The Long Hot Summer

On a day that felt like a "long hot summer", the sight of a swimming pool felt like coming across an oasis.

I was at the pre-opening of the SEED Clubhouse just now.  Last week Tanah Sutera held a pre-opening event for Phase 1 residents of the Seed which comprise of a total of 1,230 units of walk-up apartments, garden villas, duplex suites, condominiums and penthouses.  This evening, it was for Phase 2 residents.

Next Saturday (June 28 from 5pm to 10pm), SEED developer Tanah Sutera Development Sdn Bhd will organise a public preview of the clubhouse.  So, please go and experience "resort living" on June 28.  Price is from RM788,000 onwards.

The developer is believed to be one of the first in Malaysia to "go green in a big way" as the SEED is built using Effective Microorganism (EM) in the concrete and landscaping to improve air qualityas well as in the cleaning of the the pool, clubhouse and other water features.

Besides an olympic-size swimming pool, there is also a pool for children and a wadding pool. 

Address of The Seed is Jalan Persisiran Sutera Utama, Taman Sutera Utama, Johor Bahru. Don't forget June 28.

On a totally separate matter, I just saw the news on TV that the Singapore government is asking the Malaysian government to furnish an environment impact assessment report on reclamation works near the 2nd Link, and the Malaysian government has agreed to do so.

 I also found this

Strong Opposition To Massive Reclamation Project In Johor

which appeared in the ant daily.

Finally, somebody is listening ....  starry starry night

Please Save Our Seagrass

A Very Hot Fryday

I am so BORED. It's such a freaking hot day. Had to sit under the air-cond most of the time. And tomorrow (Saturday, June 21) is going to be the Summer Solstice --- the longest day of the year.

I do hope my favourite blogger --- The Little Lady of the Valley --- is all right. I love her sense of humour and insightful writings.

Kept myself busy with housework. Phew! Household chores is like a neverending story ...

"bored" + "sitting under the air-cond" + "neverending story" doesn't seem to quite gel together. It really was a very hot day in JB.

Hmmm ... maybe we should just enjoy this poem by Mindie Kniss called "Sun Lust"

life-giving fire

pour sundrops like rain.

let us reflect your glow.

enlighten our path

as we flourish and grow.

let us drink in your heat

and eat from your hand

as we sway in the breeze

as you kiss our skin…

wrap us up

in light and insight

as we spin ‘round again

toward dark.

Lace Driven By Demand For Hotels

A NEW boutique hotel is set to open its doors for business in Jalan Tebrau here in August.

The RM14 million hotel, featuring two levels of car park, a car showroom, and five storeys of rooms, will be called the Lace Boutique Hotel.

Syarikat Lace Motor Sdn Bhd founder and managing director Datuk Paduka Rokiah Omar said this is her first venture into the hospitality industry.

She said there was a demand for hotels in the thriving southern economic corridor.

Rokiah, who set up the Lace Motor Foundation three years ago, said the hotel in Jalan Tebrau will also house the office of the foundation formed to help orphans, old folk, single mothers and the underprivileged. She said this at the launch of an autoshow, one of the highlights of the Mega Raya Sale promotion which started in May 18 and ends on July 31.

A host of programmes has been lined up in conjunction with the promotion such as a lucky draw, karaoke, and buka puasa feast.

Rokiah, who is also the group and company chairman, said there are plans to build a budget hotel at the back of the boutique hotel.

“A market survey revealed that the demand for budget hotels is even higher than boutique hotels, so plans are on the drawing board to build one in the near future.”

Rokiah said the boutique hotel, built on 0.2ha of land, was targeted to open earlier, but there were unexpected delays.

“The first contractor failed to deliver the project in time, so we changed the contractor. But before the change could take place, the first contractor had to be legally terminated.

“I learnt a lot from the building of the boutique hotel,” Rokiah said, adding that she is confident it will be ready after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.

Rokiah, who built the Lace Motors empire, said it was tough for a woman to succeed in the corporate world.

“It is hard for a man, and much harder for a woman who has to take care of her family at the same time. Although I am a workaholic, my family’s needs are always my priority,” she said.

On top of balancing family and her business, Rokiah is also known for her contribution to orphanages and old folk’s home.

“In the Islamic faith, we have to give back to the community to show our gratitude to God Almighty,” she said.

Lace Motors, incorporated in 1981, has a showroom called Wisma Lace Motor beside the Pasir Gudang Highway. Previously, it was operating in Taman Sentosa here. The showroom features car brands such as BMW, Mercedes, Toyota, Fiat, Kia, among others.

It also has branches in Taman Johor Jaya and Skudai, here.

sourced from NST online

Treat Strays With Kindness

 THOUSANDS of homeless dogs in Johor have been culled in a most inhumane way.  Hopefully, this will come to an end.

