Windfall Residents want Traders

for OA underground claim

villages discrimination
MRT stations
p 4 p 12–13 p 7

community February 25 — 27, 2011/ issue 13

Rimba Jaya
settlers to get
compensation
By Alvin Yap

SHAH ALAM: An election pro-

mise to pay compensation to for-
mer Kampung Rimba Jaya settlers
whose homes were demolished in
2007 will be fulfilled by the state
government.
“The state executive council had
decided that 283 former residents
who took the developer to court still
qualify for the RM7,000 subsidy
given to ex-squatters to buy low cost
flats,” said Iskandar Samad to Selan-
gor Times.
The state executive councillor
said under the previous administra-
tion, any squatter who took their
case to court would be denied the Hamzah Basir: Not satisfied
subsidy. with the RM7,000 offered by the
Some 200 families attempted to state.
defend their homes by obtaining an
injunction to prevent Shah Alam wish to buy low cost flats would be
City Council (MBSA) from carry- allowed to receive cash equivalent
ing out demolition works. to the amount of subsidy in order to
The court had ruled against them help them to start a new life.
and they lost their right to compen- During a press conference with
sation. S ha h A l a m M P
B u t I s k a n d a r, Khalid Samad earli-
whose portfolio in- 283 former er this month, the
cludes housing, said residents settlers pointed out
the present adminis- that took the that compensation
tration feels the for- developer to was long overdue.
mer residents should Khalid had pro-
not be further pun- court still qualify mised to raise the
ished after being for- for the RM7,000 issue with both the
cibly evicted and their subsidy given state and in Parlia-
dwelling s demol- to ex-squatters ment because com-
ished. to buy low cost pensation was im-
“I will be negotiat- portant to the fami-
ing with the develop-
flats.” lies,
er together with the Batu Tiga as- He  pointed out that some had
semblyperson Rodziah Ismail to get failed to secure housing loans, and Rimba Jaya settlers still qualify for subsidy to buy flats.
the developer to agree to contribute needed the RM7,000 to defray the
to the subsidy to be paid,” said Is- cost in purchasing a low-cost house. The settlers claimed that Rodzi- ent requests.
kandar. But not all the settlers are satis- ah, who is state lawmaker for the She said she was aware that some
The State through its Housing fied with the amount being offered. area, had said that she would at- were unhappy over the amount but
Board will also assist settlers to W h e n m e t o n We d n e s - tempt to get RM15,000 for each the state could not satisfy every-
identify low cost flats to purchase, if day,  Hamzah Basir, who was among family. body.
all the flats at the development 15 settlers, said they were not satisfied However when contacted by Se- Rodziah will be meeting the
originally designated for them had with the RM7,000 offer. “I am hoping langor Times, Rodziah said the state former settlers sometime in the next
been sold. the state will pay us more,” said the decided on a “cut-off ” amount of two weeks to explain the state’s deci-
Former residents who do not 55-year-old carpenter. RM7,000 as the settlers had differ- sion.
2
news
February 25 — 27, 2011

Selangor WEATHER
Friday Saturday Sunday OA get their
Morning

Afternoon
bungalows at last
By Basil Foo  were allocated as hous-
ing development for
SHAH ALAM: Bungalows promised the Orang Asli,” said
to 21 Orang Asli families in Bukit Lee, who is also the
Night Cerakah were finally handed over to them Kajang assemblyper-
yesterday after a four-year delay. son.
“There is no point talking about the He said when the
Source: Malaysian meteorological department delays, we are thankful for the homes committee first visited
today,” said Mela Aib, who was among the two years ago, the de-
recipients. velopment had not
Abandoned Selangor Public Accounts Committee
(PAC) chairman Lee Kim Sin, who at-
been completed despite
a privatisation agree-

project to be
tended the ceremony, said the bungalows ment between the state
should have been built and delivered to and the developers
the families in March 2007. signed in 1999.

revived next month “This is our second visit to this 110.5

hectare project, in which 16.2 hectares
According to the Mela Aib: One of the recipients.
agreement, all develop-
ments should have been “Our visit today is to ensure the
handed over to the Orang promised developments will be ful-
By Gan Pei Ling Asli by May 2007 but only filled without further delay,” he said.
30 terrace houses were A total of 30 medium and 23 low
SUBANG JAYA: House buyers of serviced apartment completed during PAC’s cost flats, along with two shop lots have
Newgate 21 are pleased to hear that their white knight has first visit. yet to be built.
secured court clearance to resume construction on the The homes are part of Lee added that public amenities
abandoned project. the compensation prom- including a surau, kindergarten and
“We’re grateful to the people who have helped revive the ised to the community. recreational facilities were also missing.
project,” said Pritpal Singh, chairperson of the house buyers’ In addition to the bun- Lee said PAC will advise the current
committee for the 10-year abandoned project in USJ 21. galows, they were promised state administration against similar
He told Selangor Times that developer Sumbangan Lagenda low cost flats, terrace homes privatisation projects which are un-
is expected to resume construction in mid-March. They will and shops lots which profitable.
hold a press conference on Sunday to announce the good news. should have also been com- He said the previous state adminis-
First abandoned by Solarglow in 2000 and later by Pinggiran pleted four years ago tration had signed off on 40 such
Setia in 2006, Sumbangan Lagenda is the third developer for The other families who projects from 2006 but so far only
the four blocks of 24-storey apartments and a three-storey retail were promised homes were eight have been completed.
podium. left in the lurch and some The projects were supposed to gen-
Pritpal said over 1,300 house buyers have been affected by resorted to building make- erate RM270 million for the state but
the abandoned project. Many are still servicing bank loans for shift homes in the nearby to date the state had only got RM29
their units. Lee: Public amenities missing. agricultural park. million from them.
They expressed hope Sumbangan Lagenda will not let them
down like Pinggiran Setia.
Kinrara assemblyperson Teresa Kok praised the house
buyers’ committee’s perseverance in looking for new developers
to revive the project.
16 CCTVs to curb crime in Klang
“This is a long awaited moment. I also hope the developer KLANG: Closed-circuit television litterbugs. CCTVs for the local council.
will upgrade the apartment’s design because it’s already more cameras (CCTVs) have been installed MPK could also assist the police Starting today, Klang residents can
than 10 years old,” the executive councillor said. Out of the in the town and suburbs here in a bid to with their operations during traffic call the municipal council’s toll-free
1,000 plus units in Newgate 21, almost 90% are sold. curb crime and maintain public order. congestion and road accidents. helpline at 1800-88-23826 or 03-3371
Creditor RHB Bank had appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers A total of 16 installed CCTVs, When asked if the CCTVs violate 4404 to ask about traffic conditions or
(PwC) Advisory Services to resolve the abandoned development sponsored by the Housing and Local the public’s privacy, Mislan said they are lodge public complaints.
in Dec 2008. Subsequently, Sumbangan Lagenda won the open Government Ministry, were handed installed in public locations so it should Under the Housing and Local Gov-
tender facilitated by PwC to revive the project. In Dec 2010, over to the police and the Klang not be an issue. ernment Ministry’s programme, close
99.7% of the purchasers also voted and agreed to allow Municipal Council (MPK) yesterday. “The cameras are not installed in to 500 CCTV cameras, costing RM59.8
Sumbangan Lagenda to rehabilitate the project. The CCTVs were placed in areas private places like washrooms or bed- million, are being installed nationwide
Under the rehabilitation scheme, house buyers can choose such as Jalan Tengku Kelana and Bukit rooms…Many developed cities like to curb crime and monitor traffic.
to keep or surrender their units back to the developer. Tinggi. London and Shanghai have CCTVs in Besides MPK, six other local coun-
Those who choose to keep their units have to pay an “We hope this will make the public public places to help reduce crime and cils in Selangor have also received the
additional 25% of their units’ original purchase price to cover more considerate. Before you litter or monitor traffic conditions as well,” he cameras under the ministry’s pro-
the escalated costs of construction. The developer is required park illegally think again because you said. gramme.
to complete the project in 30 months after it resumes might be caught on camera,” said MPK Mislan added that the Selangor Contractor GTC Global is respon-
construction. president Datuk Mislan Tugiu. government has also approved 60 more sible for the CCTV cameras’ installa-
Tw o M P K tion, maintenance and providing
enforcement officers training for the police and local
will be stationed at councils’ officers to operate the
the local council’s CCTVs from the control centres.
control centre while The 16 cameras are installed in
phone (603) 5523 2288 a 24-hour helpline the locations listed below:
fax (603) 5523 1188 will be set up to take Jalan Raya Barat
email editor@selangortimes.com
complaints and Teluk Pulai
EDITORIAL queries from the Jalan Tengku Kelana
public concerning Jalan Pos Baru
CHIEF EDITOR KL Chan
traffic and crime. Jalan Raja Hassan
COMMUNITY EDITOR Neville Spykerman
Mislan believes Lorong Gopeng
WRITERS Tang Hui Koon, Chong Loo Wah, Gan Pei Ling, Basil
Foo, Yasleh Hani Mat Yassin, Alvin Yap
the CCTVs will help Klang Parade
COPY EDITORS James Ang, Deborah Loh
curb illegal parking Bandar Baru Klang
DESIGNER Jimmy C. S. Lim
and vandalism as Taman Eng Ann
well as assist the Jalan Datuk Yusof Shahbudin
PHOTOGRAPHER Victor Chong
authorities in Jalan Sg Jati
ADVERTISING Timothy Loh, Ivan Looi
c a t c h i n g s na t c h Taman Sentosa
ADVISORS Faekah Husin, Arfa’eza Abdul Aziz thieves, illegal Bayu Perdana
traders and Bukit Tinggi
SELANGOR TIMES ⁄ February 25 – 27, 2011 ⁄ 3
4
news
February 25 — 27, 2011

RM10k for each

By Gan Pei Ling

Events SEPANG: The state will allocate

Film Screening
Yasujiro Ozu’s “Floating Weeds” will be screened
tomorrow, Feb 26, at 3pm. In 1959, Ozu remade his
1934 silent classic, “A Story of Floating Weeds”,
in colour with celebrated cinematographer Kazuo
Miyagawa (“Rashomon”, “Ugetsu”). Setting his later
version at a seaside location, Ozu otherwise preserves
the details of his elegantly simple plot where an aging
actor returns to a small town with his troupe after 12
years. “Floating Weeds” reveals Ozu’s distinct style at
its best. Entrance is by donation. Venue: Indicine, The
Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC), Sentul
Park, Jalan Strachan, KL
Imbauan 3
On Monday at 8.30 pm, the Petronas Performing Arts
Group (PPAG) presents Imbauan 3, a continuation of
the successful Imbauan 1 and 2 showcases. Featuring
songs from classic Malay movies in new arrangements
and with orchestrations by Ahmad Muriz Che Rose.
Admission is priced at RM60, RM50, RM30 and RM15.
Dress code is smart casual. Venue : Dewan Filharmonik
Petronas, Level 2, Tower 2, Petronas Twin Towers,
KLCC, K. Lumpur.
Shingo Tokihiro Costume Exhibition
Until March 13, catch famed Japanese costume
designer, Shingo Tokihiro’s creations in Kuala Lumpur at
a joint exhibition by KLPAC and The Japan Foundation.
Tokihiro has been honing his craft for the past 23 years
designing for stage performances in Japan as well as
abroad. Tokihiro is particularly fond of Shakespeare
and has designed for many Noh-styled productions
of classics including Macbeth, Othello, King Lear and
Tempest. Open from 10am to 10 pm. Admission is free.
Venue: Pentas 2 Foyer, The Kuala Lumpur Performing
Arts Centre (KLPAC), Sentul Park, Jalan Strachan, KL
Kidney forum  tion for the construction of a highway
In conjunction with World Kidney Day, a public forum
on “Signs & Symptoms of Kidney Diseases” will be held
on March 5 from 11.30am to 2pm at the Kayangan Hall,
Level 1, DEMC Specialist Hospital, Section 14, Shah
Alam. It will be delivered by consultant physician and
nephrologist Dr Rashidi Saidin. Another forum, “Eat
Your Way to Health”, will be conducted by dietician
Chew Lih Teng. Free admission but seats are limited.
To register, call Mukhairudin at 017-960 6164 or 03-
5515 1888 ext 882.
RM10,000 a year to each Orang Asli
village for development from this year.
In addition, all Village Security and
Development Committees ( JKKK)
OA village a year
chiefs will each receive RM300 a
month.
“They can use it to build an office
or organise community programmes,”
state executive councillor Elizabeth
Wong, who heads the state’s Orang Asli
taskforce, said on Sunday.
She said similar funds are allocated
to traditional Malay kampongs and
Chinese new villages.
“This is nothing new,” said Wong,
adding that close to 70 Orang Asli
villages in Selangor would benefit from
the allocation.
Wong also said the state has mapped
out the boundaries of Orang Asli
customary lands in 10 villages using the
Global Positioning System.
In an effort to recognise Orang Asli
land rig hts, the state has been
embarking on a project to map out
their customary lands since mid-2010.
Wong urged young Orang Asli to
volunteer for the project. The state will
provide the training. Khalid Ibrahim (third from left), Sagong Tasi, Wong and Bukit Tampoi village
Wong was attending a thanksgiving
chief Changkeh Dabak cutting a three-layered glutinous rice cake at the
ceremony organised by the Temuan in thanksgiving ceremony.
Bukit Tampoi, Dengkil. Menteri Besar
Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim also attended struction firm United Engineers in 1996. for free were Datuk Dr Cyrus Das, Jerald
the ceremony, which was held to thank They won the case at the Shah Alam Gomez, Rashid Ismail, Sharmila Sekaran,
the state and the lawyers involved in High Court in 2002 but the four Leena Ghosh, Steven Thiru, Ragunath
the landmark Sagong Tasi case. defendants appealed. The state decided to Kesavan, David Mathew, Valerie Chong
In 1995, 38 acres of the Temuan withdraw its appeal in April 2009. and Dr K Chandra.
customary lands in Bukit Tampoi were In May 2010, the Federal Court ordered Lawyer Cecil Rajendra, from Penang,
taken without appropriate compensa- the Malaysian Highway Authority and who was also present at the thanksgiving,
United Engineers to pay the 26 families brought the case to the attention of the
to the Kuala Lumpur International RM6.5 million for their lost lands. Malaysian Bar’s human rights committee
Airport. It was a bittersweet victory for the back in 1995.
As a result, seven Temuan from Orang Asli after 15 years. Sagong Tasi, 81, More than 300 Orang Asli, including
Bukit Tampoi sued the federal and is the only living plaintiff out of the those from neighbouring villages in
state governments, as well as the Ma- original seven. Sepang and Kuala Langat, also attended
laysian Highway Authority and con- The lawyers who aided the Orang Aslis the thanksgiving.

Haemodialysis programme
Prince Court Medical Centre (PCMC) also marks
World Kidney Day with the launch of a nocturnal
haemodialysis program. Experts will give educational
talks on how to care for your kidneys and heart.
Members of the public including kidneys patients and
caregivers are welcome to attend the public forum on
March 6 at PCMC auditorium from 9.30am to 2pm. Call
1-800-88 –PCMC (7262) for customer relations (ext
1721), or Asil (ext 1108), or e-mail your RSVP to asil.
ghebllawi@princecourt.com.
Course on Buddhism
Learn more about the historical development of
Bumi housing quota not threatened
By Yasleh Hani Mat Yassin
SHAH ALAM: Contrary to a report on TV3’s Buletin
Utama report on Feb 21, the state government has no intention
of ending the Bumiputera housing quota.
“That report is also inaccurate in saying that the Bumiputera
housing quota is 30 per cent, when in actual fact, the quota
varies from 30 to 70 per cent according to district,” said state
executive councillor for housing Iskandar Samad.
Iskandar said the state has had a series of discussions with
the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Associaion of Ma-
laysia (REDHA), which brought up the request for auto-
matic release of unsold Bumiputera lots.
However the state has yet to make any decision in regards
to the automatic release asked for by REDHA.
“The state has only formed a company, Selangor Hous-
ing and Real Estate Company, to help the developers
market properties under the Bumiputera quota,” said Is-
kandar.
Iskandar added that this was done in the hope of lessening
developers’ burden while ensuring that real estate ownership
among the Bumiputera is guaranteed.

