Selangor Times Sept 30 - Oct 2, 2011 / Issue 42

Freedom FIlm Fest 2011
12 & 13
Council incurring Illegal dIscs, computers losses from destroyed abandoned p 15 homes p 8
New land approved for Selangor schools

By Brenda chng
community
September 30 OctOber 02, 2011/ issue 42
pucHoNg: Land for three new schools and a centre for autistic students have been approved by the state to cater to overwhelming demand from the community. We have already approved the land for the schools to share, said state executive councillor Teresa Kok. The Kinrara assemblyperson said thestate had received many complaints about the lack of public, vernacular and religious schools, especially in the Petaling district. The schools, SJKC Yak Chee (2) and SMJK Katholik (2), and an autistic centre will be located in Taman Tasik Prima. A further 5.93 acres of land will be reserved for a primary Islamic religious school in Bandar Kinrara. About 2.5 acres have been approved for the autism school, which will be built bythe developers of Taman Tasik Prima. The rest of the land will be divided between the schools. Although land for the new schools has been approved, the school boards still need approval from the Education Ministry before they can proceed with construction. Kok expressed hope that approval will be given immediately to enable the schools to start drafting plans on how to fully maximise the space. The schools can share some common facilities like a field, courts and canteen to optimise the land. She added thatthere should be no reason for the ministry not to give the green light. She pointed out that SJKC Yak Chee in Taman Bukit Kuchai and SMJK Katholik in Petaling Jayaare highly reputable. Allowing them to open branches in Puchong would benefit the community here, she said. Each of these schools has about 3,000 to 4,000 students, with both having to turn down about 1,000 students annually
Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim being briefed by Senior Assistant Fire Commissioner Othman on the explosion at Empire Shopping Gallery in Subang. Looking on are state executive councillors Elizabeth Wong, Xavier Jayakumar, and Teresa Kok, Selangor deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk A Thaiveegan, Subang Jaya assemblyperson Hannah Yeoh, Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo-Burne, and Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) president Datuk Adnan Ikshan.
due to lack of space. The new schools will be within the vicinity of Puchong and it is convenient for residents to send their children there, she added. The autism school will also be a reputable one as it will be run by professionals from the National Autistic Society of Malaysia. This is part of our corporate social responsibility plan. We strive to give the best to the
community, said Tasik Prima project manager John Lou Chee Khiam. He added that the move would also be timely because there is no autism centre in Puchong and surrounding areas. Representatives fromSJKC Yak Chee and SMJK Katholik also gave their thumbs-up to the move, We applied for land two years ago, and we are happy the state ap-
proved it this year, SMJK Katholik Alumni chairperson Fong Kui Lun. He said the school hadapplied for land in a few area, but they preferred Puchong because it is not that far from their current school in Petaling Jaya. SJKCYakChee Alumni chairperson Liong Yen Lan said the school was already bursting at the seams.
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September 30 OctOber 02, 2011
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Refugees robbed, injured by cabbies

By Basil Foo
No concensus on hudud
SHAH ALAM: Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders on Wednesday said Islamic criminal law or hudud could not be imposed as there was no consensus among component parties. In a written statement issued on Wednesday night, the coalition indicated that the issue was not in their common policy platform. Following our meeting last night, we only acknowledge and defend policies that are agreed upon unanimously among the three parties. These are the policies that are agreed upon in our Buku Jingga, it said. The coalition, as a whole, understood and respected the different ideological and political stand taken by its parties. This, it said, included respecting the Islamic party Pas for its unwavering stance on hudud. It was undersigned by the leaders of Democratic Action Party (DAP), Pakatan Rakyat (PKR) and the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (Pas). PR leaders met for over three hours Wednesday night to iron out the longstanding issue, which has seen the secular DAP and Islamic Pas repeatedly at loggerheads. We are committed to strengthening the democratic space, for better wages for the people, increasing the quality of health, education and lowering the living costs, the statement further said, referring to the issues that the PR coalition agrees on. Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had reiterated recently that there would be no hudud in Selangor. He said Pakatan Rakyat was committed to good governance, accountability and transparency in administering Selangor and other PR-held states.
PETALING JAYA: Two Myanmar refugees were assaulted and robbed by taxi drivers on two separate occasions this week, leading Tenaganita to raise alarm bells. The refugees were beaten, punched, assaulted, and robbed when they took taxis on Sept 26 and 27, said Tenaganita executive director Irene Fernandez. She said at a press conference on Thursday that the incidences indicated a worrying trend that required swift action and increased monitoring by the authorities. One 26-year-old refugee was robbed and assaulted at 4.45am on Tuesday after the taxi he took from Cheras to Kotaraya drove into a dark alley where three men were waiting. The driver left without collecting his fare. The three men beat him after he pleaded for them to leave him with a few ringgit, said the refugee through a Tenaganita translator. He rested by the roadside before being accompanied by a passerby to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office. There, he was given some money and helped to a nearby clinic, where he was treated for bruises on his eyes, ears and body. The second refugee took a taxi with his father and two brothers from Bukit Petaling to Puchong and was assaulted
Irene (standing) with the two refugees who did not want to be identified for fear of retaliation.
by the driver on Monday. As he was trying to keep his family out of harms way, he was slashed by the knife-wielding driver on his neck and hand, causing him to need 13 stitches. These people seem to target populations that are vulnerable. To rob from the poor is a gross form of injustice, said Fernandez. Although this is not the first time the NGO has received reports of errant taxi drivers, these are among the worst cases, which prompted them to highlight the issue in the press. She pointed out that while taxi drivers may carry some sort of weapon
for self defence, especially while plying the late hours of the night, these are now being misused. Now we see instances where it is not only in the defence of the driver but has been used to attack passengers, she said. Fernandez added that there should be increased monitoring to check if taxis have their driver and vehicle details printed on the inside of the car for the sake of security. She urged all taxi associations, the Road Transport Department and the police to intensify monitoring of taxi operators to regain the image of taxis as safe means of transport.
Selangor WeaTHer
Friday Morning Saturday Sunday
afternoon
Klang MP, parents want ministry to suspend school head

By Gan Pei Ling
night
Source: Malaysian meteorological department
phone (603) 5510 4566 fax (603) 5523 1188 email editor@selangortimes.com
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CHIEF EDITOR COMMUNITY EDITOR WRITERS
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Tang Hui Koon, Chong Loo Wah, Gan Pei Ling, Basil Foo, Alvin Yap, Gho Chee Yuan, Brenda Chng COPY EDITORS Nick Choo, James Ang
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KLANG: Outraged parents and an MP are calling for a headmistress to be removed for the biased selection of prefects and after a parent was intimidated by a teacher. One of the parents recounted to reporters at a press conference that the headmistress refused to see him on Wednesday over prefects appointment. She asked the clerk to lie to us that she was out, and sent a male teacher to try to intimidate us, said the parent, adding that his son saw her in the school canteen and busted her lie. Lawyer T Mishant, who accompanied the parent, said the male teacher raised his voice and pointed fingers rudely at them. He asked us rudely, Who are you? What are you doing here? in Malay He was behaving so aggressively towards us that the male clerk [was alarmed and] tried to pull him away from us, said Mishant. Klang MP Charles Santiago (pic),
who met the parents yesterday, pointed out that such behaviour is unbecoming of an educator. However, this is not the first time the headmistress has been avoiding parents and the media. Her clerk had repeatedly told an English daily that she was busy when the newspaper tried to seek her clarifications on the prefect appointment process. The controversy erupted when 17 senior prefects resigned to protest against the appointment of seven new prefects on Sept 15, who allegedly did not go through probation. In addition, two of the seven were selected as deputy prefect and assistant secretary, while a newly appointedForm Four student, who did undergo probation, was made head prefect. Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said on Tuesday that the headmistress has the final say in the appointment of new prefects as the schools administration chief. However, parents and students are
not satisfied and want the Education Ministry to reinvestigate the case. The ministry did not speak to the prefects to find out why they resigned; they only listen to the school administrations report. Of course the school wouldnt say if there was anything wrong, said a parent, who preferred to remain anonymous to protect his childs identity. Santiago also pointed out that such a probe is one-sided, incomplete and lacking in legitimacy. This is the second time Klang High School has came under scrutiny in recent years. In July 2010, the schools controversial decision to close down its Hindu, Christian and Buddhist societies attracted national attention. Subsequently, Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin clarified that the ministry has never ordered any schools to dissolve non-Muslim religious clubs, and that they can proceed with their activities. The headmistress could not be contacted for comments at press time.
SELANGOR TIMES September 30 OctOber 02, 2011 3
News
Nutritional therapy talk
A talk on Nutritional Therapy for Reversing Health Disorders linked to Aging will be conducted by DHappy Club activity centre for seniors and DSY Wellness & Longevity Centre. The talk will be given by Datuk Steve Yap on Oct 14 from 9.30am-11am at Pusat Community Touch, 124 Jalan SS2/6, Petaling Jaya. Admission is free. Call 012-323 0560 (Christopher Lee) or visit www.kairosforcommunity.blogspot. com for details.
October completion for EvEnts Rothmans roundabout

PETALING JAYA: Work to ease traffic congestion at the Rothmans roundabout here will be completed by next month. The junction will be ready by late October. We hope to have it ready earlier than that, said Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) mayor Datuk Roslan Sakiman at the councils full board press conference on Wednesday. He explained that the contractors engineering teams still had to finish laying the pipes, cover the trenches and resurface the road. The discovery of water pipes under the construction site by Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) in July had pushed back the completion date from end of August to late September. This was due to the extra time needed to realign the pipes, said MBPJ Engineering Department director Cheremi Tarman. Earlier, at the full board meeting, PJ Selatan MP Hee Loy Sian said motorists using the roundabout were inconvenienced by daily traffic jams during peak hours. Hee urged MBPJ to speed up the road works as it was causing massive traffic snarls on the roads leading to the roundabout. Work at the roundabout connecting Jalan
Food fair
International Womens Association Kuala Lumpur (IWAKL) will hold their annual International Food Fair and Bazaar 2001 on Sunday (Oct 2) at the Corus Hotel from 10am-5pm. Proceeds will go towards Rumah Anak Kesayangku, a home for orphans, single mothers and the poor in Bukit Beruntung. For details, call 03-6257 0717 (Shakilah Meraslam) or email iwakul@gmail.com.
Hee and Cheremi (right) with consulting engineers looking at draft plans at Rothmans roundabout last month.
Georgians get together

The Old Georgians Association of St Georges Institute (Selangor branch) will hold their annual dinner and dance on Oct 8 at Lake Club, Kuala Lumpur, at 7.30pm. Call 012-2087819 (Fabian Pereira) or 016-3682633 (Hardeep Singh) before Oct 4 for details.
Universiti, Jalan Semangat, Jalan SS19/1, Jalan SS19/8 and Jalan Harapan started in January. This is the first phase of road upgrades costing RM4.2 million, which include installing traffic lights at the T-junction of Jalan
Jazzercise class
The Learning is Fun Centre is holding free classes for Jazzercise, a fitness dance class that combines cardio, stretching, sculpting, strength training and fat burning. It is a fusion of jazz, pilates, kickboxing and resistance training. Classes are held at Plaza Mont Kiara every Monday at 9.30am, Wednesday at 6.30pm and Friday at 9am. For details, call 019-233 2968 or visit www.learningisfun.com.my.
International Seniors Day

DHappy Club will hold its dinner and dance on Oct 16 in conjunction with International Senior Citizens Day. Joining them will be 40 seniors from three old folks home. The dance will be held at Bukit Kiara Equestrian and Country Resort. Admission is RM80 per person. Call 012-323 0560 (Christopher Lee) or visit www.kairosforcommunity. blogspot.com for details.
More staff to ensure smooth waste collection

PETALING JAYA: Forty more council staff will be assigned to monitor household waste collection here after Alam Flora stops providing the service on Oct 15. Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) Mayor Datuk Roslan Sakiman said staff from various departments will serve as monitoring teams with the Health and Sanitation Board. This is on top of the existing 20 teams that were formed last month to monitor garden and solid waste collection by contractors. This is being done to ensure that garbage is collected from every household, street and alley in Petaling Jaya, said Roslan during a press conference after MBP J s f u l l b o a rd m e e ting o n Wednesday. The decision comes in the wake of fears expressed by councillors that MBPJ would find it difficult to manage contractors. The monitoring teams will report directly to MBPJ deputy health director Dr V Chitra. Roslan said MBPJ would have to manage some 23 solid waste collection contractors as well as 70 road-cleaning contractors. However, he said preparations for the Oct 15 handover from the solid waste management concessionaire were progressing well. Earlier, Roslan told the meeting that he had spent an evening shadowing a Alam Flora garbage truck as it carried out waste collection in the city. He also urged councillors to study the routes and monitor garbage collection by following the trucks on their rounds. The mayor said it was challenging for MBPJ to take over garbage collection after a 13-year hiatus, when the federal government handed over waste removal services to Alam Flora. We dont own a single asset, truck or trash compactor. We will have to rely on existing contractors and their equipment, he said. Roslan added that MBPJ had a list of stand-by contractors if any of the existing contractors could not cover a route due to broken equipment or unforeseen circumstances.
Two-hour parking limit in Sec 14 on hold

