Sg Lima Yellow Curious

struggles power back case of

to survive SS
9 in actionp 14
p 12–13 p

community January 14 — 16, 2011/ issue 8

A bleak Chinese New Year

awaits 52-year-old Tan Suan
Ji after his poultry farm was
demolished on Tuesday.
• Story on page 4

Drug
By Alvin Yap and Chong Loo Wah youths at the prime of their lives. Many
families are going though sleepless
BANTING: Kampung Jenjarom has nights because of their children’s ad-
turned into a battleground between diction. 
an anguished community and drug Other village committee members
pushers who are keeping its youths who met reporters from Selangor Times

haven
high and suicidal. said most of them either knew a relative
“There have been three deaths and or neighbour whose son or daughter is
four attempted suicides in the past four or was a former drug addict.
years,” said village head Tan Ching Han.  Some families are facing the harsh
All the cases involved young men in reality that they may have to send their
their prime, between the ages of 23 and vocal cords due to the toxic herbicide.  sons and daughters to drug rehabilita-
30. “Some of them can’t even talk,” said tion, maybe for years away from home.

in new
The oldest victim was found hanged Tan. Tan said that it was the “last but
in his room after his mother had re- The suicides, Tan said, are caused by unavoidable” recourse left to many
turned from the morning market in the drug’s side effects. families if they wanted to see their child
October last year.  He also claimed that some victims saved from addiction.
Tan said the mother had refused to had suffered brain damage.  “One committee member received
give her son money as she suspected he “It could be both brain damage and a call from her neighbour who was torn
was using it to buy drugs.  “She said he depression that are driving the victims at having to ‘surrender’ her son to po-
was moody and angry before his death,” to  suicide,” he said. lice. The mother was crying while the

village
added Tan. Tan said the widespread drug use in committee member was advising her to
The other victims had consumed the village first reared its ugly head in give her son up to police, as his addic-
paraquat, a strong herbicide which is 2007 which also saw a rise in petty tion and criminal acts had got worse,”
easily purchased in hardware and sun- crime with snatch thefts becoming said Tan.
dry shops, owing to the fact that the common.  Tan recalled an incident where a
surrounding area is agricultural land.  Residents are wary of walking family of four vacated their house on
Some of the victims who survived around the village even during day time. the son’s release from prison. In this
suicide attempts suffer severe and per- The village committee members are case, the mother had surrendered the
manent damage to their throats and very worried because the criminals are • Turn to page 6
2
newsJanuary 14 — 16, 2011

Direct elections
By Chong Loo Wah and
Selangor WEATHER Gan Pei Ling
Friday Saturday Sunday
SHAH ALAM: Pandamaran New

for village chiefs

Village, Pulau Ketam and Jenjarom are
Morning set to be the first to hold direct elections
for their own leaders since local
elections were abolished more than 40
years ago.
Afternoon “If everything goes as planned, we
will go ahead this March,” said state
executive councillor Ean Yong Hian
Wah.
Night He  told Selangor Times that the
state   had agreed in principal to the
decision at Wednesday’s executive
Source: Malaysian meteorological department council meeting. 
t
“If the direct election could be car-
Studen
Tourismy in
synerg line p
power

6 p 12
–13 ried out successfully in the three vil-
the pipe
Clogge
of fl
d
S CauS
drainoodS
e
p 4 lages, the state will implement it gradu-
liver y to ally in all 78 Chinese new villages and
7
/ issue
– 9, 2011

Free de
7,
January

JMB. fishing villages in Selangor.

RA and
community

This will be our first step towards

Sri
Taman
ers of their
fire fight before

t:
al
Volunteer strike a pose multi-raci

Contac
Serdang session. Theranging from
training members by Victor Chong
has
group . – Picture 8
ages 18-56 page
ry on

reviving local elections,” said Ean Yong,

• Sto

t o r @
edi s. whose portfolio includes new village
a n g ortime
sel development,
r call: Pandamaran New Village set for direct election.
com o 8 He will put forward a detailed pro-
23228
elayed 03-55 posal specifying the election procedures was selected because the state needed government elections if they were
Move d and estimated cost involved. the support of the local assemblyperson elected.
Ling the
Gan Pei ittee on to
Wah and select comm nue
g Loo ng ceil- that the s would conti State
By Chon and peelidelayed He added office gs to the
Leaking ng Jaya district and land t their findin
alaM: problems, have move to ying in Suba repor ted

The Seri Kembangan assemblyman to implement direct elections, and

SHaH probe and

Since then, the coalition has been

g other Land Office’s Alam. ntly occup Alam. first repor
ings, amon ict e is curre Shah ruction Assembly. oversial deal was and raised
ing Distr Section U5, Shah - to Offic office in the const 2006
the Petal  at new build in 2004 ing for the new Builders bore the new office r
and The contr theSun in in 2009.
building with the an tender Gapurna 4.6 million for sh daily bly Mo-
its new e very dissatisfied chan assemblym with out open for the Petal t- quart ers for senio by Engli the State Assem Datuk Seri Dr on
“We’r Sekin it recently. ted home depar RM2 ng
cost of ent four housi a of state land. in Besar ent
ition,” said cted in poin the new other local a again er Menteri refused to commTimes.
ing’s condLim, who inspe was completed ity constructLand Office and nistration. its adjac in 4.51h ned 1.23h Form had gor
h
District admi previ- district officials developer obtai and 0.45ha hamad Khir Toyo cted by Selant has moved
Ng Suee ing, whic lack of secur previous d why the - n, the /1 conta

explained that the direct election

re Departmen ing Land

Pandamaran assemblyman Ronnie Liu

The buildill-equipped withture and parking ments by thedon’t understan move the Petal

lambasted by opposition and civil

In retur juan SS16 along Jalan issue when
also furni “We still tion wanted
to gic Jalan Kema e quarters ated to be the The Social Welfaing but the Petal age De-
2009, is and inadequate be nistra from its strateb in of land at ict Offic /2 estim 00 build and Drain t will
d e Distr new
facilities h woul ous admi ict Offic te subur of Land SS19 than RM1 into the Office, Irrigation s Departmen
spaces. room whic s like land ing Land Distr ng Jaya to a remo worth more District Public Workmonth.
the store ment st on in Suba Ng. n now. though partment, and in the
Ng said important docu ction again locati millio even in this ting
store prote ,” said  Ng said worth less only start to moveted to start opera de
used to not have sufficient Shah Alam the move was were expec may provi
titles did floods. suffering
great He said nce the the lands the manner in They are March. The statethe new office

procedure would be similar to state and had volunteered.

at risk of The build- likely to inconvenieoffice is

societies for dragging their feet in

,
fires and would be ent. new in 2004 developer was new office in yers to reach with the new
“The state event of an accid month so we’ve public as the sible com- which the and the land buses for taxpa c are familiar
the this
losses in nty period ends the problems soon- not easilythe current office
acces appointed d transparency until the publi
ing’s warracontractor to fix pared to KTM and swap lacke ked of crony- location.
asked the Ng. lop-s ided land which is near and smac
y, the the ns.
est,” said insult to injur has already cost bus statio , the Barisan ism.
To add for the office In 2006 d Government

national elections. As for Pulau Ketam, Ean Yong said fulfilling their election promise
action ighte d by nal-le of land
trans a
ns. was highl ittee Nasioped 1.68h District
state millio ing’s problemal select comm swap ing Land
The build to the speci headed by Ng. Petal
nts s ap- the
civil serva district officecontractor was
and
on land d that the
He adde

Eligible voters must be local residents its small population made it easier for of reviving local elections in PR-led

