Inaugural Imsha

Congratulations!

(2nd from left) Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Irda chief executive officer Datuk Ismail Ibrahim at the inaugural Iskandar Malaysia Social Hero Awards ceremony. Pic by Norbaiti Phaharoradzi

to the 22 NGOs and individuals 

In the Johor Streets today

THE Johor Area Rehabilitation Organisation (Jaro) has received the Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Iskandar Malaysia Ultimate Social Hero Award.

JARO committee member Datin Patricia Lim received the award from former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the inaugural Iskandar Malaysia Social Hero Awards (Imsha) ceremony.

Abdullah, who is the patron of Imsha, said the nation was full of unsung heroes.

“When I launched the South Johor Economic Region (now known as Iskandar Malaysia) in November 2006, I had envisioned that it would grow economically with community involvement,” he said.

“Eight years down the road, Iskandar Malaysia is a global economic player that has made the well-being of the local community a priority.”

He said Imsha had brought the government and the private sector together in a move which involved the community in a sharing of minds and responsibilities.

“Development should not rest only on the shoulders of the leaders but everyone,” Abdullah said, adding that there was much to learn from the community.

He called for friendship among all Malaysians, and for the need to set aside their differences and come together with the same objective of community and nation-building.

Also present at the event at Le Grandeur Palm Resort, here, were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Iskandar Regional Development Authority chief
 executive Datuk Ismail Ibrahim.

The objective of the inaugural event is to recognise and honour heroes in the local community.

Twenty-two non-governmental organisations and individuals were also honoured for their contributions to the economy.

The NGOs were Jaro, Johor Society For The Performing Arts (JSPA), Homeless and Orphan Pets Exist (Hope), Mercy Malaysia, Grace Covenant Community Care, Save Our Seahorses, Johor Cerebral Palsy Association, Kechara Soup Kitchen Society, Taman Molek Resident Association, Dynasty View Sdn Bhd and Johor Baru Happy and Joyous Club

The individuals were Suzie Yap of JSPA, Joseph Chia of Companion Animal Rescue Effort Society, Yong Yun Pin of Persatuan Xing Jun, Ellen Chandra of Education Advancement, Serina Rahman of Kelab Alami, Harjeet Sandhu of Alzheimers Support Group, Leekha Nandy of Malaysian Red Crescent Society, Dr T. Sivakumar, Woo Soo Pheng, Zack Joho and Ahmad Muhi Johari.

About 170 nominations were received.

As the top prize winner, Jaro will get to send a representative to Frost & Sullivan for training to run a social enterprise. The other winners are entitled to use the Imsha award for marketing and promotional purposes.

The main sponsors of Imsha are Medini Iskandar Malaysia Bhd, Iskandar Investment Bhd and Dynasty View Bhd of UM Land Bhd.

Something's Missing

The Iskandar Malaysia Information Centre offers visitors information about what is going on in the region... or does it?

Admission is free, but it is not drawing the crowd. Some are not even aware of the existence of the centre. More should be done to promote it, and make it more visitor-friendly.

In the Johor Streets today

Lack Of Information For Visitors

JOHOR BARU: There are strong views that the Iskandar Malaysia Information Centre in Danga Bay Convention Centre, which has a world-class facade and interior, should be doing more to promote Iskandar Malaysia.

A nature lover, who only wanted to be known as Cyndi, claimed she had come to Iskandar Malaysia to visit the mangroves as she had heard much about the state’s plan to promote eco-tourism.

Cyndi said she had asked the security guard for information at the centre but she did not receive much assistance from him.

“I was impressed with the interactive touch-screen panels and the sophisticated decor. However, I could not find the information that I needed.”

Streets had also visited the centre twice. On Thursday, we went to the centre at 3pm but it appeared to be closed. A few people who were outside the centre also thought that the centre was “closed” as it was a Thursday (half day for those working in the government sector).

We then revisited the centre on Monday at 2pm. The centre appeared to be closed and the security guard did not inform visitors otherwise.

A reporter asked the guard if it was opened and he replied: “Just go in.”

From observation, the interior was classy and there seemed to be a wealth of information available. However, it could also seem like a case of information overload.

There was an innovative section called the Ramsar Boat, which was a virtual boat ride to the Ramsar site.

The boat seats a maximum of 10 persons and take a load of 1,000kg.

