too close to Ramadan. We understand their concerns, on the negative influence of Western culture on the Muslim way of life but we will monitor this, said Khalid. This is the third time the MTV World Stage Live concert is held in Malaysia and the first time at i-City. The outdoor concert is expected to attract 15,000 fans and will feature performances from American bands 30 Seconds to Mars and Neon Trees, South Korean band BEAST, and local indie band Pop Shuvit.

MPK officers attend discipline course

KLANG: A disciplinary management course was held for 30 directors and officers of the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) recently. MPK acting president Ehsan Mukri said the course was important as issues concerning staff discipline had to be addressed intelligently in any organisation. The course, which was held in Nilai Springs resort hotel, was conducted by guest speakers who demonstrated the techniques of handling disciplinary cases. It provided a clear understanding especially in applying the properties of fair handling when carrying out disciplinary cases, he said. The course was also to teach participants how to apply the law in disciplinary management. Ehsan added that the council should take all cases of discipline seriously and handle them properly. He said the course was held to provide an understanding of disciplinary management concepts for the handling of future council employees.

Book sale
Badan Warisan Malaysia is having its third annual exhibition titled Warisan Kertas 2011 from now until Aug 30. There will be sale of old books, maps, prints, ephemera of mainly Malaya and Borneo and other items. Admission is free. Exhibition hours are between 10am5.30pm from Monday to Saturday. It is closed on Sundays and public holidays. The exhibition will be held at Badan Warisan Malaysia, 2 Jalan Stonor, Kuala Lumpur. For details, call 032144 9273 or email heritage@badanwarisan.org.my.

Scholl foot carnival

Scholl will hold a foot carnival from Monday (July 25) to Thursday (July 28) from 10am to 10pm. There will be activities like foot spas, airbrush tattoos, henna art and quizzes. Goodie bags are also up for grabs. Be the first few customers to get free consultations with podiatrist Brendan Bergin. The carnival will be held at the Blue Concourse area of Sunway Pyramid. For more information, contact 037660 0400 (Lavanya).

Free meditation
Kevala Centre will hold a free meditation session for the public titled Healing Breath Meditation on July 31 from 6pm7pm. Participants will get to learn a simple yet powerful meditation technique that will help calm the mind. The session will be conducted by Dr Dhilip Kumar. Admission is free. For more information, call Dr Dhilip at 035636 7986 or visit www.drdhilip.com.

Disciplinary management course participants with Prof Abdul Aziz Husin (seated, fifth right) in Nilai Springs resort hotel.

NEWS
JULy 22 24, 2011

BK3 residents in the dark over LRT station

By Brenda Chng

Condo residents see red over quit rent hike

By Alvin Yap

PUCHONG: Frustrations are running high among residents of Bandar Kinrara (BK3) who are objecting to the plan to build a proposedlight-rail transit (LRT) station in their neighbourhood. We dont want the LRT station here because three stations in one area is one too many, said BK3 protem committee secretary Stephanie Koh. Under the plan, stations will be built along the LRT line in Bandar Kinrara at BK1, BK2, and BK3. These three stations are part of 20 mapped out by Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd (SPNB) and approved by the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) as a new LRT line. The residents, concerned that the station would lead to congestion and other problems in the neighbourhood, said Residents with signs of protest. they have been keep in dark. Koh said only one station is enough for BK2 and BK3 as it is tion near home to ease transportation burdens, but they have only 800m apart. concerns which they want to bring up with the authorities first. The proposed site for the BK3 station is on Jalan BK3/3C, and We have [been meeting] and [bringing] up all our concerns BK2 station will be connected to the nearby Giant supermarket. with both authorities since 2009, but still nothing concrete has The proposed come out of it, said Koh. LRT track also In April, SPNB informed residents that their consultants were runs along the finalising alternative proposals and possible relocation of BK3 b o a r d e r o f a station. green lung , SPNB was supposed to submit their new proposals to the counwhich was ini- cil then, following which a meeting would be held with residents tially put up to to discuss the new plans. shield residents However, four months have passed and no new proposals have from noise and been shown to residents yet. pollution from We wil been following this closely with both authorities until the Bukit Jalil we see the new proposals, said Koh. Highway. To expedite this, the committee has started a signature campaign Koh said resi- and is targeting to get at least 3,000 signatories from residents in dents welcome BK3. The signatures will then be sent to MPSJ and SPNB together The committees signature campaign aims the idea of having an LRT sta- with a memorandum on their concerns and objections. to get at least 3,000 signatories.

PETALING JAYA: Residents of Kelana DPutera are up in arms over quit rent payments which have risen from R M12,000 to RM34,000. According to Seri Setia assemblyperson Nik Nazmi, the 175% increase in land tax has affected residents of the 600-unit condominium in SS 7, Kelana Jaya. Representatives from the condominium approached me recently about their predicament, said the first-term Parti Keadilan Rakyat representative. Nik Nazmi pointed out that the area, which was categorised as residential, has been rezoned as mixed development. He said the move by the state had triggered the steep increase in the 2010 quit rent. Nik Nazmi said he had written to Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and Petaling Land Office over the matter. Meanwhile, residents at Kelana DPutera and Tiara Kelana are appealing to the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to take over solidwaste collection at their respective condominiums. MBPJ was supposed to take over garbage collection on Feb 1, but has yet to do so. The residents still rely on private contractors who charge each condominium block RM2,300 monthly for the service. Ive written to MBPJ, but they have yet to get back to me, he said. Nik Nazmi said he would approach the mayors office in MBPJ to seek clarification.

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PERMODALAN NEGERI SELANGOR BERHAD Tingkat 25, Wisma MBSA, Persiaran Perbandaran, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor. Tel: 03-5510 7105 / 7233 / 7234 Faks: 03-5510 7232

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NEWS
JULy 22 24, 2011

Council offers carrot and stick to get arrears

By Gan Pei Ling

SHAH ALAM: While ratepayers who promptly pay this years assessment stand to win an iPad2 from the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), those with arrears risk having their properties seized. MBSA is offering the reward and cracking the whip at the same time to recover RM20 million in arrears. MBSA public relations assistant officerZaidah Zakaria said10 lucky winners will get the tablet computers. She said operations to confiscate goods of business owners with outstanding arrears were already under way. MBSAs Revenue Management Division seized RM200,000 worth of computers, dining table sets, furniture and other valuables from 10 shops in U5 and U19 on July 14. Similar operations were held around the city this week. Another operation will be carried out in Section 30-33 on Monday, said Zaidah in a press statement on July 18. She said ample time had been given to business owners to settle their arrears.

Seizure of furniture by MBSA.

The confiscation exercises are being carried out under Section 148 of the Local Government Act 1976. Business owners can recover seized items by settling their arrears, failing which the goods will be auctioned off. The public can callMBSA assessment tax hotline at 03-55222724 (customer service centre) and 03-55222882 (enforcement and operational) for more information. MBSAs Revenue Management Division can be Photocopy machine being taken away. reached at 03-55105133 ext 203/521/522.

Walking in solidarity with cancer survivors

By Basil Foo

Selangor Times journo wins award

KAJANG: Standing out in their purple tshirts at this years Relay for Life were 300 cancer survivors who gathered to share stories on their personal battles. This is my second year attending this event, said bank manager Sharifah Naziha Syed Abdullah when met at theatthe Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) stadium. She was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer two years ago through a mammogram during for a full medical checkup. The traumatic experience was compounded by doctors telling her that her cancer was active and had a chance of spreading quickly. Everyone fears hearing the big C, and Nor Mahira (second left) and Mohamad Afifi (far right) with other when I heard it, I didnt know how to tell my cancer-survivor friends. family, said the mother of four. After managing her emotions, she finally mostly, if they dont ask, I dont tell, said the 20-year-old. broke the news to her children during a family dinner days She said since her then five-year old sister donated bone before her operation to remove the growth. marrow to her, she only has to take medication and can go She is grateful for the support she has received from her on leading a normal life. friends, some of whom were also cancer survivors, who gave With her was 20-year-old Mohamad Afifi Mohd Redzuan her advice and books to deal with her plight. Gunasingan, who came up from Kluang, Johor to attend the Every cancer patient needs to have a support group, and event. He got to know about his intestine cancer when he was everyone should go for mammograms, she added. in Standard Three after he went for a checkup for stomach ache. The relay, which started at 6pm last Saturday to 10am the It was the darkest moment in my family because two following day, attracted an estimated 3,500 participants. months later, my dad got stomach cancer, he said. Families and members of the public took to the track in He eventually recovered after chemotherapy, but his father yellow, traditionally the colour of cancer survivors, to show passed away two years into his ailment, forcing his single solidarity with cancer patients and survivors, as well as in mother to fend for her two children as best as she could. remembrance of those who have passed away from the disease. He has been able to cope well with support and motivation UKM student Nor Mahira Mahmod remembered when from his extended family. her mom took unpaid leave from work to be at her side. Ive been playing sports like rugby. People dont believe The pint-sized I was diagnosed with cancer when they look at my size, he geology student was added. diagnosed with leuThe 7th Relay for Life is an annual programme, organised kemia when she was by the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM), is part in Standard Three, of a series beginning in Malacca and ending in Penang on and explained that Oct 1 and 2. her size is due to the We want to spread the message that cancer is not to be c h e m o t h e r a p y feared and suffered alone in ignorance. We want Malaysia to treatments. know it can be prevented, fought, and survived, said Relay My friends who for Life 2011 chairperson Datuk Zuraidah Atan. know about my Relay for Life is an international event held in 22 countries condition have been and has raised money to support programmes aimed at Sharifah (right) with her daughter supp or tive. But eliminating cancer worldwide. Syarifah Aimi Syed Fadzil.

Gan (left) receiving the certificate and mock cheque from Ng.

PENANG: Selangor Times journalist Gan Pei Ling won a Special Prize in the Green Journalism Awards at Komtar Tower here on Tuesday. She received a certificate and prize money of RM1,000 for her article, The Plastic Menace, which was published in July last year on online news portal The Nut Graph. The Green Journalism Awards programme is the state governments initiative to increase public awareness of environmental issues through media reporting. Language categories for the award included Malay, Chinese, Tamil and English, while content for the articles had to do with environmental issues in Penang. Winners were chosen for one Excellence Prize and two Special Prizes in each language category. They won RM3,000 and RM1,000 respectively. Eight other print media reporters, chosen from a total of 12 candidates, were declared winners in their respective categories. Komtar assemblyperson Ng Wei Aik, who handed out the prizes, said in a press statement that three judges were elected from environmental bodies and among media lecturers. He said the judges included representatives from KDU College, Universiti Sains Malaysia, New Era College, Malaysian Nature Society, and Sahabat Alam Malaysia. Ng, who is also the Chief Ministers political secretary, suggested including a video category for next years awards to encourage more media practitioners to participate.

NEWS
July 22 24, 2011

Klang councillor lodges report against riot police

By Alvin Yap

KLANG: A Klang Municipal Councillor (MPK) whose face was hit by a tear gas canister during the Bersih 2.0 rally has lodged a police report against the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) for their heavy-handed action on July 9. Yew Boon Lye, who joined the march to demand for clean and fair elections, claims to have been struck in the face when the FRU launched the canisters at the KL Sentral crowd that was trying to reach Merdeka Stadium. I regret the action of the security forces, which should have protected us, said Yew, who spoke to reporters before lodging a report at the Klang Selatan police district headquarters. He said an official police report would assist him in telling his side of the story of what transpired at the location that day. Yew said the FRU had used excessive force to disperse the crowd that had begun to walk peacefully out of the KL Sentral car park when they were targeted by tear gas. The Bukit Tinggi councillor said he was marching with Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad and others when the riot police fired numerous tear gas rounds at the crowd trying to reach Merdeka Stadium. Yew said he was hit on the left cheek, near his eye, which also knocked his spectacles away. He pointed out that, if not for his spectacles which absorbed most of the impact, his injury would have been worse. In a related development, Bersih participant Musafri Abdullah Azmi, 27, sought a court declaration that his arrest and detention was illegal. He is asking the court to declare the police action as unlawful, claiming that the cops had not informed him of the reason for the arrest. He is also seeking the courts decision to declare the

confiscation of eig ht yellow Bersih t-shirts illegal. Musafri, who was arrested on June 26, was on his way home from a meeting at Padang Jawa , Klang. He said the arrest had tarnished his image in the community as it had caused residents to lo ok upon him as a criminal. Mu s a f r i i s seeking general damages, exemplary damages and aggravated damages in a filing on July 15. Yew showing photos of his injuries. He is naming the arresting officers, Shah Alam police chief ACP Zahedi Ayob, as well as Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein as respondents in his suit on the grounds that they abuse their powers. The Bersih 2.0 rally attracted 50,000 participants, according to its organisers; however, the federal government, which has declared the movement illegal, claimed that only 6,000 attended.