State unruffled based on the Election Commission’s

latest electoral roll and their MyKad
addresses.
them to manage a direct election for the
first time.
Local government elections were
states.
Nevertheless, it should be noted that
the Local Government Act 1976
by Syabas suit  Candidates must be Selangor
residents who must contest in their
capacity as an ordinary citizen, not a
first suspended and later abolished by
the then ruling Alliance party in 1965
due to Confrontation, an undeclared
specifically states that local councillors
are to be appointed by the state
government.
By Rahmah Ghazali political party candidate. war between Malaysia and Indonesia Hence, due to current restrictions
Ean Yong said the directly-elected over the future of Borneo from 1962 to under the law, Ean Yong said it would
SHAH ALAM: Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim says his administration village chiefs will enjoy the same status 1966. be difficult for the state to reinstate local
is unperturbed and is considering counter suing Syarikat as currently nominated chiefs but the However, local elections were not government elections fully, but the
Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas). person will be more representative of reinstated after Confrontation. During direct election of village chief demon-
The Menteri Besar , who was responding to Syabas’ RM400 the people’s wishes. the 2008 general election, Pakatan strated the state’s will to fulfil its elec-
million suit against the state for what they claim was a breach He said Pandamaran New Village Rakyat had promised to reinstate local tion promises gradually.
in the water concession agreement, said the state too had the
right to sue the company for “not fulfilling their role”.
“And we would be continuously suing each other. If they
want to sue, we also have the right to counter sue,” he said.
On  Tuesday, Syabas sued the state for not allowing the
Villagers welcome direct elections
company to raise water tariffs from Jan 1 2009 to Dec 31, 2011 By Basil Foo “If the appointment is done by political
in accordance with the concession agreement. parties, the candidate might not be well
The state, in their reply, stated that Syabas did not have KLANG: Most residents at the Pandamaran known to the people,” he added.
automatic rights to raise tariffs nor had it complied with all the New Village yesterday welcomed the news However, many residents were not aware
terms and conditions of the concession agreement. that their village will be one of three villages of the responsibilities of a village head and
Selangor has been mulling legal action against Syabas for its chosen to hold direct elections for the leaders thus were undecided about the direct elec-
Tabung Budi programme which was launched in August last year. in March. tions.
The programme allows consumers to waive their right to 20 “It is good that we can choose our own “It would be better if the residents knew
cubic metros of free water worth RM11.40 monthly and return leaders directly,” said a 70-year- old resident who the village head was,” said Tay, a 62 year
it to the company so that it can reconnect water supply for those who only wanted to be known as Wong. old yong tau foo seller.
who are less-fortunate.  The coffee shop proprietor, who has been “We don’t know who the village head is
The state maintains that Syabas is only authorised to supply living in the village for 66 years, said that or what kind of duties he does,” she added.
water within the distribution area rather than launching a direct elections will allow residents to choose Roti canai seller Raja, 43, admitted that
welfare programme for the people, a move which the state deem someone who knows the needs of the there has not been any issues with the past
as a “breach of contract”. community.  village heads but was ambivalent about the
But Khalid gave an assurance that the suit by Syabas will not Other residents pointed out the pitfalls of plans for direct voting.
affect their bid to take over the water restructuring industry. a village head who pledges allegiance to po- “Our business has run so far without Wong: Good to choose
litical parties. much interruption by the authorities. Clean- own leader.
Village resident Abdul Mohd Talib, 49, liness is not an issue as cleaners come every
said: “If chosen by a political morning,” he said.
party, the candidate may de- “We have no issues with
cide not to support pro- the village head. I think vot-
phone (603) 5523 2288 grammes organised by oppos- ing by the residents is okay,”
fax (603) 5523 1188 ing parties.” he said.
email editor@selangortimes.com
“But if he is chosen by the Direct elections for the
EDITORIAL people, help will be provided village heads of Pandamaran
regardless of which party is New Village, Pulau Ketam
CHIEF EDITOR KL Chan
involved in the project,” he and Jenjarom will he held in
COMMUNITY EDITOR Neville Spykerman
added. March.
WRITERS Tang Hui Koon, Chong Loo Wah, Gan Pei Ling,
Alvin Chin, Lee Choon Fai, William Tan, Alvin Yap,
Newspaper and magazine Residents who wish to
Rahmah Ghazali, Basil Foo, Yasleh Hani Mat Yassin vendor Chong believes that vote must live within the
COPY EDITORS James Ang, Deborah Loh elected village chiefs can func- constituency according to
DESIGNER Jimmy C. S. Lim tion better than appointed their MyKad as indicated by
PHOTOGRAPHER Victor Chong
ones. the Election Commission.
ADVERTISING Timothy Loh, Ivan Looi
“The elected person will Candidates standing
put more effort into his work,” Talib: Should be chosen by must also be residents of Raja: No issues with
ADVISORS Faekah Husin, Arfa’eza Abdul Aziz
said the 60-year-old. people. Selangor. village head.
 SELANGOR TIMES ⁄ January 14 – 16, 2011 ⁄ 3