  A recent videotape of seven dogs being bludgeoned to death by dog catchers with what was seen to be iron stick, surfaced in the social networking site, Facebook.  The taping garnered an outcry from dog lovers nation-wide.

  Malaysian Independent Animal Rescue founder and president T. Puspa Rani flew to Johor Baru to lodge a report against the Johor Baru Municipal Council (MPJBT).  She was joined by three other non-governmental organisations concerned with animal welfare, and some 15 people who lodged invidual reports.

  This is believed to be unprecedented.
 
  There were previous cases of dog culling and abuse, but the number that responded to condemn the act was not like this.

  Also unprecedented was the fact that MPJBT readily admitted to the wrongdoing.  Kudos to the young man who took the trouble to tail the MPJBT lorry and record the gruesome incident. 

  All it took was one act, one individual.

  After it was seen and shared via Facebook, and the numbers made the difference.  Now, we just need to be persistent.  Keep at it.  To stop the cruelty, and any future acts of cruelty.

  Puspa also talked to representatives of the Department of Veterinary Services who was also at the Skudai police station and to her shock, found out that the MPJBT actually does not have a certified veterinarian to terminate the lives of the dogs.

  According to her, no dogcatchers are allowed to kill.  This is like murder of the innocence whose crime is only to be born a stray.

  There is something even more shocking.  Companion Animal Rescue Effort Society (CARES) founder Joseph Chia recently told me that he had received numerous complaints of pet dogs that have gone missing from homes. 

  Chia said that although the dog catchers have the right to enter a locked compound to snatch the dogs, it should not be done without any prior warning to the owner.

  "Even if there were complaints, the dog catchers should be merciful and let the owners have some time to do something about it as these are not strays," he said.

  However, not much can be done there because the pet owners were too scared to lodge a police report. 

   If we keep quiet, no one will know what is going on.  I know there are people who are insensitive to all these.  People who do not like dogs, for instance, would consider homeless dogs as just "biological trash".

  "They have no homes, and they can't be on the streets.  So what else can be done except to kill them?"  There are people who will never comprehend why there will be a public outcry when strays are slain. 

  But every life is precious, and ought to be treated with utmost respect.  And do not forget, the numbers can make a difference.  Persistence can make a difference.  Whatever it is, do not give up even when the situation seems hopeless.

A Mother, A Businesswoman, A Samaritan

Updated with pic and slight corrections in the original post.

I just realized that Dato' Paduka Rokiah's picture did not appear in the post although I had uploaded it. So, here is the lady who has such class and a commanding presence. That's her having a chat with a participant of an automobile show held outside the Lace Motor showroom yesterday.

Original Post

Syarikat Lace Motor Sdn Bhd  expects its boutique hotel to be ready in August.

Lace Motor founder and managing director Dato' Paduka Rokiah Omar said the RM14 million hotel called Lace Boutique Hotel will also be the office of the Lace Motor Foundation set up three years ago to help the underprivileged.

Besides running a booming business and being a caring mother, Dato' Paduka Rokiah has done much to help single mothers, old folks, orphans, among others.  

She was president of the Malaysia Bumiputera Women Entrepreneurs (Usahanita) Johor, a non-governmental organisation that she founded.

Usahanita Johor is now defunct after Dato' Paduka Rokiah stepped down as its president.

Every year during Ramadan, she will always find the time to help the poor and desolate.

Have you been to the Lace Motor showroom along the Pasir Gudang Highway?  She must have an affinity with the color gold, as the interiors and facade have shimmering hues of gold.

This is the beautifully-designed floor tiles with gold-colored designs.

That's me in a modified car.  There was an automobile show today held in conjunction with the company's Mega Raya Sale until July 31. Want to drive home a new car for Hari Raya?

The showroom along the Pasir Gudang Highway has a vast choice of brands and models to choose from.

Tea time with Dato' Puduka Rokiah.

Wet Saturday

I am so happy I managed to find Edamame at Aeon Bukit Indah this morning.  Grocery shopping was a breeze even though it's a Saturday.  It was raining when I woke up.  Hallelujah!  I don't need to water the plants in my garden.

The last time, I grabbed these instead by mistake.

It looked like Edamame.  No?  Well, I was in a hurry!

Last week, I interviewed three interesting personalities.  If you want to know more about them go to

Artists & Artistes Can Play A Bigger Role if you want to know how one artist wants to spread the message of peace through his art.

A Nurse's Turn At Event Planning if you are in a mundane job and dreams of venturing into the world of business.

Diesease Does Not Discriminate if you know someone who have kidney disease and is facing financial challenges.

all stories sourced from NST online. Ichiban!