PETALING JAYA: Plans for a two-hour parking limit in Section 14 here have been put on hold as the move needs more study. The plan, in its current form, has received objections from councillors, said Petaling Jaya Mayor Datuk Roslan Sakiman after a full board meeting of the city council (MBPJ) on Wednesday. The two-hour parking system is aimed the reducing the hogging of available car park bays in the popular commercial area here. The limited number of open parking bay has led to other motorists double parking along the roads while they carry out their errands. This has led to traffic congestion from morning until evening. Roslan said workers and the business community here should instead park at the MBPJ multistorey car park nearby. However, Roslan said the MBPJ car park is underutilised as the public has complained about it being unsafe. The stairwell and corridors of the car park are unlit, while portions of the walls have been vandalised with graffiti. Roslan also said some councillors are asking for the park-
Harapan and Jalan 19/8. An additional lane is also added to both roads, as well as to Jalan 19/1 and Jalan Universiti leading to the roundabout. The second phase costing RM5.3 million will link Jalan Harapan to the Sprint Highway.
Logos visits Port Klang

Floating bookstore MV Logos Hope is docking at Port Klang Cruise Centre, Pulau Indah, until Oct 23. With over 5,000 titles on board, book lovers will be able to browse the selection from Tuesday to Saturday (10am-10pm) and Sunday (1pm-10pm). Admission fee is RM1 while children under 12 are admitted free.
MPK green carnival

The Klang Municipal Council (MPK) will hold a Mini Karnival themed No Plastic Bags and Rubbish Day tomorrow (Oct 10) at AEON Jaya Jusco Bukit Tinggi from 8.30am-6pm. The event is aimed at raising awareness of past and future programmes as well as to promote the green concept. Activities include drawing, colouring, photography and recycling contests.
ing charges to be reduced to attract motorists to park there. I agree. We own the car park, we dont service any loans. We dont need to charge so much, said Roslan, adding that there are proposals to make the car park more attractive. The mayor also said there are legal complications with the proposed move to limit parking to two hours. Roslan said open-air parking in Section 14 has been handed over to a private parking concessionaire, Godell Parking Sdn Bhd. The 20-year concession agreement with Godell and the council took effect on Jan 1, 2000. He said MBPJs Legal Department is studying the contract with the company. Roslan said MBPJ will take a month to study and finetune the policy but will not rush into implementing the parking system. Currently, the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) has a one-hour parking system in Taipan USJ to reduce traffic congestion in the business centre, especially during peak hours. It has been implemented since January 2010.
news
Six-decade wait for land titles finally over

By Alvin Yap
september 30 OCtOber 2, 2011
SABAK BERNAM: Residents who have waited since Independence for their land titles finally received documents of ownership during a town hall meeting here on Monday. Before my father passed away, he gathered the family and told us to pursue the state government for the land title, saidCheah Chee Yau. His family had cleared and settled on the land after moving here from Johor in the 1950s. The 43-year-old fisherman from Bangan Sekinchan said he was happy to finally receive the leasehold title for the 680 sq ft land after paying a premium of RM8,000. Cheah was among 150 residents from Sekinchan, Sungai Besar and Sabak Bernam who have waited for almost 60 years to legally own the land they have developed and lived on. They received the land documents from the Menteri
Besar during a town hall session in Sungai Besar here on Monday. I have been briefed on the issues here in Sabak Bernam, and some households have waited a long time for land ownership, said Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim before handing out the certificates to the residents. Khalid said he had advised Selangor residents to approach their respective Land Office with the Temporary Occupation Licence (TOL) to apply for land ownership. A resident receiving her documents from Khalid as Teresa Kok, Dr Xavier He added that it was state policy to ex- Jayakumar and Iskandar Samad look on. pedite ownership. Cheah Yee Mooi, 55, said she had The small-businessowner said she wanted to own her land waited almost 25 years to convert her TOL land to legal and property in Sekinchan as she runs her dried-seafood busiownership. ness from home.
Positive response at briefing

PETALING JAYA: Homeowners unsure of how to extend their 99-year leases were delighted to be able to renew titles during a briefing and registration exercise on Tuesday. Lee, 60, told Selangor Times she came from Perak to renew the lease for her mothers house in Section 1, Petaling Jaya. The lease is expiring in 12 years time, of course I must take advantage of this good opportunity to renew it, the homemaker said. Azizah Rashid, 52, complimented the authorities for organising the public briefing at the Arena Sports Complex as the new Petaling District Office in Shah Alam U5 is out of the way. This is much more convenient for us, said the homemaker, who owns a house in Section 3, Petaling Jaya with her husband. She found out about the registration exercise via a flyer distributed in her housing area as this Private Residential Ownership Scheme initiated by Selangor was not widely reBy Gan Pei Ling
ported in the mainstream press. Under the scheme, property owners can opt to pay RM1,000 instead of the full premium to extend their leasehold titles, and are only required to pay the remaining premium when they sell or transfer their properties. This is to encourage private residential owners to keep their properties. Alternatively, owners can choose to pay the full premium within six months of their application approval and receive a 30% discount. Petaling chief assistant district officer Yahaya Hassan said property owners can find out whether their applications are approved after a month. After we receive their applications, the Department of Land Evaluation will determine the premium based on the lands market price, said Yahaya. He added that a similar registration exercise had been conducted last week on Sept 21 and 22 at the same venue, which attracted a few hundred people to inquire about the scheme, and 80 applications for lease extension.
Hanizah (right) attending to an inquiry by retiree Sin, 70, on the land premium.
The public briefing-cum-registration exercises were organised by the Petaling District Office and the offices of Bukit Gasing assemblyperson Edward Lee and Taman Medan assemblyperson Hanizah Talha. Hanizah said they plan to organise it again next month on a weekend for the publics convenience.
Chor: Negligence cause of mall blast

should still be in good condition. He said the blast must have been triggered by a spark. SUBANG JAYA: Wednesdays pre-dawn explosion at the Tenants and office owners yesterday went to the Empire Shopping Gallery here has been attributed to negli- SS17 fire station to have their statements recorded gence at a restaurant which failed to turn off its cooking gas. by investigators. The investigations which were done immediately by the Im unhappy as we have been kept in the dark. police and fire department showed that it was negligence and No one knows what is going on and when can we not faulty pipelines, saidHousing and Local Government enter the premises, said an office owner. Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung. His manufacturing office, which is on the fifth However, Chor, who visited the mall at 4pm yesterday, floor, suffered no major damage except for cracks said the report was preliminary and the full report would be on the plaster wall and ceiling. released by the Fire and Rescue Department today (Friday) His 50-strong staff has been moved to two difat 3pm at the Empire Hotel. ferent rented locations which charge him daily The blast, which destroyed about 40 premises and injuring rental. four people, was initially thought to be due to faulty central Its really expensive to rent outside and I dont gas pipes. Chor dismissed the claims as thecentral pipeline even know for how long. Im suffering major is only one and a half years old. losses, and I cant even predict how much yet, he He said the pipelines, which must be checked once every said. two years, had been installed by gas piping professionals and Escorted by two security guards, owners were allowed to enter the upper floor of the building to collect their belongings. But owners of lots at the shopping centre on the ground and lower ground sections will not be allowed to enter their premises for at least another 24 hours to allow workers to clear the debris. The food eateries on the lower levels were described as a war zone by one tenant. I couldnt believe what I saw. My restaurant Serai is gone. It was like seeing a blown-up shop at a war zone, said tenant Najib Hamid. The 32-year-old was present at a briefing by the officials from the Fire Department.
By Brenda Chng
Sabak Bernam residents air grouses to MB

SABAK BERNAM: Residents in the district got an opportunity to air their grievances to Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim during a town hall meeting here on Monday. Problems with land titles, agriculture subsidies, and infrastructure development dominated the dialogue session, which was attended by officers from the Sabak Bernam District Council (MDSB) as well as theSabakBernamDistrict and Land Office. We are here to listen. Weve a duty to discharge our work and responsibilities to our best ability, said the Menteri Besar. Masnita Abd Bakar took the opportunity to complain that a section of an alternative access road to Kampung Parit was still not tarred. Its a gravel road over a kilometre long , said the 47-year-old housewife. Khalid directed officers to verify if the road mentioned was under local council jurisdiction. Paddy farmer Mohd LatiffMohdRazli, 55, said he wanted the state to get Putrajaya to increase the price ofrice. Instead of providing subsidies, assist us to market ourpaddyharvest so that we get better prices,MohdLatifftold Khalid, adding that he wanted the state to remove tariffs so that he could market the product globally. However, Khalid said removingpaddytariffs would hurt farmers financially rather than better their lot. He explained that the tariffs currently prevent the local markets from being overrun by cheaper rice from neighbouring Thailand and Vietnam. Khalid also assured the community that the state was safeguarding natural resources and administrating it in trust for the people. We do not own it. The people own it, and we are managing it, he said during his opening speech to a 600-strong audience at the Seri Bernam hall in Sungai Dua.
Menjunjung Kasih
HIS MAJESTY THE YANG DI-PERTUAN AGONG AL-WATHIQU BILLAH TUANKU MIZAN ZAINAL ABIDIN IBNI ALMARHUM SULTAN MAHMUD AL-MUKTAFI BILLAH SHAH
AND
HER MAJESTY THE RAJA PERMAISURI AGONG TUANKU NUR ZAHIRAH On Their Majesties Official Visit
to
The State Of Selangor Darul Ehsan

on
21 - 23 September 2011
With Utmost Sincerity From
THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN
Council incurring losses over abandoned homes

By Brenda Chng
News
SUBANG JAYA: Cleaning abandoned or empty homes is eating into council coffers, and the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) is tr ying to find a way to make irresponsible owners pay. MPSJ has spent RM47,990 to clean the compounds of over 4,000 homes since 2007. Cleaning includes the cutting of overgrown grass and clearing of drains to prevent disease-carrying insects or rodents from breeding. The issue was disclosed at the councils full board meeting on Wednesday. We have to come up with an
Of hotel dinners and the poor

SUBANG JAYA: Debate on whether it was wise for Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) to spend RM50,000 annually on hotel dinners for the poor turned into a heated argument on Wednesday. We should allocate more for programmes which will benefit them [the poor] in the long run, like workshops or sewing classes, instead of treating them to dinners at hotels, said councillor R Rajiv (pic), who raised the issue at MPSJs full board meeting. He suggested that funds for dinners be added to the RM300,000 allocated annually by MPSJ for the Urban Poverty Eradication Programme. Rajiv pointed out that educational programmes would be a more effective way to eradicate poverty rather then spending RM50,000 on one-off annual dinners. However, fellow councillor Keshminder Singh argued that the poor looked forward to these dinners. How often does the poor get to dine at hotels? It makes them happy as they are treated to hotel food, he said. Keshminder added that these dinners should be the highlight of programmes for the poor because they are attended by many residents, the how the allocations are being spent throughout the year. We already have such policies which are handled by the financial committee. So I believe the funds are fairly allocated and monitored, said MPSJ president Datuk Asmawi Kasbi. The funds for the Urban Poverty Eradication Programme are divided into two parts, RM200,000 for 24
effective plan to make people pay up, like maybe getting a court order, to tell residents they cant get away with not paying, said MPSJ councillor R Rajiv. He said these irresponsible homeowners are taking the council for granted by expecting them to clean their yards every time a neighbour complains. Some houses are even missing doors and roofs, making it uncomfortable for neighbouring residents. Most residents fear that these
abandone d homes with overgrown grass may serve as a hiding place for robbers, said Rajiv. He said although it is expensive to sue all the homeowners, a solution is needed to compel payment. MPSJ president Datuk Asmawi Kasbi (pic), however, is unsure if getting the court involved is the right way forward. To sue them will cost us more then they owe as the legal fees are high. It just doesnt make sense, he said.
The council charges each house a fee of up to RM100 or more for cleaning, depending on the size of compound and amount of work needed. These cleaning works are done by either council-appointed contractors or MPSJs own staff. According to council protocol, homeowners will be issued a twoweek notice to clean up their premises before the council steps in. However, some homeowners are not contactable, while others rent out their property and are waiting for new tenants to clean up the house. The council is still brainstorming on the best way to resolve this issue.
MPSJ forms teams to collect rubbish

