Friday, October 31, 2014
Adrenaline Rush
Chef Hats and Aprons
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Blushing Red
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Visual Treat
JOHOR BARU: PHOTOGRAPHY enthusiasts should not miss the “100 Photographic Showcase” which will be held at the Southern University College (SUC) here from Sunday to Nov 9.
Photographic Society of Johor (PSJ) president Tang King Huat said 100 photographs will put up for sale at RM200 each, and the full amount will go to the SUC. The exhibition will be held at its Museum and Art Gallery.
“The exhibition will showcase our members’ work from as early as the 1960s to the present day,” Tang said.
“We hope that the exhibition will draw photography enthusiasts and that schools will organise visits to the exhibition, as it will help students learn more about the techniques of photography.
“A black and white photograph can bring more contrast to a shot as it is not distorted by colours. It is like listening to the music of a song minus the lyrics.
“Just enjoy the musical notes. That is what a black and white photograph evokes in some of us,” Tang said.
“The same photograph with colours stir a different mood and tells a different story,” he added.
Tang also said that the event was one of the highlights of PSJ’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
Tebrau Member of Parliament Khoo Soo Seang is expected to launch the event on Sunday at 11am.
There will also be a sharing session where three well-known photographers Foo Tee Jun, Teo Yong Kang and Wong Beow Leong, all from Singapore, will share their experiences as well as tips on how to get the winning shot in a photography contest.
PSJ has also prepared a set of postcards featuring all the photographs on exhibition, as a gift for guests during its opening on a whilst stocks last basis.
The exhibition will be held daily from 9am to 5pm. Admission is free. PSJ, which was formed in 1964, has more than 200 members today.
For enquiries, call the event organising chairman Wong Siew Heong at 012-763 9191.
Stronger Bilateral Ties
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
It's Not Safe
JOHOR BARU: LOW rentals has lured about 100 families and individuals into Block 4 of Taman Jaya flats in Skudai here, despite it being declared unsafe a decade ago.
In 2005, a support pillar of the four-storey block had cracked and became slightly tilted, which forced 300 residents to evacuate.
After the incident, the then Public Works and Housing Committee chairman Datuk Baderi Dasuki had urged the residents to move out voluntarily within a week for their own safety or face forceful eviction.
Based on preliminary findings, the Malaysian Public Works Institute (Ikram) had declared the structure unstable and a study on Block 4 was conducted.
Ikram reportedly found that the cracked column had failed, making it unable to take the load of the structure.
In 2011, the state government gave out compensations to the flat owners. But for fear of safety for their families, some had left for good after the incident.
Some left but came back and along the way, new tenants moved in, lured by the attractive low rentals for the units.
Streets visited the block of flats yesterday and found that people living there were unfazed by the hazardous conditions.
Sixty-year-old Sukarti Karsan was one of the tenants who lived there with her son. Sukarti said she was aware of the 2005 incident.
“My two sons take turns to take care of me. Sometimes I go and stay with him and sometimes I stay with my son here. I know it is not safe but we cannot find alternative accommodation.
“My son is renting the place for RM250. There is water and electricity. In some units, there are none and their rental is lower,” Sukarti said.
Another resident who only wanted to be known as Ani, who is living in the block across Sukarti, said her rental is RM300 per month.
“Residents in my block were not asked to evacuate as the land here did not sink.
“I think a lot of foreigners are renting the flats here, especially in that block, as the rent is lower than the other blocks,” she said.
It was reported that residents heard a loud bang and felt the floor moving in the 10.30pm incident.
The walls in some units started to crack and steel rods inside the support pillar could be seen.
The support pillar was said to have cracked due to soil movement below the almost 30-year-old building, which houses 64 units.
Central Johor Baru Municipal Council president Sallehuddin Hassan confirmed to Streets yesterday that the building is not fit for occupancy.
Sallehuddin said a sign was put up by MPJBT but it has since gone missing.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Short Getaway To Absolute Happiness
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Fully Recharged
From left, top row: Victor Cheng, James Tan
From left, second row: Dr Ang Yi Yiang, Cheang Ai Nee, Catherine Tan, Jaymie Tan, me, Bonnie Siew, Vincent Siew, Dawson Yeang
From left, seated: Khor Pin Pin, Tay Gek Hoon, Tracey Wong, May Chan, Jazzilyn Tong, Chin Yoke Chee and Khaw Yen Kiat
I have a bindi or putu between my eyebrows because my group chose to perform an Indian dance, while the lady beside me, Cindy Sia, led her group in a hot Latin dance.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Absolute Happiness
After a night of refreshing sleep, my mind has more clarity now. Have been sleeping very well in the past two nights. Such bliss. Anyway, it just dawned on me that I need to clarify some things concerning what I wrote last night.
Stop Whining
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Spiritual Retreat
Monday, October 20, 2014
Belka In Malaysia
JOHOR BARU: WANT to have a home or car that stands out from the crowd?
Par Macht Bhd, at 48, Jalan Mutiara Emas 5/9, Taman Mount Austin here is the production plant that offers such unique services.
Its director, Robin Kuok, said the factory is believed to be the first in Johor, and possibly the country, to offer these two new and novel services — interior wall coating material Belka, as well as spray chroming.
“There are only two types of chroming services in the local market — vacuum chroming and electroplating. Spray chroming is a new technology. We also do Belka coating, which was invented by an Iranian named Sazeh Gostar Sarayesh,” Kuok said.
“Belka is actually cotton wool mixed with gluten and mineral stones.
