Monday, May 12, 2014

Happy Wesak Day

12 May 2014

Sia Tze Jee Buddhist Temple abuzz with activities

By Chuah Bee Kim

Charmaine Tan. NST pix by Mohd Azren Jamaludin

Charmaine Tan was among the devotees who is helping out with the preparation for Wesak Day, an annual celebration that commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. It is celebrated by Buddhists on May 13.

However, not all Buddhists celebrate the occasion.

The 26-year-old piano teacher said she was excited about the charity sale which was organised by the temple committee in conjunction with the celebration.

The fund from the charity sale will be used to provide free medical consultation for the public.
"Since we introduced the free medical consultation programme, many have come to the temple to seek treatment," she said.

The charity sale, from 8am to 2pm, will feature a variety of home-cooked meals prepared by volunteers.

Besides the charity sale, there will also be chanting sessions.

"I understand many devotees will be chanting for good health as having vibrant health is the most important thing in life," she said.

Her father, Tan Chew Peng, who is the committee chairman of the temple, was away getting more cushions for devotees who will be using that during the chanting session.

"The devotees will stand during chanting but they are also required to kneel at times in order to bow to the deities," she said.

"Last year, there were about 600 devotees. This year we are expecting more. That's why my father had to go out to look for more cushions in anticipation of tomorrow's turnout," she added.

In conjunction with the event, the temple also hosted a charity dinner for the underprivileged on Sunday.

The temple built nearly 60 years ago was originally at Jalan Trus here before moving to Jalan Tun Abdul Razak where the Danga City Mall now stands.

It is re-located to its current location at Jalan Chengai, Taman Melodies in 1998. The Sia Tze Jee Buddhist Temple is one of the oldest in Johor Baru.

Off Record

Meanwhile, Charmaine's mom Agnes also taught me to chant the mantra of Sakyamuni Buddha 南无本师释迦牟尼佛 (Namo Ben Shi Shi Jia Mo Ni Fo) which can be used during walking meditation to calm the mind.

Yes, I think I will try it.

Happy chanting!

BN Wants To Help

Tan Sri Shahrir with Koh (left) and Cheah (right)

JOHOR BARU: A Taoist temple belonging to Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Guan Sheng Tan fears it may face the same predicament that befell the Wong Ah Fook mansion.

The temple in Jalan Lumba Kuda is an extension of the mansion and was untouched during its demolition. It now stands among the ruins.

The temple's committee members hope the state government would step in to save it from facing a similar fate.

Temple chairman Koh Kim Poh told the New Straits Times he had received a call on Wednesday from a man claiming to be a representative of the Wong Ah Fook mansion owner, telling him to leave the premises by the end of the month.

"Temple devotees will celebrate the birthday of its deity, Guan Kong, on July 20. We will not be able to hold the celebration if we do not have a site."

The temple was built 14 years ago without a permit.

Seven committee members turned up at the office of Johor Baru member of parliament Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad yesterday.

Shahrir urged the mansion owner to discuss the matter with him before deciding on the next course of action.

"The owner or his representative can see me or the Johor Baru MCA Public Complaints bureau chairman John Cheah on this matter.

"It is best that all parties meet before another mistake occurs. The owner committed the first mistake when he demolished a soon-to-be declared heritage mansion without submitting any building plans to the local council.

"He then made a second mistake by demolishing it without getting a permit from the Johor Baru City Council. The temple committee members seem adamant not to vacate the premises. So, I hope the owner will not commit another mistake."

The mansion was was demolished on April 30.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

The Mighty Guan Gong

The Guan Gong temple (right) amid the ruins.

The site where the Wong Ah Fook old mansion used to be.

Just now I was busy so had no time to write too long. In the morning I visited the site of the Wong Ah Fook old mansion. There was a temple measuring some 10 ft x 12 ft still standing there among the ruins.

It was the temple of Guan Gong（关公) , the God of War.

According to the devotees, Guan Gong had stopped the excavator from tearing down his temple, which was built 14 years ago and its committee members registered it as the Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Guan Sheng Tan in January 2003.

The devotees are gearing up to celebrate the deity's birthday which falls on the 24th day of the sixth lunar month (July 20 this year).

No development will be approved there by the Johor Baru City Council. The Opposition wants the state government to rebuild the old mansion. The owner not only can't do anything with the land, he also faces a hefty fine.