SUBANG JAYA: Special teams have been set up to ensure minimal disruption in garbage collection when Alam Flora Sdn Bhd hands back the service to the municipality. The teams, which were established after the waste concessionaire announced they will be ending their services on Oct 15, will be responsible for daily rubbish collection until the end of the year. We will mobilise five different teams to collect rubbish in main areas like Subang, Kinrara, Sri Serdang and Seri Kembangan, said MPSJ president Datuk Asmawi Kasbi. The teams will be put to work every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and on weekends to collect bulk rubbish like garden waste, construction materials and solid waste. For domestic waste, collection will be carried out as usual by council-appointed contractors on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I dont think we will face rubbish problems even if Alam Flora revokes their contract as we now have implemented more garbage trucks going around every day, said Asmawi. He said MPSJ successfully collected over 20 tonnes of rubbish last week in Subang Jaya area alone. Next week, the council will be mobilising the taskforce to Sri Serdang and Seri Kembangan, followed by Kinrara. We will be targeting one area per week, to make sure we cover all grounds, he said. He wants residents to rest assured that rubbish collection around MPSJ will not be disrupted, and in fact will be more frequent and effective than before. Currently, there are 71 contractors appointed by the council to collect domestic waste around MPSJ. We are using the same contractors for the time being because we do not have time to look for new ones yet, said Asmawi. Their performance will be monitored by the council and new contractors will be appointed next year. Asmawi also urged residents to call the councils hotline at 0380263269 if they have any hard rubbish to be collected. Other queries can be forwarded to their general compla int hotline at 0380263131.
Menteri Besar and state executive councillors. Even the state supports these dinners, so I think it is a good initiative which should be continued, he said. Councillor Tan Jo Hann suggested that MPSJ should have a fixed policy which determines and monitors programmes and cash flow for projects. To make things easier and ensure the allocations are properly spent on beneficial programmes, the council should look into having a financial policy to refer to, said Tan. He added that this is more transparent and everyone will get to see
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KLANG: The Klang Municipal Council (MPK) is not in favour of a proposal to privatise its garbage collection and public cleaning duties again. Its councillors have unanimously voted against a proposal by Worldwide Holdings Bhd to handle the municipalitys solid waste removal and public cleaning services. The local council is competent enough to handle these duties, said councillor Azmizan Zaman Huri. He added that it was up to MPK, not the state, to decide whether to accept Worldwide Holdings proposal as the council had to fork out ratepayers money to pay the company for managing the services. His comments were lauded and echoed by other councillors at the councils full board meeting on Wednesday. Meanwhile, acting MPK president Ikhsan Mukri (pic) said the council expected to save at least RM7 million annually once solid waste management concessionaire Alam Flora surrenders its garbage collection services on Oct 15. Alam Flora handed over public cleaning duties to local authorities on Aug 1. Ikhsan said MPK used to pay
MPK wants to retain control of cleaning services
zones in MPSJ and the other RM100,000 for cash handouts and material contributions. Each zone is allowed to carry out its own poverty eradication programme for the poor with the limited funds given. The funds for dinner are actually a separate contribution by the council and not taken out of the RM300,000 fund, said Asmawi.
Alam Flora RM43 million, almost one-third of its annual budget, to manage garbage collection and cleaning duties on behalf of the council. Once we take over, the council can use the savings (RM7 million) to improve public infrastructure in Klang, said Ikhsan. He added that the council had already purchased 12 more lorries and hired another 50 employees on top of its existing 50-strong staff to take over garbage collection from Alam Flora next month. He also appealed to the public to be patient as glitches in garbage collection are expected during the first few months of the transition period. The public can call MPKs Jabatan Perkhidmatan Persekitaran at 03-33726781/4820 to report delays in garbage collection.
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News 10
By Alvin Yap
SHAH ALAM: Traffic snarls during peak hours and on weekends at I-City have leadresidents in Section 7 to ask for an alternate access road to mitigate the congestion. Traffic builds up around later in the afternoons until evening due to foot and vehicle traffic in and out of I-City, said 39-year-old Hashim Diran. He explained that Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) students used the road around I-City to walk to and from their campus to their homes. Hashim also said the traffic jams on Wednesday evenings are worse due to a night market here. According to Muhd Akmal Hakim Che Mahadi, 22, motorcyclists using the road going into I-City have collided with each other or
Residents seek solution to I-City traffic woes

with pedestrians. The UiTM student said a majority of the accidents happen at night, when the road is congested from visitors going into the commercial entertainment hub. He said the state should respond to calls for the road to be upgraded to a three-lane carriageway. However, Mohd Amirezwan, 22, said adding another lane to the road leading into I-City would not solve the traffic congestion there.
(From left) Mohd Amirezwan, Nur Ilyanie, Muhd Akmal and Hashim Diran
The road leading to and from I-City.
The Section 7 resident said Selangor would have to consider building an alternate access road into I-City that bypasses the housing area there. The traffic jam is worse when theres a function at I-City or at any homes, he said, adding that motorists and pedestrians were risking their lives during peakhour snarls.
Others in the area said they are worried about getting into an accident with other road users. The congestion is causing problems to pedestrians, especially when they cross the road, said Nur Ilyanie Ibrahim, 23.
Nurul Asyikin Mohd Daud, 23, said she was nearly knocked down by a motorcyclist recently. The UiTM student said road users there have to be courteous while using their vehicles to prevent any untoward accidents.
Council to cease sharing profits with concessionaire

By Gan Pei Ling
KLANG: Suasa efektif (M) Sdn Bhd will no longer be entitled to share revenue from parking fines from Nov 1, following a decision by the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) on Wednesday. TThe decision by the councils full board was due to the parking concessionaires failure to pay rental to MPK for parking lots which they manage in the municipality. local councillor lim lip Suan
said Suasa efektif owed the council at least RM1.4 million in rent. The company had also failed to pay rental for five consecutive months. lim said based on the concessionaire agreement, MPK could stop sharing revenue from parking summonses with the company if they failed to settle its parking rental for two consecutive months. Under the agreement, Suasa efektif takes 70% of revenue collected from parking summonses.
Currently, if the council collects RM1 million from parking summonses, RM700,000 goes to Suasa efektif and the council only gets RM300,000, said lim. This will no longer be the case in November. lim pointed out that MPKs uncollected parking summonses over the years amounted to over RM60 million. The private company was awarded a 25-year concession by the previous state administration in 1999 to manage the pay-and-display public parking system in seven local councils, including MPK. The company will, however, continue to manage the pay-and-display parking system in Klang and profit from fees collected at public parking spaces under the concessionaire agreement which is still in effect. When contacted by Selangor Times, Suasa efektif executive director of operation and finance lo See yong said the company would attempt to negotiate with MPK. He explained that the company has been defaulting on its rental payment to MPK due to low collection during the festive season and rainy days. This is not bad debt. Weve been paying the local council up to RM3.6 million in rent annually. But there are ups and downs in our collection, once weve more cash flow well pay the local council back, said lo in a phone interview. The concessionaire also manages public parking systems for Shah Alam City Council, Selayang Municipal Council, Kajang Municipal Council, Ampang Jaya Municipal Council, Sepang Municipal Council and Kuala Selangor District Council.
Know Your Councillor: Halimey Abu Bakar

By Brenda Chng
HAlIMey Abu Bakar wants better infrastructure at the low-cost flats in Desa Mentari to improve conditions for the relocated squatters there. They were victims of the squatter removal programme in 2005, where they were relocated from their homes to this shoddy lowcost flat with substandard facilities, he said. The three-term councillor said the area is not equipped with proper amenities like parks, surau, multipurpose hall, and proper roads and drains. It is not a conducive environment to live in at all, especially for the children and youths, he said. The 39-year-old said there have been rampant cases of drug abuse and other social problems, including theft and vandalism. I get complaints on broken lifts for all eight block of flats almost every day, said Halimey. Of the four lifts per block of flats, only one functions properly while the others break down almost daily. I dont know how many times more the developers can repair the lifts. It is not cheap, and I hope residents learn how to look after their property and belongings, Halimey said, adding that he has written to the developers almost every day over this issue. According to Halimey, motorcycle theft is so rampant that residents no longer want to leave their bikes in the car park below.
He was shocked to learn that residents bring their motorbikes into the lifts and up to their flats. Halimey has been doing everything he can to maintain cleanliness and improve shabby conditions around the flat by highlighting it to the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) mayor. The full-time councillor also organises talks, dialogues and educational forums to teach residents about cleanliness, togetherness and responsibility. He spends about RM20,000 annually on such events and social activities for the residents in his area. The next educational talk Halimey is organising will be on drugs. Im getting together a few former drug addicts to share their experience and hardships with the youths here. I want to stop these youths from being drug addicts in the future, he said. Halimeys efforts over the years have seen the addition of a twostorey mosque in PJS6, new facilities in the rundown park, landscaping projects around the flat, and improved rubbish collection. He hopes he can get more allocation to help the residents further improve their living condition. Currently, he is only getting RM80,000 for infrastructure maintenance at PJS5, PJS6, PJS7, PJS8 and PJS10. The money is not even enough to cover two neighbourhoods, let alone five. I hope councillors will be given more allocations, he said.
Setting the tone with Selangorku