Pet cats to be licensed?

Buddhist scriptures at a three-hour course on Saturday
from 3pm to 6pm at the Nalanda Centre, 3357 Jalan
18/31, Taman Sri Serdang, Seri Kembangan. For
details, call 03-8938-1500/1501 or e-mailinstitute@
nalanda.org.my
Healing breath meditation
Kevala Centre will hold a free public session on Healing
Breath Meditation on Sunday from 6pm to 7pm. Learn
this simple yet powerful meditation technique, where
you will be guided with simple steps to calm your mind
and emotions. It will be conducted by Dr Dhilip Kumar.
Admission is free but pre-registration is required. For
registration, call 03-5636 7986 or visit www.drdhilip.
com.
Sudoku clinic
Malaysia Sudoku Society is conducting a free
“Sudoku Clinic” for senior citizens at their clubhouse
in Bangunan SECITA, 4A Jalan SS5D/6, Kelana Jaya,
Petaling Jaya, on Monday from 9am to 10.30am. It
will be led by Lim Teck Guan (author of Art of Sudoku
series guide books). For details, call Lim 019-311 8174
or Lee 012-234 1492.
By Alvin Yap
KLANG: The state may require pet
owners to apply for cat licences as too
many stray felines are now roaming the
streets.
“We are looking into the possibility
for cats to be licensed, like dogs,” said
Selangor executive councillor Dr
Xavier Jeyakumar.
This was because local councils and
the veterinar y department have
received complaints of stray cats
raiding trash-bins and even entering
kitchens looking for food, said Dr
Xavier at a pet owners’ forum at the
Klang Municipal Council (MPK) on
Saturday.
The state is also standardising the
application process and fees for pet
licences across all local councils, he
added.
He urged pet owners to be more
responsible by spaying and neutering
their pets. Owners should also not
abandon their pets.
“I’ve seen people abandoning their
dogs, by letting them out of the car and
then driving off,” he added. Pets left to
roam free might pose a danger to
residents because of rabies and other
diseases.
Dr Xavier said some pet owners
were also ignoring council bylaws that
prohibited the keeping of dogs or cats
in strata property.
“If your pets are caught, please
don’t try to appeal against us taking
action. We can’t make exceptions,” said
the Sri Andalas assemblyperson.
Dr Xavier also announced that the
state has plans to use a four-hectare
plot of land to set up a centralised dog
and cat pound. He did not disclose the
location.
The pound will also be a “one-stop”
educational centre for youngsters on
how to be responsible pet owners.
On moves to implement electronic
tagging of pets, Dr Xavier said the
Selayang Municipal Council had
voluntarily pioneered this initiative.
Pet owners can either get their pets
tagged by the veterinary department
or have it done by private veterinarians.
Those who do so will receive a rebate
on pet licence fees, said Dr Xavier.
 news
february 25 — 27, 2011 5

No dream
home for
residents
By William Tan
petaling jaya: The problems seem
to be piling up for residents of Pangsapuri
Impian Baiduri in Seksyen 51A.
Non-functioning elevators, unhygienic
surroundings and robberies are just some of
the issues they face regularly.
The most tragic case in the history of the
place was when a elevator fell down from the
sixth floor of Apartment Block A last year,
injuring a couple and two secondary school-
children.
“Problems like this are frequent in this
area and have been going on for the last six
years,” said resident Moi Yeuk Mene, 68.
Moi showed Selangor Times around the
area and pointed to the lack of window
grilles on the first floor windows. He attrib-
uted a spate of burglaries to the missing
grilles.
To add to their woes, thieves have now
turned to stealing poorly fastened air condi-
tioner compressors and cables.
Thieves would also occasionally steal
motorcycles in the area, a problem that has
resulted in residents taking their bikes back
to their apartments, out of fear.
The list literally went on, with Moi point-
ing out an entire street littered with rubbish
before complaining about the non-function-
ing street lights and missing manhole covers.
According to Moi, the problems were due
to the developer and irresponsible residents.
An example of the irresponsibility of
residents was where all the disposal bins at a
nearby trash collection area were moved out
so that someone could park his taxi at the
spot.
According to Radiah Ishak, 54, who sells
pastries at the flats, some residents in the
higher floors would also throw things out of
the windows into an adjacent empty plot of
land. The things thrown out included um-
brellas and bags of wastes, she said.
Taman Medan assemblyperson  Haniza
Mohd Talha, who visited the site last Satur-
day, said everyone had to work together to
solve the problems.
“It must work both ways, you can’t really
expect the developer or management to do
anything if the residents do not pay their
maintenance fees” she said.
She added that the developer had been
generous and dished out RM450,000 to fix
the elevators and compensated some of the Moi Yeuk Mene showing an
victims. entire street lined with rubbish at
To help alleviate the problems, Haniza Pangsapuri Impian Baiduri.
suggested the establishment of a new com-
mittee comprising residents in the area to Inset: Taman Medan assemblyperson
help bridge the gap between the developer Haniza Mohd Talha.
and residents.

Know Your Councillor: Mohamed Yusoff Increased

By Yasleh Hani Mat Yassin
KAJANG: Kajang councillor
Mohamed Yusoff Bachek (pix) hopes
his area will be more modern and
pedestrian-friendly one day.
The self-employed father of three,
who grew up in Singapore, cannot
help but compare the amenities avail-
able there with amenities in Kajang.
“I would like to see more walkways
and bike paths constructed to make
Kajang more friendly for bipedal oc-
cupants,” said Yusoff, who is now in
his third term of service with the
council.
“The Kajang Municipal Council,
which has among the lowest assess-
ment rates, has difficulties in making
Bumi role
ends meet and so any new develop-
ment really has to be budgeted
in sand
wisely,” added Yusoff.
In the hope of increasing council mining
revenue, Yusoff said they are stream-
lining the parking system in Kajang SHAH ALAM: Malay entrepre-
which previously only benefitted the neurs have increased their presence
company subcontracted to handle in the sand mining industry in Sel-
parking. angor and have been awarded the
Yusoff sees his job as a way to help bulk of concessions by the state.
people. He said he grew up being Dr Yaakob Sapari said 75 per
taught to help others, like elderly cent of all river sand mining con-
folk, with their marketing or other tracts and almost 44 per cent of
daily activities. contracts for sand mining on state
Yusoff holds a Masters in Business land have been offered to Bumi-
Administration, and enjoys bowling puteras.
and swimming. The state executive councillor
said 30 out of the 41 contracts for

Selangor plans third year celebration

By Basil Foo
SHAH ALAM: The state will celebrate the
third anniversary of its administration with sev-
eral activities to increase awareness of its policies.
“The celebrations are designed to be informa-
tional so that people will be more aware of our
policies and welfare programmes,” said Tan Sri
Khalid Ibrahim.
The Menteri Besar said the celebrations will
be held over two days and open to the public at
Stadium Melawati on March 5-6.
The programme includes exhibitions by the
state government and private agencies, youth
activities like futsal, and lectures by famous figures
including state leaders.
The Orange Book, or “Buku Jingga” which
lists out Pakatan Rakyat’s policies and what the
coalition will do if it takes federal power, will also
be launched at the event.
On March 26, the state will launch a blueprint
called “Selangor for the People” and the book
“Liku-liku Reformasi”.
A state-wide tour will also be held by the
Menteri Besar, executive councillors, and senior
government officers who will visit people at the
grassroots level to address their problems.
river sand mining have been issued
to Malays while six were awarded
to Chinese, three to  Indians and
two to Orang Asli.
Yaakob, whose portfolio in-
cludes entrepreneur development,
pointed out that Bumiputeras also
received 43.75 per cent of conces-
sions to mine sand on state land
while Chinese received 50 per cent,
“All contractors were chosen
through an open tender process by
Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd
(KSSB),” said Yaakob.
6
news
February 25 — 27, 2011
Wan (left)
showing
the extent
of the
collapsed
drain.

Illegal
parking
by lorries
have
completely
blocked
off a lane

Address complaints, MPSJ

By Basil Foo
PUCHONG: Despite their repeated
complaints, business owners in Taman
Perindustrian Kinrara Section 1 claim
that they are still plagued by illegal
parking and clogged drains.
“Everyday after 4pm, there are many
lorries which park indiscriminately in
the lanes behind our shop lots, totally
obstructing our comings and goings,”
said Frankie Choo.
The owner of UniCare workshop
who has been working here since 2006,
said that the problem has been on-
going for a few years.
He was reluctant to point fingers
but said that lorry drivers should only
be parking on one side of the lane to
allow traffic to pass.
Gerakan Pemuda Bureau head Wan
Sun Keong also highlighted the
clogged drains at the row of shop lots
along Jalan TPK 1/7, where stagnant
and foul-smelling water has become a
potential breeding ground for
mosquitoes.
“One of the causes of the stagnant
water is a collapsed drain by the side
of the main road which has worsened
since six months ago,” said Wan.
Wan said business owners in
the area have filed numerous written
and phone complaints with the
local council but have received no
response.
“However there seems to be some
action taken today, coinciding with
our visit,” he said, referring to a nearby
tractor during his visit to the site on
Feb 22.
He said he hopes the 12 metre-long
collapsed drain would be shored up
and reinforced soon to avoid the
damage spreading from the road
shoulder to the main road surface.
“If the main road is affected by the
collapse, this could cause uneasiness
among motorists travelling along TPK
1/7,” he said. Wan
He also hopes local council officers
could step up enforcement against
illegal parking by the lorries for the
convenience of traffic flow to local
business in the area.
When contacted, MPSJ public
relation officer Azfarizal Abdul
Rashid said the council would
investigate the allegations before
issuing any statements. Choo

Support
KERAJAAN NEGERI SELANGOR for new
KENYATAAN TENDER entrepreneurs
By Yasleh Rita Ayu
Tender adalah dipelawa kepada Perunding-Perunding yang berdaftar dengan Kementerian Kewangan Malaysia (KKM) dan
Lembaga Jurutera Malaysia, berkelayakan dan berpengalaman untuk memasuki tender bagi kerja-kerja berikut:- SHAH ALAM: The state has new businesses to obtain funding. 
TARIKH DAN pledged to support the creativity The seminar’s objectives in-
TEMPAT DAN TARIKH
BUTIR-BUTIR SYARAT HARGA TEMPAT
TENDER PENDAFTARAN DOKUMEN
TARIKH DOKUMEN
LAWATAN
TENDER of budding entrepreneurs and to cludes motivating and exposing
DIJUAL DITUTUP cut red tape to help them suc- participants to  basic entrepre-
TAPAK
Perkhidmatan Kementerian RM300.00 Pejabat Setiausaha Khamis Isnin, ceed. neurial skills with an emphasis
Juruperunding Bagi Kewangan Malaysia (Tidak akan Kerajaan Negeri 08 Mac 2011 21 Mac 2011 Dr Yaakop Saapari (pic) said on creative entrepreneurship. 
Merekabentuk dan dan dikembalikan) Selangor, sebelum he maintained an open door Yaakob also took questions
Menyelia Kerja- Bahagian Pentadbiran Jam 10.00 pagi
Lembaga Jurutera jam 12.00 policy and entrepreneurs were from the floor and responded to
Kerja Menaiktaraf Tingkat 16, Berkumpul di tengahari
dan Membaik Pulih Malaysia Bangunan SSAAS, Loji Rawatan Air welcome to meet him if they the concerns of the participants. 
Loji Rawatan Air 40503 Shah Alam, Sungai Selangor Tender yang
lewat diterima needed help. Most wanted to know what
Selangor Fasa 1 Selangor Fasa 1,
Bukit Badong. tidak akan The state executive councillor the state could do for them and
Jumaat dilayan.
25 Februari 2011 Lawatan for entrepreneur development requested for procedures to be
hingga Tapak adalah added that his office was also eased so that they would not be
Khamis DIGALAKKAN willing to liaise with other gov- bogged down with paperwork.
10 Mac 2011
ernment departments to facili- The one-day seminar is also
Dokumen Meja Tender boleh disemak di Seksyen Makro & Penswastaan, Unit Perancang Ekonomi Negeri, tate new business ventures. part of the state’s initiatives to
Pejabat Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Selangor, Tingkat 16, Bangunan SSAAS, 40503 Shah Alam, Selangor pada Speaking at the closing of the promote and support new entre-
waktu pejabat bermula 25 Februari 2011. Bayaran Dokumen Tender hendaklah dibuat dalam bentuk Draf Bank atau
Kiriman Wang di atas nama Bendahari Negeri Selangor. Bayaran tidak akan dikembalikan dan pembayaran secara tunai state’s Entrepreneur and Business preneurs.
atau cek tidak akan diterima. Opportunities Seminar at Over 300 participants at-
Perunding dikehendaki membawa sijil Pendaftaran Asal Kementerian Kewangan Malaysia (KKM) dan Lembaga Jurutera De Palma Hotel here, last Satur- tended the programme, the first
Malaysia serta satu salinan bagi kedua-dua Sijil tersebut semasa membeli dokumen tender. day, Yaakop added that the state for this year, which will also be
Perunding hendaklah mempunyai pengalaman minima sepuluh (10) tahun di dalam kerja-kerja mereka bentuk dan had also prepared avenues for held throughout the state.
menyelia pembinaan muka sauk pembekalan air termasuk stesen mengepam air, loji rawatan air serta sesalur induk
bagi skim bekalan air tidak kurang dari 500JLH dan pernah dalam tempoh sepuluh (10) tahun lepas menjalankan
kerja-kerja mereka bentuk dan menyelia pembinaan bagi menaiktaraf dan membaik pulih skim bekalan air sedia ada serta
berpengalaman dalam tempoh lima (5) tahun lepas menjalankan kerja-kerja mereka bentuk dan menyelia pembinaan bagi Correction
projek infrastuktur dengan kos tidak kurang dari RM50 juta In paragraph 2 of page 6 of our Feb 18-20 Issue 12, “Security
Dokumen Tender yang telah lengkap diisi hendaklah dimasukkan ke dalam sampul surat yang dimetrikan dan ditulis atas kiri barriers stay for now”, we erroneously reported Johan Tung of
sampul jenis tender dan dimasukkan ke dalam Peti Tender di alamat:-
APAC as saying “we will vote them out”.  
PEJABAT SETIAUSAHA KERAJAAN NEGERI SELANGOR
Seksyen Makro & Penswastaan, Unit Perancang Ekonomi Negeri He did not say the words. Any error and inconvenience
Tingkat 16, Bangunan Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, caused is regretted.
40503 Shah Alam,
SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN
 news
February 25 — 27, 2011 7