More than 100 show up for Yellow Dinner

PETALING JAYA: Following Bersih 2.0s demonstration on July 9, activists held a post event at a restaurant on Jalan Gasing, attracting more than 100 people. Billed as the Yellow Dinner, the event brought together a diverse range of Malaysians from all walks of life. To the surprise of regular diners, most of the Yellow Dinner attendees showed up in a yellow theme, while a handful of them were spotted in the outlawed Bersih 2.0 t-shirts. Present to lend their support were Bersih 2.0 steering committee members lecturer Dr Wong Chin Huat, Penangbased academic Datuk Dr Toh Kin Woon, and MBPJ councillor Richard Yeoh. During the gathering, Wong asked to crowd to keep the Bersih spirit alive. Were not an independent nation as long as were colonised by fear, he said. Besides the Yellow Dinner, one of the ideas suggested to keep the movement alive was the Yellow Saturday Evening by the Lakeside at Taman Jaya, Jalan Timu from 5pm to 7pm. Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) and Bersih 2.0 will face off for the first time since the rally next week. In a forum titled What next after July 9?, the EC will be represented by deputy chairperson Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, while Bersih 2.0 chairperson S Ambiga will represent the electoral reform movement. Sinar Harian will host the forum to be held on July 26 from 2pm to 5pm at the Karangkraf Media Group auditorium in Section 15, Shah Alam. The other panellist is Professor Shamsul Amri Baharuddin, professor from UKMs Ethnic Studies Institute. The forum will be moderated by Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs chief executive officer Wan Saiful Wan Jan.

NEWS
JULy 22 24, 2011

Six kindergartens too many

By Brenda Chng

KLANG: Five kindergartens, with another being built, are proving to be too many for a gated community with just 420 households. Residents of Jenaris Bandar Botanic are growing more frustrated by the daily traffic snarls in the mornings and evenings at the single entrance and exit into the neighbourhood. How the council could approve anotherkindergarten in this area is beyond comprehension, said resident Benjamin Phang. The 57-year-old, who lives on Jalan Jenaris 8, said one kindergarten in a neighbourhood should have been enough. He said residential homes should not be converted for commercial purposes, more so when the area is supposed to be a guarded community. Echoing his sentiment on Wednesday was Bandar Botanic Residents Association (BBRA) committee member Lim Chin Beng. The council should come up with a solution for the traffic congestion immediately and stop approving commercial developments in residential areas, he said, adding that residents want a win-win solution to combat the traffic congestion. However, he added that if traffic is manageable and smooth, there is no reason why the kindergartens cannot continue to operate.

Yew and Santiago (third and fifth left respectively) looking over development plans with Lim (left), Phang (second left) and BBRA committee members.

The 65-year-old resident has been living there for eight years and has been coping with the bad traffic conditions from day one. According to Phang and Lim, development plans showed that the newest kindergarten is also being built on a plot of land that is not meant for commercial use. However, the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) has denied this and maintains that the

land is for commercial purpose. MPK approved the kindergarten and building because according to their records, only one of the existing kindergartens is registered and licensed, said councillor Yew Boon Lye. The four others are unlicensed and have been summoned by MPK. In addition, MPK guidelines state that kindergartens cannot operate in the radius of

200m from each other. Yew pointed out that MPK approved the sixth kindergarten because they didnt see any reason for rejecting the building plans for an empty commercial land. But he acknowledged that the local council had made a mistake in not conducting a site visit to determine the suitability of a kindergarten in the area. Yew said he will call on MPKs Engineering, Planning and Building Department to conduct a traffic study in the area. It is unfair to stop or demolish the almostcompleted building as they got a proper licence and approval from the council, he said. To expedite the traffic solution, Klang Member of Parliament Charles Santiago will set up a meeting between the councils engineering department, the residents association and kindergarten owners to resolve the traffic issues. This is poor planning on the part of MPK, and they should be responsible for rectifying it immediately, he said. He suggested for MPK to impose restrictions on the new kindergarten and come up with an alternative route for the exit and entrance for the area. I cannot imagine how the residents can put up with a daily flow of minimum 400 cars driving in and out their housing area just to drop off and pick up children, Santiago said.

Rehda wants easing of planning guidelines Council to address

By Alvin Yap

PETALING JAYA: Town and planing guidelines for the city will be reviewed by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to meet demand for homes. The review follows a suggestion by the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (Rehda) that land for residential purposes be maximised tobuild more homes. Redha has been lobbying MBPJ for a review of the current plot density ratio formula which restricts them from building more units, especially in strata or high-rise developments. Local governments like MBPJ must engage with developers. There are pockets left for development in Petaling Jaya, said Ronnie Liu. The executive councillor for local government said the cooperation between Redha and MBPJto tackle development issues here is timely. Rehda wants a review of guidelines for the optimum plot ratio and the maximum plot ratio formula, especially in the city. According to the Town and Country Planning Act 1976, plot ratio is defined as the ratio of the total floor area of a building to the area of the building plot as measured between the survey boundary lines, or, if there are no survey boundary lines, between the provisional boundary lines. Essentially, it determines how many residential units a devel-

opment can have taking into consideration its land size, and also existing and planned infrastructure like roads and public transport. Rehda wants the review so that developers can obtain approvals for the maximum plot ratio. Petaling Jaya is still the most desirable place to live [in] said Rehda national council member Che King Tow at a press conference after a workshop organised by MBPJ and Rehda on Tuesday. MBPJ is considering the option to approve maximum plot ratio applications as an incentive for developers to build residential buildings that satisfy green building standards. Currently, new developments must satisfy the Green Building Index (GBI) criteria on energy and water efficiency, among other things. However, there are even higher standards which developers must satisfy in order to receive the maximum plot ratio approval, said Lee Lih Shyan. The head of MBPJs One-Stop Centre also said there would be a review of car park requirements for strata units. Currently, strata developments must provide 30% extra parking bays on top of the submitted number of parking lots for visitors. However, Lee said property developers have been pushing for a reduction to 20% as the existing requirements restrict them from building more residential units.

Petaling Jaya issues

PETALING JAYA: The city council will work together with property developers and owners to address pressing issues facing Petaling Jaya. State executive councillor Ronnie Liu said the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and Selangor welcome input from parties who want to contribute towards building a sustainable city. Selangor and MBPJ want to hear from property developers and owners, engineers and town planning consultants to ensure that the quality of life for residents is enhanced, said Liu, who holds the local government portfolio. Liu said the influx of people into Petaling Jaya better known as PJ has increased in the last few years. With one of the highest migration rates in the country, Selangors population is expected to hit 7.3 million by 2020. He said Selangor contributed around 21% of the national GDP, adding that the influx would remain unabated in the years to come. Without proper town planning, the numbers could strain the ability of MBPJ to balance growth and sustainability in the next few years, Liu said on the sidelines of a roundtable organised by MBPJ and the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association of Malaysia (Rehda) on Tuesday. Liu said haphazard planning and development would badly affect the socioeconomic condition and well-being of ratepayers in PJ. He said PJ was facing challenges to its infrastructure, just like other rapidly growing urban centres. Liu said the local government and Selangor would have to work closely with property developers to tackle land shortages. The Pandamaran assemblyperson said Selangor had provided six economic stimulus packages for urban renewal projects since 2009. PJ has been the focal area for urban renewal programmes. The funds will revitalise and provide job opportunities, and lead to RM10 billion investments over the next few years, he said. The roundtable, comprising workshops to discuss town-planning issues, was held at One World Hotel in Bandar Utama.

Property development bullish in PJ

PETALING JAYA: To date, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) has approved RM10 billion in property development since 2010. This shows that development in Petaling Jaya is consistent and growing. It also means that MBPJ has to plan and monitor development closely, said mayor Datuk Roslan Sakiman on Tuesday. He said the city councils One Stop Centre (OSC) and full board meetings would vet every application for property development in Petaling Jaya to ensure that growth in the city will be sustainable. Roslan said the well-being and quality of life of ratepayers will not be compromised by runaway development. Among the challenges in administrating Petaling Jaya is the increasing lack of land parcels for new property development. Roslan said MBPJ is concerned with the issue, and is working closely with developers such as the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association of Malaysia (Rehda) to look into maximising land use. MBPJ and Rehda are working closely to come out with new guidelines on the plot density ratio for strata and other kinds of development, Roslan said during his closing speech at a town-planning workshop. He pointed out that the OSC had processed 562 applications for property development as of June 30 this year. Roslan pointed out that 99% of the applications have been decided on, of which 94% were within the three-month processing period. MBPJ received 1,089 applications in 2010. It processed 562 and 839 applications for 2008 and 2009 respectively. Roslan said there has been a 30% increase since 2008 in applications for building and other infrastructure developments. The OSC is a department in MBPJ that acts as a one-stop centre for applications for development. The setting up of the OSC in 2007 meant that an applicant submitted building, engineering and draft plans to one department instead of to several. Roslan said the OSC, which is technical- and engineering-based department,has facilitated the decision-making process and shortened it to three months.

news

Peat forest fire brought under control

By Alvin Yap

July 22 24, 2011

KLANG: A smouldering peat fire in Johan Setia, which adversely contributed to hazy skies in Selangor, was finally brought under control by agencies. The Klang Municipal Council (MPK) fire-monitoring unit was assisted by the Fire and Rescue Department and the Selangor Department of Environment (DOE), said MPK assistant head enforcement officer Shahrul Hazri Abd Majid. He said the Klang Land Office and Klang Drain and Irrigation Department also helped in the effort. The fire at the 25-hectare peat swamp started on July 5. The situation was closely monitored by the DOE and

MPK enforcement teams. The fire caused smoke and haze conditions in the areas of Kampung Johan Setia, Bandar Puteri, Bandar Botanik, Bandar Putera, and also in Bukit Tinggi, Shahrul said. The firefighting taskforce comprised 20 members whose main duty was to prevent the fire from further spreading, he added. The teams were assisted by air surveillance monitoring the blaze. Meanwhile, the public has been warned against conducting open-burning activities to prevent a repeat of what had happened in Johan Setia. The culprits are believed to have started the fire to clear the site to plant crops illegally. Putting out the fire in Johan Setia.

Ijok folks first to get Jom Shopping vouchers

Upgrade around Serdang market

SERI KEMBANGAN: Roads around the Serdang wet market have been repaired and resurfaced, providing traders and patrons with a more conducive environment at long last. This market has been here for over 50 years, but the streets havent been upgraded [until now], said Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) vice-chairperson Liew Mook Keow. The 68-year-old resident said the new roads make the market safer for everyone, including traders, who no longer have to worry while wheeling their goods on trolleys. The 100m stretch of pothole-ridden road along Jalan Panggung was resurfaced last month by contractors appointed by the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ). Meanwhile, the problem of flash floods faced by shop owners on Jalan SK10/3 has also been resolved, thanks to the intervention of Ean Yong Hian Wah. The Seri Kembangan assemblyperson got the council to build a new 12m-long drain to prevent rainwater from gushing down the slope towards shoplots. The drain coverings can be lifted with ease for cleaning to prevent them from getting clogged with rubbish. In addition, a collapsed 60m-long drain on Ja lan B S 5/21A was also repaired recently by the coun- Yong (left) and MPSJ councillor Chong Hoon Ming cil. I am im- (second right). pressed by the quick response and attention the council gave for all these repairs. All three were completed in less than a month, said Ean Yong.