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4
news
January 14 — 16, 2011
Events
Dinos Alive 2010 Malaysia
Experience the prehistoric World of Dinosaurs right
here in Kuala Lumpur. Walk among recreations of these
magnificent beasts in the Jurassic era. Get up close
and personal with 32 ‘life-size’ dinosaurs including a
16-feet Tyrannosaurus and a 23-feet Apatosaurus. This
exhibition is on from now until 31 May 2011. Visiting
hours are from 9am to 5pm. Venue: Pusat Sains
Negara, Pesiaran Bukit Kiara, Bukit Kiara.
Cancer forum
In conjunction with the Cervical Cancer Awareness
month, Pantai Hospital Klang will be hosting a
public forum on Cervical Cancer! What is New? at
its premises tomorrow from 2-4pm. The event aims
to raise awareness on the second most common
cancer affecting women globally. The speaker will
be consultant obstetrician & gynaecologist Dr S
Jeevaretanam. Participants can look forward to on-
site pap smear screening at a nominal cost, discount
vouchers and special cervical cancer vaccination
packages. Admission is free. For details, call 03-7843
3100.
Roman Festivals and Parisian Nights
Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra is holding this
concert tomorrow with Giancarlo Guerrero as conductor
and Stella Doufexis mezzo-soprano. The performance
will feature two scores celebrating life in Rome, the
ancient capital of composer Ottorino Respighi’s native
Italy,and a scintillating overture by a Russian composer
inspired by a French novel. The concert is at 8.30pm.
Dress code is smart casual. Tickets are priced at
RM 85, RM 65, RM 40, and RM 20. Venue: Dewan
Filharmonik PETRONAS, Level 2, Tower 2, PETRONAS
Twin Towers, KLCC, K. Lumpur.
Hope for farmers
By Chong Loo Wah
BALAKONG: The state is considering finding alternative
sites for the 125 farmers whose farms were demolished on
Tuesday.
State executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah said most of
the farmers were Selangor residents even though their farms,
located near the Sungai Besi military camp, were in Kuala
Lumpur territory.
A gloomy Chinese New Year looms as they have lost their
source of livelihood for the past 40 years.
Ean Yong said the State Government was considering relocat-
ing the farmers to Selangor so that they can continue farming.
The farmers grew fruits and reared livestock before over 100
officers from the Federal Land Office, Defence Ministry,
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and police demolished their
farms.
The farmers tried to form a human shield to protect their
farms but failed.
Only two farmers were given a three-day grace period to
remove their belongings and leave the land after negotiations
with the officers.
The Defence Ministry owns the 40.5ha land and the farmers
had received eviction notices since last November as the min-
istry wanted to reclaim the land.
However, Serdang Member of Parliament Teo Nie Ching
argued that on humanitarian grounds, the Federal Government
should have compensated the farmers accordingly.
The farmers had asked to be compensated RM1.6 million.
Teo said the Selangor Menteri Besar had also written to the
Federal Land Office and Defence Ministry on behalf of the
farmers but neither replied.
Meanwhile, Ean Yong and Teo lodged a police report on
Wednesday as a DBKL enforcement officer had allegedly asked
the farmers to “Balik China” during the demolition.
Ean Yong said he had heard the racist remark too and had
wanted to find out the officer’s identity on the spot but the
officer had disappeared into the crowd after making the remark.
Besides that, some farmers had alleged that some of the
enforcement officers had stolen their chickens and plants as
well.
Wong slams
‘malicious’ reports
By Gan Pei Ling
SHAH ALAM: Selangor has denied a news report that it
had approved a project to convert the Kuala Langat South
Peat Swamp Forest into an oil palm estate.
“No, we haven’t made any decision on that,” said Menteri
Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim after chairing a state executive
councillor meeting on Wednesday.
A Jan 11 report on Star Metro had claimed that the Selan-
gor Government had approved a proposal by Selangor Agri-
cultural Development Corporation (PKPS) to develop the
6,908ha of forest reserve into a plantation.
In addition, the front-page report accused the state of
forcing the Forestry Department to issue logging licences for
contractors to clear the peat swamp forest.
In another follow-up report on Jan 12, the state was criti-
cised by environmentalists for its “non-action on the matter”.
Khalid said both reports were inaccurate. He said the state
had imposed a 25-year moratarium on logging when it came
to power in 2008.
State executive councillor Elizabeth Wong, who is in charge
of the environment portfolio, described the news articles as
“false” and “malicious” in a text message to Selangor Times.
In its first report on Jan 11, Star Metro also published a
photo of an excavator with a misleading caption claiming that
the excavator was clearing the forest reserve.
“That excavator belongs to us – to bulldoze illegal oil palm
(encroaching on the forest reserve)!” said an indignant Wong.
Wong said she had asked the state legal advisor to examine
the news articles.
Meanwhile, Wong’s office is compiling the biodiversity
audit report to be presented to Khalid in end January before
the state decides to approve or reject PKPS’s proposal.
The biodiversity assessment was jointly conducted last
December by government departments and environmental
non-governmental organisations.
Wong visiting the forest reserve with former Forestry
Department director Rahmat Topani recently.
A Wildlife Department officer revealed to Selangor Times Wyn said the area is probably the only virgin peat swamp
that they have found endangered species like tapirs, white- forest left in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
handed gibbons and Malayan sun bears in the forest reserve. Since PKPS’s plan to convert the forest reserve into oil
Furthermore, workers from illegal oil palm estate surround- palm plantation came to light, environmental groups like
ing the forest reserve claimed they have spotted a tiger previ- Malaysian Nature Society, Eco Warriors Malaysia and the
ously but the Forestry Department failed to find any sign of Malaysian Youth Climate Justice Network have spoken against
it. it.
A Forestry Department officer said there were still a few They have launched signature and call-in campaigns to urge
hundred hectares of virgin peat swamp in the forest reserve. the state government to conserve the forest reserve and reject
Malaysian Nature Society honorary secretary Lim Teck PKPS’s proposal.
MPSJ instructed to postpone
controversial regulations
By Rahmah Ghazali failed to follow the condition would not sultation with the state government first.
get their licences renewed. “Under the law, the local authorities
SHAH ALAM: The Subang Jaya Mu- The Pandamaran lawmaker also said cannot impose their own conditions...
nicipal Council (MPSJ) has been asked the guideline was “too general” and hard because the implications are too serious,”
to put on hold its stringent regulations to implement. he said.
on entertainment outlets, which are seen “If they say these outlets cannot hire Meanwhile, Liu pointed out that
as impractical and unfair. Muslims, does this include the cleaners there are certain by-laws that were
The guidelines which were an- too? What about those who are hired passed during the previous state admin-
nounced this month included prohibit- to do the dishes? Are they not allowed istration that has caused confusion.
ing outlets serving alcohol from hiring to work?” he asked. He said Chinese traditional doctors
Muslims. Citing another example, Liu said have been categorised as having the same
“If they were to ban Muslims from the guideline also barred owners from status as reflexology and spa operators
working in those outlets, it would mean allowing those intoxicated from being under the Ampang Jaya Municipal
a loss of jobs for Malays. Who is going on their premises during operating Council for their licencing purposes.
to be responsible for this?” said Ronnie hours. Liu pointed out that traditional doc-
Liu yesterday. “How can you differentiate a drunk tors are professionals who are required
He said the new regulations could person from a sober one? You can’t to have qualifications from universities
also have serious implications on busi- simply go up to them and use a breath and certificates unlike the other two.
nesses. analyzer when they are enjoying their They are also recognised by the Health
The executive councillor for local drinks. Sometimes drunk people do not Ministry.
government said he has asked MPSJ to admit they are drunk,” he argued. “So I have asked MPAJ to withdraw
postpone the rules until further consul- He added the state is in charge of the condition and will ask the State
tation is held with the state. standardising all by-laws in the local Economic Planning Unit (UPEN) to
Under the new rules, outlets that authorities and they are subject to con- review these by-laws,” he said.
 news
January 14 — 16, 2011 5

Khalid (centre) with the South

Korean delegation.

Korean By Yasleh Hani Mat Yassin

SHAH ALAM: A South Korean busi-

They were also briefed on Selangor’s
Klang River rehabilitation project which
is part of the state’s economic stimulus
development model for major cities
around the world,” said Lee.
Lee, who is also president of the Ko-

investors
ness delegation has expressed interest in
investing in Selangor.
Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibra-
him received the delegation led by South
package. rea-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce,
Malaysia Samsung president Datuk said Selangor was more competitive and
Lee Sang Bai, who was also in the delega- investor-friendly compared to other
tion, said a few South Korean companies states because of its infrastructure, trans-

keen on
Korean ambassador to Malaysia Lee had shown interest to cooperate with the portation network and skilled work-
Yong-joon at the state secretariat on state in the cleaning and conservation of force.
Monday. the river. The delegation also expressed support

Selangor
“The Menteri Besar and the South
Koreans discussed new opportunities
given by the state to investors in the one-
hour meeting,” said a spokesman from
the state.
“These companies have experience for the state’s efforts to attract more in-
and expertise because they were involved vestors from South Korea.
in the cleaning project of Cheong- Khalid said Selangor welcomed ad-
gyecheon River which has now become ditional investment, especially in green
a public attraction and the most effective technology.

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6
news
January 14 — 16, 2011

Children’s addiction
• From Page one
son to the police as his threats had
got worse along with his hardcore