Traders claim New

Cha: Wheelchair bound.
By Alvin Yap
PETALING JAYA: Five petty
traders at the Taman Megah market
are cr ying foul over the City
Council’s (MBPJ) move to relocate
them as they are disabled and
suffering from ailments.
The five, including one who is
disabled and an asthmatic, said the
sudden decision by MBPJ is unfair
because of their disabilities and ill-
ness.
The MBPJ directive will see Cha
Sher Nee moving to the inside next
row, swapping lots with a vegetable
seller who complained of conges-
tion.
“I have the right to stay at my
present location. The stall was de-
signed for people like me in mind
because of my disability,” said wheel-
chair bound Cha at a press confer-
ence on Tuesday,
She was referring to the proxim-
ity of her stall to an access ramp for
the disabled.
The lot she is asked to move to
has a narrower walkway, and as such
would impede the movement of her
wheelchair, she said.
MBPJ, she said, allocated the lot
to her as she was the only disabled
trader who had approached the city
council for a place.
“This is a chance for me to be
self-reliant as a trader, I don’t want
to rely on people to move in and
out,” she said, adding that her pres-
ent location was “perfect” for her to
conduct her frozen food sales.
An access ramp leads directly
from the parking bays and the main
road to her stall which does not have
a  permanent “table” that blocks the
front.
Councillor Tiew Way Keng, at a
press conference yesterday, said the
swap was proposed in order to man-
age the traffic flow in the market as
discrimination
Tiew showing traders a survey on Taman Megah market traffic flow. Pua is second from right.
for the renovation.
“There’s no discrimination in our
proposal for the lot swap,” she said.
During a press conference at the
market on Tuesday, Cha alleged that
she was harassed by other traders in
the market who pressured her to
follow MBPJ’s decision.
She claimed that the vegetable
sellers had berated her for not fol-
lowing the directive.
Cha told her predicament to
MBPJ councillor Anthony Sivaba-
lan who promised to bring the mat-
ter up in MBPJ council meetings.
“I will take this matter and dis-
cuss the issue in council meetings. I
will get the mayor (Datuk Roslan
Sakiman) to intercede in this mat-
ter,” said Anthony, who is also chair-
man for disabled advocacy NGO,
Petpositive.
“I conduct accessibility tests in
By Chong Loo Wah
public areas and I can say that her
movement will be impeded,” he said,
explaining that it will be difficult for
the disabled to move inside the
market as the path is narrower.
Similarly, Daisy Rani, who sells
flowers has been asked to move
further into the market.
Daisy, a mother of two school-
going children, said MBPJ enforce-
ment officers had approached her on
Jan 28 asking her to surrender her
business licence which was still valid.
She was then given a new licence
that stated her business premise as
further inside the market.
Daisy said she does not want to
move, adding that she may not be
able to attract customers if she was
located further inside the market.
“I have my two children to sup-
port and my husband is only a con-
tract worker,” Rani said to Selangor-
Times at the same press conference.
“Furthermore, I’m asthmatic and
need fresh air,” she added.
Francis Siva, president of the In-
dependent Living and Training
Centre, said MBPJ should recon-
sider the move, adding that people
with disabilities and ailments were
“disadvantaged” in accessibility and
while at work.
“My organisation will bring this
up to Selangor Exco Teresa Kok and
Petaling Jaya (Utara) member of
Parliament Tony Pua,” he said.
When contacted by Selangor
Times, MBPJ public relations officer
Zainun Zakaria, said that the city
council did not issue any directives
for the traders to swap lots.
She said the traders, who received
the stalls through a “lottery” or
drawing of lots will stay at their pres-
ent location.
guidelines
for Bumi
quota
houses
SHAH ALAM: Guidelines to cut
red tape for the sale of unsold
Bumiputeras quota houses to non-
Bumiputeras have been approved to
aid developers sell the units.
Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid
Ibrahim on Wednesday said the
developers no longer need to seek
the approval of the state executive
council. Instead a new housing com-
mittee or board will speed up all
applications from developers.
The approval to sell the homes
will depend on the timing and
percentage of the project’s com-
pletion.
“Once 50 per cent of the housing
project is completed and the houses
have not been sold completely to
Bumiputeras, the developer can
release 20 per cent of those houses,”
he said.
Developers can release 30 per
cent of unsold houses reserved for
Bumiputeras for housing projects
which are 75 per cent and 100 per
cent complete.
“Developers can release all un-
sold houses after six months of re-
ceiving certificates of fitness.”
Bumiputera units which are un-
sold currently affect the cash flow of
developers and the state is attempt-
ing to address the issue by carrying
out these new measures.
The Bumiputera quota currently
ranges between 30 per cent and 80
per cent of housing projects and
depends on demographics.
The new committee will be
under the purview of state executive
councillor Iskandar Samad, who
said it will be easier now for
developers to get the necessary
approvals.
Approvals are expected to be
granted between seven and 14 days
under the new system.

BALAKONG: Factory owners in Kampung

traders and patrons had complained
that traffic was congested in the
second row.
The crowding has also resulted in
some patrons having their pockets
picked. The hawkers from the first
and second row, she said, had agreed
to the swap but added that “third
parties” were interfering.
“We’re concerned about busi-
ness. 40 per cent of the patrons have
gone to SS2 or Kg Cempaka wet
market to shop,” she added.
Tiew said Cha would have a
closer and direct route to the dis-
abled toilet if she moved to the
second row.
One of the stalls in the second
row, Tiew said, will be renovated to
facilitate her, adding that both
MBPJ and the stall owner would pay
Baru Balakong are appealing to the Kajang
Municipal Council to take over the
maintenance of roads and drains in their
industrial area.
“We’ve to spend around RM3 million to
RM4 million to maintain the roads annually,”
said Alan Hoh, vice-president and executive
secretary of the Kampung Baru Balakong Land
and Factory Owners Association.
Hoh said it was unfair that factory owners
had to pay around RM2 million in assessment
and maintain the roads and drains themselves.
Set up in 1996, the association had
established a maintenance fund during its early
years. Factory owners have been forking out
their own money to pave the roads and
maintain the infrastructure.
However, the Kampung Baru Balakong
industrial area has expanded from 145.7ha to
210.4ha over the years and houses around 140
Owners want local council
to take over maintenance
factories now.
Previously under the Hulu Langat District
Council, the area is now under the Kajang
Municipal Council’s jurisdiction.
The association president, YP Kong, said
more than 80 factories have been legalised
during the past few years and all remaining
operators are also applying to legalise their
operations.
The Kampung Baru Balakong industrial
area is one of the models for other industrial
areas to legalise their factories.
The association acknowledged the support
the current state administration and local
council had provided for factory operators to
legalise their factories.
But they hope the state will understand that
it has became increasingly taxing for them to
maintain the infrastructure in their area.
“We hope the state will provide some funds
to alleviate our burden, or speed up the process
for the local council to take over the
maintenance from the association,” said Kong.
Meanwhile, state executive councillor Ean
Yong Hian Wah said the state was considering
rewarding the association as the Kampung
Baru Balakong industrial area has been the
most successful in legalising their factories.
The Seri Kembangan assemblyperson also
told Selangor Times he is unsure if the area’s
maintenance had been passed over to the local
council but he would follow up on the matter.
8
news
february 25 — 27, 2011

EC: Pressure Putrajaya

By Alvin Yap
petaling jaya: The Elec-
tion Commission (EC) has told
concerned citizens to put pressure
on the Federal Government if they
want the commission to have the
power to carry out reforms of elec-
toral conduct.
EC deputy chairman Wan Ah-
mad Wan Omar (pix) said reform
proposals have been submitted to
the government. He did not disclose
the proposals.
“We have yet to receive any an-
swer from Putrajaya. This (wait)
happens in many countries. Incum-
bents will be extra cautious in mak-
ing reforms,” he said at a forum or-
ganised by polls watchdog Coalition
for Free and Elections (Bersih 2.0).
He said the EC was “the manage-
ment” and hence did not have the
power to make laws pertaining to
elections and electoral conduct, in
particular.
“Making laws is not under our
purview, we are meant to conduct
and manage elections, unlike in
other countries. It is up to the gov-
ernment in power,” Wan Omar told
some 150 participants at Petaling
City Council’s meeting hall on
Monday night.
Taking an example of campaign
spending during elections, Wan
Omar said the EC did not have the
power to enforce caps on spending.
He was answering a question by
P Krishnanmoorthy who cited
India’s own EC as having the
power to block parties from carry-
ing out development work in
constituencies to influence elec-
tions.
“That is different from EC Ma-
laysia which can’t stop the federal
government from spending mil-
lions on building roads, paving
them or building school halls,” he
said earlier.
Similarly, on the issue of free and
fair media access during election
campaigns, Wan Omar said he had
approached the Putrajaya on im-
partial reporting.
“They told me that it’s a govern-
ment television channel,” Wan
Omar said.
On automatic voter registration,
Wan Omar said the Federal Con-
stitution did not allow the EC to
go ahead with the move. “Accord-
ing to Section 119 (4) (b), a person
has to apply to be a voter,” he said.
He said even if Parliament ap-
proved such a move to automati-
cally tie the National Registration
Department database to EC voting
rolls, constituencies would be af-
fected by “voter imbalance”. Some
constituencies would have far too
many voters while others may not,
he said.
There were a large number of
Malaysians, he said, who did not
update their addresses on their iden-
tity cards and as such, would not
know where to vote.
“Is that a problem? If they have
to go back to their hometowns, let
them,” interjected Batu Member of
Parliament Tian Chua.
War Omar was adamant that
automatic registration was not fea-
sible, saying that Malaysians did not
want their personal details made
public to polling agents, for exam-
ple.
However, he said Malaysian who
cared and were committed to “elec-
tions, politics and change” would
register themselves as voters.
Bersih 2.0 chairperson Ambiga
Sreenevasan, who is a lawyer, disa-
greed with Wan Omar’s statement
that the EC was powerless to address
electoral conduct.
“We’ll make a study, conduct a
legislative study to show EC that
they have more control over these
issues than they think,” said Ambiga.
She also suggested that Malaysia
invite the international community
to observe campaigns and elections.
“It inspires confidence in the
electoral system, and there’s no harm
in it,” she said.
Earlier, steering committee mem-
ber Wong Chin Huat said the gov-
ernment must move to address the
perception that the electoral system
was weighted to benefit the ruling
party.
“If we see the unrests, riots and
protests in the Middle East now, the
common perception has been the
issue of rigged elections,” said
Wong, adding that the government
should move to dispel any image of
vote rigging. Furthermore, he said
elections were the only way to hold
governments accountable.
“If you want to start a family,
think about the cost of living, and
then think of your government, and
whether to keep them in power or
if you want to vote them out,” he
said.

Community bus
for Puchong
By Basil Foo
kuala lumpur:: About
20,000 households in Bandar Pu-
chong Jaya and Bandar Puteri Pu-
chong can now enjoy free shuttle bus
rides to offices and retail outlets in
their vicinity.
IOI Properties has launched a
shuttle bus service around these two
residential and commercial centres
in Puchong. To apply for the card, residents
“This will reduce the number of
cars on the road, thereby reducing
air pollution and enhancing quality
of life,” said IOI Properties executive
director David Tan at the launching
ceremony recently. While the card could previously
He said the bright yellow shuttle
bus adorned with bumble bees on
of the buses.
To address this, cardholders are
eligible for a daily two-hour free
Wifi service which they can use to
track the bus’ location.
IOI plans to spend RM15,000
monthly on the service and as this
is relatively new, the developer is
collecting feedback from residents
at 03-80769898 or www.facebook.
com/ioiproperties.
can enquire at the IOI Sales Galleria
at the Puchong Financial Corporate
Centre located at the intersection of
the Damansara-Puchong highway
and Lebuh Puteri.
be used by an entire household, the
shuttle bus service requires commut-

River pollution getting worse
By Yasleh Hani Mat Yassin
shah alam: Is this a river or
landfill, and who is responsible?
This was the question asked
by  Koh Chan Bee of Section 25
Shah Alam, who took pictures of the
Klang River on Feb 15 and Feb 16.
“It gets like this every time there
is a downpour and the river doesn’t
seem like one any more,” said the
security and building manager, who
works in Sri Muda.
Koh said he had brought the
matter to the Shah Alam City
Council (MBSA) but nothing was
done.
“MBSA officials told me they had
no jurisdiction over the river,” said
Koh.
But Koh said it was time for the
relevant authority to take the matter
seriously.  problem was longstanding and they
“We are always told to keep our
river clean and yet, it’s sad that no
action has been taken to check and
investigate  the culprits who  keep
disposing of garbage into the river.”
Koh expressed hope his pictures
will raise awareness of the problem.
But when contacted, the Selan-
gor Drainage and Irrigation Depart-
ment (DID) said they had no au-
thority to monitor garbage disposal
along the stretch of Klang River.  public on the importance of rivers
“It is impossible for us to deter-
mine who is responsible,” the depart-
ment’s deputy director for develop-
ment,  Nor Hisham Mohd Ghazali,
said.
Hisham pointed out that the
had put in a lot of effort to clean up
the river. “We have traps to collect
the garbage and remove it from the
river,” Hisham said.
The DID has been been running
public awareness campaigns to keep
rivers in the country clean.  Mondays.
The Love Our Rivers Campaign
was first launched by the Depart-
ment of Irrigation and Drainage
Malaysia in 1993 to educate the
and the environment while high-
lighting the critical state of pollu-
tion.
the sides can be used for free by
those who have the IOI Privilege
Card. Only residents and home-
owners within townships developed
by IOI Properties are eligible to
apply for the card.
The bus will follow a route which
covers retail destinations like IOI
Mall, IOI Boulevard, Puteri Mart,
and the Giant Hypermarket in
Bandar Puteri Puchong.
Currently serving about 5000
Privilege Cardholders, operation
times for the shuttle bus are from
9.30am to 6.30pm daily, except on
As the townships consist of
mostly gated and guarded commu-
nities, the shuttle bus will use the
guardhouses of the various housing
phases as stops.
Tan said that after two weeks of
service, the most frequent enquiry
from commuters was on the timing
ers to apply for individual cards.
Also present at the launch were
state executive councillor Teresa
Kok, MCA Youth executive coun-
cillor Dr Kow Cheong Wei and
residents.
“The Petaling Jaya City Council
has [also been running] a commu-
nity bus service for a year and I hope
the Subang Jaya Municipal Council
could follow suit,” said Kok.
She expressed hope other town-
ship developers would provide a
similar service.
Bandar Puteri 6 Residents As-
sociation committee member David
Phan said it was a good idea as it
reduced traffic problems for resi-
dents in the area.
“As public transport here is inef-
ficient, I routinely drive to the busi-
ness centers and hypermarkets. Now
I can use the card to get on the bus
and save some petrol,” he added.

Rights activists honoured
By Basil Foo
kuala lumpur: A car-
toonist, journalist, author, blogger,
four students and a Facebook page
were honoured by the Centre of
Independent Journalism (CIJ) at
CIJ’s Freedom of Expression Re
port 2010 launch recently.
“The report, released in book
form, is the fourth annual report we
have done,” said CIJ executive of-
ficer Masjaliza Hamzah.
She said the report monitors the
media on freedom of expression is-
sues and noted a trend that suppres-
sion has become increasingly dis-
persed with more individuals tar-
geted.
Among the individuals were au-
thor Kim Quek and cartoonist
Zulkifli Anwar Ulhaque, whose
books The March to Putrajaya and
1Funny Malaysia were banned and
seized from bookstores.
Zulkifli, also known by his pen
name Zunar, said the launch by CIJ
was an eye-opening experience as
the interactive discussions brought
up differing views.
“I got a lot of information from
this as everybody had his or her own
views, not only from one line of
thinking,” he said.
“For example, people were either
for or against Pakatanbanning Utu-
san from their press conferences, in
terms of it being a suppression of
press freedom,” he added.
Also acknowledged were Woon
King Chai, Hilman Idham, Azlin
Shafina and Ismail Aminuddin from
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
who got charged under the Univer-
sities and University Colleges Act
for being present at the Hulu Selan-
gor by-election last year.
National Union of Journalists
president and Utusan Malaysia
journalist Hata Wahari was also re-
cently taken to task by his employers
for being critical of his newspaper.
Music with a message
SHAH ALAM: Radio Demokra-
tika, a compilation album of songs
about democracy, elections as well
as love, hits the stores today.
“We could think of no better
way to demonstrate the fundamen-
tal rights guaranteed to us under the
Constitution than to make an al-
bum about it,” said lawyer and al-
bum coordinator Farez Mohd Ali
Jinnah.
The album, inspired by the Bar
Council’s MyConstitution cam-
paign, features well-known indie
musicians such as Azmyl Yunor and
bands like Carburetor Dung and
Panda Head Curry.
It is available for sale at all Rock
Corner and Victoria Music Centre
from today.  who will perform at the soft launch
“A song is an expression of free
speech…We hope Radio Demokra-
tika sparks in you the freedom to
ask questions you never thought
(From left) Irwan, Woon, Gopalan, Kim Quek, Zulkifli, Hilman, Azlin, Ismail and Hata cutting a cake in the style of the recent Mega Tower
cake parties.
Blogger Irwan Abdul Rahman,
who mans a satirical blog called
Nose4news under the pseudonym
Hassan Skodeng, was charged in
court for a satirical piece on the
national electricity company.
A representative from the “1M
Malaysians Reject 100-storey Mega
Tower” Facebook page was also
present and appreciated CIJ’s effort.
“This was a good initiative to
bring together those who have had
their freedom of expression re-
strained,” said Gopalan Narayanan.
“It is much different seeing them
face to face than reading about them
or looking at their pictures online.”
On freedom of expression, Go-
palan said people should be able to
say what they want in any form as
long as it does not encourage vio-
possible and empower your lives,”
states the blurb in the album.
In an effort to popularise the
Federal Constitution, the MyCon-
stitution campaign has been organ-
ising workshops and forums, and
has published booklets and videos
since 2009.
Radio Demokratika is their lat-
est effort to educate Malaysians
about their constitutional rights,
using music to reach to people not
keen on attending forums.
The album will also be available
for sale at its soft launch at Pekan
Frinjan 18, at Laman Menara Jam,
Dataran Shah Alam at 5pm on
March 5.
Some bands from the album
are An Honest Mistake, The Maha-
rajah Commission, Thin Izzy and
Lord Bobo’s Minions. Some of the
bands comprise professional law-
lence or infringe on other people’s
rights.
On the report, Masjaliza said CIJ
has spent more time on the method-
ology of gathering information and
has been more consistent with ana-
lysing the media.
“We have also invested more re-
sources into the project which ex-
plains this being our largest effort to
date,” she said.
“We wanted to tell the audience
that suppression of freedom of ex-
pression affects everyone, and with
increasing Internet monitoring,
even more people could be target-
ed,” she added.
Masjaliza said CIJ would be
holding an exhibition in conjunc-
tion with World Press Freedom Day
on May 3 in Penang.
yers who are also musicians.
“There is a lot of original music
[in the album] by lawyers…this
should show that lawyers’ talents do
not only lie in law. We just practise
law because it pays better than mak-
ing music!” quipped lawyer Fahri
Azzat from Lord Bobo’s Minions in
jest.
The album’s official launch is
scheduled to be in Penang on April
2.
“Probe illegal use
of state logo”
SHAH ALAM: Selangor is urging
police to hasten investigations on
Selangor Terkini, a newsletter which
has been using the state’s emblem
illegally.
“Using the state’s logo without
approval is a serious offence,” said
Faekah Husin, political secretary to
the Menteri Besar, on Tuesday.
She said the state lodged a police
report at the Shah Alam police
headquarters on Jan 17 but has not
received any update from the police
on the status of investigations to
date.
Faekah said a few editions of
Selangor Terkini have been pub-
lished since late last year but the
frequency of its publication is un-
clear.
Selangor Terkini has a similar
masthead design as the state’s official
newsletter Selangor Kini, and pub-
lishes in Bahasa Malaysia.
However, Faekah considered
Selangor Terkini’s content to be
“defamatory” against the Selangor
news
february 25 — 27, 2011 9
government.
She said the state suspects that
the newsletter is being published to
deliberately mislead the public.
Its website www.selangorterkini.
com carries links to other websites
Selangor Umno, the state Opposi-
tion.
In addition, Faekah said Selangor
Terkini was distributed together
with calendars of Selangor Umno
information chief Abdul Shukor
Idrus, last Sunday.
“We hope the police will investi-
gate this fairly and professionally,”
she said.
Besides the police, Faekah also
urged the Home Ministry, which
regulates publications under the
Printing Presses and Publications
Act, to investigate Selangor Terkini.
Abdul Shukor has denied that
Umno is behind the publication of
Selangor Terkini. He has admitted
to distributing it but said he was
unaware of who had brought copies
to his service centre.
10
news
february 25 — 27, 2011