After shopping, officers help to guide the senior citizens back to the bus.

By Gan Pei Ling

KUALA SELANGOR: Sixty elderly residents from the Ijok state constituency were the first in Selangor to receive and spend their free RM100 vouchers from the state. The residents many of have never set foot in a hypermarket were taken by bus to Tesco Kuala Selangor last Friday, where they mainly used the money for groceries. This is the first time Ive been here, said a cheerful Jamilah Mangun, 80, and Fatimah Kartio, 69, from Batu 8 Ijok. They usually shop at the village grocery store as there is no hypermarket in Ijok. Jamilah and Fatimah bought some rice, Milo, biscuits and 100 Plus for their families using their RM100 voucher at Tesco. Another recipient, Liew Ai, 61, told Selangor Times that she was grateful to the state for its Jom Shopping initiative. RM100 isnt a lot of money, but its enough for us to buy some grocery supplies. We appreciate the thought behind it, said a beaming Liew. The Jom Shopping programme, originally called Jom ke Supermarket, is part of the states welfare scheme for senior citizens known as Skim Mesra Usia Emas (SMUE). SMUE is part of Selangors peoplecentric economic agenda, which channels profits from sand mining and state subsidiaries into various welfare programmes. SMUE is open to those born in Selangor aged 60 and above, as well as those who have lived in the state for at least 15 years. State executive councillor Rodziah Ismail said to date, around 170,000 senior citizens have been registered under the

scheme since its launch in 2008. Rodziah, whose portfolio includes welfare, said the beneficiaries of 22,706 residents who registered for Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim SMUE have also received financial aid for funeral expenditure. The state has disbursed RM52.28 million in total to their beneficiaries, she said, pointing out that the state has set aside RM5-10 million for Jom Shopping. Meanwhile, Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, who kicked off the first Jom Shopping trip, urged participants to encourage their peers to sign up for SMUE. He said special arrangements will be made for senior citizens who are immobile, where goods worth RM100 will be delivered to their doorsteps. Also at the launch last Friday were Speaker and Sungai Pinang assemblyperson Datuk Teng Chang Khim, executive councillors Dr Xavier Jayakumar and Ronnie Liu, Kuala Selangor Member of Parliament Dr Dzulkelfy Ahmad, Sekinchan assemblyperson Ng Suee Lim, and Teluk Datuk assemblyperson Philip Tan. Local officers including Kuala Selangor District Council president Noraini Roslan, Kuala Selangor District Officer Misri Idris, and councillors also attended the launch.

Litterbugs to pay dearly

By Brenda Chng

PETALING JAYA: A minimum RM50 fine will be imposed on litterbugs caught by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) from Aug 16. Those caught throwing or indiscriminately dumping rubbish will face an even stiffer penalty of RM100. Owners who fail toprovide rubbish bins in front of their shops will also be fined RM100. MBPJ is sending out 700,000 flyers to warn the public about the crackdown. The campaign, called Kempen MBPJ personnel demonstrating CCTV cameras that Kutu Sampah, was launched yes- hover in mid-air. terday by Mayor Datuk Roslan Sakiman. The public are advised to ask enforcement To ensure the campaign runs smoothly, officers to identify themselves before paying their MBPJ will enforce it in phases, starting with fines. They also need to ask officers for receipts. Sections 52 and 8, said MBPJ enforcement Those unable to pay on the spot will be chief Fauzi Maarob. given a month to pay up. This pilot campaign will run for three If they are still unable to pay, the council months before being introduced to other parts will issue warning letters before bringing them of the city. to court. Fauzi added that 20 enforcement officers This new enforcement is not only limited would be stationed in Sections 52 and 8. to passers-by or the public, but also to students MBPJ will also rely on 46 closed-circuit and shops, said Roslan. television (CCTV) cameras to catch culprits. If issuing summonses does not work, we The public will be given a discount of 50% may have to consider community service for if they pay fines on the spot. offenders, he said.

VIEWS 10
JULy 22 24, 2011

Thorns and thorny issues

D
ear Lord Bobo, my nose is falling apart. Its been suffering so much lately. First there was the teargas. After that, acrid haze. When that cleared, all I smell is durians everywhere! Are you a fan of durians? @I Smell, Therefore I Am, via email THIS may surprise many minions, but His Supreme Eminenceness is indeed a fan of durians. It is one of Lord Bobos favourite fruits! It is quite surprising that durians are not absolutely adored by a majority of Malaysians. Applying simple logic to it, anything that is worth hacking through a thick thorny skin for must be absolutely delicious! But Lord Bobo is not perturbed by the durianhaters out there. If anything, their negativity only adds to the exclusivity and exquisiteness of the fruit. Like the best blue cheeses, its only for connoisseurs, you see? Many celebrity chefs have been trying out durian recently in their international restaurants, to mixed acclaim. These chefs are forced to try out different ingredients year on year, in a bid to remain innovative. Even television chefs are getting in on the act. Lord Bobo recalls watching an episode of Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern from a hotel suite in the Swiss Alps last year. In that episode, Zimmern who prides himself in being able to eat the most, well, bizarre foods in the world was hosting an hour-long special going around the world. He ate all sorts of strange, appalling things from rotting, maggoty meat, to the still-beating recently-removed heart of a frog. He didnt blink. Andrew Zimmern Until he came to Penang, that is. There, deep in an orchard, he met the durian. The smell itself sent him into convulsions, and he vomited out some fish maw he had eaten earlier elsewhere in Penang. After some coaxing by the irritated local, he did manage to put some in his mouth, but spat it out. His challenge had ended. He was greatly disappointed of all things, he did not expect to be defeated by a fruit. But not all these ang moh chefs hate the durian. His Supreme Eminenceness was in a bar in Timbuktu just last month,

Ask Lord Bobo is a weekly column by LoyarBurok (www.loyarburok.com) where all your profound, abstruse, erudite, hermetic, recondite, sagacious, and other thesaurusdescribed queries are answered!
and saw a rerun of a show where Anthony Bourdain was scoffing down some durian. He loved the stuff. He quite rightly said it is something that people will either hate or despise. Bourdain pointed out that he didnt understand the arrogance of Europeans who complained about the smell of durian, yet are able to stomach the smelliest blue cheeses. Bourdain is a man after Lord Bobos own heart a true connoisseur. Of course, Lord Bobo has been known to be quite fussy (how do you think the blawg maintains such high standards?) and even a love for durian comes with conditions. His Supreme Eminenceness would never be caught eating those imported, saran-wrapped Thai durians in the supermarkets, or those frozen and shipped durians available in European mini-markets like contraband. No way. Durians must be eaten while squatting down (or at least on flimsy plastic stools) on an unpaved embankment by the side of the road, and fresh from a just-hackedopen fruit itself. Bliss.

various areas which are under federal or state government control. The Royal Malaysian Police force, for the purposes of maintaining peace and security in the country, is placed under the control of the federal government control (which is why we dont have state police or local sheriffs like the USA). So, the Royal Malaysian Police is under the power of the federal government more specifically the Home Affairs Ministry and not the King. What about the separation of powers? Contrary to popular belief, the Malaysian practice of separation of powers is not as strictly separated as compared to presidential democracies. Instead, it leans towards the application of the fusion of power, because of the intermingled functions and membership of the Executive and the Legislative in parliamentary democracies, where the Prime Minister and members of the administration in the Executive body are also elected representatives in the Legislative body. This blurring of the lines between the various bodies under the separation of powers doctrine has been exacerbated through time by various high-handed amendments to the Federal Constitution. The concept is then often completely sidelined in practice. So, the next time youre reading an explanation of the concept of separation of powers and wonder why it doesnt seem to fit the situation in Malaysia, its because, well, it doesnt. Have a question for Lord Bobo? Call on His Supreme Eminenceness by emailing asklordbobo@loyarburok.com, stating your full name, and a pseudonym (if you want), or tweeting your questions by mentioning @LoyarBurok and using the hashtag #asklordbobo. Hear This, and Tremblingly Obey (although trembling is optional if you are somewhere very warm)! Liberavi Animam Meam! I Have Freed My Spirit!

ord Bobo, is the Royal Malaysian Police under the power of the Home Ministry or the King? Wheres the separation of powers here? @jofanpang, via Twitter

MANY have been misled by the concept of separation of powers (look up Montesquieu and the like) and its unique application in Malaysia, but thats another story. The word Royal in the Royal Malaysian Police (Polis Raja Di Malaysia or is it Polis Di-Raja Malaysia? Oh yes, even Lord Bobo gets confused from time-to-time.) doesnt actually mean the police force belongs to the King. Schedule 9 of the Federal Constitution lists down

Kthxbai!
Fahmi Fadzil

Cleaner, fairer, better?

the six PSM members, including Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar, are still being detained without trial under the Emergency Ordinance; those found wearing or in possession of Bersih 2.0 t-shirts could have those illegal merchandise confiscated; even an article in the July 16 edition of The Economist was censored for its take on the rally!) Even so, the politician I spoke to felt that some untoward incidences may have taken place on the day of the demonstrations, and that there may be sacrifices. A shiver crawled up and down my spine at that very thought, as various scenarios ran through my mind could this be a bloody end? Or will that weekend be a new beginning for our nation? Thankfully, despite the 1,667 arrests on that day itself (and the hundreds in the days preceding it), no deadly acts of violence occurred, and in this instance the veteran party man was thankfully wrong. Nonetheless, the demonstration marked both ends and beginnings. To an extent, it represented the end of certain myths that street protests are violent; the constant screeching calls of berdemo bukan budaya kita; that May 13 constantly hung like the sword of Damocles. This historic day also marked the beginning of new cultures or attitudes of taking multiethnic Malaysia, even during rallies, as a given; of sobriety and a tempered tone in the Bersih 2.0 committees responses to hyperventilating state apparatuses; of the idea that Malaysian civil society has come away strengthened and rejuvenated. But I think that Bersih 2.0 in general and the rally in particular needs to be analyzed more. For one, not all who support Bersih 2.0 are necessarily supporters of the federal opposition. As should be clear by now, the 62 NGOs are clamouring for eight demands that ultimately benefit the people in terms of strengthening the democratic process in Malaysia, and we should not read this immediately as a blanket support of policies or positions held by certain parties. We have come away from July 9 more sober, more thoughtful, and I do believe more committed to making the kind of changes that will be necessary to get this country back on track socially, politically, economically. In other words, Bersih 2.0 marks the maturing of the Malaysian electorate, although the process is obviously far from being complete. And so, we can only ask, what happens next?