brings shame to families

addiction.
“The son was threatening to raze
their house because the mother had
refused him money and also sur-
rendered him to the authorities.
When he went out to buy a can of
kerosene, the family left the house
immediately,” said Tan.
Some families have had to bear
with the realisation of having more
than one child who is a drug user.  tries the sample at a quiet corner of
One family was shocked to find
out that their younger daughter was
an addict following a positive urine
test. She had been mistakenly
hauled up by police alongside her
older brother, a hardcore addict.
Ketamine and heroin are two of
the drugs that are sold by pushers.
Ketamine is a “recreational” drug,
which comes in the form of pills,
which can be taken whole or crushed
into fine powder and injected. He
said that the heroin is ‘sniffed’ or
injected.
Some of the villagers feel that
their children’s addiction has
brought shame to the family and
fear that their names would be dis-
closed in investigations.  a minute,” said Tan, adding that
Tan and the village committee
are appealing to police to take ac-
tion. “Monitor the drug pushers, the
suppliers. Catch them and give them
stiffer penalties. That will stop them;
that will stop the supply,”  he said.
They have also suggested that the
authorities go after the drug pushers
for information on supply routes
and identities of their criminal
bosses.
Tan said the drugs are delivered
to the homes or addicts’ haunts by
Tan, chairman of the Kg Jarom
village committee.
suppliers who can be contacted by
handphone. Men on motorcycles
would then come by, and after a brief
exchange of money for drugs, the
addict would get their ‘fix’ at a pri-
vate and secluded place.
“Imagine a drug user who stays at
the back of his house. A motorcycle
comes down the alley, and he just
puts his hand out into the window,
passes the money over in exchange
for the drugs. It takes place in under
many in the community had seen
these transactions take place daily,
often in alleys behind their houses.
Some of the abandoned houses
in the village have been turned into
drug haunts, Tan said. In the haunts
were water stained mattresses,
burned mosquito repellants, ciga-
rette butts and discarded alcohol
bottles.
The traffickers offer free samples
to first time users in order to entice
them, he said.
He added that the “new-style”
cafes in Kg Jenjarom that are fre-
quented by the young are in actual
fact places where first-time users can
sample drugs. “The first timer then
the cafe,” he said.
The village committee has urged
Bukit Aman to transfer back a for-
mer top police offer in the district
to deal with the drug problem. An
anti-narcotics officer in charge of the
Klang-Banting district, he was trans-
ferred upon his promotion.
“Our working relationship with
the officer was very good, we com-
plemented each other very well. We
have asked for him to return to help
us out,” said Tan.
Tan also added that the officer
had successfully detained one push-
er at Simpang Renggam Detention
Centre under the Emergency Ordi-
nance Act, while another was ban-
ished to Sg Petani in Kedah under
the Restricted Residence Act.
When the officer was in charge,
there were 200 arrests made from
2007-2008. Tan stressed that they
included repeat offenders.
He said this was an important
issue: the village committee wants
the addicts who are caught to be
placed in rehabilitation, but not to
be released on bail or let off for lack
of evidence.
Kg Jenjarom is not a “drug town”
stressed Tan and the other village
committee members.
“We don’t deserve
this reputation and
we’re doing what we
can to fight this addic-
tion,” a committee
member said.
With the urgency of
having to deal with this
problem in the tight-
knit community, Tan
said that it would be
the ‘end’ of Kg Jenjar-
om if drug addiction
p r o b l em s a r e n o t
solved.
The village com-
mitee has set up a vol-
unteer “support group”
to listen to problems
facing families. The
number of calls the
group receives from
ang uishe d parents
pouring their prob- Tan with Telok Datok assemblyman Philip
lems out has over- Tan at a suspected drug haunt.
whelmed them. cause of the children’s drug addic-
“My husband complains that my tion.
volunteer work is a 24-hour thing. Kg Jenjarom is, however, not tak-
The calls can come while I’m busy ing the problem lying down. They
preparing dinner,” said 27-year-old are fighting back by organising ac-
Lim Gweok Nee, adding that some tivities like karaoke sessions and
calls came in after midnight. competitions in order to get the
The housewife and mother of youth off the streets and away from
two young children says the calls are the drugs.
mostly from mothers. She says that Kuala Langat police declined to
the mothers usually tell her that they comment when contacted by Selan-
are under emotional pressure be- gor Times.

By Rahmah Ghazali

SHAH ALAM: Selangor is urged to chart a

Big ideas
path towards becoming a high-income state by
focusing on medical tourism and education. at Selangor
Study Medicine
Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid
Ibrahim said the state will also forge partner-
ships with countries that are active in trade.
business
At
Khalid had chaired a meeting of the Se-
langor Business Council at i-City last Tuesday, council
Kursk State Medical
during which University of California eco-
nomics professor Datuk Prof Woo Wing Thye industries in Selangor. They included the
University,
Unversity, Russia
suggested the state create an East Asian hub Malay Chambers of Commerce, Federation
for medical tourism and English-language of Malaysian Manufacturers, Chinese Cham-
education. bers of Commerce and Klang Chambers of
Woo added that Selangor could mobilise Commerce.
its state-funded tertiary institutions to offer Lecturers and vice-chancellors from vari-
foreign languages as part of their courses, and ous universities in Selangor also participated
enhance cooperation with foreign universities. in the meeting.
Khalid, speaking after the meeting, agreed
that services could be combined, such as tour-
ism with medical treatments.
New RELA squads
Khalid added that the state would also SERI KEMBANGAN: Two new Peo-
Malaysian graduates of June 2010
continue to pursue investors through high- ple’s Volunteer Corps (RELA) platoons
• Established in the year 1935 (75 years old) value industries such as green technology were established on Jan 1 here to help
• Recognised by JPA & MMC, GMC (UK), CANADA and 40 countries Globaly which requires skilled and qualified workers. community security and emergency re-
• LISTED IN DIRECTORY OF MEDICAL SCHOOL OF WHO “With more skilled and experienced work- sponses.
• Choice of more than 1100 Malaysian students to study in KSMU ers in the state, our infrastructure will improve “They will assist the police and enforce-
• 420 have graduated since 1999 are employed in government hospitals and this in turn will become a reason why ment officers,” said RELA Petaling District
• Halal food and Surau for Muslim students investors would choose Selangor,” he said. assistant officer Mohd Kairol Jamil. 
• Course fee with Hostel fees for 6 years only RM 121,284.00 However, Woo pointed out that Selangor   The leaders of the new platoons - 0080
• Taught fully in English medium since 1994 would need to cooperate with other states and 0420 - Shan Ngan Fah and Lim Chee
• Two intakes in a year FEB / MARCH and September/ October such as Kuala Lumpur and Penang in order to Keong, respectively, received the ranks of
• Entry requirements : Students with STPM, A’Level, SAM, SSAM.CPU, Indian PU, UEC promote its industries. lieutenants and their RELA cards in cer-
and other equivalent qualification can apply for direct entry to 1st year medicine
“Foreign investors will not come to Selan- emony to launch the platoons.
• Assistance for loans and others provided
gor alone for investments. They also have the The simple ceremony at the headquar-
choice of other states such as Kuala Lumpur ters of the Taman Sri Serdang volunteer
For Further Information Contact www.ksmu.com.my fire brigade was attended by state executive
and Penang, so it is vital for Selangor to get
MAGGARAM SDN BHD (P – 825616) Contact :
cooperation from these states,” said Woo dur- councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah. Also at
Sole And Exclusive Representative For KSMU In Malaysia DATO’ M.V.RAJU : 019 3520249
C-19-02, Dataran 3 Two, No .2, Jalan 19/1, Seksyen 19, MRS.RENUGA : 017 3661578 ing the meeting earlier. the ceremony was RELA Petaling District
46300 Petaling Jaya, selangor Darul Ehsan OFFICE : 03 79568006
EMAIL : v_magaram@hotmail.com FAX : 03 79577006
The business council meeting was attended deputy officer Khalid Ibrahim.
by about 50 business leaders from various

By Gan Pei Ling
SUBANG JAYA: Kelana Jaya
Member of Parliament Loh Gwo-
Burne and Subang Jaya assembly-
woman Hannah Yeoh will head the
taskforce to negotiate with Sime
Darby on acquiring Subang Ria
Park.
“They will work with representa-
tives from resident associations,”
Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibra-
him announced after chairing a state
executive council meeting on
Wednesday.
Yeoh said she had suggested a list
of representatives to the Menteri
Besar, who expects the taskforce to
have their first meeting by next week.
Khalid had given the taskforce
eight months to negotiate with park
owner Sime Darby and settle on a
price as well as raise funds to buy
back the recreational park.
The state had promised to pay for
half of the total purchase price while
residents would pay the other half.
However, the plan will only go
ahead if residents can raise one third
of their share within the next eight
months.
Sime Darby had declared the
park’s book value at RM3.6 million
in its 2010 financial report.
However, when taking into ac-
count the potential value of the
29.4ha park, valuation figures from
state and private sector have ranged
from RM15 million to RM165 mil-
lion.
Sime Darby faced strong public
opposition when it first submitted
news
January 14 — 16, 2011 7
Loh and Yeoh to spearhead
Subang Ria taskforce
a proposal in 2007 to develop the
park into a commercial area.
In 2009, it amended its plan to
develop 7.7ha of the park into a
low-density residential area and
upgrade the remaining 21.7ha be-
fore handing the park back to the
Subang Jaya Municipal Council
(MPSJ).
MPSJ had rejected Sime Darby’s
proposal in May 2010 but the devel-
oper appealed and the case is now
pending at the Appeals’ Board.
The residents had applied to in-
tervene in Sime Darby’s appeal
hearing but lost.
During the second dialogue with
the residents last Saturday, Khalid
reiterated that the state had frozen
all development at the park for the
next eight months
Meanwhile, it was revealed during
the Appeals’ Board’s hearing on
Tuesday that the state executive
council had approved the Subang plain the reason the draft local plan RM20 million to upgrade the re- Khalid (centre) at
Jaya draft local plan in March 2010 was approved by the state executive maining 21.7ha before returning it a dialogue with
before the public hearing in April council even before the public hear- to the local council for free. residents over the
2010. ing was held to seek public feedback After the residents made clear recreational park
Khalid explained on Wednesday on the plan. their objection to any sort of devel- proposed by Sime
that the approval was conditional as He merely said the state had opment in Subang Ria Park, Khalid Darby. With him is
the details in the draft local plan conditionally approved the plan as said the state had listened to them Hannah Yeoh left)
were not finalised yet. the developer only wanted to de- and thus set up a taskforce to try to and Teresa Kok
(second from right).
However, he did not further ex- velop 7.7ha of the park and spend purchase the park from Sime Darby.
8
news
January 14 — 16, 2011