Dazzling Setia Alam do

Left: The crowd

getting red packets Top: Mother and
or ang pau daughter admiring
from the God of a miniature of Setia
Prosperity. Alam City.

By Alice Mun
SHAH ALAM: Thousands flocked to Setia
Alam City’s annual Chinese New Year open
house at Setia Alam Welcome Centre last
Saturday.
The Triple Prosperity celebration organised
by Setia Alam City was a success despite a
heavy downpour prior to the event.
“SP Setia has been holding celebrations for
festive seasons such as Christmas, Deepavali,
Hari Raya and Chinese New Year every year
since 2004,” said Setia Alam City divisional
general manager Tan Hon Lim.
“The objective of the open house this year
is to celebrate Chinese New Year with the
residents of Setia Alam.”
Tan also said that the response was very
good this year as the event is bigger than last
year’s open house.
“We invited our residents from 6,000
homes in the township as well as members of
the public to join in the celebration this year,”
added Tan.
It was a fun-filled night for all as the crowd
was entertained with stunning performances
of Chinese drums, a lion dance show, tradi-
tional dances, live bands, the King of Masks
show and fireworks display.
Guests of all ages also enjoyed the delicious
buffet dinner that was provided including 18
types of desserts or “tong sui”, fried chicken,
laksa, “mee sua’” baked sweet potato, dragon
beard candy, roasted chestnuts, sugar-coated
fruits and bubble tea.
Engineer Liang Wah Cheong, who has
been living in Setia Alam for over two years,
attended the celebration with his family and
in-laws. He said the open house was a great
event for everybody, especially families to have
a good time together.
The God of Prosperity also made an appear-
ance to distribute red packets or “ang pau” to
the crowd.

Chap Goh Meh Touch of Shanghai

at Setia Eco Park
celebration
draws huge crowd By Yasleh Rita Ayu

SHAH ALAM: Shanghai was trans-

By Alvin Yap
petaling jaya: A Chap
Goh Meh celebration last Friday
night at Taman Jaya drew a huge
crowd, with celebrants coming
from as far as Cheras, Klang and
Sepang.
“This is the first time Petaling
Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is organ-
ising such an event. We had tar-
geted around 1,500 people coming
tonight,” said councillor Tiong
Boon Keong, who was pleased that
some 3,500 people turned up for
the inaugural event.
Organised by six councillors -
Tiong, Tiew Way Keng, Terence
Tan, A Jeyaseelan, Mak Khuin
Weng and Tony Cheong - the event
was not dampened by an earlier
rainstorm that uprooted trees and
knocked down traffic lights and
signboards.
Event managers distributed
4,000 free mandarin oranges to the
crowd who threw them into the
lake after writing their names and
contact details on it, in the hope of
finding prospective life partners.
Annie Tan, 20, a student at Uni-
versity Malaya did not go back to
Pandamaran for Chap Goh Meh
but decided to follow her friends to
Taman Jaya. “It’s customary for me,
as I always follow my cousin or my
friends in Klang to throw oranges
into the sea or river,” she said.
Chap Goh Meh, which is also
known as the Chinese Valentine’s
Day, falls on the 15th day of the
Lunar New Year.
The custom on Chap Goh Meh
is to throw oranges into lakes and
also to release paper lanterns to soar
into the night sky after lighting
them.
Also present were members of
Parliament Loh Gwo Burne (Kela-
na Jaya), Hee Loy Sian (Petaling
Jaya Selatan) and R Sivarasa (Sub-
ang), as well as assemblypersons
Lau Weng San (Kg Tunku) and
Edward Lee (Bukit Gasing).
These two young lasses trying their luck with their oranges.
ported to Malaysia last Saturday at Setia
Eco Park’s Chinese New Year celebrations.
Shanghai Night, as the event was
called, lived up to its billing. With an
evening full of entertainment like lion
dances, live bands, dance performances
and cheong sam fashion show, it was an
evening to remember.
One of the visitors , Hamidah Harun,
said that she was informed of the event by
a relative and decided to take her family
for a nice evening outing.
The evening literally started with a
bang as firecrackers were lit to the accom-
paniment of lion dances leading into the
indoor area where a live band played
Chinese New Year songs.
Besides the performances there were
two calligraphy artists helping visitors by
translating their names and writing it for
them in Chinese calligraphy.
In another corner sat four fortune tell-
ers ready to read palms and tell fortunes.
The psychics from SK Chew Astrology,
Palmistry, Cards Reading, and Three Life
Horoscope Centre were popular with
visitors, with long lines already forming
in early evening.
 Views 11
February 25 — 27, 2011

wit pleasure
Lee Hwok Aun
T
his March in Parliament, the
government will table legisla-
tion to institute a national
minimum wage system.
In doing so, the BN government
reverses over half a decade of its op-
position, wily sloganeering and
dithering on the matter. But this is
more than a policy decision and
political calculation.
To move from talking to doing
minimum wage is an acknowledge-
ment of the plight of the working
poor and the perils of perpetuating
dependency on cheap labour. Mini-
mum wage is a measure – among
many, of course – that can go some
distance toward making Malaysia a
more just society and a more dy-
namic economy.
The magnitude of this interven-
tion and its implications, and the
contending interests of workers,
employers, and society, demand a
robust parliamentary pow-wow.
On Feb 14, Human Resources
Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam
delivered a closing address to a week-
long Minimum Wage Lab, of which
I attended a few sessions. He noted
that the new law would establish a
National Minimum Wage Council
and mandate it to deliberate over a
range of issues, most importantly,
the minimum wage level, coverage,
and time frames for review.
Other critical issues, especially
regarding the independence and
Minimum wage
and living standards
authority of the wage-setting body
– whether it is a council or commis-
sion – remain to be substantively
debated.
We ought to be more concerned
to do it well than fast. It concerns
me that Subramaniam is already
referring to high-income countries,
where the vast majority (95 per cent
in some cases) earn above the mini-
mum wage, as benchmarks of pro-
gress.
This says nothing about whether
the minimum wage reflects a decent
living standard. Like the poverty
line, the lower we set the threshold,
the fewer will fall under it – and the
shinier we appear.
Moreover, minimum wage,
unlike poverty, is legally enforceable.
If all employers comply, then 100
percent of workers earn above the
minimum wage – but this still does
not tell us anything about worker
welfare. Let us not fall into the trap
of self-ser ving and misleading
statistics.
We need to think hard about how
we determine the wage floor, and
how many floors Malaysia will have.
The minister indicated that the
government is leaning toward hav-
ing one minimum wage level for the
Sabah usually emerges as a case
in point: cost of living is high, but
productivity is low. Hence, to apply the
same minimum wage to all states risks
jeopardising those with higher proportions
of firms that cannot afford to pay.”
country, perhaps with differentials
for Sabah and Sarawak.
In other words, all of Peninsular
Malaysia will adhere to the same
minimum wage rate. Selangorians
and KLites should take a keener
interest here; in the effort to com-
promise at a minimum wage satisfac-
tory to all, the level may be too low
to sustain the relatively higher cost
of living or to compel firms to shift
towards higher skill, higher wage
production.
The reasons behind a single
minimum wage, instead of varia-
tions across region or state, are em-
pirical and practical.
Cost of living, or the amount
workers need to spend to sustain a
living, does not always correspond
with productivity, which reflects the
capacity of firms to pay their workers.
Sabah usually emerges as a case in
point: cost of living is high, but
productivity is low. Hence, to apply
the same minimum wage to all states
risks jeopardising those with higher
proportions of firms that cannot
afford to pay.
Conditions in Sabah and Sarawak
are undoubtedly different and war-
rant separate consideration, as we
have been doing for decades in set-
ting three poverty lines, one each for
the East Malaysian states and one
for the Peninsula.
But we should not apply that
three-way breakdown just because
that’s the way it’s been done.
Of course, the more geographic
or economic categories we account
for, the more difficult, costly and
time-consuming it gets to gather and
analyse data. The practical con-
straints are significant.
To analyse wages and propose
minimum wages for all 13 states
could certainly overcomplicate mat-
ters and overstretch resources, but
surely we can commit ourselves to
determine and periodically revise
two or three levels within Peninsular
Malaysia.
Beyond the question of varying
minimum wage levels, we should
also take an interest from a more
proactive standpoint, and ask what
ways a relatively advanced state like
Selangor can take the lead in pro-
moting decent jobs, not just mini-
mal standards.
Could we emulate the interna-
tional “living wage” movement,
which enforces wage requirements
in government procurement, con-
tracting and licensing? Since these
are controlled and can be leveraged
by the government, the living wage
floor can be set above minimum
wage.
I don’t see why not. It’s simple,
legitimate and progressive. We
would merely enhance some rules of
engagement – in society’s interest
– for companies that make money
by supplying to government, or by
acquiring a licence to operate.
There’s a lot of work to be done,
and a lot more that can be done, to
alleviate working poverty and pro-
mote decent pay.

Youthology
Lee Lian Kong
Q
uestion: Is the Middle Eastern
revolution ever going to land in
Kuala Lumpur? Answer : Not any-
time soon.
It started two months ago when WikiLeaks
revealed or rather, confirmed, the rife corrup-
tion of the Tunisian president, President Zine
el Abidine Ben Ali, his wife and her family.
And then, the Phd-holding 26-year-old veg-
etable seller Mohamed Bouazizi set himself
on fire.
And then, 35 job protestors were shot dead
by the police. This epidemic of indignation
has now spread to Egypt, Jordan, Yemen, Iran.
All over the Middle East, people power is
forcing out past-expiry date regimes of dicta-
tors, oppression and vote tampering.
At the core of this wave of revolution in
the Middle East are the young people. As in
Bulgaria’s “Palace Revolution” and the Amer-
ican civil rights movement, this revolution is
run by students, graduates, the young and the
jobless.
The common belief is that young people
lack the depth and maturity to participate in
politics. They are too hot-headed to make
rational decisions.
The situation here is quite the contrary. In
fact, the 87-year-old icon and doyen of Egyp-
tian journalism, Mohamed Heikal, is saying
“‘I was sure my country would explode. But
the young are wiser than us”.
Nobody had predicted this to happen and
as such, there was barely any preparation. But
for two weeks, these protestors had taken over
Tahrir Square. They endured tear gas and
stones, ate, slept and prayed on the filthy pave-
Revolutionary talk
Malaysia lacks this human connection.
For there to be sacrifice, there has to be courage. The community spirit or the doctrine of
For there to be courage, there needs to be a support “love thy neighbour” is nearly non-existent.
Just look at the way drivers react to each
system of friends and family to stand behind you and other on the Federal Highway on peak hours.
fight for you, while you defiantly sit in a bar reserved Add in religious and racial extremism and
only for non-Jews or white people. Sad to say, I think the community spirit is absolutely non-existent.
Malaysia lacks this human connection.” Also, for there to be activism, it is not only
about getting youths to care. It is also about
ments. They are still standing there resilient. should remain this way, instead of resorting empowering them to believe they have the
They even proposed a new kind of politics, by to street protests. We may have our own set of ability to do something, to bring change, to
drawing up a list of 25 political personalities problems, economic hardship and corruption, improve. With apathy as a disease among
to negotiate for a new political leadership and “but it isn’t as bad as in Egypt”. Malaysian youths and the fear of suspension
a new constitution. I would think that the general consensus and expulsion from schools, the fire of activ-
Oh and did I mention the fact that they among Malaysian youths agrees with Mariam. ism is still dim.
have also managed to get rid of their tyrant Street protests are an unfathomable concept, Finally, revolutions need a centralised
(ex-) President Hosni Mubarak? Same goes unimaginable in Jalan Sultan Ismail, which is leadership structure and clear lines of author-
for Tunisia. why we rarely see youths participating in the ity, like Asmaa Mahfou, the 26-year-old
Malaysia has young people as well. In fact, minor demonstrations we sometimes have. woman who put out a YouTube video (at great
we have 5.4 million people between the ages Many believe it is a violent and unnecessary personal risk) calling for people to join her on
of 18-25 years old. We have many public hindrance. Jan 25, the first day of the movement in Egypt.
spaces too, Tahrir Squares of our own. Dataran Another student, David Teh, a Commu- This is not so the revolution is guided by
Merdeka is one option. The car park of Parlia- nications major, believes that should there be one single defining personality. Because revo-
ment would make do as well. Facebook and a need for a change of government, “it must lutions are high-risk and need to be persistent,
Twitter are big here too, with us being the fifth be done through the ballot box”. leadership is needed to ensure precision,
highest number of Facebook users in the Revolutions like the current ones in the strategy and discipline. A haphazard protest
world. Middle East come with sacrifice, not just is a failed protest.
Our regime is also overdue, with the Bar- participation. As Malcolm Gladwell suc- So that’s the deal. Sorry to disappoint but
isan Nasional being in power for 53 years cinctly puts it: “Activism that challenges the the revolution won’t be passing by Malaysia
straight now. So what then do our youths status quo—that attacks deeply rooted prob- anytime soon. Instead of asking whether revo-
think of having our very own Jasmine (or in lems—is not for the faint of heart”. lution will be coming any time soon, we
our context, Bunga Raya) Revolution? For there to be sacrifice, there has to be should ask whether it can ever happen in
Mariam Ali, a Master’s student in medical courage. For there to be courage, there needs Malaysia. Will the youths unite and rise up to
physics from Universiti Malaya, says: “It is not to be a support system of friends and family be their feisty and energetic selves to one day
our budaya (culture). Plus, it isn’t necessary to stand behind you and fight for you, while return people power to Malaysia?
also.” you defiantly sit in a bar reserved only for With all my heart and soul, I hope the
Malaysia, according to her, is peaceful and non-Jews or white people. Sad to say, I think answer to that is “Malaysia (Youths) Boleh”.
 Insight
12 February 25 — 27, 2011
Travelling by MRT to be cheaper than cars
Residents want
By Gan Pei Ling