PRACTICALLY everyone who is reading this already knows about the July 9 rally organised by the Bersih 2.0 coalition. I believe that many of us were there on the streets on that historic day. I believe many of us chose to step out of our houses, abandon our cars, and walk the streets of Kuala Lumpur to stand up for what we collectively believe in. I believe we wanted to send a signal to those in the halls of power that we want our elections to be cleaner and fairer, that we had had enough, and that History is on the side of the rakyat. Yet when you really think about all the events leading up to that historic day, it seems like so much could have gone awry. A few days before the rally, Id had a quick conversation with a seasoned politician from a BN component party. He conceded that this coalition of non-governmental organisations had truly out-maneuvered the government of the day, though not entirely of its own doing. Barisan has truly outdone itself in how it overreacted to Bersih 2.0, and the rakyat is seeing this government for what it is nothing more than a bully! (Even till this day, some two weeks later, we see acts of repressive bullying by the federal government continuing

Yellow Dinner: A night to remember

By Fatima Abdul Kareem

views 11
July 22 24, 2011

hile many of us chose to stay home on July 9, thousands of our fellow Malaysians made a choice and took risks. They chose to march on the streets of Kuala Lumpur to restore the integrity of our electoral process. It was a choice made by them, for their future, for their nation. And so, on July 16, upon hearing about the Yellow Dinner taking place in Lotus PJ State Restaurant, I, too, made a choice. I chose to participate as I wanted to see the faces of my Malaysian mates who stood up for what they believed in. I wanted to listen to their experiences first-hand. But most of all, I wanted to find out the truth. I was the first to arrive. I sat in a corner waiting patiently for the yellow crowd to make their entrance. Upon ordering my paper tosai, I realised many curious eyes were set on me. Yellow is definitely not my colour. I remember telling myself that I looked like a huge pumpkin. And the fact that I had to wear a yellow maternity blouse (thats all I could find in short notice since my yellow tees were all in the washer) did not help. Perhaps after midnight, this huge yellow pumpkin would turn into

something amazing , I thought. Something amazing indeed! By half past seven, people started filling up the restaurant. The Jalur Gemilang, which was placed strategically on one table, made it clear that this was a gathering of Malaysians, for Malaysians, concerning Malaysians. Strangers dressed in yellow shook hands. Some hugged each other. A few not in their yellow garb who joined the crowd said they were yellow in spirit. Soon one table became two, and

This is the true 1Malaysia. Ironically, our PM and his cabinet ministers who have been chanting 1Malaysia for the longest time would never agree with me. We had passersby giving us strange looks. There were some patrons eagerly asking what was going on. At one point, we heard police sirens nearby. But nothing mattered because something amazing was taking place in Lotus PJ State that night. I heard stories of strangers holding hands, marching together. I saw

This reminded me of a speech by our PM a couple of months earlier, whod said: But while a man standing in the road is a nuisance, a mere distraction, 10 men standing together are harder to ignore. And if that 10 became 100, a thousand, a million, a billion even, they would become a force so big, so strong and so united in their common cause...
then three, and the number kept increasing. It was an extraordinary dinner. It was remarkable to see how people of different backgrounds, ethnicities, religions and statuses can come together simply because they believe in the same thing. the smiles on their faces when they told me how individuals became groups of tens, and then grew to hundreds and thousands. I saw them giving hi-fives when they learnt that they were with the same group on July 9. I witnessed strangers breaking the ice with a simple smile and

a nod before joining in a conversation filled with laughter. I heard stories of how strangers helped one another: A family opening their door to provide shelter for some 50 people running away from the tear gas; store owners giving free water to the afflicted; people helping one another climb gates to escape the tear gas. I heard about how the FRUs ordered them to sit on the street, and as the crowd obeyed, they were attacked with more tear gas. It was unprovoked. Many couldnt see and had difficulty breathing. But in the chaos, there was always someone around to help. Some guided them to a safer site; some offered water to wash their faces; some gave tips on where to hide. I laughed as I heard about people passing salt to each other to reduce the effect of tear gas. Many did not know what to do with it. Some rubbed the salt on their body, while a friend of mine sniffed it. I learnt

The turnout at Lotus PJ State Restaurant on July 16. (Pics courtesy of Linus Chung)

that night that in order to reduce the pain, one should simply put it in their mouth. Everyone at the Yellow Dinner agreed that on July 9, true unity was in action. This reminded me of a speech by our PM a couple of months earlier, whod said: But while a man standing in the road is a nuisance, a mere distraction, 10 men standing together are harder to ignore. And if that 10 became 100, a thousand, a million, a billion even, they would become a force so big, so strong and so united in their common cause... On my journey home, I started thinking about my fellow Malaysians who are still alienating themselves from Bersih. To support Bersih is not about wearing yellow or provoking the government. It is about believing in the concept of Bersih. What started as a call for fair and clean elections has now grown into a demand for human rights and justice and freedom. I understand that change is often resisted as the outcome is uncertain. But growth cant happen without change, and to become a successful nation we must have the ability to adapt to change. To not deal with things that matters denies our very right to grow as individuals. I know many Malaysians who simply do not know what to do. Should they just observe? Should they just leave it to the rest to fight? Or perhaps they should simply take note and do nothing? And what happens if other people dont see it the way we do? One thing we can do is to be patient and honest. Share with them why we see the change as being genuinely better for everyone, especially for our next generation, for our children and grandchildren and their families. One common thing that we all share is the Malaysian dream. If everyone unites for this dream, then all the bumps and twists and turns that we encounter wouldnt slow us a bit. A Russian philosopher once said: I know that my unity with all people cannot be destroyed by national boundaries and government order. I now realise the truth in that. I missed the unity on July 9 on the streets of Kuala Lumpur, but I felt it at the Yellow Dinner. I am now eagerly waiting for whats next to come. I might not dress up like a yellow pumpkin in the future, but believe me, the colour of blood in my veins is now yellow!

12 July 22 24, 2011

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VIO by PKNS offers a variety of attractive and costthe name of the company to enable the receptionists saving options, whether its for the starting of a to answer each call professionally in your comvirtual office or business suite. panys name. With the many different services such Clients also do not need to fear about S as management of mail and telephone missing calls or faxes as VIO by PKNS RATIONM OPE services and professional receptionist will ensure that the information will START IATELY FRO facilities offered, charges begin at be sent via SMS to the business owner. MED ER MONTH IM RM300 per month only. Apart from the professional ser00 P ic Location RM3 trateg Other services given include free vices offered by VIO by PKNS, n S Conditio 10 hours usage of board room, meetclients are not bound by long lease Move-in ment ready ing room, workstation and discussion contracts when using Virtual Offices quip ady E e Office ax, internet r ort room, unlimited high-speed wireless or Executive Suites as the minimum ,F pp internet access, and unlimited self-sercontract is only four months. This Phone , reception Su vice beverages (tea, coffee and water). will give clients the flexibility to move admin telephonist & VIO by PKNS currently has three their businesses anywhere anytime room & ies Board m Facilit meeting rooms, two discussion rooms, without the encumbrances of a long oo two lounges and one board room. term contract. eeting r M Apart from this, the high-tech telephone VIO by PKNS can also be a platform services given by VIO by PKNS enable clients for clients to build strong networks with each to take up to 300 phone numbers at any given time. other while operating here. Starting a ready-made Each call will be displayed on the terminals indicating business can be as easy as VIO by PKNS.

earlier this year, is now fully operational Floor, Jalan Plumbum P7/P, Section 7,

mme manager Zaharudin Mohd Sanif atform for new entrepreneurs looking to ices and facilities are available at attractive

are encouraging, we may even consider evelopment centres, said Zaharudin. Besides services and facilities, VIO offers the chance for entrepreneurs to run their companies at a fraction of the cost. Other than virtual office services, VIO also leases out executive suites at reasonable cost. VIO by PKNS also provides support services and even has receptionist to answer your calls and maintain contact with the clientele to make the management of companies more effective. The main advantage of opting for VIO by PKNS is in the savings in capital outlay when starting a business. The amount saved from a new office start up can be reinvested into the business, enabling an entrepreneur to grow and expand at an even faster rate. Conventionally, renovating an office, rental and deposit, furnishing , office equipment, staffing and even security costs can come up to RM60,000 during the setting up of an office. But with VIO by PKNS, the costs of setting up of a virtual office can be as low as RM900 (1 months rent and 2 months deposit).

registered & mailing address Private mailbox, phone and fax number Management of mail, faxes & couriers for all correspondence Professional call answering by our receptionist for all your incoming calls Messages received by our receptionist are forwarded to you immediately via email or SMS (minimal charge) All incoming fax received will be sent to your email FREE 10 hours usage of Boardroom, Meeting room, Workstation, Discussion rooms & Lounge FREE unlimited High Speed Wireless Internet Access (WiFi) FREE unlimited self-service beverages (tea, coffee, water).

EXECUTIVE SUITE Package includes: Dedicated office suite, fully furnished with quality furniture Includes air conditioning, electricity, water, office cleaning service & maintenance Card access system & CCTV for added security and safety Prestigious business address for your name cards, letterheads, website & other company materials Private mailbox, phone and fax number Management of your mails, faxes & couriers for all correspondence

Professional call answering by our receptionist for all your incoming calls Messages received by our receptionist are forwarded to you immediately via email or SMS (minimal charge) All incoming fax received will be sent to your email FREE 10 hours usage of Boardroom, Meeting room, Workstation, Discussion rooms & Lounge FREE unlimited High Speed Wireless Internet Access (WiFi) FREE unlimited self-service beverages. (tea, coffee, water)

Starting a new business can be a very daunting and intimidating affair as firsttime entrepreneurs have many factors to consider. Besides financial concerns matters such as capital, offices, staffing and the right premises are fundamental to the success of a new start up. Entrepreneurs need to take into account the costs needed to meet all these demands. However, in the globalised and borderless world that we live in today, those planning to start their businesses have alternatives. the days of saving up to purchase offices, which run up to hundreds of thousands of ringgit and high start up costs, are over. there is no need to wait months to hunt high and low for good locations to set up an office and even more time and costs needed to furnish and get it operational. With broadband and advances in technology, offices can even be run without stepping into the office. new entrepreneurs also do not need to fret about the exorbitant costs involved in setting up shop. now, with very low start up costs, entrepreneurs can own an operational office at a exclusive business address almost immediately. With a prestigious address, the image of the company will be boosted automatically too. the way forward is to lease a virtual office that provides a business address and at the same time obtain all the benefits and facilities. From stationery to office management, all these facilities are now offered in a virtual office environment. this not only saves the cost of owning your own physical premises and staff cost but makes business management more effective. the possibility of using virtual offices, which began in Europe, is now available in Malaysia. apart from virtual offices, fully furnished business suites are also available at a much lower cost compared to setting up your own offices. through its Entrepreneur Development Programme, which was started in 1998, Selangor State Development Corporation (PKnS) now offers the chance to entrepreneurs to set up their business via Virtual Offices (ViO by PKnS) service. ViO is a business centre that offers fully furnished office suites and meeting facilities for entrepreneurs who want to work smart. Entrepreneurs can also subscribe to a corporate office address only under ViO.

CORPORATE VIRTUAL OFFICE Package includes: Prestigious business address for your name cards, letterheads, website & other company material Business address as your official

2614

BENEFITS & ADVANTAGES OF VIO OFFICES

Prestigious business address, prime business location Your own private phone number Attractive short term occupancy available Fully furnished, instant ready office No maintenance & depreciation value for office equipment Save time & cost on manpower No utility expenses High-tech telephone system

Icon City of Petaling Jaya

By Alvin Yap

MEDIA 14
JULy 22 24, 2011

PETALING JAYA: Mah Sing Group Bhd launched its i-SoVo or Small Office Versatile Office units at its landmark Icon City development in Petaling Jaya here on Sunday. The countrys fifth largest developer by revenue wants to change one of the prime real estate areas in the city into a landmark commercial hub. Petaling Jaya needs a new landmark, and were confident Icon City will be it, said its group managing director and group chief executive, Tan Sri Leong Hoy Kum. Mah Sing is offering 283 units of the upmarket office suites comprising two types of built-up area, 745 sq ft and 1,094 sq ft. Two 31-storey blocks will house the office units, which sell from RM599,000 each. Surrounded by landscaped plazas and sky gardens, the duplex units feature high ceilings that separate work and private space. We designed it so that buyers can convert it into an art gallery, a music studio, a design loft, or a private hangout for family and friends, Leong said at a press conference after the launch event. The buildings will also feature a proposed business centre and Executive Club with a gymnasium, Jacuzzi and

sauna facilities. Slated for completion around 2014, the i-SoVo office blocks is the first phase of Icon City, a RM3.2 billion development on a 7.93-hectar leasehold land in SS8 Sungei Way. Situated at the intersection of Lebuhraya Damasara-Puchong and the Federal Highway, Icon City will also include

a second phase development consisting of lifestyle shop-offices, a gourmet street with 20 units of two-storey food outlets, service apartments and high-rise office towers. It is slated to be completed around 2017. Leong is bullish on the project as there is demand for commercial property in Petaling Jaya, and rental yield is good. A lot of companies are moving to Petaling Jaya as an alternative to having an office in the Kuala Lumpur city area, he said. He said Icon City will have the greenest buildings in the region, satisfying compliance with the Green Building Index, Green Mark, and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards. Leong also allayed public misgivings on the traffic density once the first and second phase of the development are completed. The company is investing RM200 million to construct access ramps and flyovers, he said. We have committed a significant investment to ensure accessibility and traffic mitigation. We have undertaken a thorough traffic study and are proposing comprehensive traffic dispersal with various ramps and access points, Leong said. He said Icon City is strategically located near public transport as the Seri Setia and Setia Jaya KTM stations and the Kelana Jaya LRT are in the area. Earlier, the launch saw prospective buyers treated to a performance by violinist Joanne Yeoh, as well as a jazz band, and magic and clown shows for the children.