Family wants answers

By Alvin Yap but if you can tell our story that is had died from Leptospirosis and

petaling jaya: How and

where Leslie Francis Raj contract-
ed  Leptospirosis before he suc-
cumbed to the disease on Aug 16
are answers his family is struggling
to find.  ture for Pangkor island, she said, he
But his younger sister, Romina
Sundran, said efforts to obtain help
from authorities had hit obstacles at
every turn.
“We faced red tape whenever we
tried to find out how my brother
contracted the disease in the first
place,” said the housewife.
Romina said while her 54-year-
old engineer brother died at the Sri
Manjung hospital in Perak, where
he was warded for three days while
on a family vacation, they suspect he
contracted the disease here.
The family lives in one of the
most urbanised areas in Section 11
Petaling Jaya.
“We are not important people,
enough. We want people to know
that anyone can get Leptospirosis.
“We also want people to know
how difficult it is to deal with unre-
sponsive government agencies.”
On the morning of their depar-
was having severe coughs and run-
ning a high fever. “We told him we
would get him some antibiotics or
Panadol at the hotel we’re staying.”
She said that on the second day
at Pangkor island, he developed
breathing difficulties. Suspected of
having pneumonia, the in-house
doctor referred him to Manjung
hospital on the mainland.
Her brother died from cardiac
arrest while “his kidneys had shut
down”. Back in Petaling Jaya, they
surfed the Internet and found out
that dogs were “rumoured” to
spread Leptospirosis.
“I told the Veterinary Depart-
ment in Shah Alam that my brother
asked if they could take my dog for
blood tests,” said Romina.
She claimed that the veterinarian
had refused to do so, and as a com-
promise, she had her dog’s blood
drawn by a private animal clinic.
Still, she said, they had refused to
come down to Petaling Jaya to re-
ceive the blood sample.
“I told the Veterinarian Depart-
ment that my brother had died from
Leptospirosis and wanted to make
sure my dog was not a host or a car-
rier of the disease,” said Romina,
adding that her family was worried
for their own safety.
Only later did the department
send an orderly to get the blood
samples from her. The sample, she
said, had tested negative.
“With our dog testing negative
as a host and carrier of Leptospiro-
sis, we want to know which animal
infected my brother,” asked Romina.
She had also approached the
What is Leptospirosis?
Leptospirosis is a disease that
spreads from animals to humans,
and is caused by the germ Lepto-
spira.
It spreads among domestic and
wild animals. Leptospirosis cannot
spread from human to human.
However, humans are infected
when a person’s open wounds or
sores come into contact with
contaminated water. This can also
happen if the water enters their
mucus membrane (eyes, nose and
mouth). Drinking contaminated
Public Complaints Bureau in Putra-
jaya to lodge a complaint over Sri
Manjung hospital’s ‘negligence’ in
treating her brother while he was
under their care.
She has also lodged complaints
against them for their “lack of con-
water can also lead to infections.
The symptoms of Leptospirosis
are flu-like in the first phase. This
includes coughing, fever, sore
throat, muscle aches and head-
aches. Patients will also develop
rashes, and experience vomiting
and diarrhea.
In the second, and critical,
phase, patients suffer from internal
bleeding, meningitis, liver failure,
kidney and organ failure.
The disease claimed 95 Malay-
sian lives from Jan to Aug last year.
cern” over her request for her late
brother’s medical records.
“I know that the government is
running a campaign on the dengue
outbreak, but I feel people should
know that Leptospirosis is on the
rise,” said Romina.

Know Your Councillor:

Wong Kai Pun

By Yasleh Hani Mat Yassin as they perceived MPAJ as being too

bureaucratic.
ampang jaya: Wong Kai Pun “Such a perception is particularly
(pix), better known as Keppy Wong, strong for those who are illiterate An Alam Flora worker cleaning up the garbage dump beside the field

Poor response to cleanup

is a three-term  Ampang Jaya Mu-
nicipal (MPAJ) Councillor whose
immediate goal is to make Ampang
Jaya a more accommodating and
user-friendly municipality.
A resident of Pandan Indah,
Wong is aware of the concerns of
MPAJ ratepayers.
“There must be more non-Malay
language signs and information for
the public because we must admit
that a large section of the public are
still unable to read or understand the
language, but they are tax payers
too,” he said.
He added that more non-Malay
staff should be hired in the licensing
and enforcement department to
accommodate and communicate
with all races. “I am also ensuring
that MPAJ expands its on-line fa-
cilities to minimise the need for the
public to physically visit MPAJ to
carry out transactions,” he said.
Wong pointed out that many
disliked going to the municipality
or unable to converse well in Malay.
Some in the community prefer to
bring their problems to the service
centres of local councillors instead,”
said Wong.
In this respect, the 33-year-old
practising lawyer said he tries as
much as possible to accommodate
those seeking his assistance at his
two service centres in Pandan Indah
and Taman Muda.
He is at his Pandan Indah office
from Monday to Friday while his
assistant mans his Taman Muda of-
fice every Friday and Saturday.
“Our address and even hand-
phone numbers are on the MPAJ
website and also displayed at public
places,” he said.
Wong is in charge of MPAJ’s
disciplinary committee. He is also a
member of the licensing and entre-
preneurs’ development committee,
the infrastructure and public facili-
ties committee, and the financial
and assessment committee.
CHERAS: A gotong-royong at Taman Muda, Am-
pang, last Sunday drew a disappointing turnout. Only
four children and two adults showed up in what was
the worst turnout of all gotong-royong organised in the
area previously.
Ampang Jaya Councillor Jennifer Tnew was disap-
pointed after efforts to distribute over 1,000 flyers to
residents a week before. A large banner had also been
displayed to inform residents of the date and time of
the neighbourhood cleanup.
“We’ve organised a few gotong-royong at other
neighbouring housing areas previously, this is the worst
turnout so far,” said Tnew.
  The gotong-royong was jointly organised by Am-
pang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ), MPAJ Residents’
Committee and Alam Flora to clean up the area.
  As the small crew worked, a few residents came to
complain to Tnew about the garbage thrown at two sites
near a field but did not stay on to help out.
  Two sites near the field – one right beside the field
and another one across the road from the field – have
been treated as garbage dumps by residents.
  A woman said she had witnessed people throwing
rubbish there, but did not dare reprimand them for fear
of retaliation.
  Litterbugs can be fined up to RM1,000 if caught
red-handed but Tnew said it was usually very difficult
for enforcement officers to catch them in the act.
  Tnew advised witnesses to take a photo of the cul-
prits so that MPAJ could take action against the lit-
terbugs.
  The two sites were cleared during the gotong-royong
but the culprits are likely to repeat their actions unless
they are caught and reprimanded for their selfish act.
  “ These people never consider the feelings of the
residents who stay near the garbage.
  “I don’t understand why they can’t place their gar-
bage in the bin in front of their own homes and wait
for Alam Flora to collect them,” Tnew said.
  Residents can also reduce their trash by practising
the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) and composting
organic waste.
 news
January 14 — 16, 2011 9

Village struggles to survive

Tan

Ugly sight: The sea is being treated as a garbage dump by villagers.

