Yanti's Tailor-Made For Success

By Chuah Bee Kim

Pic by Nur Aisyah Mazalan

MERSING: WHAT started as a hobby is now business for Yanti Suhaila Abu Samah.

She started out by sewing beads on her own blouse. When Yanti wore her beaded blouse to a function, a friend who saw her work, asked her to adorn the latter’s scarf with beads as well, and paid RM50 for it.

The incident inspired Yanti, 26, who has a degree in architecture, to start designing her own scarves and shawls and adorn them with lace or beads.

Four years ago, she started selling her scarves and shawls online and attracted customers from Brunei and Singapore.

Buoyed by the success of her online venture, Yanti decided to open a physical boutique early this year.

Her Kuntum Boutique is in Kampung Makam here.

“My customers want their scarves and shawls to be made to match their attire,” said Yanti .

“Most of my customers are locals who are looking for quality products and the latest fashion.

“I like to work with satin, chiffon and crepe as they are soft and graceful and comfortable when worn.

“The most sought-after among my scarves and shawls are those made using chiffon,” she said.

“Chiffon is quite difficult to work with because it is lightweight and slippery.

“My scarves are different from what is available in the market as I adorn them with lace or beads, or both. I want my brand Kuntum to be exclusive and in keeping with the times,” she said.

Yanti said she has always encouraged others to be entrepreneurs.

“I also offer franchising opportunities and I am also looking for dealers of my products,” she added.

In conjunction with Hari Raya, Yanti has created a collection of scarves and shawls.

For details, call 017-312 0290017-312 0290.

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Happy 169th Birthday

The New Straits Times, founded on July 15, 1845 as The Straits Times, turns 169 today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 

On August 31, 1974, it was renamed The New Straits Times.

Lethal Injection

Will the stray dogs in Johor see better days now?  For that to happen, dog lovers have to do their part to keep dogs off the streets.  

In the Star today

JOHOR BARU: A municipal council has engaged a private company to get rid of stray dogs with lethal injection instead of bludgeoning them to death.

Central Johor Baru Municipal Council (MPJBT) president Sallehuddin Hassan said the private company, which was appointed at the end of last month, would be tasked with catching, putting down and disposing of the carcasses.

“We decided to engage this company, which was already carrying out services for the Kulai Municipal Council in Johor as we do not want a repeat of the bludgeoning of stray dogs by our enforcement officials to happen again,” he told The Star here.

Sallehuddin said this method was a more humane way to put the animals down.

He stressed that while it would incur higher costs, it was the best option to tackle strays as MPJBT was facing a huge problem due to many public complaints.

The Star recently reported about a video clip showing enforcement staff inhumanely putting down strays at the back of a warehouse in Jalan Makmur, Skudai, which went viral online and raised uproar among animal lovers.

Sallehuddin admitted that the incident is a “terrible mistake” and said the council had taken the matter seriously.

Some councillors and animal rights groups have even suggested that action be taken against the enforcement officers.

MPJBT councillor Tan Tuan Peng, who had previously criticised the enforcement officials for bludgeoning the strays, said the private company would charge the council RM100 per animal put down.

He added that the cost of disposing the strays was high due to the lethal injection used.
”All strays will be photographed and documented before the company makes a claim with the council,” he said.

For the first five months of this year, MPJBT has put down 1,181 dogs.  Last year, the council received 997 complaints on stray dogs and had put down 2,524, while in 2012, the council received 1,135 complaints and put down 2,345 strays.

A Prayer For Gaza and All Those Who Are Sad

Yesterday I got overwhelmed by the cuteness of Micky, and posted three self-indulgent photos.  I removed one already. Same photo what, all carrying Micky.

Anyway, I'm posting the cover of yesterday's New Sunday Times to remind myself that whenever I feel deprived or sad or bitter, I just have to look at this.  Who can be sadder than this little girl?

Of course, there are the families of the passengers of  MH370 who are still waiting and hoping for the return of their loved ones,  the recently widowed spouse of the marine cop who was killed in the Semporna shooting ... so many sad stories in our midst....their loss and pain I cannot imagine.

We can only pray for the oppressed and those who are sad.  May they have the strength to overcome the pain and misery, and may they find happiness again.

Later in the day I am welcoming someone home with the message "I LOVE YOU".  It cost me a total of RM10.50 (RM3.50 per stalk).

Make sure you tell your loved one or a good friend this same message, ok? You don't need to say it with flowers.  Even a simple text message will do. 

Hey Micky

Picked up this little cutie at an abandoned house in Taman Skudai Baru, Johor Bahru. Homeless pups like this little girl have a higher chance of finding a guardian and a new home when they are cuddly and lovable.

The older a dog gets, the harder it is to re-home them.

I would love to invite the puppy home but I already have pets.  My pets came into my life on Feb 23, 2009. They are family.  You don't abandon family when they are old and sickly.  That is the time when they need you even more.

No, my pets are not old and sickly yet, they're still rambunctious.

Luckily Mary who also has a pet decided that her house can accommodate one more. So, that is how this little pup that goes by the name Micky now, has been inducted into the Dass family.

Mary with Mickey.

Anyone who wants to adopt a stray cat or dog, or wants to become a volunteer, lend a hand in any way, can call Valerie at 016-755 1893.

Check Out My Roses and the 4 Links

Slept pretty well the previous night, so am finding it quite hard to sleep now.

Just realized It should be "levy on Singapore-registered vehicles" and not "Vehicle Entry Permit on Singapore-registered vehicles". But whatever name you call it, it still mean that you need to pay if you are coming to Johor in a Singapore-registered car. This ruling is not imposed yet, but the Johor government is waiting for the federal government to give the nod. Anyway sorry for the error. Another "blur" moment. 

Spent some time bonding with my pets and planting this pot of roses. The flowers are "senget" (slanted) but the thorns made it hard for me to re-arrange them. So, just let it be. Hope the roses can survive. I do love roses.

And these four blog posts are not to be missed. 

http://syedsoutsidethebox.blogspot.com/2014/07/silterra-high-income-nation-increasing.html

http://helenang.wordpress.com/2014/07/12/hannah-nafi-peluk-islam-ugut-akan-lapor-polis/

http://syedsoutsidethebox.blogspot.com/2014/07/bringing-on-may-13.html

http://lifeofaannie.blogspot.com/2014/07/singapore-israel-could-tac-but-johor.html

They're all very insightful, witty and downright hilarious except for "Bringing On May 13". That one is no laughing matter. We want peace, not war.

And the last blog post was by my favourite blogger. It is not because dear Annie mentioned me, but I share her sentiment that it really is childish to practise tit for tat, when it isn't a win-win situation. Do check out the 4 links. 

Ok, feeling a little sleepy now. Good night and sweet dreams.