elang or was one of the first governments in Malaysia to have Tricia Yeoh officially celebrated Malaysia Day on Sept 16 in 2009, which was followed thereafter by the federal government in 2010 when it was declared a public holiday. This year, Selangor launched its version of an agenda in conjunction with Malaysia Day, called Selangorku, or My Selangor. The project took about a year to complete, having been initiated when I was then Research Officer at the Selangor Menteri Besars office. Although I have since moved on, it was indeed a gratifying moment knowing the agenda has finally been launched. The original objective of having an agenda was to set a direction for the Selangor state. After having been in the state government for more than two years (at the time the project was conceived in 2010), it was timely for Selangor to go through an evaluation process of its numerous policy reform measures, activities and programmes according to each portfolio and sector. This was conducted via a series of town hall meetings held in each of the 12 local and municipal councils across the state, inviting stakeholders from a range of professions in public, private, and non-governmental sectors to provide their perspectives and recommendations of what ought to be done in Selangor. The sessions were conducted in mini-group roundtable discussions, facilitated by moderators. The topics centred upon governance (transparency and accountability), social issues (among them youth, crime and womens issues), and infrastructure/public services (local council basic services such as roads, lights, drains and so on). Apart from going to the ground, the Selangor team met with specific groups to obtain their views on the direction of the state based on the governments achievements or failures, as well as to share their opinions generally. These groups included institutes of higher learning, investors, the services and manufacturing sector, non-governmental organisations, and
viewS 11
Just selangor
selected academicians. Finally, the team held one-on-one personal interviews with each of the exco members to ask what they felt were their most prominent policies and programmes that ought to be highlighted. These were collated, taking into consideration the contents of other Selangor-related documents such as the Halatuju Selangor document, various Selangor budgets, speeches, individual gazetted local council plans, the State Structural Plan, as well as some national documents that would invariably affect Selangor itself like the 10th Malaysia Plan. Of course, the public is often not overly concerned about the details that go into any sort of policy document, hence some key points have been focused upon within brochures. These include the Selangor governments commitment to holding local elections, the first of which is planned to be held in the Petaling Jaya City Council in 2012 as a pilot project. As civil society has long lobbied for the return of local council elections, this move would perhaps sit favourably among urban dwellers. According to the Selangorku document, local governments must be fully responsible to the people, and it is the rakyat who should have the right to elect new leadership. Democracy truly has to begin at the local level, and electing the best councillors who will care for neighbourhoods and residential areas is the best way to demonstrate this. The second priority area is for the state government to develop affordable housing for families with low household income (between RM2,500 and RM5,000) again something a responsible state should take up. As inflation rises, many are finding it increasingly difficult to be new housebuyers and owners. Third, the Selangorku document looks at facilitating collaboration with residents and the private sector to finance private security, with a pilot project hopefully within Subang Jaya. Although crime is one of the National Key Result Areas (NKRA) at the federal government level, it makes more sense for a more decentralised process of administering security to take place. State and local governments, for example, have greater access and frequent interaction with resident associations. Both govern-
ments have, however, relied on higher numbers of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras to help monitor crime. Fourth is an interesting proposal, where although the federal government and its National Minimum Wage Council have agreed upon a minimum wage, it has not yet been implemented. The Pakatan Rakyat, which has a policy on minimum wage, has taken a stand through the Selangor government to implement a minimum wage of RM1,500 for all state subsidiaries effective Jan 1, 2012. If successfully carried out, other Pakatan states ought to emulate this step for the sake of consistency. Finally, the agenda outlines infrastructure as another key area, to ensure good maintenance of roads, drains, and bridges that are under local council supervision. Ultimately, the basic service delivery of local councils is what will matter most to the everyday citizen. It seems a positive step for the state government to have emerged with its own policy agenda, setting the direction it is currently in and seeking to work towards. One problem the state has faced, however, is a consistent criticism of the lack of publicity and communication of its numerous work efforts. And indeed, there have been a whole lot of initiatives undertaken, but with minimal awareness among those living in Selangor. Unfortunately, output does not seem to have matched the amount of input invested into these numerous programmes. The launch of the Selangorku agenda has been one such way of tackling this problem of undercommunicated policies. It is hoped that the existing team within the government (at all levels, including the exco offices and other state assemblypersons) will be able to widely publicise this important document that, as I understand it, will set the tone for the upcoming elections. This is done through examples of what the state government has already done, and through what it is currently executing and will execute in the future. With a roadmap in hand, the state can push forward confidently with a bold agenda which, of course, must be equally matched with actual and smooth execution, the final and most crucial determinant of public opinion.
UNISEL Intake Layout 190811 (Selangor Times-DEC).indd 1
29/09/11 5:04 PM
12 September 30 OctOber 02, 2011
InsIght
Provoking thought through film
By Basil Foo
ong considered a taboo topic in conservative Asian societies, divorce remains a cultural black hole, where divorcees are afflicted by pervasive stigma and shunned by society. A wall of silence separates husbands from wives and parents from their children as families are torn apart and estranged family members find it hard to reconcile. Bringing matters that bind us together as Malaysians to In making his documentary on divorcees in Malaysia, filmthe fore, Freedom Film Fest 2011 plans to promote healthy discussion via thought-provoking short films. maker Afiq Deen faced a major hurdle in acquiring the basic Freedom Film Fest (FFF) is a platform for Malaysians to get necessity of most films: cast members. to know about issues that matter, talk to others about it and He struggled to gather interview sources for the controversial express their opinions on those issues, said Anna Har. topic, and when he managed to round up a sizeable number, The FFF 2011 director told Selangor Times that there has been many were afraid of embarrassment and pulled out. less attention paid to the sort of films with important messages I had 20 confirmed interviewees but only five did the compared to Hollywood blockbusters. As such, the idea for the film festival came about nine years interview. Fifteen people cancelled because they said it would ago out of the need to showcase films that have more in relation embarrass their families, he told SelangorTimes. with what our own country is experiencing. Promoting discussion of the topic then became the mission There is a lack of appreciation for films that represent our of his documentary, Huruf J, where he believed single mothers realities as opposed to Hollywood movies that touch on subjects could improve their situations by being more vocal. far from our Malaysian reality, she said. He thinks that the stigma faced by divorcees can be addressed The festival began with an amateur slant as it used to encourage youths to use their handycams, a device just gaining by bringing their voices out into the public sphere instead of recognition then, to document everyday issues. sweeping it under the carpet. Films addressing issues like politics, religion, and the They wanted to keep it a secret something they want to environment have been screened throughout the years to a forget, it is something that should not be spoken or discussed growing number of festival attendees. about. Thats probably the problem, he said. Apart from the year-end showcase of FFF, all year round we Presenting what a Malaysian Musorganise and work with communities to screen our films in their lim woman experiences post-divorce, local areas, said Har. She said the films have also been screened in more rural areas Huruf J, or The Letter J, stands for that have less access to the film festival and the films themselves. janda, which means divorcee in Over the years, screenings have included themes like Bahasa Malaysia. childrens rights, women issues, elections, and sexuality, which The film also portrays the mens differ annually depending on their relevance. negligence in paying alimony as Afiq FFF now has a collection of over 20 Malaysian-made found most divorcees had children documentaries on important current issues in Malaysia, she said. to support. The compilation, gathered from an annual film competition, It touches a bit on human rights includes Sepuluh Tahun Sebelum Merdeka , which re-looks also how the ex-husbands are easily undocumented versions of our independence history. exempted by the law from fulfilling Other hits include Twelve Eleven on the Highland Towers their responsibilities as fathers, he collapse, and Kisah Tauke Mancis Dan Minyak Tumpah, which said. investigates the cow-head incident in Shah Alam. These films have been used by the affected communities Not a stranger to the topic himself, to talk about their issues and also as resource material in local he experienced divorce in his family as and foreign universities, said Har. a child and drew from what he went She added that screenings of FFF films are also hosted through to produce his film. annually in London and Singapore. While he said he has not been affected that much from his parProducing the films ents separation, he Being the focus of nearly a decade of growing public attention, ideas for the local films knows of friends showcased during the festival have to go through whose lives were Video stills of indigenous Orang Seletar from short film Lot, Umah Am a filtering process. changed overnight. Proposals for films about human rights or He confessed to me that he was of aboriginal rights in the past years. Most of the Malaysian social issues will have to be submitted People are getting more conmothers were pro- part of the problem and didnt know to the festivals distinguished panel of judges of fessionals, lawyers, how to remedy it. It will be my great- cerned about aboriginal groups whose activists and filmmakers. The top three proposals will be given a grant businesswomen ; est challenge if I can break the silence, rights may be exploited by some of of rM6,000 to produce their films, said Har. those in authority, she said. but after divorce, Afiq said. She said the most important criteria is the As her motto is to speak up for It was only after seeking out his they were forced films ability to present a strong analysis of the to live off scraps father and quashing his fears that he those who cannot speak for themchosen subject matter, as well as the creativity and move from one felt brave enough to make the film selves, she decided to bring up the and talent to express it onscreen. house to another, and send a proposal to Freedom Film lot of the Seletar whose livelihoods Winners of the previous film festivals have mainly been first-time filmmakers with a passion are under threat from development. Fest 2011. he said. to tell their stories. Stemming from the wave of proOn the film festival, he said it will Some even had in the long term we would like to see how to accept social wel- be a good eye opener as the issues gress, she said many things have been else we can support activists and filmmakers fare, and he noted that will be touched upon are seldom sacrificed, among them the environwho do not have many resources to make their that life was starkly highlighted by the mainstream media. ment and minority groups. films, she said. I feel thats the diYou wont usually hear about the different during She added that the goal of the Freedom Film and after marriage hardships of divorcees because the lemma : we need to Fest is to eventually screen in all states across Har: FFF aims to support Malaysia. problem ultimately lies with the law. generate progress for for these women. activists and filmmakers who He added that Here, I have the freedom to highlight society, which, at the dont have many resources. Expectations of FFF 2011 same time sacrifices th e f i l m i s n o t this. It will be exciting, he said. Unlike what its name suggests, the Freedom Exciting indeed, as the young film- so many things, Liaw meant for people to pity single mothFilm Fest will not only be screening videos but will also allow ers, but merely to turn the topic of maker himself will be bringing his said. viewers a chance to talk about what they see. She believes that divorce into something that can be mother to the screening this weekend Films will be divided throughout the weekend according to several issue-driven themes. while we enjoy the to watch it for the first time. talked about openly. Every thematic session will be followed by a discussion with Another film that aims to break benefits and comIn the process of making the film, a resource person. Dont be surprised to see your state or local Afiq had to confront one of his big- the silence and reveal to the world a fort that comes with representatives, said Har. gest fears: talking about his own story rarely told is Lot, Umah Am by economic progress, She said themed sessions include Election and Democracy, print journalist and first-time film- we should not allow parents divorce. which will feature two Thai short films and a Malaysian minority groups to I myself wanted to keep it a secret, maker Liaw Pey Wen. documentary on elections in rural Sarawak. Another theme will be Politics of identity, where a Malaysian The film is about the difficulties vanish in the midst of so it was a difficult process making film Searching for a Malaysian identity will be screened, followed faced by Orang Seletar who are orang development. this film, he said. by a Swedish film called Me and My nose. As she did not reHowever, once that barrier was asli staying at the south of Johor, The highlight for us is the premiere of our FFF 2011 proposal ceive formal training crossed, he had no qualms talking she said. competition winners documentary, she said. Meaning Sea, my home, Liaw in broadcasting or film about his personal life and spoke Har said this years highlights are Huruf J, a film about the told Selangor Times the film attempts production, Liaw felt candidly. problems of being a divorcee in Malaysia, and Lot, Umah Am, Thinking that his own father to preserve the lifestyle and tradi- intimidated by the a film on the plight of lesser known indigenous Orang Seletar fisherfolk. would be cast in a bad light if the tional cultures of the Seletar people. daunting task of comThere will also be a filmmakers forum featuring filmmakers While there were once few reports pleting a documentary film was produced, he sought for from South East Asia and Europe, who will discuss about the paternal blessings before embarking concerning this seafaring community, within four months. theme of films and political change. I just tried to plan she noted an increase in awareness on the project.
Jand Oran and B
da, ng Seletar Bersih
Freedom Film Fest Schedule

Selangor
1 October 2011
11am Rights of the Child
Like Toy Dolls The Dancing Boys of Afghanistan
1.30pm Politics of Identity Searching for a Malaysian Identity Me and My Nose 2.30pm Environment and Activism Oily Hair Countdown to a Toxic Future
Aku Siapa?
3.30pm Women and Religion
7.30pm FFF 2011 Winners Launch and award ceremony for winners of FFF 2011 Film proposal competition Huruf J Lot, Umah Am (Laut, Rumah Saya) Film Premiere SenyapTersentak
2 October 2011
11am Feature Film Premiere

Jalan Pintas
1.30pm Election and Democracy Demockcrazy Silent Ulu Bengoh Darom Piin 3pm Sexuality Rights
Transgender: Rights and Rites Pre-Attitude Courage Unfolds Into Thin Air The Creators
5pm Popular Resistance 7.30pm Tikar Talk/ Filmmakers exchange Films and Political Change
the production schedule well and used my off days to shoot. I did not have a day of rest for over four months, she said. She feels lucky for having a dedicated group members who were committed to the project despite being amateurs with no experience in cinematography. She added that the film festival is a good way to allow amateur filmmakers who are more in tune with the grassroots to express their opinions, critical as they may be. Finding those who are not professional filmmakers to show their points of view can encourage others to fight for human rights, Liaw added. Huruf J and Lot Umah, Am will be screened from 7.30pm on Saturday evening at the Freedom Film Fest 2011 held in Wisma Bentley, Mutiara Damansara. Those interested are welcome to reserve their free tickets by visiting http://freedomfilmfest.komas.org or email freedomfilmfest@komas.org.
Afiq: Film festival a good eyeopener on human issues.
m.
8.30pm Inter-faith Engagement The Imam and The Pastor

FFF 2011 will also be heading to Penang on Oct 9 and Kuching, Sarawak on Oct 29. For more information or to reserve your free entry ticket, please visit http://freedomfilmfest.komas.org or email freedomfilmfest@komas.org.
Liaw (second right) and friends.
views 14
Promises, promises...
contained subliminal messages which ridiculed BN. Among the scenes singled out: Jabba the Hutt standing next to a poster of the Prime Minister. Also deemed controversial was a snapshot of Tung Shin Hospital, which the location of a much-discussed showdown between the FRU and peaceful protestors during the July 9 Bersih rally. Who knew that our politicians were so into interpretation of videos. We wonder if any of them played it backwards, or sideways, or tried watching it upside down. We heard a rumour that if played backwards, at 3/8ths the usual speed, at about the 2.47 mark, one hears what sounds like An-war. No wonder its been banned. Its subnilingus. Dont believe us? Just go and watch it again. Over and over and over again. And vote.
ear Lord Bobo, one minute Jibby says no more censorship, then suddenly the MCMC bans the Undilah music video produced by Pete Teo? Business as usual? Surely there must be some certainty out there? Jabba, via email
Saying one thing, and then doing another? Flip-flop? Doublespeak? Inconsistency? Business as usual is right that is, if your business is Malaysian politics. At times, even His Supreme Eminenceness doesnt know quite what to expect next. And were omniscient! So we can hardly blame you, mere mortal, for being uncertain. The MCMC claim that their decision to issue the directive to pull the video was because of a technicality the clip was not approved by the Film Censorship Board. Well, if its true that such approval is required, and the producers did not obtain it, then fair enough. However, what followed next was truly baffling. Many BN supporters took the opportunity to slate the video as partisan, and being almost anti-BN. One of the reasons cited was that it featured a monologue by Tengku Razaleigh, where he said that there were many problems with the country. They conveniently forgot that BN leaders were also featured prominently in the video. But the most entertaining spin from this has to belong to BNs MP for Kota Belud, Abdul Rahman Dahlan. He criticised the video on the basis that it was anti-establishment and
essentially the message is: Vote us in again, and we will repeal the ISA. Promise. On a scale o f 1 to 1 0 , ho w trustworthy is this promise? Fingers Crossed, via email
Ask Lord Bobo is a weekly column by LoyarBurok (www. loyarburok.com) where all your profound, abstruse, erudite, hermetic, recondite, sagacious, and other thesaurus-described queries are answered!
ord Bobo, Im a part-time writer and need some tips to improve my writing. Are there any books you would recommend? Nom De Plume, via email
There is no such thing as a part-time writer. Just the same as theres no such thing as a part-time breather, walker, or reader. Youre either a writer or youre not. To Lord Bobo, the best writers make their own rules and this includes grammar and punctuation. Of course, there are limits to this; theres not much point being so inventive and cutting-edge that no one understands you. Historically, talented writers are constantly pushing the boundaries of what essentially is the act of putting ones thoughts on paper. As such, Lord Bobo would not recommend any books to read to improve your writing. The best tip is to keep writing. Write, write, and write. The fact that you call yourself a part-time writer is already an indication that youre not doing enough. Write all the time. Compose a paragraph on your smartphone while waiting in line at the bank. Scribble in a notepad when sitting on the toilet. The more you write, the more you make it a habit to naturally express yourself. And if you want the world to hear your voice, send whatever you write to loyarburokker@loyarburok.com.
After the elation of the best-announcement-in-the-historyof-Malaysia, comes the reality. Slowly but surely, the government are releasing statements that any repeal will take time as they need to carefully consider all the repercussions. This is to be expected. It would be completely out of character for the government to make rash decisions. Such is the nature of Malaysian politics, and the fickle and restless Malaysian public, that any important issue is very quickly forgotten for the next big issue. It will again be left to the human rights and civil liberties activists to keep the government on their toes. To be honest, the state of emergency was never really a major issue for most Malaysians (many did not even know what emergency declarations were). As a gauge of how talkedabout this topic is, we received double the number of questions about the Undilah video than we did about the ISA issue (which means two questions, but whos counting!). By the time you read this, the media will be filled with predictions about the budget and what goodies it will contain. It definitely feels like the General Election is around the corner, but thats what everyone has been saying since March. Its a pretty big corner. As for the promise of repealing it after the elections, Lord Bobo is of the opinion that actions speak louder than words. We are fiercely nonpartisan (though were quite friendly, really, and not at all fierce), so this applies to both government and opposition politicians. Try not to rely on mere promises when deciding who the best person to lead you is. And that is a straight-up, subliminalmessage-free answer. Have a question for Lord Bobo? Call on His Supreme Eminenceness by emailing asklordbobo@loyarburok.com, stating your full name, and a pseudonym (if you want), or tweeting your questions by mentioning @LoyarBurok and using the hashtag #asklordbobo. What the hell are you waiting for? Hear This, and Tremblingly Obey (although trembling is optional if you are somewhere very warm)! Liberavi Animam Meam! I Have Freed My Spirit!
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Screenshot from the video.
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Bandar Tasik Selatan Salak Selatan Shopping Malls (From Saturday noon) 1 UTAMA Tropicana Mall Sunway Pyramid The Curve IOI Mall Plaza Damas Ikano Power Centre Empire Subang MetroPoint Centro Mall, Klang Bangsar Shopping Complex Hypermarkets (From Saturday noon)
ord Bobo, Ive been reading that the big ISA repeal will only happen after the next General Election. So,
may 13 recoll: reconcections & 12 & iliation
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LRT Stations (Distribution by hand) Morning Ampang Sentul Timur Ampang Cahaya Cempaka Pandan Indah Pandan Jaya Sentul Timur Sentul Kelana Jaya Terminal Putra Kelana Jaya Taman Bahagia Taman Paramount Asia Jaya Taman Jaya Universiti Sri Rampai Wangsa Maju Taman Melati Sri Petaling Sentul Timur Taman Melati Sri Petaling Bukit Jalil Giant (Puchong, Kajang, Bandar Kinrara, Klang, Pandamaran, Bandar Selayang, Kota Damansara, Taman Setiawangsa, Putra Heights, Taman Connaught, Kelana Jaya, Bukit Antarabangsa, Subang Jaya, Bukit Tinggi, Setia Alam, Kota Kemuning) Sentul Port Klang Port Klang Bukit Badak Shah Alam Subang Jaya Jalan Templer Petaling Rawang Seremban Kuala Kubu Baru Sungai Buloh Kepong Sentral Kepong Morning Wet Markets (Saturday morning) Jalan SS2/62 Taman Medan Jalan 17/27 SS15 Subang Jaya Taman Kuchai Lama Taman OUG Pasar Taman Megah Pasar Jalan Othman Pasar Jalan 17/2 Pasar Sek 14
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Carrefour (Bukit Rimau, Subang Jaya, Wangsa Maju, Sri Petaling, Kepong, Puchong, Ampang, Jalan Peel, Jalan Kapar, Bandar Tun Hussein Onn, S23 Shah Alam) Jusco (Bukit Tinggi, Tmn Maluri, Wangsa Maju, Bandar Baru Klang, Mahkota Cheras) Commuter Stations (Distribution by hand) Morning
Pasar Seri Setia SS9A/1 Pasar Kg Chempaka Taman Tun Dr Ismail Hospital Forrest Medical Centre Colleges Help Institute College Bandar Utama (KBU) Universiti Kebangsan Malaysia
Tesco (Puchong, Kajang, Mutiara Damansara, Rawang, Bukit Tinggi, Setia Alam, Ampang, Extra Shah Alam, Kepong)
Illegal discs, computers destroyed