Breaking fast in Premiere style

SHAH ALAM: Klangs latest business hotel, Premiere Hotel, will serve up a feast come this years Ramadan month. The theme for this years Ramadan buffet will be centered upon kampung fare. Prepared by Perak-born sous chef Mohd Rosnan and his team, the range of kampung favourites will be served from 6.30pm to 10.30pm from Aug 1-30. The fasting-month special will be served in the hotels Grand Ballroom, and patrons can bring their friends and families to dine in spacious comfort. According to Premiere Hotel, the RM80 nett per person buffet is expected to have over 150 different choices. The menu will encompass wholesome kampung fare, along with favourite Western, Indian and Chinese cuisine, with over 150 types of dishes every day, ranging from refreshing appetisers, fresh salads and authentic hot dishes to satisfying desserts. There are lemang, sambal belacan, laksa, petai prawn, sotong belacan, lemak siput and nanas, gulai ikan masin, Singapore crabs, kari kepala ikan, daging berlada belimbing buluh, daging berkunyit cili, lala singgang serai, ayam kuzi and much more. As for Ramadan favourites, Mohd Rosnan particularly recommends udang sambal petai, siput sedut masak lemak pucuk paku, ikan patain masak lemak tempoyak, lala masak singang and rendang tok. Not to be missed is one Rosnans highly recommended Sup Rusa. Some of the local favourites featured in the hotels Ramadan bazaar stalls are satay, ikan bakar, roti canai, ayam tandoori, succulent roast leg of lamb, mee soto, popiah basah, Malaysian all-time favourite ice kacang, and more. The dessert spread consists of traditional Malay kuih such as ketayap, lepat

Tournament to discover football talent

Mohd Iqbal receiving a hamper. On his left is Datuk Ahmad.

By Basil Foo

pisang, lemang and serunding, kuih koci, lepat ubi, onde-onde, tapai pulut and pulut panggang, which all have just the right amount of sweetness. Five different Ramadan menus will be rotated during the puasa month, with a refreshing choice of beverage and sweet desserts. The buffet is priced at RM80 nett per person and RM40 for children aged seven to 12 years old, and RM60 for senior citizens aged 55 years and above. Early birds can also benefit from a special offer: those who book now will pay RM60 net per person. The Ramadan vouchers can be purchased at The Buzz, Level G between July 1 and 31 from 10.00am to 8.00pm daily, and are available on a limited basis. For reser vations, please call 0333256844 / 6988 or email fnb@premierehotels.com.

SHAH ALAM: The Independance Football Academy Carnival, organised by Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad (PNSB) Football Club, was held last weekend in conjunction with the countrys 54th year of independence. PNSB FC patron Datuk Ahmad Omar officiated the event, and said that among their goals was to unearth young talent among the children taking part. This is a stepping stone for our children to achieve success in the sports arena, he said. He spoke during the events opening ceremony at the Shah Alam mini stadium on Saturday ( July 16). Datuk Ahmad, who is also PNSB chief executive officer, said the event was in line with the Menteri Besars suggestion to cultivate more football talents in Selangor. This programme is also to instill awareness and appreciation in all participants and attendees of the nations independence, he added. The weekend-long football tournament saw

the convergence of 80 teams of eight- to 16-year-olds from the Klang Valley, Penang, Malacca, and Pahang. Apart from the football teams battling it out, several awards were presented to recognise those who participated actively in the sport. Mohamad Iqbal Naim Tony Rosdin, 17, received a certificate, hamper, and sports gear for representing Selangor in the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) 2011. He first joined the PNSB football academy when he was 12 years old and was commended for his determination and achievements. A special parent-trainer award was awarded to Jamalludin Hashim in appreciation of his commitment in encouraging his children during football practice and competitions. He received a certificate, hamper, and tickets to watch the match between national football team Harimau Malaya and Chelsea Football Club. The PNSB football academy, which organised the carnival for its fifth year, was established in 2007 to coach young children and teenagers between six and 18 years old.

By Alvin Yap

KAJANG: Tanming Bhd launched its Golden Pearl bungalows at the Taming Mutiara township in Sungai Long on Sunday. The developersmarketing manager, Natalie Siew, said there is almost a 90% take-up rate for the 76 units of luxury three-storey bungalow units. Many of our buyers are loyal customers who have bought into our previous development, Siew said. Siew pointed out that the good response is due to Tanmings track record of delivering projects on time. The low-key property developer relies more on word-of-mouth to attract buyers. Tanming , she said, attracts homebuyers who want quality fixtures and finishing for their homes. During a tour of a bungalow unit, Siew pointed out the brand and premium quality of the doors, plumbing and sanitary fittings. We use quality European plumbing such as Grohe for the taps, she said, referring to the wellknown European manufacturer of The houses can be customised sanitary fittings. Golden Pearl bungalows come according to paint colour and with a built-up area of 3,694 sq ft other minor designs such as the and are on freehold land, fetching artwork for the automatic gate. Currently, Phase 1 of Golden upwards of RM1.88 million for an Pearl consists of 50 units, and is intermediate lot. Each unit consists of six bed- slated to be completed in 18 months time. rooms and one utility room. Phase 2 has 26 units, and is on The homes are installed with burglar alarm systems and solar track for completion four months after the first phase. panels for water heaters.

Overwhelming demand for Golden Pearl homes

Media 15
July 22 24, 2011

Siew said the price represents good value as the homes are installed with quality finishing. She said the township is only 20 minutes away from Kuala Lumpur, and is accessible via the Kajang-Silk highway and the Cheras-Kajang toll. SMK Bandar Sungai Long is nearby, while Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahmans branch is 10 minutes away from the housing area.

Spacious and modern living room.

Siew describes the bungalow lots as high-quality.

Local ace Airil closes in on leaders

By Basil Foo

SHAH ALAM: Despite the heavy afternoon shower, local ace Airil Rizman made a strong charge to the top when he carded 6-under 66 to stay within striking distance from the leaders after the second round in the R M1.2 million Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters 2011 yesterday. Having finished 1-under the on

Wednesday, Airil shot down six birdies but had one bogey to finish at 6-under 138. Airil is in a eight-way tie for sixth place. Overnight leader Joonas Granberg of Finland claimed a share of the clubhouse lead with Namchok Tantipokhakul (Tha), Panuwat Muenlek (Tha), Panuphol Pittayarat (Tha) and Marcus Both (Aus). Granberg, who surprised the

field on Wednesday after setting a new course record with his 10-under 62, failed to get going after the afternoon rain and finished 3-over 75. Thailands Panuwat, who scored 4-under 68 in the first round, carded a 3-under 68 to share the top spot with Granberg and Airil. Granberg said the weather contributed to his poorer performance yesterday. The greens were just too fast and slippery after the rain, said the 24-year-old Qualifying School graduate. Added to the humid local conditions, I had a tougher time today, Granberg told Selangor Times. The rookie said that the Kota

Permai Golf Club was a good combination but the going was made harder due to the unpredictable weather. Others tied for second place at 6-under 138 are Sujian Singh (Ind), Scott Barr (Aus), Chapchai Nirat (Tha), Chang TsePeng (Tai), Siddikur Rahman (Ban), Jyoti Rand- Granberg hawa (Ind) and Himmat Rai (Ind). Meanwhile, the other best Malaysian players on the leaderboard are Ben Leong who repeated Wednesdays score of 2-under 70. He is currently tied in 21st place at 4-under 140. Lying a stroke be-

hind Leong is Sukree Othman who carded a 2-under to finish at 3-under 141. The RM1.2 million Selangor Masters 2011 is sponsored by Worldwide Holdings Bhd and will end on Saturday.

Charity treasure hunt returns

Granberg in action during the second round of the Selangor Masters tournament at the Kota Permai Golf Club yesterday.

PETALING JAYA: Want to do your part for the underprivileged? The 7th Annual Atmah Charity Treasure Hunt will be held on Aug 13-14 to benefit low-income families and charity homes. The interstate route will take treasure hunters from Petaling Jaya Civic Centre all the way to Bukit Gambang Resort City in Kuantan, Pahang. The entry fee is RM680 for a team of four participants, and they stand to win RM3,000 and RM2,000 for first and second place respectively. The treasure hunt items, which will be in the form of essential goods, will be donated to the needy. The event is organised by non-governmental organisation Action To Mobilise All Humanity (Atmah) and other co-sponsors who have donated

merchandise into a goody bag worth RM200. Atmah runs community projects for children from urban poor neighbourhoods, especially in low-cost flats and squatters in the Klang Valley. The welfare organisation provides free tuition classes, leadership and team-building skills training. Atmah, founded in 2001, also runs food assistance and blood donation programmes for the needy. Donations and cash sponsorship to the foundation will be issued an official receipt for tax exemption purposes. Those wanting to participate in the treasure hunt can contact the Annual Atmah Charity Treasure Hunt 2011 Secretariat by calling 012-2119466 (K Pavananthan) or 012-2275000 (YK Ramesh).

technology 16
July 22 24, 2011

Android tablet testing

By Edwin Yapp

Asus Eee Pad Transformer

he past few months have seen a few launches of tablet computers in the market, the most notable being Apples iPad 2 launched in early May. Other 10-inch tablets that have since made their way into the market include Acers Iconia Tab A500 and Asuss Eee Pad Transformer, both of which are powered by Googles Android Honeycomb. Rival HTC has also launched its Android Gingerbread-powered 7-inch tablet dubbed HTC Flyer. Ive had a chance to test drive all three tablets. Here, Ill give you a brief review of all three products in a two-part series. The first will concentrate on the first two tablets, while the second part will focus on the last tablet plus Androids Honeycomb software and applications.