Lim

By Gan Pei Ling
pulau ketam: For Sungai Lima, a
fishing village next to Pulau Ketam, going
green is a matter of survival. No longer can
villagers here depend on fishing for their
livelihood. This year, they are on a quest to
become an eco-friendly village to attract tour-
ists.
The 150-year-old village is turning to tour-
ism in an attempt to reduce its reliance on the
fishing industry.
  Village chief Tan Chuee Cheng said they
had started engaging primary schoolchildren
in a recycling programme as their first step to
carrying out environmentally-friendly prac-
tices in the village.
  “The schoolchildren will collect recyclable
items from their homes. Then volunteers from
our committee will help to sort them out,” Tan
said last Saturday.
  He added that they would modify 20
garbage bins donated by the Klang Municipal
Council (MPK) and turn them into recycle
bins.
  Non-profit organisation Pertubuhan
Amar Seri Sinar (PASS) will help to transport
the recyclable items to the mainland. The
organisation will bear the transportation cost.
  Tan said that other recycling organisations
have shied away due to the transportation
costs. In addition, PASS will channel the
proceeds from selling the recycled items to
help poor students.
  Apart from recycling, the students from
SJK(C) Sin Bin will also be involved in a clean-
up on Jan 22.
  A student from each year will also be
chosen as the environmental ambassador to
help promote eco-friendly practices among
their peers throughout the year.
  Indeed, litter can be seen scattered across
the sea floor below village houses during low-
tide.
  “Our villagers are used to treating the sea
as their garbage dump, it will be difficult to
change their habit but we hope the children
will be able to influence their parents.
  “ We need to clean up the village if we are
to attract tourists,” said Tan.
  Tan added that the village committee had
stopped using polystyrene during their events
and are trying to encourage other villagers to
do the same.
  Klang councillor Lim Lip Suan said if
Sungai Lima could successfully clean up its
village, it could offer eco-tourism packages or
homestay programmes to attract tourists to
experience life in a fishing village.
With around 200 families or 1,000 villag-
ers, the village depends on fishing and related
industries for its income.
  However, during the past two decades,
youths from Sungai Lima have been moving
out and remaining villagers have no choice but
to turn to migrant workers to help out in their
work. Tan said his own children had moved
to the Klang Valley.
  Nevertheless, recent crackdowns by the
authorities on illegal migrant workers have
taken a toll on the villagers and many of them
can no longer rely on illegal migrant labour.
  Hence, the village is now trying to trans-
form itself into a tourist destination by brand-
ing itself as the first eco-friendly village in
Selangor.
  Lim also revealed that the state govern-
ment, not MPK, currently bears the garbage
collection cost for Pulau Ketam and Sungai
Lima. He explained that the islands only came
under MPK’s authority in 2006. Hence, vil-
lagers have not been paying assessment tax to
MPK and the local council was unwilling to
bear its garbage collection cost.
Before 2006, villagers had to take care of
their trash themselves, and hence became used
to throwing their garbage into the sea or burn-
ing it.

Business owners demand action over illegal dumps

By Alvin Yap
sri gombak: Business owners at a newly-opened com-
mercial lot are caught between the Selayang City Council
(MPS) and the developer over an illegal rubbish dump.
Irresponsible citizens have turned the back alley of
Jalan Prima SG 1 into a dumpsite and business owners
have been contacting MPS to have the rubbish cleared –
only to be told that it was the developer’s responsibility.
“It has caused business owners sleepless nights as we
wait for the authorities to solve the problem,” said Alvin
Cheong, manager of a hair and beauty saloon.
The alley and the ever growing pile of rubbish are at
the back of his saloon. He has put notices outside, at the
rear of his shop, warning people not to dump their rubbish
there.
“We’ve used up cans of insecticide spray to kill the
swarm of mosquitoes that come from the dump,” the 24
year-old hair stylist said.
He said that the developers had handed over the keys
to the premises in August last year. The local council
stopped clearing the dump since other businesses began
moving in some four months ago, around October, he said.
“We’ve made many complaints to the local council, but
they say it’s the developer’s responsibility within the one
year after they hand over the keys to us,” he added.
Cheong said that the saloon owner had contacted the
developer and even offered to provide lorries for the rub-
bish to be transported away
“My boss told the developer to bring their workers,”
he said. But no one from the developer’s office, nor their
workers, showed up on the scheduled day.
MPS councillor Lim Ching How acknowledged the
complaints from businesses in the area. But he reiterated
that rubbish collection was the responsibility of the prop-
erty developer within a year of handing over the keys.
He said that only after the one year, would MPS assume
responsibility for collecting the rubbish.
Restaurant supervisor Zarifah Arinah Zakaria said she
had brought the matter up to MPS but had been turned
away for the same reason.
Unscrupulous people have tried to take advantage of
the situation, she added. Zarifah said a man who claimed
to represent Alam Flora had approached her boss in Oc-
tober, offering to collect the cafe’s garbage for a payment
of RM180.
“He told him to pay him that amount and he would give
us Alam Flora containers so that he or his team could col-
lect our rubbish,” she said. When her boss paid and was
about to request for a receipt, the man had left the café
with the money.
Councillor Lim said that MPS was talking to the devel-
oper and would keep the SelangorTimes notified of the
outcome.

Discuss, don’t ban Interlok, says Selangor MB

By Rahmah Ghazali
shah alam: Open discussion, instead
of book-banning, is the way to resolve is-
sues, the Selangor Menteri Besar said about
the debate over a secondary school litera-
ture novel Interlok which has been criticised
for the way it depicts Indians.
Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said a dialogue
was better rather than banning the book, as
making the book illegal would not help to
calm down the situation because informa-
tion “nowadays is more transparent and
accessible”.
“We have to accept the fact that informa-
tion and knowledge is open and [can’t be
completely hidden],” he said after chairing
a meeting of the Selangor State Investment
Centre and Business Council in I-City last
Tuesday.
The book, which was made the literature
textbook for Form Five beginning this year,
is alleged to have parts which the Indian
community have found derogatory.
10
News
January 14 — 16, 2011

By Alvin Yap

SHAH ALAM: Selangor is set to

combat human trafficking with a
State moves to fight federal legislation could run into
conflict with the state’s initiative in
setting up the shelters.

taskforce that will look at tightening
local by-laws, while providing rescue
and shelter to trafficked persons.
The state has established the Se-
langor Anti-Trafficking in Persons
Council (Mapmas) which will work
with federal government law and
enforcement agencies and also non-
government organisations (NGOs),
Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said.
“Human trafficking is second
only to drug trafficking in revenue,
but both make use of people in a
very ugly and undignified manner,”
the Menteri Besar said in his speech
when launching Mapmas at the
Shah Alam State Secretariat on
Monday.
“We are sensitive to the dignity
of every man, woman and child. We
want to ensure that the sanctity of
life is protected,” he added.
The Menteri Besar said human
trafficking was a lucrative trade ow-
ing to the fact that Malaysia – and
Selangor in particular – was a desti-
nation for migrants and refugees
alike.
human trafficking
Khalid said Selangor, as the most
industrialised state in the country,
had among the highest numbers in
human trafficking cases. Victims of
human trafficking in Selangor often
ended up working in sweatshop
conditions for long hours in return
for low wages, among other scenar-
ios.
Khalid, who is the patron of
Mapmas, estimated that Selangor
was home to some two million mi-
grant workers.
The council will comprise state
executive councillors and NGOs.
“On the issue of legislation, we
want to give more power to our local
governments to monitor, and shut
down premises that deal in human
trafficking,” said Selangor executive
councillor Rodziah Ismail.
She said Mapmas will look into
existing municipal by-laws and see
if they need to be amended or if new
ones should be tabled to deal with
human trafficking hotspots in the
state.
She said the council, most impor-
tantly, would ensure that more of-
fenders were brought to court for
trial.
The state is partnering migrant
rights NGO Tenaganita to monitor
human trafficking cases. Tenaganita
also provided Mapmas the location
of trafficking ‘hotspots’ in the state
from its case files.
According to Daniel Lo, who
heads the Mapmas prosecution unit,
there were 237 cases of human traf-
ficking in Malaysia from 2008 till
June 2010.
“In those cases, there were 1,551
victims, 330 arrests and only nine
convictions,” the human rights law-
yer said.
Lo, who is also the country man-
ager of Coalition to Abolish Mod-
ern-day Slavery in Asia (CAMSA)
said his unit will also look into giv-
ing Selangor the legislative provi-
sions to run shelters for human
trafficking victims.
This is important, he added, as he
sees  the need for more shelters to
house trafficked survivors, once
Mapmas starts work full swing.
In a separate interview on Map-
mas’ anti-trafficking initiative, Ma-
laysian Bar Council representative
Andrew Khoo said that shelters for
trafficked survivors are established
under the provisions of the Anti-
Trafficking Act of 2007, which is a
federal Act.
He cautioned that parts of the
“What would be the status of the
state-run shelters [in the federal
government’s view]? Will they be
only ‘half-way houses’ for the survi-
vors to stay temporarily?” he asked.
Khoo, who chairs the Bar Coun-
cil’s human rights committee,
stressed the importance of the state
and federal governments working
together on human trafficking is-
sues.
“If they work together, it’ll be of
great benefit to everyone. If they
don’t work together, or are at log-
gerheads with each other, then the
trafficking victims will suffer,” he
concluded.
The United Nations Office on
Drugs and Crime estimates human
trafficking to generate approxi-
mately USD45 billion in ill-gotten
profits.
Human trafficking, also known
as trafficking in people, is for the
purposes of forced labour, child la-
bour, forced prostitution, illegal
adoptions, and the illegal harvesting
of human organs for sale.
Tenaganita director Dr Irene
Fernandez, said she was happy that
Selangor was taking steps to curb
human trafficking. “This is Selangor
saying no to commodifying people,”
she said.