R
esidents from Kota Damansara to Taman
Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) will submit a joint
memorandum appealing for the Mass Several questions have been raised by ferred mode of mobility for The Commission would

underground
Rapid Transit (MRT) stations in their areas to concerned residents and other parties since the public in the Klang Valley, like to emphasise that the
go underground. more information on the Mass Rapid Transit the government is working on three-month long public dis-
“We welcome the MRT, but we want the (MRT) project’s first line was released on Feb a support system as well as play is to provide information
stations to be underground to minimise traffic 14. improving the existing feeder and details on the Klang Valley
disruption, noise pollution and other negative The Land Public Transport Commission bus service system to move MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang

MRT stations
impacts,” said Bandar Utama residents’ associa- (SPAD), which is supervising the MRT proj- people from their homes or line to the rakyat. Details such
tion chief Lim See Meng. ect on behalf of the federal government, ad- offices to the stations and vice as proposed station design and
  Lim said residents are concerned that stations, dresses some of the most commonly asked versa. locations, features and detailed
which would be built near already congested questions, especially on the Sungai Buloh- Residents within a 3km alignment are being show-
roads, would further contribute to traffic conges- Kajang line that is expected to begin construc- radius of the station will have cased.
tion. tion in July. the option of travelling by We encourage and welcome
  For example, the TTDI station is expected 1. What steps will the government be tak- feeder bus to the stations. constructive feedback from
to be right next to the Lebuhraya Damansara- ing to reduce noise and dust pollution Alternatively, they can drive the rakyat during this period.
Puchong (LDP). And the stations around Kota so land will be limited above ground for future
line, the first of three signatures before submit- as well as other inconveniences caused 3km to 6km to the closest All feedback will be thor-
Damansara and Sunway Damansara would be extensions of the line,” Hatim added.
MRT lines, is currently ting a joint memorandum to by the construction of the MRT sta- park and ride stations along oughly evaluated and pre-
near Persiaran Surian.   He believed the government would not
on display in seven loca- SPAD at the end of March. tions? the alignment. sented to the government be-
  “If the stations are next to these roads, you have to evict residents and businesses if the
tions for public feedback “It’s better to have the There will be temporary inconveniences 3. How much will it cost to fore the final decision on the
know how Malaysians are, they would definitely stations were underground.
from Feb 14 to May 14. MRT underground, like in during the construction phase but we will take the MRT? Will it be proposed alignment and loca-
take up one lane to wait and pick up people, mak-   Recently, notices have been put on trees
  With a total of 35 sta- London and Singapore,” ensure that all measures be taken to minimise around the same rates as the light rail national Cooperation Agency study on how tion of the stations are adopted for implemen-
ing the roads more congested,” said Lim. and lamp posts in areas of TTDI likely to be
tions along the estimated said Lim, adding that the it. For example, during the construction pe- transit (LRT)? to improve travel within the Klang Valley. tation to make travelling on the Klang Valley
  Besides traffic congestion during and after acquired for the MRT line
51km line, open tender MRT alone would not solve riod, traffic management measures will be put The government is committed to making There were other proposals as well. Urban rail network (including KTM Komuter and
construction of the stations, residents staying   The move has incurred the wrath of resi-
for its construction work all traffic woes in the Klang in place to mitigate inconveniences to the public transport the preferred transport rail lines were proposed in the Kuala Lumpur LRT) seamless and convenient for the rakyat.
close to the proposed stations are also concerned dents, who said the notices should have been
is expected to be called Valley. He said other public public. Measures like noise dampers and bar- choice for the rakyat and as such the ticket Draft City Plan in 2008. And most recently, 6. Much of the discussion has been centred
about noise and dust pollution. delivered to them directly since they would be
in April. Construction is transport services like buses riers can also be adopted to reduce noise from structure will be made affordable so that the the MRT was proposed in the Greater Kuala on the first line (Sungai Buloh-Kajang).
  “If the station is 20m from your house, it’s affected by the project.
scheduled to begin in July would have to be improved the trains running on the tracks. rakyat will not be burdened. The cost will Lumpur / Klang Valley National Key Eco- What about the second and third line,
going to be noisy (during and after construction).   However, Datuk Sri Ram Sarma from
and end in 2016. to increase the low level As in all major construction projects, there definitely be cheaper than owning and driving nomic Area Transport Laboratory in July is there any information available about
How can you rest properly?” said Hatim Abdul- the TTDI residents’ association MRT study
  Land acquisition for of public transport usage are strict Department of Environment re- a car. 2010. these two other lines?
lah, president of the TTDI residents’ association. group said it remains unclear at this point if
the project is supposed among people. quirements contractors must comply with 4. Some parties have complained that the 5. There is a suggestion to relocate the Ta- There will certainly be future lines. How-
  He added that noise and dust pollution can any houses in their area would need to make
to take place this May   “People will con- during construction, failing which a stop- MRT is being rushed through. Can you man Tun Dr Ismail station (residential ever, the identification of future lines can only
be minimised if the stations were underground. way for the station.and June. Occupants in tinue buying cars, it will work order may be issued. explain the steps or studies that have area) to Damansara Uptown (commer- be done with proper studies This will be car-
  “ We’re not against development, we support   “ We were told by the authorities that
473 lots of land will have Hatim: Underground stations take time for them to switch 2. Only 13 out of the 35 proposed stations been undertaken and considerations cial area), as well as proposals by some ried out with the Urban Rail Development
the project…But we also need to be considerate nothing is confirmed at the moment,” he told
to make way for the MRT, cost more. to public transport…The along the Sungai Buloh-Kajang line that have to be taken into account be- residents to change the proposed ele- Plan by SPAD and is expected to be com-
of the residents who would be affected by it,” said Selangor Times. according to an environ- government must make sure have park and ride facilities. Will fore the MRT proposed alignment was vated stations in their areas to under- pleted next month.
Hatim in a phone interview.   The Land Public Transport Commission
mental impact assessment report released on that there is an efficient feeder bus service to feeder bus services be provided for the drawn up so that the public can better ground stations. How likely is the SPAD’s goal is to ensure that the people
  He acknowledged that underground stations (SPAD), which is supervising the MRT pro-
Feb 14. ferry the passengers from their homes to the rest to connect commuters to the sta- understand the process? government going to adopt their sug- have access to reliable, efficient, integrated and
would cost more but felt that there would be more ject, has been holding dialogues with residents
  The report also highlighted that noise and stations,” he added. tions? The MRT was discussed as far back as 1998 gestions and how much costlier are safe public transport. Ultimately with fewer
opportunities for future expansion if the stations to brief them about the project and to get their
dust would affect communities within 30m   Of the 35 proposed stations, only 13 would As public transport will be made the pre- when it was proposed under the Japan Inter- underground stations?  cars on the road, traffic will be smoother.
were underground. feedback. of the railway track and recommended noise have park and ride facilities. In other words,
  “ The areas around here are already developed,   The scheme for the Sungai Buloh-Kajang
barriers be constructed to reduce noise level. passengers would have to find other means,
  Thirty to 50 resi- such as feeder buses, to access the remaining
Projek MassMASS
PROJEK Rapid Transit
RAPID Lembah Kelang Jajaran
TRANSIT LEMBAH SungaiKELANG
Buloh – Kajang JAJARAN SUNGAI BULOH - KAJANG
dents’ associations and 22 stations. PROJEK MASS RAPID TRANSIT LEMBAH KELANG JAJARAN SUNGAI BULOH - KAJANG
joint management bod- The federal government is supposed to
ies from Kota Daman- unveil its 20-year urban transportation plan for ABOUT KLANG VALLEY MASS RAPID continued… SOCIO – ECONOMIC BENEFITS
sara to TTDI are col-Jumlah the KlangStruktur
Valley this September. The estimated
TRANSIT
Bawah Tanah
P MPS Ternaik
lecting signatures from RM36.6
Total
Elevated MRT is part of this plan, and is
billion Underground
and is currently inadequately served by rail-based
SUNGAI BULOH 1) Faster and convenient travel
people to support their depicted as the backbone of a “new sustainable public transport.
The Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit will be the 2) Enhancement in urban sustainability and a
KG. BARU memorandum Panjang (km)for an 51transport system” for the Klang Valley.
SUNGAI BULOH underground MRT line.
Length (km)
41.5 9.5
“The MRT is a long-term project…We hope backbone of the new sustainable transport system greener environment with lesser traffic
Upon expected completion by 2016, the Klang pollution
 They aim to gather a the government will take into account our sug- in the Klang Valley, which will be home to an
RRI P Valley Mass Rapid Transit Sungai Buloh – Kajang 3) Emergence of transit oriented developments
few hundred Stationthousand
Stesen (no.)
35gestions and 27feedback,” said8Lim. estimated 10 million people by 2020. Klang Valley
KOTA (no.) Line will provide efficient train service to 1.2 million and urban renewal centers such as KLIFD,
DAMANSARA DBKL Mass Rapid Transit will have a network of lines
people with an estimated daily ridership of 440,000. Cochrane and RRIM (Sungai Buloh)
MPAJ integrated with LRT, Monorail, KTMB Komuter and
P redevelopment
PTheParkLand Public Transport Commission encourages the public to
THE Medan Kereta (no)
BUKIT BUKIT 13 - - intra-city and inter-city bus routes to form an
TAMAN DATARAN CURVE SEMANTAN BINTANG BINTANG
& Ride (no)
call their helpline at 1800 82 6868 or email feedback@kvmrt.com. Apart from the Sungai Buloh – Kajang Line, other 4) Increase in real estate value for properties along
INDUSTRI ONE UTAMA effective public transportation system.
SG. BULOH
SUNWAY
PUSAT PASAR
BARAT TIMUR my to provide feedback on the MRT. The public can also visit www. lines will be built based on the Land Public the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transport
BANDARAYA kvmrt.com.my for more official information on the MRT and www. Transport Masterplan and Urban Rail Development
PJU 5 SENI PASAR RAKYAT
transitmy.org to check out online discussions on the issue. The EIA Initiated by the Government of Malaysia under the 5) Positive social-economic multiplier effects in
TTDI DAMANSARA
Plan being drawn up by the Land Public Transport employment, capital appreciation, businesses,
of the Sungai Buloh-Kajang line can be assessed at the Department Greater Kuala Lumpur / Kelang Valley National Key
KL SENTRAL
MERDEKA
COCHRANE of Environment’s website www.doe.gov.my. The public can view the Commission. This will ensure the development of a F&B, tourism and services
Economic Area in the Economic Transformation
SEKSYEN 17 plan for the SungaiMPS Buloh-Kajang line from now till May 14 at the seven holistic and integrated public transport system in the 6) Increase in Gross National Income
SEKSYEN 16 MALURI Majlis MBSA MBPJ DBKL MPKj
Programme, The Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit’s
P locations listed below: Klang Valley.
P objective is to alleviate traffic congestion by
P Dewan Bandaraya Majlis Bandaraya
MBPJ TAMAN BUKIT RIA
Kuala
Panjang (km)Lumpur
0.8 5.5 Shah Alam
7.7 23.1 13.7
increasing the number of people using the public KLANG VALLEY MASS RAPID TRANSIT
TAMAN BUKIT MEWAH Length (km)
Menara DBKL Tingkat 1, Wisma MBSA transport from 400,000 trips per day to 2.5 million DEVELOPMENT STRUCTURE
MBSA Jalan Raja Laut Persiaran Perbandaran trips per day in 2020. HOW THE MASS RAPID TRANSIT
LEISURE MALL 50350
Stesen (no.)Kuala Lumpur
1 4 4
40000 Shah 17
Alam 9 SYSTEM WORKS 1) The Klang Valley’s Mass Rapid Transit network
Tel: (no.)
Station +603-2617 9000 Selangor Darul Ehsan The Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit will enable
P P Tel: +603 5510 5133 including all the stations will be owned by the
Majlis Bandaraya easier connectivity between populated residential In a nutshell, the Mass Rapid Transit system is able Government of Malaysia through Syarikat
PLAZA
PHOENIX
TAMAN SUNTEX Petaling Jaya Bangsar LRT Station districts, business centres, commercial centres and to offer the highest throughput capacity as the most Prasarana Negara Berhad
TAMAN Jalan Yong Shook Lin Concourse key employment areas in the suburb and urban efficient transport system in terms of space
P 46675 Petaling Jaya Jalan Bangsar corridors of the Klang Valley and Kuala Lumpur City
CUEPACS Stesen Pertukaran dengan sistem rel sedia ada di lokasi berikut:
Selangor DarulwithEhsan 59000 Kuala Lumpur occupancy. To illustrate this point, as many as 300 2) Prasarana, which is 100% owned by the
Interchange Stations
Tel: +6031. 7956 3544
existing rails line at the following locations:
Centre. persons travelling to work in the city centre can fit in Minister of Finance Incorporated, is currently the
P BANDAR TUN KTM - Sg. Buloh
HUSSEIN ONN
2. KJ Line - Pasar Seni
Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan one (1) train-car of the Mass Rapid Transit system, owner of the Klang Valley’s light rail transit and
BALAKONG Majlis Perbandaran Awam Darat THE SUNGAI BULOH – KAJANG LINE while the same amount of people would require 177 monorail networks. RapidKL, which is the
TAMAN
Kajang 3. AG Line – Maluri Tingkat 13, Menara Dayabumi automobiles or 3 buses. current operator of the LRT Ampang Line, KLJ
P Menara 4. MPKj Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin
MPSJ
KOPERASI
Jalan Cempaka Putih
KTM - Kajang
50050 Kuala Lumpur In December 2010, the Government announced that Line, KL Monorail and majority of its bus routes,
TAMAN Off Jalan Semenyih Tel: +603-2278 1222 the Sungai Buloh – Kajang Line will be the first of will also be operating the future mass rapid
MESRA
43000 Kajang the MRT networks to take off. transit system
MPKj SAUJANA Tel: +603-8737 7899 Majlis Perbandaran
P Nota:
IMPIAN Nama-nama stesen yang tertera untuk sementara sahaja Selayang
dan tertakluk kepada
The Sungai Buloh – Kajang Line will run from
kelulusan SPAD dan agensi kerajaan yang berkaitan. 3) The newly established Land Public Transport
Menara MPS, Persiaran 3
BANDAR
Notes: Bandar Baru Selayang Sungai Buloh to Kajang through the Kuala Lumpur Commission will be the Supervisory Agency of
KAJANG
Proposed station names are temporary only subjected to 68100
approvalBatu
by SPADCaves
and City Center. This route which runs from north-west the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit
related government agencies.
P Selangor Darul Ehsan to south-east of Kuala Lumpur is densely populated
KAJANG Tel: +603 6120 1125 / 1463
14
VIews
February 25 — 27, 2011
D Of lawyers and
ear Lord Bobo, what do lawyers
think about the purported im-
pending increase in legal fees,
some say by 300-400%? WKC via email.
You would assume that most lawyers are
overjoyed at the “news” (it was actually a
comment made by the Bar Council president
Ragunath Kesavan) that their professional
fees would increase by 300%-400%, but re-
ally only the most naive lawyers believed it.
These stupid ones immediately put down
their whisky-glasses and went out to buy that
Porsche.
The rest of them are split between incre-
dulity, puzzlement, disappointment, and
anger.
Incredulity; because they are wondering
how this conclusion was made. There has been
no such discussion or initiative proposed
amongst the general members of the Bar.
Puzzlement; as to basis of such an increase.
Some are questioning its legitimacy.
And how does our dear Bar Council
president intend to implement this increase,
seeing as he has absolutely no power to do so?
Disappointment; that there had to be such
an announcement in the first place. For mat-
ters other than conveyancing, the fees are
actually negotiable. The Bar Council does not
have any authority to dictate the amount of
fees charged.
Anger; because they believe it will result
in backlash against lawyers who are already
being attacked, most notably by the present
Chief Justice (this backlash has already in fact
manifested in comments in several newspa-
pers).
On balance then, the reaction of lawyers
has been more negative than positive.
On reasoned reflection, this is because of
the factors above. But the immediate, and
real, reason for the negativity is because all
lawyers know that the president was talking
out of his rear end.
Sadly, what has not been addressed is the
ludicrous position that the costs awarded in
the subordinate and High Court levels have
remained stagnant since 1980. This is impor-
tant to the public, because the court-awarded
costs are what successful litigants get from the
losing party.
For example, if X sues Y for an unpaid
loan of RM40,000 and wins after a full trial,
the Sessions Court would award costs to X of
approximately RM3,950.
However, the professional fees for such a
claim would usually be higher by at least
RM1,000. Since the 1980s, the disparity
between professional fees and court-awarded
costs has widened because professional fees
are tenuously linked to inflation.
Hence, a litigant under this system there-
fore is usually on the “losing” end even if they
win, because they still have to pay the differ-
ence between the professional fees and the
court-awarded costs (assuming they manage
to recover it). And let’s be honest, if you want
to win you probably have to get better lawyers,
which costs more.
Why the Chief Justices have not pushed
for the court-awarded costs to be increased
and insist on maintaining the same scale that
applied 30 years ago is beyond even Lord
Bobo!
Lord Bobo, are laws meant to be broken?
@AdrianNCF, via Twitter
Some anonymous person once said: “Rules
are for the guidance of wise men and the
obedience of fools.” His Supreme Eminence-
ness, however, is highly suspicious of quotes
from this “Anonymous” bloke. He seems to
spout off quite a bit on a lot of topics, and
Lord Bobo is of the view that single-word-
names should be the exclusive domain of
Brazilian footballers.
Most of the time, people tend to attempt
law-breakers
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!
Back in the 1960s, America
practised complete segregation of
the races, from toilets to stadium
seats to diners to schools. There
was a law in force that when
boarding a bus, only Caucasians
were allowed to be seated in certain
rows, and African Americans were
required to surrender their seats.”
to shortcut, swerve, sidestep and stretch the
law as far as possible. Tolerated lawbreaking is
almost always a response to a political failure;
the inability of our political institutions to
adapt to social change or reach a rational
compromise that reflects the interests of the
nation and all concerned parties.
Socrates, a Greek philosopher surmised the
law as such; when you live in a certain terri-
tory, under a certain government, under a
certain set of rules; and when you benefit from
other people obeying said rules, you are
obliged to obey that set of rules as well.
Citizens owe their government or their
fellow citizens or/and both obedience to the
law. One follows law absolutely, assuming that
all laws are good.
St Thomas Aquinas said: “Bad laws are not
Dr King: Laws imposed on the minority that the
majority does not follow are unjust laws.
laws at all.” M.B.E Smith, a The education system was separate for the
modern philosopher, denies Caucasians and African Americans, where it
that there is any obligation is completely separate but yet theoretically
to obey the laws. If a law is “equal” infrastructure. It was argued that the
good law, it prevents us from infrastructure for the African American chil-
doing immoral or wrong dren was often sub-par, and infringed the
acts. Adding a law into the rights of all African American children to
mix does not make the par- education.
ticular prohibited act more The Supreme Court required the desegre-
‘bad’. It is already bad. Law gation of schools across America. It was a
only adds punitive measures landmark case which showed that where a law
or punishments to it. isn’t necessarily moral or right, it should not
Dr Martin Luther King be followed.
stated that laws imposed on the minority that However, H.L.Hart, the law positivist,
the majority does not follow are unjust law. admits that although morality and law oft find
Bad laws deserve no respect, and at times, themselves in the same bed, they are not nec-
civil disobedience, as what happened with Ms essarily linked. Morality is what gives the law
Rosa Parks. legitimacy, and the justification to enforce
Back in the 1960s, America practised com- punitive measures/punishments. If a piece of
plete segregation of the races, from toilets to law or legislation has bad morals behind it,
stadium seats to diners to schools. There was should it be followed?
a law in force that when boarding a bus, only Both morality and law deal with control-
Caucasians were allowed to be seated in cer- ling human behaviour, and the order of civil
tain rows, and African Americans were re- society, but the exchanges or human interac-
quired to surrender their seats. Ms Rosa Parks, tions are intricate and complex.
one day on Dec 1, 1955 had had enough. She So, are laws meant to be broken? No, of
refused to surrender her seat. course not. But then, laws are meant to be
She was charged, went on trial, inspired a properly conceptualised, discussed, drafted,
381-day Montgomery bus boycott, and, fi- and implemented. Which they are not. So the
nally, the Supreme Court’s ruling in Novem- question really should be “is it okay to break
ber 1956 that segregation on transportation bad laws?” – which goes into the realm of
is unconstitutional. morality, and the subjectivity of what is “good”
In Brown v Board of Education, – and if Lord Bobo were to reveal the truths
regarding Linda Brown, the issue was about these weighty matters to humankind,
a little African American girl’s right to there would be an almighty brain-splattering
attend a full Caucasian school only taking place.
seven blocks from her house. The Let’s not. If you need to decide on some-
school for African American children thing, remember: “Don’t do anything Lord
was a mile away, which forced her to Bobo wouldn’t do.” – and if you’re thinking
walk much further. of something specific, just Ask Lord Bobo.
Although Lord Bobo already knows your question before you even
knew you had a question, as a practical display of your true desire
to have your query answered, His Supreme Eminenceness has
graciously allowed you to communicate your questions by –
• emailing asklordbobo@loyarburok.com, stating your full name,
and a pseudonym if you wish the question to be published
anonymously (and a good reason for anonymity).
• tweeting your questions by mentioning @LoyarBurok and using
the hashtag #asklordbobo.
The first 100 questions published will receive LoyarBurok’s ONLY
merchandise you ever need (worth a lot for humankind) courtesy of
Selangor Times. Now, 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!