Acer Iconia A500

Right out of the box, Acers first try at the Android tablet feels solid and sturdy. The A500 sports a silver brush aluminum back with a flushed plastic frame surrounding the sides. To the left side of the device are the headphone jack and the on/off switch and the HDMI (high-definition video) port, while the top is where you can find the volume buttons as well as the rotation lock switch.On the right side, you have the power jack and your USB ports one normal sized, the other a mini-USB. Yes, you read correctly one of the best things of A500 is that you can plug in a USB drive and read the files therein like you would a laptop. This includes Word files, spreadsheets and presentation files, even movie and music files. This was really a welcome change from the other tablets that are in the market. The A500 is no slouch when it comes to specs. It sports an Nvidiadual-core 1GHz Tegra 2, 1GB of memory, a 5-meg-

The Eee Pad has the latest hardware specs, too: anNVidia 2.1 GHzTegra 2 dual-core processor, with 16GB of storage and 1GB of memory, with HDMI output support. Besides the IPS screen, it has a scratch-resistant glass, a 5-megapixel and 1.2-megapixel rear and front camera respectively, and a microSD slot for additional memory. Plus, it weighs only 680g. For me, the best-selling point of the Eee Pad is the optional keyboard dock as an extra, effectively making it a Honeycomb netbook. With the extra USB ports, you could use an external mouse, USB drives and even an external portable hard drive for extra storage. Youll always have the flexibility of tablet and netbook features at your disposal. All in all, my tests with the Asus were quite pleasant with no major issues encountered. There are some quirks, though, about the Eee Pad that you should take note of. The first is that it doesnt offer a LED flash for the camera, which seem Asus Eee Pad Transformer strange given that this is pretty standard these days. The second Asus has come a long way since giving us its first netbook is that the Eee Pad connects through a proprietary connector, back in 2008. Its attempt at a tablet is commendable espe- which makes it a little less flexible than its rivals. cially since the Eee Pad has a number of unique selling points. Lastly, youll need to be careful when connecting the tablet The first must be that it uses the IPS (In-Plane Switching) to the dock as there is no guide provided; the only way know screen. In a nutshell, IPS technology gives better viewing youll know if youve securely fastened the tablet to the dock angles [up to 178 deg] because of the way the liquid crystals is when you cant detach the two. are aligned. This is especially true while viewing in the vertical Pros: Good value for money with keyboard dock doubling direction. up as a netbook, good built quality, stylish case, extended Besides this, the Eee Pad also has an optional keyboard dock battery life. that is not only equipped with two USB ports and a SD Cons: No LED flash, proprietary connector, difficult to memory slot but also an extra battery pack, giving you the dock tablet to keyboard at times. ability to run your tablet for up to 16 hours.
p

apixel front camera, 2-megapixel front camera, and 16GB of storage expandable by up to 32GB by means of a microSD card. It has 10.1 capacitive touch screen, a 1280x800 LCD screen, and a 3,260mAH battery giving you anywhere from six to eight hours of battery life. One of the best features Ive come to like about the A500s performance is the Dolby surround system, which you can only find on the Acer. By turning on this feature, you can not only get a volume boost, but sound from your videos and music really come alive in full stereo. The A500s screen is also surprisingly good considering its just a TFT LCD screen. Tests under strong sunlight yielded acceptable views except for the truly bright sunlight shining directly onto it. Camera functions for still frames and video were, however, only so-so in performance. Built-in software that comes with the A500 is also quite good. Some of which are LumiRead, an e-book reader; Kobo books, an online e-book store;Media Server, which lets the A500 stream content to networked computers; and Photo Browser 3D, which uses the tablets inertial sensors to flip through graphically pleasing digital scrapbooks of your camera images. Weighing in at 770grams, the A500 is a tad heavy compared with its rivals. But all in all, Acers first attempt at an Android tablet isnt too bad. Pros: Well-built, Dolby sound is a plus, USB port on device gives flexiblity of storage. Good value for money. Cons: A little heavy compared to rivals, keyboard support only optional. Recommended retail price: RM1,599.

may 13 recoll: reconcections & 12 & iliation

13

TI-M he ad disputes Christia state cl n aim p

Wesak a time Day: giving for

p

Where to get your

LRT Stations (Distribution by hand) Morning Ampang Sentul Timur Ampang Cahaya Cempaka Pandan Indah Pandan Jaya Sentul Timur Sentul Kelana Jaya Terminal Putra Kelana Jaya Taman Bahagia Taman Paramount Asia Jaya Taman Jaya Universiti Sri Rampai Wangsa Maju Taman Melati Sri Petaling Sentul Timur Taman Melati Sri Petaling Bukit Jalil Bandar Tasik Selatan Salak Selatan Shopping Malls (From Saturday noon) 1 UTAMA Tropicana Mall Sunway Pyramid The Curve IOI Mall Plaza Damas Ikano Power Centre Empire Subang MetroPoint Centro Mall, Klang Bangsar Shopping Complex Hypermarkets (From Saturday noon) Giant (Puchong, Kajang, Bandar Kinrara, Klang, Pandamaran, Bandar Selayang, Kota Damansara, Taman Setiawangsa, Putra Heights, Taman Connaught, Kelana Jaya, Bukit Antarabangsa, Subang Jaya, Bukit Tinggi, Setia Alam, Kota Kemuning) Sentul Port Klang Port Klang Bukit Badak Shah Alam Subang Jaya Jalan Templer Petaling Rawang Seremban Kuala Kubu Baru Sungai Buloh Kepong Sentral Kepong Morning Wet Markets (Saturday morning) Jalan SS2/62 Taman Medan Jalan 17/27 SS15 Subang Jaya Taman Kuchai Lama Taman OUG Pasar Taman Megah Pasar Jalan Othman Pasar Jalan 17/2 Pasar Sek 14

commun

15

ity

May 20

22, 2011

/ issue

25

By Will iam Tan Petal ed low- ing Jaya: cost Dila angor may flats through pidata pilot progget a new lease out Selsuch hom ramme to rehaof life if es The amb is successfu bilitate kind proj itious and l. first the Peta ect is being carr -of-itsKeeping (MBPJ) ling Jaya City ied out by in safe: Faizabandoned tas Design collaboration Council bab demons ah Mohd Tahi ies pan y, and Group, a privwith Veritrati baby hatc ng the use r (left) commun Rum ah Air ate comof the Datin Sofi h as local ity-b Pan as, celebrity a The sing ased charity. a STory Jane looks on. Maju Jaya le block at on pag the Tam apartme houses 59 an e 10 nts here fam , which to und ergo ilies, will the tran be the first which inclu sfor furb ishm des renovatio mation, ns and reents whi physical le keep aspe ing the "All wor cts intact. sions mad ks are based on social active by the resid the decients," said ist Won Wong, g Hay pointed who mooted Cheong. out dents were that many the idea , of flats whe forced to mov the resin squatter e demolish settleme into the facilities ed, but the buil nts were were hard dings and ly adeq The Gro up, entr y of Veritasuate. RM100 whi ch has con Design ,000 and architect the skill trib uted Wong said change, s], means that s [of their ryin the priv is going said to Cor g out the proj ate firm is carAs many Wong. ect as part porate as 50,000 Their relocate Social of its fam (CS d technolo architects, usin 2000 and to low-cost flats ilies were last R) programme, Resp onsibilit g the gies y teri Besa 2008 under formbetween for two years layin having spent the rem ode l the and techniqu latest arch itect Iska g the grou es, the proj Squatter r Dr Khi r Toy er Menect. ndwork budget, whic buil ding on a will Iskandar ndar Razak. The tight than RM h is estimated LB_24 added that icised for policy which has o's Zer o with company 6391_ 500 to be less difficult to has been creating Sun_m14.ai critbeen obta the fam It is very ,000. high-rise liaising 1 from vario obta in comit was very busi in what they feed ghettos.5/12/11 back on ilies regularly chal need from ness cont 9:56 the proj usparties at mitments to get ever ything need leng ing; them deci PM their need acts. their ect, with the De s and help wiring is horr s to be redo almost ous de on prac funding start of port spite it all, issue. ne. ible, ticalsolu this is still a seriant proj tions. and the septic the roof is leak The The that a city ect for us as a very imtank emit ing, spon success of stench, the should not we believe saidVer itas Des s an awful nent sorships for the project rests on by the wea lthy only be inhabited ign Gro up part s, such as the various compo- strata of soci , but by ety. supp ever y s, and the juvenati ng the In a way, we compan ly of metal y hopes If the pilo city, said Iska are reto t is successfu ndar. l, the com Turn To pag e2

Facelift for old

flats

Carrefour (Bukit Rimau, Subang Jaya, Wangsa Maju, Sri Petaling, Kepong, Puchong, Ampang, Jalan Peel, Jalan Kapar, Bandar Tun Hussein Onn, S23 Shah Alam) Jusco (Bukit Tinggi, Tmn Maluri, Wangsa Maju, Bandar Baru Klang, Mahkota Cheras) Commuter Stations (Distribution by hand) Morning

Pasar Seri Setia SS9A/1 Pasar Kg Chempaka Taman Tun Dr Ismail Hospital Forrest Medical Centre Colleges Help Institute College Bandar Utama (KBU) Universiti Kebangsan Malaysia

Tesco (Puchong, Kajang, Mutiara Damansara, Rawang, Bukit Tinggi, Setia Alam, Ampang, Extra Shah Alam, Kepong)

Ramadan or the fasting month will begin at the end of this month. Deep in the heart of Kota Damansara, Malay stalls are gearing up for business. LIN ZHENYUAN prepares for the food extravaganza

Fragrance of Kelantan cuisine

The various dishes on sale at Sri Kelantan stall.

food 17
July 22 24, 2011

Ayam berempah that not only looks good, it tastes great too.

he row of hawker stalls has always been in the Cecawi area in Kota Damansara, specifically Jalan 6/19. And the stall that caught my eye and called for closer scrutiny has a bright red banner that says Sri Kelantan Nasi Kukus Ayam Berempah. There is was: nasi dagang and steamed nasi lemak, in all its natural splendour. Ikan tongkol, which usually accompanies nasi dagang, doesnt strike my fancy, so I opted for ayam berempah. I picked a drumstick with the kerisik (toasted and grated ground coconut paste) to go with it. In Malaysia, a customer can pick and choose any item he or she wants. That is one of the wonderful things about this country. The husband-and-wife team that runs the stall were every efficient. They were in their thirties and seemed used to handling large number of customers. Nasi dagang may look simple, but the preparation needs a bit of culinary finesse. This knowledge was passed to me when I was in a market in Dungun, Terengganu. A makcik who was selling various types of rice or beras in the Dungun main market explained that one needed to mix at least two different varieties of rice to produce nasi dagang. Since then, I have a healthy re-

Solok lada complements nasi kerabu if you like spicy and sweet flavours.

This type of fried chicken is different from ayam berempah.

spect of the process that goes into making of nasi dagang. The Sri Kelantan stall had nine dishes and four big pots of curry. In the background was the big steaming container of nasi lemak. A woman was preparing packets of nasi lemak with the mandatory banana leaf. When I bought the nasi lemak, I wanted a big dollop of sambal, but the stall owner probably thought a Chinese couldnt handle too much chilli, so he scooped just enough to fill half a tablespoon. There was one item at the stall that is rarely seen except during the month of Ramadan, when Kelantan women set up stalls to earn a bit of side income. This dish is believed to be called solok lada. Apparently, it goes very well with nasi kerabu, which was also sold at the Sri Kel-

The Sri Kelantan stall on Jalan Cecawi 6/19 serving its customers.

antan stall. Solok lada is grated coconut mixed with fish paste. The concoction is then stuffed into green chillis. All Kelantanese love this homegrown recipe, which has found new believers outside the east coast state as more and more Kelantan folks sink roots in other states. For the unitiated, nasi kerabu has a bluish tinge, and nasi dagang has bits of reddish brown grains. Both rice varieties are quite addictive once you have acquired a taste for them. Nasi kerabu is rice with a mixture of vegetables and edible leaves called ulam. You can have nasi kerabu with fried fish, salted egg, pickled garlic, solok lada and keropok, or a combination of all the above. Nasi dagang is believed to have originated from southern Thailand. Over the centuries, the dish and the recipes for making it have made inroads into Kelantan and Terengganu. It is a mixture of brown and white rice cooked with coconut milk, garlic, spices and onions. In Terengganu, housewives and chefs have made slight variations, so nasi dagang from Kelantan can taste and look slightly different. Nasi dagang can be eaten with either fish or chicken curry. Some people, like me, mix nasi dagang and nasi kerabu with all kinds of curry. That is what we called a truly Malaysian dish. If you dont have a strong physical constitution, I strongly advise you to refrain from experimenting with

the different curries at stalls like Sri I am quite sure when the RamaKelantan. dan starts, the Sri Kelantan stall will When the Ramadan bazaars are have more East Coast delights. I will set up at the end of July, there will be there to join in the festive food be more rarely seen Kelantan and fare that draws hundreds of thouTerengganu dishes. My better half sands of Malaysians every year to has a soft spot for wajik and bubur these food bazaars. lambuk. In the meantime, the nasi daWajik is black glutinous rice with gang and nasi kerabu sold in this coconut milk and pandan leaves. section of Kota Damansara are You cant eat too much of wajik quite adequate and satisfying for because it is a dessert. However, two my evening meals. or three pieces of wajik can bring a big smile to your face. Bubur lambuk is basically porridge, but the way it is prepared makes all the difference. The most famous bubur lambuk comes from Kampung Baru. It is a concoction of seven spices, with a mouth-watering aroma that has been attributed to fresh onions, green onions, parsley and pan- Deep fried fish can either be eaten with nasi kerabu or nasi dagang. dan leaves.