So, what is the next course of action now? One which will seem fair and beneficial for all parties.

The story that appeared in NST online

11 May 2014 Johor Baru MP urged mansion owner to meet him

JOHOR BARU: Johor Baru Member of Parliament Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad today urged the owner of the Wong Ah Fook old mansion to come and see him so that a decision can be made on the next course of action to be taken.

Earlier, members of the Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Guan Sheng Tan had approached Shahrir to help them find an alternative as they, too, are facing eviction from the owner. The temple was actually an extension of the Wong Ah Fook old mansion, and was set up 14 years ago.

It honours the deity Guan Kong, whose birthday celebration will fall on July 20.

According to the temple committee chairman, Koh Kim Poh, he had received a call on Wednesday from a man claiming to be a representative of the owner reminding the committee members to vacate the temple by the end of the month. The temple was left unscathed during the demolition on April 30 but is now standing among the ruins.

"The owner or his representative can see me or the Johor Baru MCA Public Complaints bureau chairman John Cheah on this matter.

"It is best that all parties meet before another mistake occurs. The owner committed the first mistake when he demolished a soon-to-be declared heritage mansion without submitting any building plans to the local council. He then did a second mistake by demolishing it in haste without getting permit from the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB)," Shahrir added.

Read more: Johor Baru MP urged mansion ownwer to meet him - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/johor-baru-mp-urged-mansion-ownwer-to-meet-him-1.593486#ixzz31OOGK6f6

Happy Go Lucky

I walked out of the dental clinic this afternoon with a bounce in my steps. My mood was light and happy. I was scared stiff minutes before the dental check-up. But the dental surgeon has a very gentle touch. I would recommend her service to anyone.

The clinic is at Jalan Padi 2 in Bandar Baru Uda, Johor Baru.

Having your teeth checked once or twice a year is a necessity. Sometimes we just scare ourselves silly.

It really can be a pleasant experience having a dental check-up.

I also got this beautiful scarf as a gift today. And one more highlight of this Saturday, I got to savour "bee hoon goreng kampung". I really hope I can cook this dish someday.

Another day to count my blessings!

Friday, May 9, 2014

Owner's Statement

The owner of the Wong Ah Fook mansion in Jalan Lumba Kuda, Johor Baru, has finally broken his silence over the demolition of the 150-year-old building.

In a statement issued through his law firm yesterday he said the mansion was a private property. YES, VERY TRUE.

It also stated: "In April, the owner and its tenants had hired an engineering firm to conduct an inspection on the mansion. They found structural defects and concluded that the building was unfit for occupation.

"Members of the public had entered the building without consent on many occasions, giving rise to issues of public safety.

"Drug addicts had also been seen entering the mansion.

"Because of the potential risks, the mansion was demolished last Wednesday."

EVEN THOUGH THE PRIVATE ENGINEERING FIRM HAD FOUND STRUCTURAL DEFECTS AND THIS HAD POSED A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY, THE CITY COUNCIL'S APPROVAL STILL HAD TO BE SOUGHT PRIOR TO ANY CONSTRUCTION OR DEMOLITION.

The owner, however, expressed his regret that public sentiment was not considered before the mansion was demolished. THIS ONE TRUE.

The lawyer who read the statement also denied speculations that the building was demolished to make way for a condominium project/restaurant. The owner was not present.

As for the time the demolition work started according to the statement, HAAH!

The saga continues ...

Savour the Moment

I was here! Had dinner with a family. Knowing that my vision is not so sharp at night and my sense of direction go haywire at times --- more like most of the time --- the family also came to get me from the house.

Well, to be honest I would probably be too lazy to drive there all by myself.

These are just some of the dishes that were on our table. I didn't take a picture of every dish. This Japanese restaurant in Bandar Baru Permas Jaya, Johor Baru is still drawing in the crowd since the day it opened.

We couldn't finish the food so we "bungkus balik" (pack back). It is the trend now. Don't waste food. Even at wedding dinner or any gathering, don't be shy about asking the waiter to pack the leftovers.

And my wonderful host also gave me a gift to take home. I'm a lover of sensuous scents and alluring crystals/gemstones. Any gift that comes from the heart is a sweet gesture to be savoured.

A get together, a fleeting moment, a rendezvous --- planned or unplanned --- all is to be cherished.

Thank you for this night.