Aid for victims
of fire rescue ops
Teng (fourth from left) handing monetary aid to Gan Chye Seng (fourth from
right) and Tee Kok Yew (third from right) at his service centre as village heads
look on.
By Basil Foo
KLANG: Two families whose homes were
affected by a fire rescue operation off Jalan
Shapadu received monetary aid on Mon-
day.
“Their homes were not directly affected
by the fire but by firefighters spraying water
into their homes to stop the fire from
spreading,” said Sungai Pinang assembly-
man Teng Chang Khim.
They suffered damage to their furniture,
personal belongings and also the electrical
wiring which short-circuited.
Representatives of the families received
One dengue death so far this year
By Yasleh Hani Mat Yassin
SHAH ALAM: A total of 1,004 dengue
cases with one death in Sabak Bernam have
been reported in Selangor as of Feb 12.
Hulu Langat District recorded the high-
est number with 276 reported cases, fol-
lowed by Gombak with 229 and Petaling
with 218.
The Selangor Health Department
Councillors should not be
treasure hunters
This is in reference to recent news in lo-
cal newspapers  that certain
councillors are seeking
a raise in allowances
again.
Under prevailing eco-
nomic circumstances,
there should not be any
increase in allowances for
local councillors.   in their service to the local neighbourhood
Currently councillors are not elected
by the local community but appointed by
the authorities. They should set better
examples and non-performing councillors
should have their allowances frozen or cut.  Increasing the allowances of council-
Councillors who feel that their earn-
ings are not enough, should then resign
and give way to those who are willing to
serve the local community with minimum
or without any allowances or perks. I am
aware that there are many who are willing
to become councillors without any pay.
It is vital for councillors not to become
SELANGOR TIMES ⁄ February 25 – 27, 2010 ⁄ 15
News
Organic Skincare - Pure From Nature
FACE & NECK CLAY
CLEANSER
• A gentle 3 in 1 non-foaming cleanser
that removes excess oil, make up,
non-wax eye make-up, pollutants and
cellular debris without stripping away
nature’s goodness.
• White clay draws out toxins from your
skin and flushes cellular waste while
RM500 each from Teng at his service cen- crushed organic Blueberry Seeds
tre together with with three other families gently exfoliate your skin
who were affected by a storm in Kampung
Sungai Pinang. • Anti-oxidant ingredients assist to
The storm str uck t wo days a g o
which left four families in need of
scavenge free radicals
help, one of which decided to repair
their own home.
• Cleanser leaves your skin clean,
The other three families sought their non-oily, calmed and hydrated
village committee for help clear the debris
before looking to Teng for financial aid.
“I hope politicians don’t play up this
issue of helping disaster victims as we are REHYDRATING &
just helping them out of sympathy,” said
Teng. REJUVENATING MOISTURISER
• Fast absorbing formula that leaves
your skin hydrated without a sticky
( JKNS), at a meeting with state executive
councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar on Feb 18, or oily after feel
updated the state about measures being
drawn up to reduce the number of cases. • Helps to prevent premature ageing
Among those present at the meeting
were JKNS director of the vector unit as of the skin with anti-wrinkle and
well as heads of district and local govern- anti-oxidant ingredients that
ment health departments. 
Dr Xavier was also briefed about steps promote new cell growth and repair
to contain the disease. of damaged cells
• Improves skin texture, elasticity
and firmness
• Easy to apply make up over the
“treasure hunters” who are more in- moisturiser
terested in increased allowances and
perks. 
Increase in allowances should
not be across the board. However, STOCKISTS AND
it can be given to councillors with
excellent performance, who are DISTRIBUTORS WANTED
dedicated, sincere and hardwork-
ing and those who have proven themselves
and the zones they are assigned to. A
councillor’s position is not a commercial
job and is instead an honorary appoint-
ment.
lors to RM3,000 is uncalled for. I hope the
Selangor Government’s State Economic
Planning Unit will not consider this ap- Taahira Sdn Bhd (875421-H) (AJL 931811)
peal. 53-1 Jalan SS23/15, Taman SEA, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel.: 03 7805 5598 , Fax: 03 7805 7066
Eashvara Lingam Email: taahira@live.com
Administrator Website: www.taahira.com
Local Agenda - Petaling Jaya
16
Features
February 25 — 27, 2011
Saundra Locke and Melinya Sarah.
By Basil Foo
PETALING JAYA: Laila’s Café
and Lounge in Kelana Jaya has be-
come a popular venue for budding
talents to showcase cover songs and
original compositions. And every
month, it turns the stage over to
all-female gigs, with a “Girls and
Guitars” night.
The latest Girls and Guitars night
held on Jan 19, was in its eighth
running featuring female singers and
female-fronted bands.
It kicked off with Melinya Sarah,
18, and Saundra Locke, 17 who were
the first act for the night. They led
off with some Taylor Swift tunes.
“Our [choice of songs] tonight
are made up of songs that we relate
to and are within our singing capac-
ity,” said Locke, who sang for the
duo.
  “I always liked singing but am
doing it not as a career; more for
fun. It was my brother who first
encouraged me to sing,” she added.
Sarah, who played guitar and
sang, said it was her third time
performing in public. She had
played at Frontera in Jaya One last
year.
She thanked her parents for en-
couraging her to perform and said
they helped her choose songs which
could be learned quickly because she
and Locke only decided to perform
a week before the show.
The three female members of the
band Musicbox took the stage next
and ended their set with a song by
Picnic: The four-piece band
met at a college in Penang.
A night out
with the girls
Alicia Keys.
“We choose If I Ain’t Got You
because that was the first song which
made us well known,” said guitarist
Kelly, a psychology undergraduate
from Sabah.
The girls, all 22-years-old, took
over performing duties while the
guy members of their six-piece band
sat out for the night.
Pianist Shearon from Sarawak,
who took lessons in the instrument
and completed Grade 8, said she
decided to join the band and per-
form live regularly so that her talent
didn’t go to waste.
“We were formed a year ago after
being introduced to each other at a
performance in early 2010,” said
singer Eila who studies education in
Johor.
“Our friends and family have
been very supportive. Most of our
university friends have supported us
on Facebook,” she said.
They can be found on the social
networking site as “We The Music
Box”.
Citing Oasis and its lead guitarist
Noel Gallagher as her musical influ-
Shearon, Kelly, and Eila from the band Musicbox.
Wendy: Performed at the Sunburst music
festival roadshow.
ences, singer songwriter Wendy
decided early on that she wanted to
perform music.
“I first heard them when I was 12
and they made me want to own a
guitar, start a band, and write my
own music,” she said after her gig
that night.
Joining several bands in school
Rui: Has been performing for the last five years.
and college as a drummer, Wendy
performed at the Sunburst music
festival road show with an all-girl
band called 5 feet 1.
“My parents showed their sup-
port by promoting my band to their
friends,” said the 26-year-old risk
analyst.
She can be found on Facebook
with the pseudonym Wendy
Wednesday and is in the midst of
recording her solo CD.
Picnic took the stage next with
Min on vocals, Ris on guitar and
Wong Siu on bass. Drummer Nizam
was left out for the night due to it
being an acoustic set.
“After growing up in the States
and performing with several bands,
I came back [to Malaysia] in 2004,”
said Ris.
The four-piece band met in col-
lege in Penang with Ris joining the
group three years ago and together
they have been performing for a
year.
“Right now all of us have our own
careers, so doing music for us is fun,”
said the product consultant.
“Some people spend money rac-
ing bikes or buying golf sets, I spend
mine on guitars,” he added.
When asked about being the only
girl in the band, Min said that gen-
der difference didn’t affect her per-
formance or song writing abilities.
“I guess when the movement
started out; it was all about angry
stuff and girl power, but at this point
there is nothing to be angry about,”
she said.
“So when I write songs it has
more to do with life and the people
I talk to,” she added.
The final performance for the
night was singer and guitarist Rui
who has been performing for the last
five years.
“I first learned guitar in Malacca
and was influenced by what I saw on
the television and radio to come out
with my own songs,” said the 23-year
old.
Now working as a sales associate,
she performs at various functions
and is currently recording her solo
album.
“My family and friends have sup-
ported my music by attending per-
formances, advising changes in my
songs, and they also bought a guitar
case for my birthday,” she said.
The night ended with special
encore performances by Imran, the
drummer for local punk rock band
One Buck Short.
 FEATURES 17
February 25 — 27, 2011

Taking on
By Alicia Mun

PETALING JAYA: The hot weather last Sunday at Arena Petaling

Jaya skate park definitely did not stop Team Underdogs of Malaysia
from educating ESPN’s MyEG Xtra Time presenter Sarah Lian on
what inline hockey is all about.