FEATURE 18
JULy 22 24, 2011

Twisting and flexing towards a healthier life

By Brenda Chng

issatisfied with orthodox cures and physiological treatments, sufferers of joint pains have now turned to a different form of relief. To most people, yoga means pain as practitioners twist and contort themselves into unimaginable positions. But for yoga practitioners, the ancient exercise routine is the answer to an assortment of ailments ranging from body aches to arthritis and even asthma and migraine. Besides helping strengthen muscles through the different postures, yoga is also said to improve breathing techniques, build stamina and improve concentration levels. Hence, the 2,000-year-old activity has become a more fashionable activity for urbanites looking for an alternative form of exercise that is less physically draining than running or intense cardio workouts. There are many gyms offering yoga, as well as specialised yoga centres in the Klang Valley. Yoga centres are everywhere because everyone wants to teach yoga in their own way. There are also some who see yoga as a business and not sacred spiritual teachings, says yogi Mahendran Govinda Chetti. The 55-year-old says there are 8.4 million yoga asanas (postures) that can be taught in many different ways. As such, each yoga centre is unique in its own way as it teaches the postures differently. In Malaysia, yoga can be divided into six main styles: Hatha, Bikram, Hot, Power, Yogi Mahendran Vinyasa and Iyengar. The lineage of these different styles can be traced back to their main style, the Ashtanga yoga, or sometimes known as Patanjali yoga. Having studied the ways of Ashtanga yoga for 11 years, Mahendran says Hatha yoga is the purest form that comprises everything the other styles have to offer. Founded by Maharishi Patanjali, the scriptures of Ashtanga yoga were written in 300 B.C., and these writings brought about the postures that make up Hatha yoga. Other yoga styles that are taught elsewhere like Bikram and Iyengar are just variations of Patanjalis postures of Hatha yoga, Mahendran explains. To be a master of a posture, one has to hold a posture for at least two and a half hours, and this requires a high level of concentration, proper body alignment and breathing co-ordination, he says.

Hatha yoga is the only one that comprises all. For example, practitioners of Hatha yoga learn the art of breathing and synchronised movement as taught in Vinyasa yoga. Hatha yoga also incorporates the physical strength, endurance and muscular activity focused in both Power and Bikram yoga. Hatha yoga further emphasises body alignment, correct positioning of postures, and concentration when holding postures, as taught in Iyengar yoga. The distinguishing factors among these styles is the sauna-like environment used for Bikram and Hot yoga, and the use of props in Iyengar yoga. A complete Iyengar yoga studio will be equipped with props like blankets, bolsters, blocks, straps and chairs to help with correct alignment. These yoga styles are named after the founders who introduced them in the 1970s. The workouts are focused on weight loss, building muscular strength and endurance, cardiovascular flexibility, and the high temperatures these exercised are practised in. Hatha yoga is everything we practise, regardless of that styles we learn or teach, says yoga teacher Christina Teo. The 42-year-old freelance teacher spends two to three times a week teaching Hatha Vinyasa yoga at a gym. She says gyms tend to have variations of yoga classes like gentle flow (beginner Hatha), power yoga, hot flow (Bikram), dynamic flow (intermediate Hatha) and Vinyasa to cater to all members. Normally, gyms will focus on power yoga or hot yoga because people want a productive workout, and all they want is to perspire and build muscular strength, Teo says. However, she teaches a chosen set of postures that focuses only on certain parts of the body. For example, if she wants to emphasise on hip opening, she will combine postures involving hipopening poses. What is it about yoga that gets both the young and old hyped up about this form of exercise? It may seem like its physically challenging , but honestly, Ive Christina Teo
Physically demanding?

Padahastasana (forward bend).

never felt livelier and more energetic than after my yoga sessions, enthuses yoga practitioner Selina Seah. The 54-year-old, who practises Hatha yoga four times a week, says it has helped eliminate her backaches, increase her mental agility and improve her flexibility. Yoga poses have taught me to open my mind and relax by concentrating on my inner body while in meditation, she adds. Agreeing with her is another yoga practitioner, Irene Loo, who says yoga has helped her stay calm and focused. Nothing else will be on my mind other then the movements within my body when Im in the poses, she says. The 57-year-old practises at the gym three times a week, and she participates in the gentle yoga and power yoga classes. Movements are fast for power yoga and this has improved my mobility, while the stretches have eased my body aches and pains, she says.

Halasana (plough pose).

Buhjangasana pathamaasana (cobra pose with lotus).

Variation of the side plank.

FICTION 19
JULy 22 24, 2011

Sunblock
Fiction by Adeline Chua

Five major paths of yoga

CONTRARY to popular belief, yoga is not all about exercise, postures or how long one can hold a pose for. Yoga is also about devotion and a way of life which can be practised outside of the gym according to Hindu scriptures. Physical yoga or Ashtanga is one of five different branches, each having its own practices and philosophy. But all are targeted at reaching the same goal, which is Samadhi, where the mind becomes still and in control. Derived from the Sanskrit word Yuj, which means to join or unite, yoga encourages practitioners to first unite with their mind before moving on to a higher power. Originating from the Sanskrit word Bhaj, which means devotion, this path only requires one element from its practitioners: love. It represents the path of complete devotion to and love of the higher being. Practitioners of this branch of yoga travels in the sacred path of selfless love and participate through the act of surrender, service, worship, devotion, and finally union with a higher being. Karma yoga can be best described as the selfless service to humankind. Derived from the Sanskrit word Kri, meaning action, devotees live up to its meaning by performing noble acts without care for ones likes or dislikes. Also known as Gnana yoga and pronounced Nya-na, this path seeks wisdom and knowledge through exploring and learning about the inner self. This path focuses on the mental faculty. Practitioners who go down this path learn that to attain Samadhi, the higher consciousness, one has to be in total control of their minds. This is done through meditation and the use of physical exercise. The most commonly practised path is one of discipline and physical exercise. With Ashta meaning eight and Anga meaning limbs, this form of yoga focuses on breathing and postures through the concentration of the mind with meditation.
Ashtanga yoga Raja yoga Jnana yoga Karma yoga Bhakti yoga

Another view of the side plank.

I TURN over on the mattress to look at him. He is like a lizard when he sleeps, pale and sleek. The inescapable heat presses close like some unwelcome guest, and sweat leaves an ever-present film of itself over everyones skin. My gaze comes to rest on his shiny little cheek and I imagine our mattress turning into an ice bath. No, make that a roomful of ice. I wish I could sleep like him. The world is the loneliest when its asleep and you are not. On impulse I reach over to turn the lever of the fan control. Hesitating only for awhile, I give in quicktell myself as I pour the water into the glass. I hand ly enough. Screw it. At least Ive given up air-condi- it to my boy and watch him gulp it down. tioning Drink slowly, we dont have much left, I tell him, The fan spins a little faster and the sound is won- all the while watching the glass empty itself of water. derful. I stupidly anticipate an extra gush of equally Cholera, Hepatitis, horrible names run through wonderful air, but it does come. The air is so still with my mind. I wish I could keep tabs on what goes into heat and smog that even the fan blades would have his body. His immune system is low at this point. a hard time shoving it around, Id imagine. Did I boil the water properly? I shouldve reboiled Imagine is all I can do at this point. I picture it. What kind of mother am I? myself on a mountaintop, preferably somewhere He makes that gulping noise I know so well when freezing, like Siberia. But reality sinks in like a thud: he finishes his drink. Taking the glass from him, I no more air travel. Normal civilians are given a place it on the floor and we both wearily lie back quota of one flight per annum. And even then it costs down. a bomb and there are about five forms to fill in before Sorry for being sick, Ma. I promise Ill try they allow you to. Mother says she wishes she could harder not to next time. go back to the days when she counted calories instead That does it for me. I start to cry now. I try to tell of carbon emissions. him its not his fault, but its stuck. My throat is stuck 6:08am on the clock. I might as well give up try- with all the frustration welling up. He rolls over and ing to sleep now. hugs my shoulder and I can hear his breath passing Ray stirs a little. He opens one eye. The other is through his clogged lungs. buried in the swell of the pillow. The poor boy is We lie like this for a long time and soon it is sunsoaked in sweat. rise. The sky fills with a sort of grey yellow. The Ma, you cant sleep again? apocalypse, Mother used to call it. No, Ray. I smooth back the hair stuck to his Sunrises used to be beautiful, not gothic. But I forehead. must say its a pretty good idea filling the sky up with A small, clammy hand squeezes mine. A cough these artificial clouds. Its like having permanent erupts from his chest, thick with phlegm. It cuts sunblock. To ward off skin cancer, she used to say through the silence of the dark room. My poor boy. with her caustic sense of humour. There are more sputters from him, and I sit up on Humans are a clever bunch. the mattress. The bottles of medication sit on the floor next to him, but he shouldnt be taking any now, not until a few more hours. We are community newspaper which focuses on events and I help him sit up and he happenings in Selangor. If you are interested to join a passionate coughs for a long time, getteam of young people bent on contributing to Selangors developting up to spit phlegm into ment through the media, join us. the toilet sink. I wish I could take his sickness. Just rip it Sales and Marketing Executive out of his chest and plant it (Basic salary + allowance + commission) into my own. Medicine is like We are looking for young men and women with the following a temporary relief, clearing qualities: out one disease and making Responsible for media sales and marketing activities room for another. Proactive and self motivated Ma, can I have some wa Pleasant disposition with interpersonal skills ter, please? he asks. Diploma or degree in any discipline And this is my cue, every Ability to converse in English and/or Mandarin time. I feel it starting to crawl Target and sales oriented up the back of my neck: Possess own transport dread. Sometimes I wished I Computer literate was a mother in a kinder time. Those with sales experience would be an added advantage A time when one did not have Training and coaching provided. to fear giving a glass of drinking water to ones son. Attractive remuneration package will commensurate with qualification and experience. Interested applicants must send Please, Ma. resume and letter to editor@selangortimes.com OK. I rise slowly to walk to the Shortlisted candidates will be notified. kitchen. Have some faith, I

Barbosa bags Yangon Open

yanmar is a beautiful country, and despite its military dictatorship and limitations in terms of infrastructure, it is surprisingly modern. It is also one of the safest places in the world, perhaps due to the largely Buddhist population. It is largely courteous, kind and helpful to foreigners who they consider their guests. The organisers led by Myanmar Chess Federation president Maung Maung Lwin left no stone unturned to make the Campomanes Memorial Yangon International Open 2011 a success. Central Hotel in downtown Yangon, a stones throw from many major attractions, proved to be a wonderful venue, and many participants took opportunity of the rest day to visit the Shwedagon Pagoda. The tournament saw a total of 72 players, the bulk of which were from the host nation. It also had competitors from the Philippines, China, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the United States. Filipino international master Oliver Barbosa, 2514, emerged at the end of nine days of hard competition as the popular and convincing winner with 7.5 points. Unfancied Li Hanbing of China benefited from the peculiarities of the Swiss pairing system to avoid all the major contenders to finish in second place. IM Nguyen Van Huy from Vietnam led Indians IM Atanu Lahiri, Filipino IM Richard Bitoon, Myanmars IM Myo Naing, IM Dinesh Kumar Sharma (India), Mount Mount Latt (Myanmar) and the Philippines junior champion Mari Joseph Turqueza to grab the third to ninth places. Among the young players who took part, Singapores Cyrus Low captured the the U-10

FEATURES 20
JULy 22 24, 2011

prize, while Malaysias Dilwen Ding edged his compatriot William Lee for the U-14 prize. Lees older brother, Elgin, who is also the MSSM U-15 champion, finished with five points to bag the top junior prize.