By Brenda Chng
news 15
KLANG: Over 10,000 computer gadgets and video discs, confiscated from cybercafes and illegal traders last year, were destroyed by the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) officers last Friday. Impounded from over 83 premises from April to December, 62 computer monitors and 142 central processing units (CPU) were smashed with sledgehammers. A further 9,745 varied discs such as video compact discs (VCD), digital video discs (DVD), and compact discs (CD) were soaked in thinner solution to destroy the contents. Everything destroyed today is worth at least RM80,000. It took us so long to get rid of the items because it was used as evidence in police cases, said MPK enforcement director Andry Arman Masrom. He explained that almost all cybercafe owners were sent to the police station and brought to court and charged with illegal gambling. The council has no powers to charge them for their crimes, and so we handed the case over to the police after raiding and confiscating their belongings, said Andry. Among other things that were seized from the cybercafes were 139 keyboards, routers and servers. According to Andry, there are only 42 legally licensed cybercafes under MPK, but there are still hundreds operating illegally. Last year we raided and closed down 83 premises, but this year we found out that 76 more new illegal cafes mushroomed, and most are operating as a gambling den, he said. Of the 76 premises raided and closed down by the council, 887 computer gadgets were confiscated and kept in storage as
evidence, pending further police investigation. We cannot destroy anything until the police or court gives us the green light, as we may disrupt investigations. That is why it takes at least a year before we can destroy them, he explained. The various video discs were seized from illegal traders who prowl around restaurants, night markets and morning markets. These illegal VCD and DVD sellers, who walk around with a small bag of movies, have been found to store thousands more discs in vans parked nearby. The van filled with DVDs and VCDs will only be revealed to customIllegal discs being dipped into a thinner solution to destroy the contents. ers who buy in bulk and request to see other items on sale. Some traders will only sell the contents of their bag and occasionally return to the van for more stock. It is actually hard to catch them, so we rely on residents tip-offs, and the council will send officers down immediately to catch them, said Andry. These traders will be caught and handed over to the Ministry of Home Affairs, where they will be charged RM2,000 or a maximum two-year jail sentence. The council also urged the public to inform them if they know of any illegal cybercafes, or chance upon illegal DVD and VCD sellers. We take these cases very seriously and are planning to Computer equipment that was confiscated and carry out raids more frequently, said Andry. subsequently destroyed by the Klang Municipal Council.
Road upgrade for village

PUCHONG: Residents of Kampung Lembah Kinrara bid goodbye to potholes and puddles after having their 20-year-old road resurfaced this month. Measuring 16 kilometres long and 4 metres wide, the road was resurfaced in phases by contractors appointed by the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ). The project, which started Sept 12, has been completed, with only signboards and humps left to be done. Thank goodness the road is finally resurfaced. It was getting bad to worse as the numerous potholes made it hard to drive in and out every day, said villager Ibrahim Salleh. The 54-year-old, who has been The new road leading into the village. living here since 1986, said this is the first time the road has undergone resurfacing work. Kok was surprised to learn that the roads have not In the past, all we got were patched up potholes, been properly maintained or resurfaced all this while, which dont even last long. The holes appear again with residents requests and complaints having fallen af ter a while, sa id on deaf ears. Ibrahim. MPSJs engineering department assistant director With 150 houses in Rostam Sallehhopes that with the new upgrades, which the village and only one cost RM160,000, there will be no potholes forming road catering to the anytime soon. needs of all villagers, However, he is wary of water ponding due to the lack Ibrahim explained that of a proper drainage system installed in the village. the damage is caused by We cant do anything to install a new drainage wear and tear. system because the roads are too narrow. But weve done It is about time the a study and are certain there will not be any flooding village gets facilitated problems here in the village, said Rostam. with proper roads, said The explained that the village is located on a slightly Kinrara assemblyperson higher ground, and excess water will flow directly into Teresa Kok. the Klang River, which sits right beside the area. Resident Ibrahim Salleh.
Exco takes blogger to task over indecency allegation

By Gan Pei Ling
SHAH ALAM: Yaakob Sapari has come out to slam an anonymous blogger for posting a video that purportedly showed a Malay couple making out at his service centre. You can see from the video that the setting is very different from my service centre, said the state executive councillor during a press conference at his service centre here on Sunday. The Kota Anggerik assemblyperson said he would lodge a police report against the anonymous blogger for attempting to defame him using such dirty tactic. The blog posting dated Sept 19 did not name Yaakob explicitly, but the anonymous blogger alleged in the title that the scandal was recorded at his service centre. However, the video was uploaded on Youtube a year ago by a user with a different pseudonym. The six-minute long video showed a man and a woman in
Yaakob Sapari
tudung kissing and caressing each other. The anonymous blogger pride him- or herself for being a profederal government blogger in one posting. He or she is also one of the contributors for an Umno blog. Yaakob urged the blogger to stop making baseless accusations against him and his service centre staff.
news 16
House owners get CFs after 10-year wait

KUALA KUBU BHARU: Some 133 home owners in Taman Desa Bukit Bujang received the Certificate of Fitness for Occupation (CF) from the Hulu Selangor District Council (MDHS) on Sunday. Executive councillor Iskandar Samad, who handed the CFs to the delighted house owners, said the delay in the issuance was due to the developers non-compliance. Many residents often misunderstand and blame the district officer or local government for not issuing CFs, but they cannot do so until the developer has complied with all requirements, said Iskandar. Ampang Pecah village security and development commitBy Gan Pei Ling
tee ( JKKK) chief Rihajuddin Anwar Khan expressed gratitude to the authorities on behalf of the residents. He said the earliest residents have been living there without CFs since 1999. Without the CF, residents cannot make insurance claims in the event of incidents such as fire. Rihajuddin said 133 out of more than 170 home owners in the area submitted documents to the JKKK to apply for their CFs and were approved. Duit raya and packets of A4 paper were also dis- Residents receiving their CFs from Iskandar (in green). tributed to schoolchildren, while hampers were given out to residents in a lucky draw during the event. Rihajuddin. The hampers, duit raya and A4 paper were sponsored by Also present were MDHS president Tukiman Nail and the JKKK, MDHS and PAS Ampang Pecah division, said Hulu Selangor District Officer Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahalan.
New hall for village

PUCHONG: Families, children and youths at Kampung Lembah Kinrara will soon be able to enjoy the facilities of a new multipurpose hall scheduled to be built next month. I think they deserve a new hall as the existing one is as old as the village and in a terrible condition, said Kinrara assemblyperson Teresa Kok. Kok is bent on getting contractors to tear down the 20-year-old hall and replace it with one equipped with proper facilities and amenities. The existing hall has insufficient lights, fans, tables and chairs, with a broken door and metal railings used as windows.
The makeover, due to start next month, is estimated to cost at least RM27,000, which will be funded by Kok and Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo. We will be using our budget allocations and [will be] getting some public donations as well, she said. With building plans and monetary concerns sorted out, Kok is waiting for MPSJ to appoint a contractor to work on the project. We are expecting to get a contractor hopefully by this week, and when we do, the rebuilding will take place almost immediately, she said.
State study camp preps students for PMR

BATU CAVES: Over 80 students from poor families attended a state-sponsored Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) study camp at a rainforest resort last weekend. Anisamira Salim, 15, said she learnt new tips on answering examination questions during the three-day, two-night camp held from Sept 23 to 25 at Riverstone Eco Resort in Sungai Tua Forest Reserve. This is the best study camp Ive attended, said the student from Sekolah Agama Menengah Tinggi Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Batu 38, Sabak Bernam. Her friend Noor Saadah Awaludin said she felt more confident in sitting for the public examination, scheduled to take place next Tuesday (Oct 4) until Oct 11. The 80-plus students came from poor families whose monthly income is below RM1,500. They are mostly farmers children from Sabak Bernam, Tanjung Karang and Kuala Selangor, said Wan Cik Zainal Abidin, the Selangor Economic Planning Unit officer in charge of the programme. The students attended study sessions on Malay, English, Science and Mathematics,
Dr Xavier handing out certificates and complimentary schoolbags.
The interior of the existing hall.
as well as two motivational talks. Wan Cik said they selected the best teachers, all of whom have experience setting questions for public examinations, to coach the students. Each student received a certificate and complimentary schoolbag from executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar at the closing ceremony on Sunday. Wan Cik said the state is organising another two study camps in October for Form 5 students from poor families to help them prepare for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia.
Undilah video censorship anti-democracy

KUALA LUMPUR: A media watchdog here has called
the censorship by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) against a video promoting voter turnout as absurd and anti-democracy. The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) last week said it was shocked to learn that the government agency had issued a directive to broadcasters Media Prima and Astro to withhold the airing of the Undilah video to promote the upcoming election. MCMCs ban of the Undilah projects public service announcement urging the rakyat to vote is absurd and against the spirit of democracy, said the press statement, adding that it came days after a promise by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who, during a Malaysia Day message, announced reforms towards more democracy. Among the reasons for the ban, according to MCMC, are the appearances of outspoken and maverick Barisan Nasional Member of Parliament Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, and opposition politicians such as Nurul Izzah Anwar, Tony Pua, Khalid Samad and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. In the public service announcement video, Razaleigh had said Malaysia was facing problems. The lineup also featured two deputy ministers, celebrities, and business tycoon Tony Fernandes and badminton ace Lee Chong Wei, both of whom were seen rapping to a tune
led by Namewee and Afdlin Shauki. The Malaysian Insider reported that the clip was taken off the air by local broadcasters despite a push for greater democracy because it contains opposition figures and Tengku Razaleighs speech. However, the MCMC later claimed that its decision to temporarily pull the Undilah video was because it has not yet been approved by the Film Censorship Board. The case,CIJ executive director Masjaliza Hamzah said, highlights the powers the MCMC is given to control broadcast and online content under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA), Screenshot from the video. a legislation which in effect governs the multimedia and communications industry. It said that public service announcements urging voters CIJ urges the MCMC to immediately rescind the direc- to honour the electoral process by going out to vote is a tive and make public the findings of the inquiry which re- matter of national interest which should be given due respect sulted in the directive being issued to Astro and Media by the MCMC and the information, communications and Prima, said the press statement. culture minister.
Temples seek land allocation, renovation funds