What is
human
trafficking?
The United Nations Office on
Drugs and Crime, as guardian
Menteri Besar Tan of the United Nations Conven-
Sri Khalid pushing tion against Transnational Or-
a button to open ganized Crime (UNTOC) de-
the Majlis Anti fines this crime as “the recruit-
Pemerdagangan ment, transportation, transfer,
Manusia Negeri harbouring or receipt of per-
Selangor (MAPMAS) sons, by means of the threat or
on Monday as Exco use of force or other forms of
members Ronnie coercion, of abduction, of fraud,
Liu, Rodziah Ismail,
Teresa Kok and Dr
of deception, of the abuse of
Halimah Ali look on. power or of a position of vulner-
ability or of the giving or receiv-
ing of payments or benefits to
achieve the consent of a person
having control over another
person, for the purpose of ex-
By Gan Pei Ling

SUBANG JAYA: Subang Jaya assemblyper-

Volunteer patrols to keep ploitation.”
There three elements that
define human trafficking, and

son Hannah Yeoh encouraged residents to join
a voluntary patrol unit to help reduce street
crimes in their area.
“The unit patrol together with the police
and MPSJ (Subang Jaya Municipal Council)
during the day, so it’s safe for everyone to join,”
said Yeoh when attending a new-year celebra-
tion at Indera Subang Condominium, USJ 6
last Saturday.
  She was responding to concerns raised by
the condominium residents, who were worried
about safety outside their condominium.
  One of the condominium’s management
council member told SelangorTimes he had
witnessed a snatch theft right before his eyes.
  Yeoh said the voluntary patrol unit had
helped to stop break-ins by patrolling Subang
Jaya and USJ areas in two-hour shifts during
weekdays.
  In fact, the police awarded one of its vol-
unteers a certificate last month in recognition
neighbourhood safe
of having helped caught a snatch thief last
September.
  Those interested to volunteer with the unit
can contact Subang Jaya councillor Ranjiv
Rishyakaran at 012-3111585 or Mak Meng
Chin at mcmak64@hotmail.com.
  Indera Subang Condominium manage-
ment council chair Edwin Nicholas estimated
that at least 30 percent of their tenants are
foreigners. From Australia, Jamaica to Iran, the
condominium’s community is almost like a
mini United Nations.
The condominium’s new year gathering also
celebrated Yeoh’s 31st birthday, which fell on
the same day. She attended the gathering with
her husband, and coucnillor Ranjiv.
  The condominium management also or-
ganised a telematch for the children during the
gathering. Yeoh pledged RM2,000 to the or-
ganisers. The trained lawyer also invited other
Subang Jaya residents to write in to her to apply
for funds for community events.
Yeoh also highlighted other free commu-
nity programmes funded by her state alloca-
tion, such as an exercise session at the Millin-
nium Park, SS13, twice a week at 7.30pm on
Wednesdays and 7.30am on Saturdays.  - For the purpose of exploitation,
  She also reminded residents of the Selangor
government’s scheme for senior citizens age 60
and above.   exploitation, forced labour, slav-
Under the “Mesra Usia Emas” programme,
registered appointed beneficiaries will receive
RM2,500 upon the senior citizen’s death for
funeral and related expenses.
these are:
The Act (What is done) - Re-
cruitment, transportation, trans-
fer, harbouring or receipt of
persons;
The Means (How it is done)
- Threat or use of force, coer-
cion, abduction, fraud, decep-
tion, abuse of power or vulner-
ability, or giving payments or
benefits to a person in control of
the victim;
The Purpose (Why it is done)
which includes exploiting the
prostitution of others, sexual
ery or similar practices and the
removal of organs.
(Source: United Nations Office
on Drugs and Crime)