Now Black takes over! 16. Rcd1 Na5 17. Bxb7 Qxb7 18. Qb5 With the threat of 19. Bxc5 18...Qc6 19. Qxc6 Nxc6 20. d5 Na5! 21. Bc1? Oops? This simply loses a pawn. White must have been shocked at 21. dxe6 Nxc4, which attacks the Bishop while protecting the d-pawn. After 22. exf7 Rxf7, White would have many weak pawns to defend, but at least material would be equal. 21...Nxc4 22. Rd3 e5! 23. e4 f5 24. f3 fxe4 25. fxe4 Very impressive. Now the e-pawn is also weak. 25....Rf7 26. Rf1 Raf8 27. Rxf7 Rxf7 28. Kg2 b5!

Get smart! Play chess!

By Peter Long peterlong@aol.asia

FEATURED GAME
Inspired by a video which indicated a weakness on the c4 square in Whites position, nine-year-old Cyrus Low exploited the position to crush 1821-rated William Campi from the USA with plenty of maturity. Low, who has managed to play in two strong international opens the Thailand Open and Pichay Cup is expected to be in action at the Raja Nazrin Shah Masters & Open this year. William Campi Cyrus Low Campomanes Memorial Yangon International Open 2011 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. g3 Bb7 6. Bg2 Ne4 7. Qc2 Bxc3+ By transposition the position is now a line of the Queens Indian. Here Black had to play moves like 7...f5. The exchange is natural but helps White even more. 8. bxc3 Nd6! 9. Qa4 The position demanded 9.c5! after which White is just better. 9.... c5! 10. Ba3 Qc7 11. 00 00 12. Rfd1 Ne4 13. Rac1 Nc6 14. Nd2 Nxd2 15. Rxd2 d6!

29. Rf3? This is crazy. To have any chance, White had to keep the Rooks on. One pawn down and with the Knight dominating his Bishop, this is as good a resigning. 29...Rxf3 30. Kxf3 Kf7 31. h4 h6 32. Ke2 Nb6 33. g4 b4 34. Kd3 As a young player, Black is of course being a little too aggressive. Best now for both is probably 34. cxb4 cxb4 35. Be3 Na4 34...bxc3 34....a5 looks to be the natural move. 35. Kxc3 Nd7 36. g5 Another strange move. Seems like most 1800+ players have no endgame to talk about. 36...h5 37. Kb3 Nf8 You would imagine instead the safer move 37....Nb6. But now we get to enjoy a well calculated finish by someone who knows how to use his Knights! 38. Be3 Ng6 39. Bf2 Nf4 40. Ka4 Ne2 41. Be1 Nd4 42. Ka5 Nf3 43. Bf2 Nd2 44. Ka6 Nxe4 45. Be1 c4 46. Kxa7 c3 01

It is over.

Al-Fatihah
Our Deepest and Heartfelt Condolences to The Family of

Dr Lo Lo Mohd Ghazali,
The PAS Member of Parliament for Titiwangsa

on her recent demise

on 17th July 2011 (15 Syaaban 1432 H) Semoga Allah SWT mencucuri rahmat ke atas rohnya from

Pesuruhjaya and all its members Badan Perhubungan PAS Negeri Selangor

SELANGOR TIMES JuJy 22 24, 2011 21

Al-Fatihah
Our Deepest and Heartfelt Condolences to The Family of

Dr Lo Lo Mohd Ghazali,
The PAS Member of Parliament for Titiwangsa

on her recent demise

on 17th July 2011 (15 Syaaban 1432 H) Semoga Allah SWT mencucuri rahmat ke atas rohnya from

Parti Keadilan Rakyat

Al-Fatihah
Our Deepest and Heartfelt Condolences to The Family of

Dr Lo Lo Mohd Ghazali,
The PAS Member of Parliament for Titiwangsa

on her recent demise

on 17th July 2011 (15 Syaaban 1432 H) Semoga Allah SWT mencucuri rahmat ke atas rohnya from

Democratic Action Party Selangor

Gallery 22
July 22 24, 2011 (From left) Speaker and Sungai Pinang assemblyperson Datuk Teng Chang Khim, executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar, Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, Kuala Selangor MP Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, and exco Ronnie Liu ushering senior citizens into Tesco Hypermarket as part of the states Jom Shopping initiative.

Players from CCW One Kota Damansara (in orange) and MBPJ Football Academy in an under-eight match held during the Independence Football Academy Carnival, organised by Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad (PNSB) Football Club last Saturday.

Children being entertained by a puppeteer at the Relay for Life 2011 event in UKM Bangi last Saturday.

Spectators and participants at a three-a-side basketball tournament organised by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) on July 10.

Vioinist Joanne Yeoh holding the crowds attention with her virtuoso performance during the launch of Mah Sing Group Bhds i-SoVo units at its Icon City development in Petaling Jaya last Sunday.

Culture 23
July 22 24, 2011
Compiled by Nick Choo Send your events to nick@selangortimes.com

INTERVIEW
By Nick Choo JunJI Delfino, also known as Malaysias queen of jazz, launched her debut album Here I Am in conjunction with her 50th birthday celebration last year, and performed her first solo concert of the same name at PJ Live Arts @ Jaya One. She has also performed in stage musicals such as Taming of the Shrew (2010) and Love Journey 2 with Joanna Bessey (2011), and was vocal director for the musical Lat: Kampung Boy earlier this year. This year, she celebrates her birthday with another concert, Lush Life, at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre. Selangor Times talks to Ms Delfino, who is of Filipino descent, on her musical journey. What is the significance of the title Lush Life? The show title is based on a song written by an American composer named Billy Strayhorn. Lush Life is essentially a tribute to some of the legendary figures in the world of entertainment. names like Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Sammy Davis Jr, nina Simone, Thelonious Monk, Elvis Presley, Karen Carpenter, Michael Jackson and, of course, Billy Strayhorn. Most names are immediately

recognisable, though some are a bit more obscure. But one common thread that runs right across the list is that all of these performers had major struggles in their personal lives. Their stellar careers are flipsided with lives of pain. They projected happy images in front of cameras and huge concert stages, yet some of the songs they sang truly mirrored their pain. In essence, choosing Lush Life as my shows title is to reflect the colourful lives they led in their lifetime. The show is part music and part commentary, with slides shown in between songs where a prerecorded voice-over narrates a bit on the artists lives. Youve done jazz concerts as well as musical theatre. Do you have a preference between the two? It would be a tough task if I were made to make a choice between one and the other as I do enjoy doing both. I enjoy the contrast between both genres. Jazz gives ample room for improvisation and interpretation, whereas musical theatre requires working within the boundaries of the plot, script and musical arrangement. You produced your first album and solo concert last year upon turning 50. With no disrespect intended, why has it taken this long for you to accomplish this?

I guess the simplest answer is that last year was the right time for it to happen. (Husband and fellow jazz musician) David [Gomes] and I have spoken about it on many occasions, but somehow, other things would come into our work circle which distracted us from our plans. Last year was different, though. Things kinda fell into place, and it happened with the least resistance on all fronts. Of course, turning 50 did make it all the more poignant for me. What words of encouragement would you say to young artistes who perhaps might be struggling, discouraged, and thinking of giving up their craft? Firstly, if they are young, I wanna know why theyd want to give up so easily? It took me half my life to fulfill my dream! To me, its plain and simple. They need to first identify what areas they are struggling with. There are no shortcuts to success in this industry. Only hard work and diligence. And lots of practice! Finally, whats coming up next for you after Lush Life? Sleep. Thats whats looming in my immediate future! Then when Ive recovered, I will pick up where I left off with vocal education, festival work, and a couple of musicals planned for early next year.

INTERVIEW
THEYRE described as Mozart meets the Marx Brothers and no wonder! Following sell-out seasons in 2004, 2006 and 2010, Pluck returns for their 2011 Malaysian outing, promising wacky performances that combine music with mayhem. Prepare for skillful stunts on the strings, slapstick comedy, pratfalls and pizzicato. These madcap musicians compete, dance, fight, ridicule, argue, scheme and seduce their way through each show with their hilarious and dexterous execution of cabaret, theatre and classical music, using their musical instruments as props so fearlessly that you marvel how nothing gets damaged (too often) in the process. And if you think youre safely seated and separated from their antics and arpeggios, think again even members of the audience can get roped into the fray! Plucks Musical Arson will be reignited this season by Kit Massey on violin, Flora Allison on cello and vocals, and Brooke Day on viola. Selangor Times has a quick email exchange with these plucky virtuosos in anticipation of their descent upon Petaling Jaya.

CAlENDAR
Lush Life with Junji Delfino
Music / Theatre; 20-24 July; Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre; 03-40479000; www. klpac.org; RM73 / RM43 / RM412 (table booking for four)
Following the success of her first-ever solo concert in 2010, jazz extraordinaire Junji Delfino returns to celebrate 51-derful years of her scintillatingly lush life, paying tribute to the geniuses of some of the worlds most prolific composers, lyricists and artistes. Featuring the Michael Veerapen Trio and special guest stars.

Pluck: Musical Arson Reignited!

Music/Theatre; 21-31 July; PJ Live Arts @ Jaya One; 012-2690375, www. gardnerandwife.com.my; RM44-RM77, (packages) RM224 / RM432
Pluck returns to Malaysia with Musical Arson Reignited, featuring the talents of Kit Massey on violin, Flora Allison on cello and vocals, and Brooke Day on viola. Special school performances are available on weekdays at 10am. Young audiences attending weekend performances at PJ Live Arts are invited to visit the Musical Zoo in Studio 2 after the show, courtesy of The Applause Society and Clap & Tap Chamber Orchestra.

What is your creative process like? The original members came up with most of the ideas for the show, drawing on real-life experiences within the classical Hey! Unless Im imagining world, and then working things, you arent the same with a director. We have just performers who were in recently done some work with Pluck a few years ago! What our director Toby Sedgwick, happened to the former members (Sian Kadifachi, Jon and have come up with some new bits. I think having new Regan and Adrian Garratt)? members definitely brings in no, we are not the same cast from a few years ago. Adrian left some new ideas. We tend to the group last year to pursue his meet for rehearsals and work on certain areas that we feel solo project. Jon left at the end maybe need a bit of looking of last year to concentrate on at. Sometimes new jokes other things, and his wife had just emerge when something a baby. Sian still performs with unexpected happens or a the group, but she too has a mistake is made. That can little one, so she cant perform sometimes be the funniest way as much as she used to. to create new bits for the show. How did the three of you get Would you say Pluck helps to together? Is there a leader promote the appreciation of among you? All three of us auditioned to be classical music? Definitely. I hope that we in the group, and that is how we met. There is no real leader demonstrate to people that classical music can be fun, in the group as we all have as well as being immensely equal roles.

enjoyable to listen to and appreciate. What would you say to purists who might claim your comedy act is disrespectful to classical music? The last thing we would want to do is be disrespectful to classical music. The comedy is part of the music, but the music remains the most important part of the show. We are all classically trained musicians, and all have a deep respect for the music we play and the composers who wrote it. Any memorable moments during your performances? Unexpected audience reactions, mishaps onstage, etc...? Every performance is different, due to the fact that we involve the audience. This can throw up some very funny situations indeed. They all react differently to what we ask them to do, and that is nice for us because we dont know what to expect!

Dreamgirls
Musical; 14-24 July; Istana Budaya; RM48RM353; 03-87754666, www.airasiaredtix.com
The Broadway musical that tells of an upand-coming 1960s girl group, The Dreams, and the triumphs and tribulations that come with fame and fortune. Dreamgirls premiered in 1981 and was nominated for 13 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and won six. Twenty-five years later it was adapted into a major motion picture by DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures. With music by Henry Krieger and book and lyrics by Tom Eyen, Dreamgirls is presented in Malaysia for the first time by Broadway Academy, and features the talents of Elvira Arul, Cheryl Samad and Tony Eusoff.

In Memory of Yasmin Ahmad

Film / Exhibition / Other; 21-23 July; various venues
21-23 July, 8pm, Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre: Showcase of Yasmin Ahmads print ads, photography and commercials, as well as screening of her movie Rabun. 24 July, 7.30pm, Instant Cafe House Of Art and Ideas (CHAI): An evening for friends and fans to share their favourite memories of Yasmin.

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.