inline hockey
Lian was learning the ropes of inline hockey at a training session
with the team as part of the second season of ESPN’s MyEG Xtra
Time, Malaysia’s first weekly sports entertainment programme.
The aim of the show was for Team Underdogs to display their
skills to promote and educate viewers about inline hockey in Ma-
laysia.
Team captain Craig Matthew Lee
said Team Underdogs have been
playing inline hockey since 1995
but the growth of the sport has
been hampered by lack of proper
facilities like a permanent venue for
the players to train.
“In 2005, we were training in
an open tennis court in Taman
Megah but we still managed to
compete in international tourna-
ments such as the Asia Pacific Cup
in Singapore in 2006, Inline Hock-
ey Tournament in Philippines in
April 2010 and the Bauer Mission
Cup in Singapore in September
2010,” Lee said.
He said they had also organised
the Malaysia Inline Hockey Tour-
nament (MIHT) with the help of
their sponsors for two consecutive
years since 2009.
The third MIHT will be held at
Arena PJ from June 24 – 25 with
Malaysian teams competing against
teams from Hong Kong, Indonesia,
Philippines and Singapore.
Bukit Gasing Member of Parlia-
ment Edward Lee, who is advisor
to the inline hockey sports club,
said: “The MIHT ’11 is an excel-
lent way to promote inline hockey
in Selangor as international teams
will be competing. I hope much
more will be done by the state for
The MIHT ’11
the sport.” is an excellent
Inline hockey, also known as way to promote
roller hockey, is similar to ice inline hockey
hockey except the sport is played in Selangor as
with inline skates instead. international
Other elements that differenti-
ate ice hockey from inline hockey teams will be
are the playing surface and design competing. I hope
of the puck. much more will be
Unlike ice hockey, inline hockey done by the state
is generally a less physical sport as for the sport.”
the game focuses more on skill and
speed rather than force and
strength. only four skaters plus a goaltender
Inline hockey is naturally faster during a game that usually consists
and higher-scoring because skaters of three periods of either 12 or 15
have more room to maneuver and minutes each.
fewer obstacles to restrict their Skaters use hockey sticks to
movements. shoot a disk-shaped puck into their
Each inline hockey team fields opponents’ goal to score points. Bukit Gasing MP Edward Lee (standing second from right) with Team Underdogs of Malaysia.
 Travel
18 February 25 — 27, 2011
Binoculars and other magnifying devices for a clearer vision.
T
here’s always something hap-
pening in Pudu, specifically
in Jalan Pasar or Pasar Road,
right next to the big wet market.
Here, it is all about business. The
regulars who come here in shorts
and Hawaiian shirts usually know
what they want before even arriving
in this busy part of Pudu adjacent
to the huge market which is reputed
to be the biggest in Kuala Lumpur.
In the morning when the wet
market is in full swing, this area is a
mad house. Traffic is heavy. Thou-
sands of people mill the main roads,
side-roads and back alleys. They are
all engaging in activities like buying,
window-shopping, meeting friends
or eating bak kut teh or dim sum at
the shops.
The place has been described by
some as the “electronics pasar
malam”. For a long time now, those
who seek replacement parts for hi-fi
systems, new D-I-Y gadgets or who
just want to look at what’s new in
the wired world have zeroed in on
this roadside vendors’ market.
Serious enthusiasts searching for
components to CCTV systems,
public announcement or alarm
systems will gravitate towards the
dozens of shops along Jalan Pasar.
Anything you want under the
sun and clouds can be found here.
If it’s not sold in this part of Pudu,
then the device probably hasn’t yet
been invented or imported.
But there is something else about
this street that holds a never-ending
fascination for others. It is the street
vendors who sell their wares on
makeshift tables, out of vans or
simply on the pavements.
Naturally, the bulk of curious
onlookers and customers are men,
Semi-precious stones and other jungle products
for discerning customers.
Road to
electronics
in Pudu
The city of Kuala Lumpur remains
unexplored by many of its residents.
LIN ZHENYUAN embarks on a walking
tour of Pasar Road, Pudu, in search of
oddities, trinkets and novelties.
young and old. They are here to look
for imitation watches, D-I-Y items,
flashlights, shoes, health enhancing
supplements, T-shirts, semi-pre-
cious stones, birds or maybe even
fish.
These and more are all on sale in
Jalan Pasar, at a price, of course. Hag-
gling is permitted but only the sea-
soned bargain hunters know how to
trim down the original price to a
reasonable final figure. It takes pa-
tience, a bit of tact and lots of good
humour. You don’t want to antago-
nise anyone in these parts.
Pudu to a lot of Cantonese-
speaking Chinese is still known as
“poon san pah” or half-jungle. That
may be true more than 100 years old
but it is a myth today. It is difficult
Sunglasses galore.
these days to even find tall trees.
There are still trees but they are
tucked away in the more quiet parts
of Pudu.
Historical records reveal that
Pudu originally had a village at the
site where the famous Pudu Jail is
located. The has now been s torn
down and the site will be re-devel-
oped under a city master plan.
The year was 1889 and the village
consisted of several factories making
bricks for shops along Petaling
Street. Then a year later, in 1890, the
factories were moved to Brickfields.
In 1895, the village came to a
close and the prison took its place
where it became the main feature of
Pudu until 2009.
The history of Pasar Road is
Backpacks, pouches and other trinkets aplenty at this
street market.
Different species of fish in plastic bags of green water
for eager customers.
Tiny crabs for the aquarium
at home.
Business in
full swing
along the
pavements
in Jalan
Pasar.
linked to the Pudu
market. In the
early days, the mar-
ket was situated at
where the present
day post office is.
City planners then discovered
that the market was not big enough
to cater to the needs of residents in
Pudu, hence the market was shifted
to a nearby road aptly named Jalan
Pasar Baru. This explains why the
present Pasar Road has no market
because its location has been shifted.
The electronics shops that sprung
into existence with a commercial
ferocity began in the 1970s. Since
then, the area has become a heart-
land for audio products, handphone
accessories and electronic compo-
nents.
Pudu also has two major shop-
ping complexes – Shaw Parade and
Pudu Plaza. But if you want to find
knick-knacks and small objects to
decorate your car, room or study
room, Jalan Pasar is the haven of
such items.
  O n a hot, humid afternoon
when I was prowling Pasar Road,
there was even a snake charmer.
Unfortunately, the snake (probably
a defanged viper or cobra) was hav-
ing its siesta. The snake charmer
himself was having a respite. It is not
easy to find snake charmers on the
Little birds looking for a good
home for a small price, maybe.
streets of KL anymore but appar-
ently in this part of Pudu, they still
are very much alive, and so are their
slithery companions.
In the far corner of Jalan Pasar
which diverts into Jalan Pasar Baru,
there are several stalls that sell
aquarium fishes. It is a spot that at-
tracts a lot of children because of the
colourful fish sold in bloated plastic
bags.
  Much has changed since my
teenage days. These days, the ven-
dors even sell tiny crabs and what
look like live prawns.   In an inge-
nious gimmick to draw potential
customers, some of the fishes are
kept in greenish water.
In Jalan Pasar, a person needs
more than a single afternoon to
truly appreciate its five-foot pave-
ment charms and exotic assortment
of vendors. They have wares seldom
seen in ordinary shops and tiny
gadgets that will fascinate the
handyman in most adult males.
A lot of walking is needed but
then if you are thirsty or hungry,
there are dozens of eateries around
the area that will satisfy any fastidi-
ous individual.
 Fiction 19
February 25 — 27, 2011

The torch of time

✂
By Anusha Bai Paramasivan have far further intelligent beings member to empty the vessels of
who could at least understand that water these days. But if it’s a human

2
011 sat nervously at the edge
of her seat and fidgeted with
her new sparkling white robe
as the International Date Line shim-
mered in the silence of the arena.
The only sound that was audible was
the careful footsteps of 2010 as he
made his way towards the end of his
reign. He was noticed soon enough,
though. As he took the bend, he was
seen walking with a confident swag-
ger, one arm raised high above car-
rying the Torch of Time, which
most of the folk not involved di-
rectly with Time believed stay lit
forever, and would only diminish at
the sudden death of Time himself.
She caught his eye, smiled and
gave a wave.
“Hey...” she said.
He nodded in reply and quick-
ened his pace to a jog. In between
concentrating on his jog and carry-
ing the Torch of Time, he somehow
managed to blow a kiss towards his
old friend 2009 who blushed into
such a delicious colour. In a different
world, tomatoes turned envious.
He finally threw himself on the
seat strategically placed at 2350
hours, and positioned the Torch of
Time into its holder. The light flick-
ered for a second, before it was
quietly taken away to be cleaned and
refuelled by two of Time’s most
important personal assistants.
Every year, as they cleaned the
torch out while the fire sat sullenly
in an old unused torch, they would
joke about the silliness of mortals
believing that Time himself would
die one day.
No doubt, the sun would swell
up, turn into the red giant and in-
cinerate a few planets while at it,
including all those silly people who
could never see the bigger picture
no matter how much you shoved it
at their faces. Nevertheless, Time
would go on and on, and an entire
new circle would begin. Every year
as they discuss this, they keep their
hopes up that the next circle will
they were only one minuscule corner
of one of the pieces along the second
row of a thousand piece puzzle.
The silence was shattered by
2011.
“How was it?” she asked, breath-
lessly
“I sprinted!” 2010 laughed as he
replied.
“Are you allowed to do that?”
2011 asked, shocked and intrigued
simultaneously 2010’s eyes lit up
mischievously. He shrugged.
“Well, I think they hated me” he
added as an afterthought.
In fact, some of them did, and
part of it was because they felt that
2010 moved at such a speed that
there was never enough time for
them to accomplish what they set
out to accomplish. He even received
a few hate mails for all his effort as
he kept up with current technology,
reading people’s blogs, twitter and
that ever increasingly famous Face-
book.
“Yeah, they did. Every now and
then, I’d take a pause, and look over
the shoulders of people who couldn’t
finish their work, or whose babies
just refused to sleep at night, and
morning would come too soon for
them leaving them staggering like
zombies going to battle. How very
amusing,” he added.
“Can I sprint too?” 2011 en-
quired, her eyes wide with wonder-
ment.
“It’s your call, babe. I know 2008
and 2009 sprinted as well... so I de-
cided to do some training, and broke
their records,” 2010 added.
“Isn’t a year comprised of 365
days, or 366 thanks to human ma-
nipulation?” she asked.
“It’s all about how they perceive
time. The more they say they need
more time, the less they get. The
mosquito doesn’t feel a thing... she
lays her eggs, they turn to larvae,
then pupas. If she’s Aedes aegypti,
then I convey my sympathies, be-
cause humans always seem to re-
person, with their perception of
time, eight hours of work is never
enough. Neither is six hours of sleep!
They just get older and grumpier
and even more disgruntled the
faster they perceive time,” he said
“We’re waging a war against hu-
mans, then? I quite like them really,
they and their quirks, ambitions,
always trying to succeed” 2011 said
“Don’t forget their greed, their need
to be on top of everything, tram- Take 5 minutes to fill this form up and drop it off at
pling over the lives of those they feel the nearest police station to have regular checks
are beneath them, blatantly cutting at your house while you are away.
down trees thousands of years old,
hunting for sport. It’s disgusting. But Ibu pejabat Polis Daerah Subang Jaya
no... none of us were waging a war
against the humans. Like I said, it’s
Tel: 03-5637 3722 Fax: 03-5631 9815
how they perceive time, and we’re Borang maklumat
just using that to mess with them, Memaklumkan tentang meningalkan rumah kediaman untuk
because they are willing to be messed bercuti.
with” 2010 flashed 2011 a smile.
The Torch of Time was carried Kepada Kawasan Pentadbiran Balai Polis
out again, clean and bright, the fire
flickering brightly. In the back- ..............................................................................................
ground, the tick of the final minute
of 2010 sounded louder than usual. Butiran penduduk:
The clock, a human invention,
ironically signified the passage of Nama: ..................................................................................
time even in Time’s arena due to
how convenient it was. 2010 stood Alamat: .................................................................................
with the Torch of Time in his left
hand on his side of the line as it ..............................................................................................
glowed brighter than ever. 2011
stood on the other side of the line ..............................................................................................
and held up her right hand, com-
pletely ready to accept her responsi- Nombor telefon bimbit/kediaman: ........................................
bility for a brand new year, filled
with hopes and dreams and crazy Nombor telefon yang boleh dihubungi: ................................
people’s resolutions.
The clock gave another tick in the ..............................................................................................
silence of the arena, marking the
arrival of 2011. The Torch of Time Tarikh meninggalkan rumah: ................................................
passed hands.
“Good Luck!” whispered 2010 Tarikh dijangka balik ke rumah: ...........................................
as 2011 moved forward.
Far away, in another place, fire- Kenderaan yang ditinggalkan (jenis model & nombor daftar
works exploded in the air as cham- kenderaan).
pagne bubbles tickled the noses of
people, street parties became much 1. ..........................................................................................
more exciting and people generally
started wishing each other a Happy 2. ..........................................................................................
New Year.
3. ..........................................................................................

Should abolish PJS 2 toll Lain-lain maklumat:

Instead of abolishing the toll rate, our
Prime Minister announced the reduc-
tion of the toll rate for the PJS 2 Toll
Plaza along the New Pantai Express-
way (NPE) from RM 1.60 to RM 1.00
last week. Datuk Seri Najib Razak said
this is a Chinese New Year gift to the
people. Should we be happy of this “gift”?
NPE was opened on 30 Apr 2004. For
the past 7 years, the exorbitant toll rate at PJS 2 has
increased the cost of living of the residents, espe-
cially for those living in Taman Medan, Taman Datuk
Harun, Taman Maju Jaya, PJS 1 and PJS 2 who use
the NPE daily.     
It is also ridiculous to charge for the access to NPE
from PJS 2 Toll Plaza as this part of the road that has
existed long before NPE linked to it.
This road has always been an important transport
link used by the residents here daily. Since 2004, the
residents here have been protesting strongly against
the erection of Toll Plaza at PJS 2. The countless ap-
peals to the government for the abolishment of this
..............................................................................................
Toll Plaza have been falling on deaf ears.
 Since the federal government is prepared
to announce a freeze or reduction on toll
rates, why doesn’t the government restruc-
ture and nationalise all toll roads in Ma- ............................................... .......................................
laysia to benefit the people? Tandatangan Tarikh
By routinely dishing out goodies to
the people prior to elections does not follow
the “people first” principle. Doing so only brings Have you checked
short-term benefits and does not solve the escalating
cost of living suffered by lower income Malaysians. your electrical
By reducing toll rates, the government is compen-
sating huge amounts of money to the concessionaires. switches before
This has rendered the toll rate reduction a pointless
exercise as the government will utilize a large amount leaving home?
of taxes from citizens to pay for it.
For the benefit of all Malaysians, I urge the govern- Before ieaving your home for a holoday, have you
ment to abolish all toll roads in the country to reduce checked all your electrical switches and turned off
the cost of living. your gas tanks?
Hee Loy Sian Call the SS17 Bomba for advise at
Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya Selatan
03-5634 9444
20
Media
February 25 — 27, 2011

I-City and science centre deal

By Basil Foo

SHAH ALAM: Already lighting

up the Shah Alam landscape at
night, I-City is now looking to work
with the National Science Centre to
promote educational tourism in
Selangor.
“The collaboration has been ap-
proved and we are in the midst of
working out the technicalities,” said
I-Berhad chief executive officer Eu
Hong Chew.
He said the science centre cur-
rently charges visitors RM6 per head
and a deal was being worked out
where where visitors with science
centre tickets could enjoy discounts
at I-City. a theme park and despite resistance,
I-City currently charges visitors
an entrance fee of RM10 per vehicle.
Recently added to its repertoire
of family-friendly entertainment
was the RM10 million Snow Walk
where visitors don heavy jackets to
weather the -5C temperature.
“We could utilise this as an edu-
cational tool for school children
where they could come and not only
experience snow but learn interesting
facts about it,” said Eu, adding that
I-City’s snow walk was similar to the
one in the Singapore Science Centre.
I-City has been endorsed by the
state as a tourism destination and
EU cites Disneyland in Anaheim,
California as inspiration.
“They initially started out as an
orange farmland which was made into
they finally succeeded with even a
town growing around it,” he said.
I-City’s most prominent attrac-
tion has been its dazzling array of
light formations, from trees and
animals to seasonal designs in con-
junction with local festivals.
Eu said that the idea was to make
a unique theme park where every
entertainment and decoration
would be based on lights, making
for a unique backdrop for functions.
With a weekly average of 90,000
visitors, I-City has hosted various
events with themes from the World
Cup, Mid Autumn Festival, Merde-
ka Day, Hari Raya, and the Miss
Tourism International competition.
To capitalise on the crowd during
special events, bazaars would be
organized and manned by local
vendors who, according to Eu’s esti-
mate, earn a total monthly revenue
of RM5 million.
The number of visitors peak on
Friday and Saturday nights from
9pm to 11pm. I-City has a parking Eu with a miniature display of existing and planned developments
capacity of 5,000 lots. for I-City.