“Just like mixing dough, the Belka is then placed on the surface. It can be applied to wood, glass, metal, reinforced concrete and brick walls.”
Kuok said Belka is an alternative to paint and wallpaper, and costs about RM4 per sq ft.
“The material is flame-resistant, odour-free and insect-repellent due to its pH-neutral characteristics as insects are drawn to alkaline-based properties.
“However, it is not advisable to put Belka coating on the surface of washroom as it is not waterproof. A little water is fine, but not in a water-saturated environment.
“Belka coating also absorbs sounds, and having walls with Belka coating is like a house wearing a cotton shirt. Heat cannot penetrate the interior because of its thermal-insulation properties,” he said.
“As for spray chroming, we have acquired a water transfer printing machine where 3D-cubic printing can be achieved on irregular-shaped surfaces.
“Customers are opting for this new technology on their sports rim, air-cond covers, door frames and dashboards, among others, to express individuality,” he said.
“It costs about RM150 to get the designs on a car rim,” he added.
For details, call 07-300 6337 or go to www.facebook.com/BelkaInMalaysia.
- by Chuah Bee Kim
source NST online
West Side Friends
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Beware Strong Winds
http://www.nst.com.my/node/43851
Friday, October 17, 2014
Old And New
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Foster Unity
KUALA LUMPUR: A PROMINENT Chinese community leader has admitted that the existence of various school streams in the country has impeded efforts to create a united nation.
Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Hua Zong) secretary-general Prof Datuk Dr Chin Yew Sin, however, said despite the problem, the government should continue to find ways to foster unity among young Malaysians without changing the status quo.
“Racial polarisation exists, but the right to operate Chinese vernacular schools in Malaysia is enshrined in the Federal Constitution. It is part of the social contract signed by our forefathers and cannot be challenged,” he told the New Straits Times yesterday.
“If students in national and national-type schools do not interact (with each other) at all, they will grow up living in different worlds and this will create problems in the future.”
He was responding to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s speech at MCA’s Annual General Assembly on Sunday, in which Najib assured the public that Chinese education would continue to be safeguarded.
However, Najib said he hoped students in Chinese vernacular schools would learn and master Bahasa Malaysia.
“Bahasa Malaysia is not only the national language, but also serves as the medium of communication for all ethnic groups in Malaysia. It is a tool that can foster national unity,” said Chin.
He said although the legitimacy of Chinese vernacular schools was guaranteed under the social contract, the inability of students from the different types of schools to interact would cause disunity.
“Students in the different types of schools are moving in the same direction, but on parallel lines. As the Malay adage goes, tak kenal maka tak cinta (to know somebody is to love somebody). We must work around this problem by finding a way to intersect these lines and find common ground.”
Barisan Nasional Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin used a similar analogy to describe the problem of racial polarisation while speaking at MCA Youth’s 50th Annual General Meeting on Saturday.
Citing a fictitious example of Ahmad and Lim, who were both born in Malaysia but followed different language pathways, Khairy said Malaysia was facing a problem of too many “parallel lines”.
“Parallel lines will never meet. In Malaysia, we have too many of these. We need to find a solution to bend these parallel lines, so we can see interaction between youth.”
Chin said the solution was in the government’s efforts to help the various schools converge.
“In recent years, the government had initiated the Racial Integration and Malaysian Unity Programme (Rimup). The programme was designed to encourage the various schools to jointly hold events.
“These events, held in Bahasa Malaysia, range from sports activities and debates to discussion forums. However, Rimup events are few and far between because of insufficient funds.”
He said such a programme would not only help students from Chinese and Indian vernacular schools improve their Bahasa Malaysia, but also foster stronger bonds among the races.
“A similar programme is also outlined in the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025, and I hope the government will expend time and resources to make it a success.”
Chin said he was confident that all Chinese vernacular schools, Hua Zong and Dong Zong, or United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia, would support the initiative.
The debate on Chinese vernacular schools was sparked recently by Petaling Jaya Utara Umno deputy chief Mohamad Azli Mohemed Saad, who proposed that the status of such schools be discussed at the Umno General Assembly next month.
He had alleged that opposition parties were using the schools to create racial disharmony and sow hatred towards the government.
United Chinese School Teachers Association (Jiao Zong) chairman Ong Chiow Chuen said he was relieved to hear Najib’s assurance.
However, he said, there were still “voices” that would abuse the issue and call for the abolishment of vernacular schools.
“These people must face the consequences of the law. We cannot let them question our right to run Chinese vernacular schools. Action must be taken against such individuals.”
- source NST online
Monday, October 13, 2014
Chinese Schools
"After graduation, we will do a follow-up on the students after they have sat for the Chinese education system's Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) examination.
"In 2012, 97 per cent of them pursued further studies in universities or colleges that recognise the UEC.
"Last year, a total of 5,502 students applied for a place in Foon Yew High School in Johor Baru and in our other campus in Kulaijaya. We had to turn away 3,902 students.
"Beside UEC, we also encourage the students to sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) although we did not make it compulsory.
"The 3,902 who were turned away either had to further their studies in international schools, schools in Singapore or national schools," Tong said, adding that independent schools should get some allocation as they too are producing graduates for the workforce, who will contribute to nation building.
Its chairman Wang Toon Jui said the allocation was not in proportion with the number of students studying in Chinese vernacular schools nation-wide, in tandem with the number of students in Tamil vernacular schools and national type schools.
In Johor, there are about 110,000 students in Chinese vernacular schools.