There also appears to be a poster on eco-tourism, but the information that a tourist would need to embark on an eco-tour was not available.

At the time, the centre was hosting a student delegation comprising 40 people from Tanjungpura University in Pontianak, in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, where an Iskandar Regional Development Authority personnel was briefing them about the southern development corridor.

It is learnt that the centre received 33,411 visitors last year.

A centre spokesman said the visitors comprised of locals and foreigners. 

Higher Toll Rates From Today (Oct 1)

by Ben Tan

source NST online

JOHOR BARU: At a minute past midnight, the Singapore government started imposing the new toll charges for all vehicles, except motorcycles, leaving the republic through the Causeway today.

Up to yesterday, there was no indication that the republic's Land Transport Authority (LTA), would back down or postpone their Oct 1 date following several meetings with the Malaysian government.

The new toll rate for cars has increased from the previous SG$1.20 to SG$3.80 (RM3.03 to RM9.62), while vans and light goods vehicles saw a hike from SG$1.90 to SG$5.80.

The new rates for taxis and buses will increase from SG$0.60 and SG$1 to SG$1.90 and SG$3.10, respectively.

As an estimate, the new toll rates on Singapore’s side is about a three-fold increase, to match Malaysia’s implementation of higher toll rates since Aug 1.

Last week, the Malaysian government had offered an explanation and justification on the toll increase for all vehicles entering Singapore via the Causeway at the Sultan Iskandar Building's Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex here.

Singapore decided to increase its exit toll and also add another entry toll in what is described as a tit-for-tat move by Malaysians following the increase on Johor's side of the Causeway.

However, toll charges at the Second Link remain unchanged.

In a statement last month, the Singapore LTA said the new rates were in tandem with the republic’s long-standing policy of matching toll charges at the Causeway and Second Link to those set by Malaysia.

For foreign-registered cars, including Malaysian cars, Singapore’s Causeway entry toll (entering Singapore from Johor) will be recorded in the LTA’s toll system and displayed to motorists upon entry.

Payment will be deducted only upon leaving Singapore (whether through the Causeway or Second Link), together with the exit toll, Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) fee and Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) charges (if any).

This will be the same as the existing practice for the Second Link entry toll.

The LTA statement noted that Singapore will follow suit should Malaysia reduce or do away with the toll charges.

Noble Honey Collector

Ismail Haron, 68, lives in Kampung Melayu Majidee with his wife Nurdiati Gammara, 34. The couple have three children.

 
WHEN I first ventured into the jungle and Orang Asli settlement areas, I was welcomed with open arms by the Orang Asli community.

The Orang Asli are warm-hearted folk who would be happy even if you had only bottles of honey as gifts for them.

However, now some of them want RM50 if you want to check the beehives whether or not the hives have honey. And it is RM50 per hive.

Yes, I make a living from collecting honey. But I do not like hives of bees that are reared. These bees are lazy, and do not produce the best honey.

Here is something that some may not know about the Orang Asli. If they don’t understand something that you are telling them, out comes their iPad.

Times have changed.

I love to venture into the jungles. I go there when my source tells me that there are beehives there.

Honey has numerous benefits. It is good for those who smoke, as the honey can clean nicotine deposits in their lungs.

One can rub raw honey onto the palms of the hands and the skin of the hands will be smooth. One can do that on the face too, as honey acts as a moisturiser.

However, do not do it if your skin is sensitive.

Honey is also known to increase body heat.

To know whether you have genuine honey, there are numerous tests.

One is to keep the honey in a freezer. Genuine honey cannot be frozen.
You can also do the match test.

Dip a match into the honey. Although the tip is wet, the match will still light.
Another test is to break open an egg.

Pour the egg yolk into a bowl of honey. The egg yolk will be cooked.

When I go up to a beehive, I do not wear any protective gear.

I pray first, and I believe in the power of my faith. If I am not taking the honey with a sincere and pure heart, I would have been stung to death.

Although I do put a price to the honey that I collect and sell, I am more interested in helping people than making a profit. I want to help people with health issues.

If I know they are really sick and they are not rich, I ask them to give me what they can afford. I do not want to profit from the predicament of the poor.

I was born in Ipoh. My late father worked as a Customs officer. We came to Johor two weeks after the nation gained independence.