By Alvin Yap
news 17
SABAK BERNAM: Two 70-year-old Hindu temples here have asked the state for land and funding for renovations during a town hall meeting here on Monday. Leaders of Sri Maha Mariamman and Sri Thirumurugan Alayam temples in Sungai Besar and Sabak Bernam respectively have asked the state to expedite their requests. Since 1965, we have been asking for land next to our temple so that we can build a community hall for weddings and other events, Sri Maha Mariamman temple chairperson V Chandra
Chandra told state executive councillor Ronnie Liu. Chandra, who is also the temple treasurer, said funding was needed to facilitate renovation and expansion. Liu said he state would expedite land requests if supporting documents were provided to local councils and the state government. Dont delay. Make sure you have the correct documents and that the premiums are paid, said Liu, who portfolio includes local government. Liu also said Selangor has approved 175 requests for new land for or exten- Veerappan sion of houses of worship. If approved, the state could only allocate RM50,000 for the estate temple located in Sungai Besar, he explained.
Sri Thirumurugan Alayam temple is also asking for land to expand its premises in Sabak Bernam, said president M Veerappan. We asked the previous state administration for land 20 years ago to build a new non-vegetarian kitchen and a small community hall. Veerappan said the temple committee was still waiting for an official answer from the state. Liu, along with fellow executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar, said they are still deciding on the request, and told Veerappan to be patient for a little longer. Once we have finalised the decision, we will inform the Land Office to make it temple reserve land.You will have the land youve asked for, Liu said. Both Sri Maha Mariamman and Sri Thirumurugan Alayam are estate temples and currently ser ve the 1,000-strong Indian community in Sungai Besar and Sabak Bernam respectively.
Crematorium to be ready in February

By Basil Foo
PUCHONG: A long-awaited crematorium to cater to the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) non-Muslim population is scheduled to be completed in February. We have waited a long time for this around 10 years. We look forward to its completion, said Setenang Buddhist Society Selangor deputy president David Tan. He wasamong several representatives of Buddhist societies who attended a blessing ceremony of the site at Bandar Puchong Utama on Tuesday. The crematorium, which is the firstunder MPSJ, will cater to 450,000 and will serve to alleviate the crowded crematoriums in Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam and Klang which Puchong residents have been relying
on. Construction on this one-acre plot of land will begin soon. It will take about five months to complete, said MPSJ councillor Loka Ng Sai Kai. He said while the initial groundbreaking was in May, as reported in Selangor Times issue 27, construction will only start now as the contract was just awarded. A budget of RM1.2 million was raised from MPSJ and the state government for the cost of construction and one incinerator. Another RM400,000 is still being raised for a second incinerator, which Ng said is important as a backup in case the first one breaks down and interrupts service. He said state executive councillors Ronnie Liu and Dr Xavier Jayakumar have committed RM100,000 from their budgets.
We w i l l push MPSJ for the other R M200,000, said Ng. MPSJ councillor K Arumugam added that the crematorium will be run by MPSJ and kept public to keep costs low Tan for residents who cannot afford private crematoriums. Also present at the ceremony were state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wahm and MPSJ councillors Robert Tan, Rajiv Rishyakaran, Ng Sze Han, and Tai Cheng Heng.
MBSA offers discounts for traffic violations

SHAH ALAM: Motorists with summonses from the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) are encouraged to take advantage of discounts of up to 70% from Oct 1 to Nov 30. Do take full advantage of this and settle your summonses because the longer you wait, the lower the discount rate will be, said MBSA public relations officer Shahrin Ahmad. The 70% discount will only be available for the first 16 days, followed by 60% from October 16-31, and 50% till the end of November. Besides collecting arrears in traffic summonses, the campaign is aimed at educating the public to be responsible by paying summonses immediately. The summonses can be settled atWisma MBSA and their branches in Kota Kemuning and Sungai Buloh. Payments can also be made with credit card via their website, www.mbsa.gov.my. For more information, call the councils revenue department at 03-55105133, extension 203/521/522.
Floating bookstore sails into Port Klang

KLANG: The worlds largest floating book fair, MV Logos Hope, docked in Port Klang yesterday for a one-month visit. We are not just a ship with many books, we are a travelling international community, said managing director Gian Walser. The Swiss national said the ship is manned by 450 voluntary staff from different nationalities. Walser said the floating bookstore offers some 5,000 books covering a wide range of subjects, including science, sports, hobbies, cookery, arts, medicine, languages and philosophy. The books, he explained, are sold at affordable prices as they are sourced directly from publishers in the United Kingdom and United States. The book fair was opened by Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister Senator Heng Seai Kie. The ship and its workers reflect the spirit of volunteerism in an international sense. It is truly a multiethnic, multicultural experience, said Heng. The ships previous port of call was Penang, with Malaysia as its first Southeast Asian destination. It recorded some 133,000 visits when it
docked in Penang from Aug 18-Sept 27. MV Logos Hope Captain Chris Hughes said the ship would remain in Pulau Indah until Oct 23. Im proud to be the ships master, with its great crew of volunteers who work hard without receiving salaries, said Hughes, who is responsible for safety, security and technical operations. Hughes, who has visited Port Klang numerous times in the past, said the ship would visit Kuching and Kota Kinabalu after Oct 23. Its been smooth sailing, from its port of origin in Denmark to ports of call in the Middle-East and Asia, said Hughes, a former container ship captain. He said volunteers can come onboard for a three-month exposure programme, but the normal tour of duty is two years. Volunteers have tried the three-month stint, but they usually end up serving for two years, Hughes said. The fair will be opened to the public from 10am to 10pm from Tuesday to Saturday, and 3pm to 10pm on Sunday. It will be closed on Monday. Tickets cost RM1, with free admission for children under 12.
Dengue outbreaks at Taman Universiti Indah

By Brenda Chng
SERI KEMBANGAN: An alarming 33 dengue cases have been recorded in Taman Universiti Indah in the past nine months, and the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) is scrambling to prevent further cases. The latest case was reported at a house on Jalan Indah 2/8 on Monday (Sept 26) de- MPSJ councillor Tai Cheng Heng with fogging contractors. spite fogging operations by MPSJ contractors. with the council to ensure that Aedes mosI hope residents will help the council quitoes are not breeding in their premises. prevent anymore dengue cases by looking Tai urged residents to take 10 minutes after cleanliness of their own housing area, every day to clean their house compounds, said MPSJ councillor Tai Cheng Heng. making sure they have rid all pools of stagAnother round of fogging was carried out nant water. after the recent case. He reminded residents to clean and Tai, however, pointed out that no amount empty bottles, drains, tin cans, vases and of fogging will work if residents do not work pails.
media 18
More than 3,000 children take part in Giant run

Meet-and-greet with the Giant mascot.
Families at the event.
KEPONG: More than 15,000 people attended the Giant Kids Run, one of the biggest event designed specially for children, on Sept 16. The Giant Kids Run saw more than 3,000 children and their families taking part in the event held at Metropolitan Park in Kepong, which was organised in celebration of Malaysia Day. GCH Retail (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd managing director Ho Mun Hao said: The run the first of its kind, we believe was
organised for children and aimed at getting everyone in the family involved. We felt that as a homegrown brand, we should celebrate Malaysia Day in a unique way. What better way than to have the Kids Run? This is the first time Giant has organised such an event, and with the overwhelming response and support we hope to make it a yearly affair, said Ho. The children and their families also enjoyed carnival games,
product samplings, pony rides and entertainers at the event. The categories of the races were 4-6 years old, 7-8 years old, 9-10 years old, and 11-12 years old. Those between four and six years of age received a medal and a certification of completion. Hampers were also given to the top three winners in this category. Winners of the other categories received medals and cash prizes ranging from RM500 to RM3,000. To qualify to take part in the Kids Run, all customers needed to do was to purchase a minimum of RM20 of any participating sponsors goods at Giant. Each participant received a race t-shirt, finishers medal, a certificate of completion, and a goodie bag. The main partner of the event was Nestle, while other sponsors were Dutch Lady, Glaxo Smith Kline, Jack n Jill Potato Crisps, Lam Soon, Libresse, MeadJohnson, Munchys, and Procter & Gamble.
SHAH ALAM: There is a new express doorto-door small-parcel delivery service on the block. Yamato Transport (M) Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of comprehensive transportation group Yamato Holdings Corporation Ltd, introduced the courier service TA-Q-BIN last week. The launch is in tandem with Yamato Holdings Asean expansion plan. The TA-Q-BIN service is an extension of the logistics service established by Yamato Transport in 1988. Through this service, customers will experience the convenience and the flexibility of sending parcels to their friends and family throughout the year. According to Yamato Transport, the TAQ-BIN service has 33 vehicles and 74 sales (From left) Ambassador Shigeru Nakamura and Senator Datuk Maglin Dennis DCruz with Kaoru Seto during the drivers operating from six branches in three launch of TA-Q-BIN services, flanked by two sales drivers. key markets, mainly in the Klang Valley, Penang and Johor Baru. The service offers scheduled delivery time as well as The service has been available since Sept 19. TA-Q-BIN Collect, which enables customers to settle Customers have the option of receiving their parcels payments through the sales drivers upon delivery for from as early as 8am to as late as 9pm. the purchase of goods online. Yamato targets to deliver 1.5 million parcels by the We will be investing approximately RM1.9 million end of 2012. towards training 74 sales drivers for the first year of Commenting at the launch of TA-Q-BIN, Yamato operations. With this training programme in place, we Transport (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Kazushige will provide the same quality service as offered in Japan, Higurashi said: Malaysia has one of the highest inter- said Higurashi. net penetrations in the world, with 65% of its populaBy the year 2020, we hope to expand our express tion going online. A significant number is involved in delivery service to 100 branches throughout peninsular online retailing and e-commerce companies. Malaysia with 1,500 Yamato vehicles, coupled with Hence, we believe there is an opportunity for us to 3,000 qualified sales drivers and a staff force of over tap onto and offer the TA-Q-BIN services. 5,000 employees, he added. We also recognise the growing demand for highThe TA-Q-BIN launch event was graced by Deputy quality delivery services in the country as individuals Minister of Information, Communications and Culture are all geared to conducting online transactions. Senator Datuk Maglin Dennis DCruz; Japanese AmYamato will also be offering Cool TA-Q-BIN, which bassador to Malaysia Shigeru Nakamura; Yamato Holdpaves the way for the delivery of chilled and frozen re- ings representative director and chairperson Kaoru Seto; frigerated products. Customers will be able to send president Makoto Kigawa; and Yamato Transport perishable items directly to the homes. president Masaki Yamauchi.
New courier service in town
Sunway properties hosts Raya open house

SHAH ALAM: Sunway Integrated Properties (SIP), under newly listed Sunway Berhad, recently treated 50 orphans from Rumah Al-Khairiyah to a Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house at their headquarters at Menara Sunway. The children were treated to a sumptuous buffet dinner, performances, duit raya, as well as a schoolbag packed with stationeries. Prior to the celebration, a donation drive was held among the employees to collect funds for the orphanage. The donations were accepted by orphanage principal Puan Noraini Haji Sirat. One of the highlights was the My Building competition, where the children displayed their creativity in constructing houses out of recycled materials. The event was held as part of SIPs Social Linkage programme for employee engagement. By providing an engaging workplace, SIP is focused on improving productivity, retaining employees, and injecting the work environment with motivational ideas.
Children having a good time.
Sunway representatives with the orphans.
september 30 october 2, 2011
fiction 19
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Tel: 03-5637 3722 Fax: 03-5631 9815

Borang maklumaT Memaklumkan tentang meningalkan rumah kediaman untuk bercuti. Kepada Kawasan pentadbiran balai polis
Boundless from the illusion