Hap Seng Star shines at Mercedes-Benz Challenge

KUALA LUMPUR: Hap Seng Star Sdn
Bhd, one of the leading authorised dealers for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles in Malaysia, con-
firmed its reputation for excellence in its after-
sales service when its team members recently
clinched the top spot in two categories during
the biennial Mercedes-Benz Malaysia Skills
Competition 2010.
Fellow teammates from the same dealer-
ship also recorded impressive results in all four
categories of this prestigious Mercedes-Benz
Malaysia show-down.
The competition is organised by Mer-
cedes-Benz Malaysia and was first held in
2008. Its aim is to promote a spirit of con-
tinuous self-development and life-long learn-
ing among Mercedes-Benz technicians.
The 2010 competition saw a total of 204
participants competing in four categories,
namely Certified Service Advisor (CSA),
Certified Diagnosis Technician (CDT), Cer-
tified System Technician (CST) and Certified
Maintenance Technician (CMT).
Albert Lim of Hap Seng Star (Kinrara)
came first in the CSA caategory. He walked
away with RM10,000.00 along with a gold
medal and a certificate.
His colleague, Lee Kai Song of Hap Seng
Star (Kinrara), also emerged champion in the
CST category. He took home RM7,500.00,
a gold medal and a certificate.
In the CDT category, Wong Hwang Fei
of Hap Seng Star (Kuching) and Looi Poh
Lam of Hap Seng Star (Kinrara), were first
runner up and second runner up respectively.
Chu How June of Hap Seng Star (Sanda-
kan) was awarded the first runner up in the
CST category. In the CMT category, Ben
Cheah and Ricky Kueh of Hap Seng
Star (Kinrara) clinched first runner
up and second runner up respec-
tively.
Chief Executive of Hap Seng
Auto Sdn Bhd, Wong Leh Seng,
said, “Our achievement in this event
reflects the strength and compe-
tency of Hap Seng Star’s after-sales
team in Malaysia.”
Wong said Hap Seng Star has a
stringent recruitment process and
consistently trains, develops and
motivates its staff.
A qualifying round for the 2010
competition was held earlier to
streamline the field to 10 partici-
pants for the Semi Final Round.
Subsequently, only five partici-
pants from each category were se-
lected for the Grand Final, which
was held in the Mercedes-Benz
Training Centre in Glenmarie, Shah
Alam.
The competition involved a
knowledge quiz, written and practi-
cal tests covering technical and
non-technical aspects as well as the history of
Mercedes-Benz and general automotive
knowledge.

Hariff bags Bikeathon title

SEPANG: Attracting
more than 600 cyclists
with the likes of Anuar
Musa, Noreffendy Ros-
li and Mohd Hariff
Saleh; and top motor
r a c i n g na m e s l i ke
Hafizh Syahrin Abdul-
lah, Muhammad Zamri
Baba and Eric Yeo, the third edition
of Kencana SIC Bikeathon at
Sepang Circuit last Sunday was
considered a success.
“We had more people this year
and they come in a very happy mood
to enjoy the event. We look forward
to feedback from the participants to
develop the event further. One of it
would be the women’s categories,”
said Sepang International Circuit
chairman Datuk Mokhzani Maha-
thir.
Apart from top Malaysian riders,
the third edition of the Kencana
SIC Bikeathon also
attracted riders from
Japan, Iran, Indone-
sia, Germany and
expatriates working
in Malaysia.
The premier cat-
egory saw a tight
battle to the end of
the 12-lap race with a large peloton
of some 50 riders in a close group as
they entered the final lap.
Starting in the opposite anti-
clockwise direction, they continued
to bunch together until final bend
at Turn 1 before the pacemakers brated team-mate Anuar, who Mohd Afiq Huznie Othman topped winning the class this year with a
swerved to the side to allow their clocked 1 hour 14 minutes 16.806 the junior category with a time of 42 commendable time of 44 minutes
sprinters to compete to the che- seconds.  minutes 59.497 seconds to cover six 48.243 seconds in a six-lap battle
quered flag. In a field of 219 starters, Mohd laps of the racing circuit. around the circuit.
Representing the Terengganu Nor Ridzuan Zainal from the Malaysia’s cub prix champion Eric Yeo, the Malaysian Super
Pro-Asia Cycling Team, Hariff won Armed Forces Cycling Team fin- Hafizh Syahrin Adullah, 18, fin- Series multiple champion and win-
the battle of the sprinters with a time ished third, while Noreffendy fin- ished 29th among 41 starters. ner of the 12-hour Merdeka Millen-
of 1 hour 14 minutes 16.102 sec- ished in 26th place. Tony Harvey defended his vet- nium Endurance Race in 2002,
onds. He edged out his more cele- Terengganu’s top junior rider eran title, scoring a hattrick and finished in 53rd place.
 Features 21
February 25 — 27, 2011

Playing according to Get smart!

Play chess!

demands of position
By Peter Long
peterlong@aol.asia

T
he main role of a chess train-
er is that of being a guide. As
the le g endar y Mikha il
Botvinnik, former World Champi-
on and leader of the Soviet School
of Chess would say: “Chess cannot
be taught, it can only be learnt”.
Because of Botvinnik, chess
became a science and the competitive
element moved towards that of a
sport, and for him and the rest of
the Soviet School he founded, it was
all about studying Steinitz.
Wilhelm Steinitz (1836-1900),
the first official World Champion
but more importantly is said to
be the first to have documented
the rules of positional play even
though I have yet to see them in his
writings.
The credit, however, must go to
his successor as World Champion,
Emanuel Lasker who attributed
everything to the man he beat
convincingly for a title he then held
on for 26 years, a feat that no one
believes can ever be duplicated.
What then were Steinitz’s
teachings? Well, it is in its simplest
form, that in a game, a plan had to
be made that the position demands
( in other words we cannot
independently impose our will just
like that!).
Of course in a sense Steinitz had
studied Morphy who was before
him, in a short and tragic career, had
understood the principles of the
open game.
The principles as Lasker put it for
Steinitiz (and logically organised by
10.h4!
Now with his
ABOUT THE AUTHOR development
Peter Long is FIDE Master who is a two complete, the
time National Junior Champion and centre secured, it
National Champion in 1986. The Polgar is time to make
Chess University Director for Asia, he is an attack on the
also Malaysia’s only FIDE Trainer, having flank.
served in the FIDE Trainers’ and FIDE Nd7 11.h5 c5
Chess in Schools Commissions, and is 12.hxg6 Nxg6
a FIDE Arbiter who has officiated at over 13.0-0-0 a6
40 international events. 1 4 . Ng 5 Nf 6
15.Nxh7!
Nxh7!
8. Open Files With preparation this blow, the
9. The Advantage of the Two start of a combinative finish is easy
Bishops to find and play!
10. Material Preponderance 16.Rxh7
11. Conversion of Temporary Simpler was 16. Qh5.
Advantages into Permanent Kxh7 17.Qh5+ Kg8 18.Rh1 Re8
Ones 19.Qxg6 Qf6 20.Bxf7+ Qxf7
While these have been refined by 21.Rh8+ Kxh8
a over a century of practice, they are 22.Qxf7 1-0.
as good as a starting point as ever,
and remain a legitimate basis from
which to evaluate a position in a
game and to make a plan accordingly.
Let us see now how Steinitz
applied what he had learnt with a
Age group, National Closed
fine attacking game.
Steinitz,William - Mongre-
dien,Augustus
tourneys next month
London, Match (3) 1863 Now that school is well underway and with the women, from Mar 16-20.
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.c3 Chinese New Year holidays behind us, the more As has been for some years now, this period of
A simple pawn move to build up serious local chess enthusiasts can look forward to intense national level competition is during the
and secure his position in the centre. the first major events of Malaysian chess calendar. short mid-term school break and important for
b6 4.Be3 Bb7 5.Nd2 d6 6.Ngf3 The National Age Group Championships will players hoping to represent the country to put down
White’s position is already take place from Mar 12-15, followed by the Na- their marker towards selection.
starting to look preferable but he is tional Closed Championship, both for men and for For more details, contact Gregory Lau, Honorary
still not showing any aggression –
just happy to arrange his pieces

Tamil church seeks donations

Euwe) are:
1. Lead in Development
2. Superior Mobility
3. Occupation of the Centre
4. Unsafe king position
5. Weak Squares
6. The Pawn Structure
7. The Queenside Majority
flexibly and in good positions.
e5 7.dxe5
Black without completing his
developing is already taking active
steps and with this move White fixes
the pawn structure.
dxe5 8.Bc4 Ne7 9.Qe2 0-0
(below)

Church members singing a Tamil hymn during the cultural night.

SELAYANG: The Tamil Methodist Church Selayang
is looking to raise RM270,000 to expand its ministry
and better serve the local community.
The church has successfully raised RM120,000 by
organising an Indian cultural night last Sunday at the
Ideal Convention Centre in Selayang.
According to committee chairperson Steven Sekhar,
the collected funds will be used to expand the church’s
ministry.
“We plan to have more free tuition and computer
classes for children and programmes for single parents,”
he said, adding that the church has always been actively
involved in charity activities.
The church is also planning to provide free meals
once a week for the poor and needy in the Selayang area.
Executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar, who was
also present at the event with his wife, pledged
RM20,000 to the church.
Selayang Member of Parliament William Leong also
donated RM2,000.
22
Gallery
February 25 — 27, 2011

Foreign tourists get ready to toss mandarin

oranges into the Taman Jaya lake during the
Chap Goh Meh celebrations hosted by the
Petaling Jaya City Council last Thursday.

State executive councillor Elizabeth Wong (left)

giving out angpows sponsored by Selangor
Menteri Besar to Orang Asli children present
at a thanksgiving ceremony in Bukit Tampoi,
Dengkil last Sunday.

Some of the Temuan handicraft items up for sale during the thanksgiving ceremony organised by
the Temuans in Bukit Tampoi, Dengkil.

A lion dance
performance
at Setia
Eco Park’s
Chinese New
Year open
house last
Saturday.
Chinese New Year revellers fishing for mandarin oranges thrown
into the Taman Jaya lake during the Chap Goh Meh celebrations
hosted by the Petaling Jaya City Council last Thursday.

Children enjoying the Chinese New Year open house hosted by Setia Alam in Shah
Alam last Saturday. Some 6,000 residents from the housing estate were invited to
the annual event.
 culture 23
FEBRUARY 25 — 27, 2011

INTERVIEW ❚ COMPILED BY ZEDECK SIEW

What is performance art?

T
he Buka Kolektif wants to show you
performance art. Their Buka Jalan fes-
tival (on now till Monday at the Na-
tional Art Gallery) is exactly what it says on
the tin: an introduction to the form and tradi-
tion of performance art, featuring artists from
both within Malaysia and around the region;
talks and workshops.
Conceptual artist Sharon Chin is one third
of the Buka Kolektif, alongside visual artist
Poodien (Shafuddin Mamat) and poet Rah-
mat Haron. She tells us what performance art
is, why we should get to know it, and what we
can expect at the festival.
First things first: what is performance art?
How is it different from performing arts
like theatre or dance?
Performance art is an experimental and con-
temporary form, with origins in the visual arts
tradition. It’s non-object-based. When people
think about art, they think of paintings or
sculpture. Performance art changes how audi-
ences experience art. Instead of standing back
to look at a painting, a performance artist
communicates directly with the audience
through gestures.
The performing arts – theatre and dance
– are defined by their relationship with the
stage. But performance art can happen in any
situation: it doesn’t need a banner, or an an-
nouncement saying: “Hey, this is happening.”
A person stumbling across a performance on
the street would be captivated by that inter-
vention into everyday life.
What is a performance artist? Why should
people get to know the form?
A performance artist is an entertainer and
public intellectual who expects his or her
ideas to be criticised.
Culture belongs to everybody; a perfor-
mance artist (and artists, in general) imagines
the culture that they’re in, so that the public
can see it and experience it. It creates a sense
of togetherness and solidarity. Art brings
people together, even though views differ –
unlike politics.
Who and what can we expect to see at
Buka Jalan?
Buka Jalan will include performances by eight
Malaysian artists, and eight artists from
abroad.
We have people like Ray Lagenbach, who’s
our link to previous performance art events
in Malaysia; he was a co-organiser of the
controversial Satu Kali festival in 2006.
There’s Fared Ayam, who’s a theatre practi-
tioner; he brings elements from theatre into
his performances, like its physicality: one of
his past performances has him doing sports
exercises until he was totally worn out. There’s
Aisyah Baharudin, whose performances are
about being a mother and woman in Malay-
sian society; she involves her kid in many of
her works.
From the region, we have Paduncsak Koch-
somrong, one of the founders of Asiatopia,
Asean’s longest-running performance art
festival. We also have Zoncy Zon Spaal Phyu,
a young artist from Myanmar. In one of her
previous works, she sang a wordless tune over
and over; each time she finished, she made
herself gag. She also got people to sing along
– building a chorus of this plaintive lament.
It was a work about togetherness and suffer-
ing, about giving a voice to the unspeakable.
What are Buka Kolektif ’s future plans?
Having the festival at the National Art Gal-
lery, our national institution, is our first step.
We originally wanted to have Buka Jalan in a
park in PJ, but had to abandon that idea be-
cause of logistical reasons. That’s still our
dream, though.
We’d like to continue organising perfor-
mance art events for the next ten years. It’s
important to be consistent, so that we can start
to change how people view and experience art.
Art is not just about galleries!

review Editor’s
Feng Shui - A Solo
Pick
Exhibition by Munkao Film Screening; Five Arts Centre, Taman Tun Dr Ismail;
free admission;
As an artist, Munkao is good at wit. This is usually 03-7725 4858;
visual: his fun 2009 show, Natural (a double-bill with www.fiveartscentre.org
Saharil Hasrin Sanin) featured paintings of chimera:
wolves with the lower bodies of footballers; an 12 Malay
octopus with odalisque-like legs. Sometimes it is more Movies
conceptual: 2010’s The Best Art Show In The Univers
(with Chi Too and Dill Malik) looked at the pretensions The title of Amir
of the commercial art world, which tends to court Muhammad’s
collectors with grandiloquent essays and glitzy high- 2010 book, 120
society openings. Malay Movies,
doesn’t lie: to
Feng Shui, Munkao’s latest solo show, is a culmination write it, the writer
of these two paths. Its fun paintings and installations sat down and
are treated as Feng Shui implements -- stuff that you watched 120
get to manipulate the flow of luck and energy in your Kitsch of things like those miniature fountains with the Malay-language
home or office, similar to crystals and giant horse constantly rolling ball. films, all made
paintings. between 1948
The show is strongest when the works are conceptual: and 1972, in
“Frog with Glow For Home Safety” is a “painstallation” “Its Time to Get Rich” is a 66cm x 170cm 4D chronological
that features a large toad -- frogs being an auspicious, generator: push button, receive nombor ekor. But, in order. To what
money-making symbol -- with glowing eyes. “The night his paintings, Munkao’s penchant for easy witticism end? To see what
light frog has a dual function as an aesthetic work of and gimmickry may be becoming a crutch. He’s our past fantasies
art that also protects the home from intruders.” What an excellent painter; “Five Bats of Fortune” is a were like, and how
is art if it isn’t functional? The lit eyes and streaming magnificent piece of canvas. The bats’ glowing eyes they reverberate
water effects of these paintings even mirror the plug-in just become annoying after repeated viewing. with us today.

arts Now there’s an

Arts Festival Map KL @ Publika; admission variable
LiFest
This “festival celebrating Art, Photography,
Music, Culture and Fashion” is for a good
cause. Portions of proceeds from LiFest’s
events will go to the Yayasan Orang Kurang
Upaya Kelantan (YOKUK), a non-profit
committed to improving the quality of life of
Kelantan’s disabled.
Featuring an art exhibition with work by
opportunity to
experience (a
fraction of) the
movies Amir saw.
This weekend’s
Alife Omar, Azli Wahid, Daud Rahim, Husin screenings include
Hourmain, Najib Ahmad, Rafiee Ghani, and Ribut (1955),
many others; a talk by academic Eddin Khoo not “just the first
about the Mak Yong traditional form; “Keep Malay colour
it Short, Stupid”, a programme of short film movie we can see, but possibly the first feminist one”; Serangan
curated by Amir Muhammad and Azharr Orang Minyak (1958), the “kinkiest Malay Movie so far”; and Panji
Rudin; the launch of Readings from Readings, Semerang (1961), which has a “prince pining for someone he takes to
a collection of short stories edited by Bernice be another prince”. On Saturday and Sunday, from 2pm.
Chauly and Sharon Bakar.
elevating the
touchstone of
residential
communities
with new ideals
that soar above
common
conventions.

sleek, stylish, polished;

an expression of
haut monde identity.

MALAYSIA | VIETNAM | AUSTRALIA | SINGAPORE | CHINA

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