I had previously worked with Malaysia Airlines for three years before I went over to Indonesia to work as an administrator for the Indonesian government for 20 years.

It was during my time in Indonesia that I learnt about the benefits of honey.

After retirement, I decided to become a honey collector.

When I first came to Kg Melayu Majidee there was no electricity or water supply. It wasn’t until 1982 or 1983 that we had water supply and electricity.

Interview by Chuah Bee Kim
Pictures by Roslan Khamis
source NST online

Sustainable Green Living

In the Johor Streets today

Pic by Roslan Khamis

JOHOR BARU: RESIDENTS living along the banks of Sungai Sebulung, a tributary of Sungai Tebrau, which was once polluted as it was a dumping ground is now a tourist attraction.

The tributary cuts through Kampung Melayu Majidee, a modern Malay kampung.

Mohd Isa Ahmad, 51, head of the Kampung Melayu Majidee resident commitee, said the project, which was mooted in 2005 was a success story in the government’s effort to rehabilitate dying rivers.

“Sungai Sebulung was once one of the dirties tributaries in the state. As it runs across the back of some houses, the villagers threw their household waste into in.

“We had many problems then, as well as flash floods, besides the fact that we are living in filth.”

The Iskandar Regional Development Authority recently included a the kampung as a must-see attraction for tourists who visited the Legoland Malaysia Resort.

Isa said he had been tasked to give talks at Felda residences and other villages to share his experience about Effective Microorganism (EM) technology and the effectiveness of using food waste as fertilisers and cleaning agents.

Isa said the villagers teamed up with Kumpulan Syarikat Jamof and the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB), which provided each household with a plastic container to collect food waste.

Isa said the beautification and rehabilitation project for Sungai Sebulung was divided into two phases.

Phase One comprised of 110 houses stretching 500 metres, where villagers were taught to plant tree and shrub species like Janda Merana, Mahkota Dewa, Serai Wangi, Tongkat Aliand Misai Kucing.

The dilapidated bridge and five-foot way were also upgraded between 2005 and 2006.

In 2009, the second phase was launched, which involved 60 houses stretching 300m.

The village saw the installation of new septic tanks and an interlocking walling system for drainage.

Salijah Senan, 52, who has lived in the village for 30 years said initially it was difficult to get 
the villagers to change their attitude.

“Most residents were skeptical when we were told about the local council’s plan to rehabilitate Sungai Sebulung. We did not know what EM was and how to use the mudballs that had to be thrown into the tributary once a month.

“Now we understand that fish feed on the mudballs and the stream is teeming with fish once again.”

MBJB public relations officer Abdul Aziz Ithnin said the villagers underwent a complete mindset change.

“If you drove through the village, you would see the EM Gallery and other galleries maintained by the residents with the hope of spreading the message that green living was possible.

“The villagers here now love their backyards more than they love their front entrances because of the stream that runs through the back of their houses,” Aziz said.

On another matter, Aziz said Sungai Pandan and Sungai Skudai have yet to adopt this conservation method because the two rivers, which have become dumping grounds are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Irrigation and Drainage and not the local council.

On the local council’s efforts to get other villagers to adopt the EM concept, Aziz said many were skeptical but he believed that nothing was impossible.

“Sungai Sebulung is an example for other villages who want to adopt sustainable green living.”

Meanwhile, Tanah Sutera Development Sdn Bhd, a private property developer here has adopted EM to clean its shopping mall and as raw building materials for its development projects.

by Chuah Bee Kim

source NST online

Simon Murray

Met Simon Murray from the United Kingdom, who supplies eyewear for the Harry Porter movies.  He has a huge collection of spectacles and has co-written a book titled 

Simon, among others, were at the Dataran Bandaraya in Johor Bahru today spreading joy to some 100 members of the Johor Society of the Deaf.

The event, organised in conjunction with World Deaf Day today, had activities such as laughter yoga, coconut bowling, face painting, a book signing session and photo taking opportunities with Simon.

You also get to wear the glasses to take a photo. 

Besides supplying eyewear, Simon also has also supplied costumes and props for movies like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Superman, among other blockbusters.

Meanwhile, the Yayasan Pembangunan Keluarga (Family Development Foundation) in Kota Iskandar, Nusajaya, can help those with hearing, speech and other impairment to find employment in government and private sectors.