Fiction by Meena Lakshana
.............................................................................................. BuTiran penduduk: nama: .................................................................................. alamat: ................................................................................. .............................................................................................. .............................................................................................. nombor telefon bimbit/kediaman: ........................................ nombor telefon yang boleh dihubungi: ................................ .............................................................................................. tarikh meninggalkan rumah: ................................................ tarikh dijangka balik ke rumah: ........................................... Kenderaan yang ditinggalkan (jenis model & nombor daftar kenderaan). 1. .......................................................................................... 2. .......................................................................................... 3. .......................................................................................... lain-lain maklumat: ..............................................................................................
isps of cigarette smoke waft through the humid air. Eyes transfixed on the smoke, I gulp down iced water from a cold glass and chew on the ice shards, or whatever is left of it. Then I put my lips to the cigarette filter, eyes watching the smoke, and take a long drag. The nicotine silences the cacophony in my mind: an empty slate. I lean back in the rattan chair by the window while I prop my legs up on the soft cushion. Hugging my legs, I gaze out at the tall neem trees fringing my mothers house. The supple green, diamond-shaped leaves billow in the wind. Smoke that is all we are. We appear to be real, but we are not. What is real anyway this notion that to exist, we must be something. The thoughts linger in my head as a cool, gentle hand rests on my shoulder. Momentarily perturbed by the feeling of something opaque, I look up to see a familiar face my mother. Have you eaten? No, I answer with a steely gaze. I return to watching the smoke as it curls, elongates and swirls about in a diaphanous, serpentine manner. The hand on my shoulder moves to give me a slight squeeze. And just as it fleetingly appeared, it is gone. I was not always like this distant and disconnected. I used to be happy and had everything at my disposal. I had a name that I lived up to: Aditi. I liked the way it sounded when people called me the way the vowels and consonants lilt in the air.My mother, a fortress of a woman, used to say my name means boundless or entire. In many ways, I was my name. I travelled so much in my line of work as a travel agent. I saw the decrepit tombs of Egyptian pharaohs that lie dazzling in the desert; enormous marble religious complexes in India; exotic landscapes of the Nordic regions and breathed the heady spiced air of Marrakech and Syria. The memories are detailed and rich in colour, scents and arresting visuals. But it is also punctured with hazy moments of inebriation and euphoria: the clang-
ing of glasses, darkness with flashes of iridescence, the soft touch of a pair of lips on mine. Somehow, in all that overwhelming wonder, when my senses were inundated with stimuli and my brain was packed with information gleaned from those stimuli, I existed. I was a three-dimensional being with wants and needs insatiable. A thirst for life to be swell and epic, yet, not to mar the ideal created by years and years of conditioning the career, the house, the man, the kids (well-mannered at that). That was the fault line. The threads unravelled, for what seemed to be fulfillment was, in fact, not. When I was at home with my husband, I was never present. It was as if I was in a perpetual lull. Questions yielded curt answers, which led to arguments. I never confided in him about the things I saw, tasted and smelled. This angered him, to the point that he stopped trying. I retreated from my life with him, possibly due to the fixation with my other life, the one that was full of liberty, of pleasures. I loved my husband, but I meandered from the path I chose to a point of no return. Was it selfish of me? Perhaps, but I never really knew what I wanted from life. However, I knew what was supposed to be attained from it. I never deconstructed the ideals to understand what I was seeking from it. How can a blind sorcerer be a master of his vision? I tried so hard to achieve something so vague and failed miserably. No husband, no kids, no swanky little house by the beach. So, after a career culminating in 15 years of getting people to visit countries as a way to numb their dissatisfaction with life, a failed marriage and no kids, I sit here in this living room. I look around: white walls; red, satin curtains that flutter languidly in the afternoon breeze and rattan furniture. Its simplicity is comforting. At 40 years old, I stopped searching for what is out there and I began my search within. No more rose-tinted glasses because this is it just me and the void. With a pen to a notebook and a cigarette to my lips, I begin writing my wondrous escapades through this chasm we call life. It begins with a mirage of contentment.
............................................... tandatangan
....................................... tarikh
Have you cHecked your electrical switcHes before leaving Home?

Before leaving your home for a holoday, have you checked all your electrical switches and turned off your gas tanks?
Call the SS17 BomBa for advise at
03-5634 9444
food 20
September 30 October 02, 2011
Slicing and dicing parts of a chicken for a big order. Preparing a dish for delivery to a customers table.
ack in the 1970s when I was still in Ipoh, many of us didnt care much for pak cham kai, or ngah choy kai as some people called it. I had a friend who was helping his dad to run a coffeeshop on Theatre Street. Parallel to Theatre Street was Clare Street (now Jalan Mustapha Al-Bakri). Clare Street was well-known for its pak cham kai, which is now known as the famous Ipoh chicken rice. Frankly, we boys didnt have time for such hawker fare. We were more concerned about the next coming attraction in Lido or Cathay cinemas and how we were going to find the The new Ipoh Chicken Rice money for the shows. restaurant serves only ayam Anyway, at that time as it still is kampung. Ipoh was better known for its kai si sar hor fun or chicken koay teow soup and its ubiquitous curry beehoon mee. My own personal preference was curry mee, which my dad took me after every Sunday church service. We often went to Swee Huat Restaurant near the Majestic theatre. When I later moved to big bad Kuala Lumpur to earn a decent living, I soon forgot about the pak cham kai. Then, years later, on Jalan Gasing, the Ipoh Chicken Rice shop suddenly showed up. At that time, there were two chicken rice shops. I believe they are still there. Soon, the fame of this Ipoh chicken rice spread rapidly. Some office colleagues were intrigued and even became Ipoh chicken rice converts. They thought the dish was a c e r t a i n Ya p Khoon Yin made great. I thought it was so-so. Sometimes, when we were a life-changing marked down for double shift, decision to open which meant our work schedule was up a shop on Jalan from 2pm to 2am, we enjoyed a Gasing. The Ipoh chicken, It was a gamble that longer break. Those were the times almost like the when someone would suggest we go paid off handsomely over original. to Jalan Gasing, PJ, for Ipoh Chick- 30 years. Today, all the waiters en Rice. Somehow, I got dragged at this shop wear a t-shirt that has along because I didnt want to be a the founding year printed on the chicken, bean sprouts and meatballs, tofu: minced meat tofu, back. I also tried its mapo tofu, which claypot tofu and mapo tofu. wet blanket. In the years of its growing busi- came in a little wok. It turned out to new additions are deep fried soSometimes when we were at the Jalan Gasing shop, we didnt eat ness, this shop has adapted to be rather delicious. To me, it was a tong or calamari, buttermilk fried fish fillet, stir-fried broccoli with chicken rice but curry mee with modern times. These days, the wait- great discovery. In the past, the menu was mushroom, and several types of chicken meat balls. The curry mee ers take down a customers orders was not bad, considering the genuine using a handheld device that trans- straightforward and simple. Today, marinated and roast pork. Business in the past two decades Ipoh curry mee was hard to find in mits information to the ordering there are many more choices. For section via computer. instance, there are three types of must have done wonders for its cofKlang Valley. Recently, when I refers because the Ipoh My colleagues and I occasionally Chicken Rice estabordered a medium-sized plate of turned for a meal for lishment has three Ipoh chicken to go with the manda- sentimental reasons, I more branches. tory plate of bean sprouts. Someone was surprised to find One branch is in told me the taugeh was directly that everything had been Mid Valley Boulevard, shipped from Ipoh because the Ipoh updated during my years the other in Sunway taugeh was much fatter and had of absence. The place is now ocGiza, Kota Damanshorter roots. sara, and the third in Nobody alluded to the water cupying two shoplots. Damansara Jaya. from the limestone hills that was Thus, there was room for Overall, I was most rumoured to have a robust effect on more tables. The management has also emimpressed with its effithe bean sprouts. cient service. Orders The bean sprouts were crunchy, ployed more foreign normally take about and it was such a joy to munch them nationals to keep up five to 10 minutes to together with a delicious piece of pak with the growing number of customers, espeappear on the table. cham kai. This kind of service is The history of the Ipoh Chicken cially during weekends. Ginger and chilli spice up the meal and make a great Besides the usual difference. rare at any restaurant Rice Shop goes back to 1977, when
Much ado about cock-a-doodle-doo!

Ipoh Chicken Rice is synonymous with steamed rice, bean sprouts and white chicken. LIN ZHENYUAN follows the aroma that leads him from Ipoh to Petaling Jaya.
Mapo tofu is as good as it gets. Bean sprouts is a must-try dish at this restaurant.
The restaurant is always full during weekends.
when most of the tables are filled. The workforce at the Ipoh Chicken Rice shop has enough people for swift and smooth delivery of dishes from the kitchen to the table. I must admit that now I rarely return to Ipoh, I do miss its pak cham kai more often than I care to admit. Age must be catching up when ones stomach craves for the kind of food that one shunned during childhood. Even the baked salted chicken made famous in Ipoh new town has made inroads in Klang Valley. But that is another story.z They say there is nothing like the original. In the case of the Ipoh Chicken Rice, the shop on Jalan Gasing is keeping the Ipoh flag fluttering in the wind. Not a bad deal for a shop that has been growing from strength to strength for the past 34 years.
Samsung Series 3 300V
New gadgets on the block

Logitech is no stranger to great PC accessories and the latest to join them is its Bluetooth keyboard designed for the Apples iPad. The Logitech Tablet Keyboard, a keyboard-and-stand combo is designed to travel easily, set up quickly and add a touch of convenience to all the places you use your tablet. It pairs easily with your tablet over Bluetooth wireless, so you can use it on your desk, lap or anywhere within 30 feet of your tablet, depending on use, settings and environmental conditions. With the combo case and stand, its carrying case helps protect your keyboard while on the go, and once you arrive, converts into a sturdy stand that is adjustable to your preferred angle. A separate stand means you can place your iPad anyway you like it landscape or portrait for optimal viewing. The keyboard also comes equipped with controls to manage your music and entertainment. You can play, pause, and turn the volume up and down; it is all right at your fingertips. I had a go recently with this device and I can wholeheartedly recommend this as a worthwhile accessory to have. The Bluetooth pairing is very easy to achieve, the connection is stable and the typing on the keyboard is what youd expect from the Logitech brand. The only real downside is that its a tad heavy as a carry on accessory. While the keyboard is designed for the iPad, it can also connect to other Bluetooth devices such as the Android tablets. However, Logitech will be launching one specifically for the Android tablets next month.
Logitech Tablet keyboard
Logitech Tablet keyboard
TECHNOLOGY 21
SEPTEMBER 30 OCTOBER 2, 2011
fter a number of weeks of dealing with Android, my focus now shifts back to a number of new products that were recently launched in the market.
First up is the HTC EVO 3D, one of the first glasses-free, 3D phones in the market. The Taiwanese company believes that with the proliferation of 3D movies in the market, the introduction of the HTC EVO 3D will give a chance to those who would like to enjoy 3D movies in a whole new way. The EVO 3D doesnt require you to wear anything special to view its 3D screen. You can watch movies in 3D, take 3D pictures, or capture your own 3D video all with ease. Built on the Gingerbread (2.3) version of Android, HTC EVO 3D features HTCs first qHD 3D 4.3-inch display and a powerful 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon dual-core processor. HTC EVO 3D also features dual 5 megapixel cameras, which can be used to capture both high-quality conventional and stunning 3D images and videos, opening up new frontiers for user-generated content, social networking and streaming video.
BlackBerry Bold 9900
HTC EVO 3D
For fans of BlackBerry, this is a welcome change to the device as this is the first Bold that sports a touch screen. The new Bold 9900 resembles the first Bold that came into the market, with a wider screen and bigger all-around form factor but thinner than the first at 10.5mm. The new BlackBerry Bold 9900 is also the first BlackBerry smartphone to include builtin support for NFC (Near Field CommuniBlackBerry Bold 9900 cations), a new technology that is enabling many capabilities, including the ability to pair with NFC-enabled accessories or read SmartPoster tags with a simple tap of the smartphone. The new Bold 9900 also comes equipped with the BlackBerry 7 operating system and a next generation BlackBerry browser with a significantly faster, more fluid web browsing experience. Combining the dramatically improved performance of the advanced WebKit browser engine together with powerful hardware enhancements, the BlackBerry 7-based smartphones claim to deliver browsing results that are up to 40% faster than BlackBerry 6 based smartphones and up to 100% faster than BlackBerry 5 based smartphones.
Powered by Google Androids 3.1 (Honeycomb) platform, the 10.1 also comes equipped with Samsungs own TouchWiz user interface. It features a 1GHz dual core processor, 3 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front camera, 16GB memory, supports full high definition video, and comes equipped with Polaris Office productivity suite. Celcom offers bundled plans with the Galaxy Tab 10.1, so those wanting to get your hands on one can check on of its stores out. The Tab can also be found in various retail shops for about RM1,900. With so much focus on tablet computers these days, one tends to forget that laptops are very much still in use as tablets are better as a media consumption device and not so much as a work machine. That is not to say that laptops cant be slim, sexy, lightweight and powerful at the same time, as shown by the 300V. Samsungs new beauty features the latest 2nd generation Intel Core i7 processor, Windows 7 Home Premium and a new-generation NVIDIA GeForce graphics card. And with Samsungs unique Fast Start technology, the Series 3 300V wakes up within a few seconds. An innovative hybrid sleep mode combines the fast start-up of sleep with the stability of hibernation, so you dont have to wait 30-60 seconds for the notebook to boot-up. Couple this with the 300Vs extended battery life of up to seven hours (4400mAh battery) / nine hours (5200mAh battery) on a single charge so you can work and socialise longer. It also features a robust Samsung Duracase casing, with a special scratch-resistant surface, will protect against the risk of everyday bumps and knocks and keep your notebook looking stylish and new for longer. The 300V comes in a few vivid colours, namely Vital Orange, Raspberry Pink, Alaska Blue, Mock Black, and Smoky Silver.
Samsung Series 3 300V
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
Arguably the closest rival to Apples iPad, the Samsung Galaxy 10.1 was launched amidst much fanfare here last month. Samsung claims the Tab is thinner than a pencil, as it measure a mere 8.6 millimeters. Its also pretty light, at just 565 grams, and this is possibly the best selling point about the device. The device also includes a brilliant 10.1-inch touch screen display with WXGA 1280 x 800 resolution delivering vibrant colors and crisp clarity.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
HTC EVO 3D
Gallery 22
Children of the Al-Khairiyah orphanage and staff of Sunway Integrated Properties taking part in a competition to build houses out of recyclable material during a Hari Raya open house at Menara Sunway in Shah Alam.
Executive councillor Iskandar Samad handing out duit raya and packets of A4 paper to schoolchildren in Taman Desa Bukit Bujang. Some 133 home owners also received their Certificate of Fitness for Occupation (CF) during the event last Sunday.
Several counters were set up to attend to public enquiries about the procedures to apply for land lease extension, and for property owners to submit their applications on the spot at the Arena Sports Complex in Petaling Jaya last Tuesday.
Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) Mayor Datuk Mohd Jaafar Mohd Atan selecting winners of iPads via lucky draw. Ten members of the public and five MBSA staff were rewarded for paying their half-year taxes punctually.
Dr Xavier Jayakumar advising students to dream big, during the closing ceremony of a statesponsored study camp for PMR students from poor families. The camp was held from Sept 23 to 25 at Riverstone Eco Resort at Sungai Tua Forest Reserve.
Klang Municipal Council (MPK) officers destroying computer parts with sledgehammers. Over 10,000 computer gadgets and video discs had been confiscated during raids on cybercafes and premises of illegal traders by local council personnel last year.
Culture 23
Compiled by Nick Choo Send your events to: nick@selangortimes.
Editors Pick
Musical; 29 Sept-16 Oct; Istana Budaya; 03-40265558; RM30-RM450 Enfiniti Productions musical extravaganza opens this week: Immerse yourself in the story of Nora, a sassy prima donna who unwittingly becomes an M15 secret spy. Set in whimsical 1960s Malaya, the strong-willed miss uses her feminine wiles to uncover a diabolical plot of epic proportions, battles a masked villain who holds a secret from her past and discovers hidden bravery within herself. Along the way, she catches the eye of her dashing spy trainer Roger and rises to the challenge of becoming the spy she never intended to be. Travel back in time to experience an action-packed 60s spy adventure, brought to you by the same team that brought you Puteri Gunung Ledang and P Ramlee the Musical. Starring Tiara Jacquelina, Ryan Silverman, Adibah Noor, Aznil Nawawi, Tony Eusoff, Stephanie Van Driesen and Aaron Khaled.
The Secret Life Of Nora
cALeNDAr
FUSED: Experimental Series

Various; 30 Sept-Oct 2; The Actors Studio @ Lot 10; 03-21422009, www.theactorsstudio. com.my; RM10
A bi-monthly experimental series featuring a fusion of artists, ideas and performances. Friday, 30 Sept: WMM: We Are Malaysian Made Movies Screening stuff you never get to see on local TV or the cinema and spreading news about stuff you dont read about in the papers. Visit www. wearemalaysianmade.com today for more news about Malaysian Made creative content and updates of upcoming screenings! Curated by Michael Chen. Saturday, 1 Oct: Strumming to a different beat The Electronic Issue Turn on the amp and crank up the volume dial as FUSED plugs in and acoustic goes electric. In a celebration of the six-string, the guitarists are strumming to a different beat. Its a night where the raw edge of feedback, distortion and white noise from the riffs of electric guitars find their place alongside keyboard, trumpet and saxophone. Electronic is about to rock. Sunday, 2 Oct: MyDance Alliance presents Dancebox Its dance season in the city! After the excitement of the MyDance Festival 2011, squeeze in something a little more informal. Dancebox brings a sweet little assortment of emerging and experimental dance. Past shows have served up belly-dancing, ballet, smooth Latin moves and freaky butoh freezes. What will you get when you open the Dancebox?
Much ado about Much Ado

review
By Terence Toh
In Perfect Harmony
Theatre/Music; 6-23 Oct; Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre; www.klpac.org, 03-40479000, www.damaorchestra.com; RM93-RM303
Set against the backdrop of a radio broadcasting station, this musical concert production pays homage to the multitude of popular music that tugged at our heart strings in the last four decades. Its a showcase of fabulous songs and dances. Exquisite vocals. Great music. Superb fun and entertainment all the way. Featuring Chang Fang Chyi, Tria Aziz and Tan Soo Suan, with special guest appearances by Zainal Abidin (6-9 Oct), Sean Ghazi (12-16 Oct), David Arumugam (19-23 Oct) and The Seasons 4 (12, 16, 19, 23 Oct). Presented by Dama Orchestra.
IF there were ever to be a Ten Commandments of the Romantic Comedy, the very first one would be: Characters who are at each others throats in the beginning are destined to end up in each others arms by the end. Tension invariably leads to sexual tension. There is a thin line between love and hate: both after all, are extreme emotions requiring high amounts of passion, and bickering and flirting are not so different. One of the greatest and most memorable instances of the bickering couple is undoubtedly Shakespeares Much Ado About Nothing, a delightful comedy of zany schemes, bickering lovers, and bumbling clowns that continues to entertain audiences to this day. A production of this comedy was performed by the Theatre For Young People (T4YP) ensemble at The Actors Studio@ Lot 10, Kuala Lumpur from 22-24 Sept. Directed by Christopher Ling, and featuring the talents of Amir Yunos, Amanda Chan, Banun Atina, Belinda Hon, Devyani Gupta, Umesh Logandran, Kamini Senthilathiban, Nick Dorian, Yusuf Amin and Tung Jit Yang, Much Ado About Nothing was the groups finale performance for the year, and proved to be an entertaining watch. Several changes were made to the plays conventional staging in this production. Minor characters such as Antonio were cut, and a few scenes deleted, strangely including Dogberrys infamous I am an ass declarations. The character of Leonato, Heros father, was replaced instead by her mother Imogene, a ghost character from Shakespeares original draft. This feels peculiar at the beginning, but thankfully, the character is played with such aplomb by Belinda Hon, and allows for one of the funniest moments at the end, that the change actually feels warranted. Perhaps the most inspired element of the production was its use of traditional instruments for the plays music. Much Ado featured a live gamelan performance composed by Ezanin Mazlan, which provided an unforgettably haunting soundtrack to the play. Singer-songwriter Ian
Pics by Kelab Shashin Fotografi KL 2011
The Selfish Crocodile

Don John, however, seemed lifeless, while Jit Yangs Dogberry came across as unenergetic and flat. Dorian shone as Benedick, infusing his character with charm and flair, and the scenes where he pontificates on the nature on love and bachelorhood were wonderful to watch. As Beatrice,one of Shakespeares most complex female characters, actress Athina put in a mixed performance. While she shone in certain scenes, some of her line delivery came across as forced and artificial. The climax at Hero and Claudios wedding was magnificently done, even inciting gasps from the audience as the storys tragedy slowly unfolded. This was especially due to stirring emotional performances by Hon, Amin and Chan, who played the demure Hero. The two eavesdropping scenes were also performed well, as was an additional scene where Claudio and Don Pedro react to what they believe is a grave betrayal. Other scenes were not as powerful. The scenes with Dogberry and Verges apprehending Borachio were draggy and came across as contrived, while the scene at the chapel with Beatrice and Benedick, which should be emotionally charged, felt lacklustre instead. Overall, though, Much Ado About Nothing proved to be a good watch. While some of the acting was not up to par, this could perhaps be chalked up to youthful inexperience. A good ending to Theatre For Young Peoples 2011 run: heres hoping that they keep up with their spirited productions.
Chow also contributed two songs, which were performed passably by Jit Yang as the minstrel Balthazar. There were also several dance numbers in the play, which incorporated elements of traditional dance. While this was a great idea, its execution fell flat as the casts dancing often seemed lifeless and lacklustre. Costumes were simple yet sufficient, mostly jackets and dresses. It would have interesting had the production team taken the east-meets-west approach to the music and applied it to the visual presentation as well: a Shakespearian piece performed in full Nusantara wear would have been amazing. Performance wise, the young actors of Much Ado About Nothing were decent. Shakespearian dialogue is notoriously tricky to master, but the cast mostly did a fine job, despite occasionally tripping over their lines. Many of them also seemed to rush their dialogue, which was a pity as this meant some of the plays comedic weight was lost. Hon delivered as Imogene, while Amin did a good job as Claudio, portraying him as a serious, somewhat repressed young man prone to dramatic emotional outbursts. Logandrans
Theatre; 4-22 Oct; PJ Live Arts @ Jaya One; 0172289849, www.tix.my; www. gardnerandwife.com/11_croc. asp; RM48-RM78
A funny forest adventure about a snappy crocodile and a brave little mouse. This bestselling childrens story by Faustin Charles and Michael Terry comes to life in this delightful stage adaptation by UKs Blunderbus Theatre Company. The 50-minute show tells the story of a crocodile who terrorises the frightened forest animals who attempt to get near the river, and how one kind and courageous mouse changes everything! The Selfish Crocodile teaches positive messages like honesty, compassion and the importance of friendship, while reminding kids that sometimes the smallest acts of kindness are the ones that often have the greatest impact. This story is written especially for children aged four to seven, but adults will find the show thoroughly entertaining, too. Presented by Gardner and Wife Theatre.
In Death Rows Shadow

Exhibition/Dialogue; 1-10 Oct; Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall; free admission
Featuring the works of 11 local artists, including illustrator JC Wong, blogger Susan Loong, and visual artist Seelan Palay, as well as two Singaporean artists and a US-based photographer. The death penalty is not only cruel, inhuman and degrading for the moment of execution; rather, the entire process, from the time of sentencing till the last moment of consciousness, is profoundly torturous. Works on the theme include installations, acrylic paintings, mix media, visual media and video art.
Obsessive Art Disorder

Exhibition; 16-19 Sept; Core Design Gallery; 012-6674348 (Anni)
Creativity is a spark of mind in inventing, experimenting, growing, breaking rules, making mistakes and having fun with it. This notion is showcased in Obsessive Art Disorder, featuring works presented by a group of artists with diverse art backgrounds, styles and ideologies
Published by Selangor State Government and printed by Dasar Cetak (M) Sdn Bhd No. 7, Persiaran Selangor, Seksyen 15, 40000, Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan.

Selangor Times Sept 30 - Oct 2, 2011 / Issue 42

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Freedom FIlm Fest 2011

New land approved for Selangor schools

September 30 OctOber 02, 2011/ issue 42

September 30 OctOber 02, 2011

To place your Advert in

Refugees robbed, injured by cabbies

Klang MP, parents want ministry to suspend school head

Source: Malaysian meteorological department

Faekah Husin, Arfaeza Abdul Aziz

SELANGOR TIMES September 30 OctOber 02, 2011 3

September 30 OctOber 02, 2011

Nutritional therapy talk

October completion for EvEnts Rothmans roundabout

Georgians get together

International Seniors Day

More staff to ensure smooth waste collection

Two-hour parking limit in Sec 14 on hold

Logos visits Port Klang

MPK green carnival

SELANGOR TIMES September 30 OctOber 02, 2011 5

Six-decade wait for land titles finally over

september 30 OCtOber 2, 2011

Positive response at briefing

Chor: Negligence cause of mall blast

Sabak Bernam residents air grouses to MB

SELANGOR TIMES September 30 OctOber 02, 2011 7

The State Of Selangor Darul Ehsan

THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN

Council incurring losses over abandoned homes

September 30 OctOber 02, 2011

Of hotel dinners and the poor

MPSJ forms teams to collect rubbish

SCHOOL OF LIFELONG LEARNING

INDUSTRIAL EXECUTIVE DIPLOMA (WORKING ADULTS)

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016-351 9068 010-948 4933

MPK wants to retain control of cleaning services

SELANGOR TIMES September 30 OctOber 02, 2011 9

Valid from 30 SEPT - 2 OCT 2011

SH, FREZEN YS ALWA FRO

Fresh Chicken Thigh

NO FRILLS Egg Grade E 30s

Prepacked Carrot 500g per pack

Ideal For Curry/Rendang

Enoki Mushroom 100g per pkt

CALIFORNIA Green Seedless Grapes

NEW ZEALAND Royal Gala Apple

Chiffon Cake Pandan/Orange

Fried Chicken Parts Spicy

MOTHERS CHOICE Cheese Slices Extra Light/Regular 200g

GIANT French Fries 1kg

KINGS Ice Cream (Assorted Flavours) 1.2 lit

UNCLE JACK Tempura Chicken Nuggets (Original/Hot & Spicy) 800g

Please cut out these coupons to enjoy more savings!

Coupon Valid 30 Sept - 2 Oct 2011

EVERYDAY Filled Milk Powder 1.2kg

ISOMIL PLUS Advance Eye-Q Milk Powder 900g

JULIES Crackers Golden/Sugar 500g/400g

Offer Price: RM3.49 each

Offer Price: RM119.99

CARLSBERG Green Label Canned 24 x 320ml

Offer Price: RM27.99

Offer Price: RM59.99

LIFE Chilli Sauce Jumbo 735g