Community Support
O
ver a year and a half ago, a
small community of about
400 houses around Jalan
Rahim Kajai and Jalan Aminuddin
Baki in Taman Tun Dr Ismail felt
that they had enough of crime. At
one point, on one street alone,
“parang and motorcycle”-styled
robberies were nearly a monthly
occurrence. You could never guess
who was going to be hit next.
And so, one fiery afternoon after
a residents meeting at the TTDI
police station to get updates on
crime statistics, these residents
decided that they were going to do
something about this perennial
problem, if only because the police
didn't have enough personnel to
help them out.
Thus, on street corners and junc-
tions all throughout Taman Tun
mushroomed barriers and private
guards, but not without internal
protests of course. Yet many resi-
dents were in favour (in the Rahim
Kajai- Aminuddin Baki area some
300 households signed up to the
scheme).
You see, I am part of this com-
munity, and helped the commu-
Tracking the pulse of Penang
jan feb
2009
nity to set up this security scheme
even if my voice belonged to the
cacophony of naysayers who be-
lieved this system was still too po-
rous (in fact it is, because our city
by-laws disable private guards from
putting up permanent roadblocks
and stopping cars without 100% of
all households participating — so
people could still move in and out
even with the guards there). Yet
what alternative was there?
But does it make sense for an
entire community to privatise their
security? Or was the “gated and
guarded” phenomenon even envis-
aged by the township developers of
back then (the Taman Tun Dr Is-
mail area was completed in the
early 80s)? Or, more importantly,
could the “gated and guarded”
model for communities be not only
the option, but also the inevitable
future for Malaysian urban and
suburban communities?
The TTDI community I men-
tioned above fork out RM15,000
a month for the privatised security
apparatus, and I know of some oth-
ers that have to pay upwards of
RM20,000. It then goes without
saying that the economy can be
quite fertile for private security
firms, if they're smart.
But are Malaysians smart for
signing up to this model? If the
PDRM is under-resourced, could
mar apr may jun jul aug sep oct
views 11
JANUARY 14 — 16, 2011
these monies not in fact go out to neighbourhood. about a handful of residents who
them to beef themselves up a little I recall that a remark from one took charge and met regularly to
bit more? of the neighbours when we were complain about late payments and
But then... why should Malay- setting up the scheme. It went the ineffectiveness of the security
sians be paying more to their local something like, “You know, if it scheme... hehe.
police forces, when the entire po- wasn't for these crime incidents, I Going back to the analogy of the
lice structure is centralised and probably wouldn't really know who mushrooms blooming after the rain
receives its primary funding from lived down my street.” – yes, after the spate of robberies a
the Federal Govern- year and a bit ago, the number of
ment? Ok, so that's an- security checkpoints throughout
other conversation alto- Does it make sense TTDI exponentially appeared.
gether. for an entire community And I think this is pretty much true
Return to the com- to privatise their security? for much of PJ and some areas of
munity. When I was Or was the “gated and Selangor as well.
younger, my family and But, like any field of mush-
I were living in Daman- guarded” phenomenon rooms, they wither away after a
sara Utama and I recall even envisaged by the while: true to the analogy, our very
how my father used to township developers of own security scheme fell apart sud-
be part of the Rukun back then (the Taman denly last November. We could
Te t a n g g a e v e n i n g Tun Dr Ismail area was barely put together the RM15,000
watch. to pay the guards (not that they
He had a big stick (a
completed in the were well-paid themselves, and
thick bamboo staff, in early 80s)?” again that's another conversation).
fact) which he carried, A friend, who also happened to
along with a torchlight. To some extent, it is a shame. be a landscape architect, said to me:
Him and some of the other But that's the reality – life in this “Actually, why are we paying so
neighbours used to patrol our short “Greater Klang Valley” is so fast- much each month to have these
street of 40 houses in the evenings, paced and all-consuming that we guys just stand there? We could be
although I can't remember if they rarely put in time to mingle and putting all that money into a park!”
ever caught anyone. But it was good really nurture a relationship with I agree with him. I don't want to
for neighbourly rapport. our immediate community. live my life in a “gated” community,
Maybe that's part of my hesi- Instead we farm out one aspect cordoned off from the realities of
tance, my trepidation for these of it — security — which also hap- urban and suburban Malaysia. I'd
private security schemes. That we pens to be the foundation of any rather have a “parked” community.
were actually outsourcing not only sustainable community. Yet one question looms large,
our security details but also some Caveat: even with the security ominously in the background:
measure of taking ownership of our company running, there was still Where is the PDRM in all this?
nov dec jan feb mar apr may jun jul aug sep oct nov dec jan feb mar apr may jun
20 10
2011
Penang Economic Monthly is a monthly magazine dedicated to socio-economic issues in
Penang, offering reliable socio-economic data as well as informative articles on the arts,the
industry, culture and social issues that are relevant to today’s generation of Malaysians.
Available nationwide at bookshops and newsstands.
www.penangeconomicmonthly.com
12
insight
JANUARY 14 — 16, 2011
General election is rumoured to be around the corner, while most are busy speculating
its outcome, a group of dedicated activists are working hard to ensure the elections
are fair and free.
By Gan Pei Ling
W
ith expectations that the 13th
general election is around the
corner, political parties from
both sides of the divide are gearing up for
an all-out war.
While most people would be preoc-
cupied with coffee shop chatter over the
election results, a group of citizens are
more concerned about ensuring that the
election process is fair and clean.
“Few bothered about the election
process previously because for the past 50
years, the same coalition (Barisan Na-
sional) has been voted in again and again.
“But after the 2008 political tsunami,
I believe many voters have come to realise
that their votes do make a difference,” says
Datuk Ambiga Screenevasan, chairperson
of the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elec-
tions (Bersih 2.0).
Launched in November 2010, Bersih
2.0 is a non-partisan alliance made up of
about 60 non-governmental organisa-
tions.
The earlier Bersih, which included
political parties, had organised a
40,000-strong rally in November 2007 to
demand for fair and free elections prior to
the 2008 general election.
Unfortunately, three years after the
watershed election, the Election Commis-
sion (EC) still does not enjoy much
public confidence as many continue to
perceive the supposedly independent
body as an extension of the government.
We’ve suggested the
EC bring back indelible
ink, a simple method to
reduce election fraud.
In fact, indelible ink was
supposed to be used in
the 2008 general election
to prevent multiple
voting but the EC
scrapped the plan at the
eleventh hour.”
Hence, Bersih 2.0 is continuing to
push for electoral reforms to restore pub-
lic confidence in the electoral process.
They submitted a memorandum, out-
lining their immediate concerns and 15
demands, to the EC and also met the
commission in December 2010.
“We’ve suggested the EC bring back
indelible ink, a simple method to reduce
election fraud,” said Ambiga, a former Bar
Council president. In fact, indelible ink
was supposed to be used in the 2008
general election to prevent multiple vot-
ing but the EC scrapped the plan at the
eleventh hour.
Ambiga revealed that the EC is con-
sidering the use of a biometric system
(working off the MyKad) to prevent elec-
tion fraud.
“But even if they were to implement
that, it will take time, so if the elections
are very close, the EC should look at indel-
ible ink,” she reasoned.
Another immediate concern of Bersih
2.0 is the short campaign period prior to
voting day. Ambiga said a meaningful
campaign period should not be less than
The
yellow
wave:
21 days. This would allow voters more time to
gather information about the candidates.
Besides that, Ambiga believes the EC should
take a stronger stand on electoral offences.
“Vote-buying is openly done but the authori-
ties are reluctant to investigate and press charges,”
she alleged, citing the election goodies offered in
recent by-elections as examples.
The most infamous incident was Prime Min-
ister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s “You help me, I
help you” line in the Sibu by-election in May
2010.
The BN chief had not so subtly asked Sibu
Pushing
for
clean
and fair
elections
voters to vote for BN after presenting a RM10
million cheque to 60 Chinese primary schools
and a RM5 million cheque to five private Chinese
schools.
Ambiga noted that the EC does not possess
prosecuting powers, but the Federal Constitution
grants it authority to request assistance from
other public authorities.
“They can ask the police [or the Malaysian
Anti-Corruption Commission] to investigate the
election offences,” she said.
Indelible ink, a longer campaign period and
investigating electoral offence are the three press-
“We believe the principles have been
breached in the past. For example, there are
cases where a constituency crosses the
boundaries of two local authorities, making
it difficult for the assemblyperson to service
the constituency,” she said. In addition, each
constituency should have an equal number
of voters, notwithstanding geographical
reasons.
“Now we have cases where parliamen-
tary constituency like Kapar has more than
112,000 voters, but [a small seat like] Pu-
trajaya only has slightly over 6,600.
“As a result, your vote weighs a lot less if
you’re voting in Kapar.” Ambiga explained,
adding that ideally each vote should have
the same weight. For certain, it is not easy
to draw constituency boundaries so that
each has an equal number of voters, but the
difference should not be so wide.
“Such situations must been minimised
as far as possible. That’s why we want to
highlight these problems to the public so
they can feedback to the EC during the
re-delineation exercise,” said Ambiga.
The EC must publish a notice when they
want to redraw the boundaries and allow
for public objections within a month of the
notice’s publication. Ambiga said the EC is
duty-bound under the Federal Constitution
to hold an enquiry if a state government,
local authority, or a group of 100 people or
more object to the redrawn boundaries.
“Ultimately the EC will decide whether
to take into account the public’s feedback,
but the public can make a fuss if they do not
listen to reasonable views.” It’s important
for the public to act as watchdog so that the
EC cannot make changes to boundaries that
will benefit certain political parties, Am-
biga adds.
Bersih 2.0 is expected to publish a de-
limitation report in February and later kick
start the voter education programme in
Selangor before extending it to other states.
The coalition is also highlighting other
electoral issues including lowering the vot-
ing age from 21 to 18, and automatic voter
registration at age 18. Ambiga said neigh-
bouring countries like Thailand, Indonesia
and even Myanmar have implemented both
measures.Currently, there are more than
List of organiSations in Bersih 2.0
• Aliran
• Anwar Ibrahim Club (AIC)
• Amnesty International
(Malaysia)
• AWAM
• Council of Churches Malaysia
(CCM) Youth
• Centre for Independent • Malaysian Association of Indian • Saya Anak Bangsa interested
Journalism (CIJ)
• Child Development Initiative
• DEMA
• Dewan Perhimpunan Cina KL-
Selangor (Jawatankuasa Hak • Malaysian Indian Development (SMM)
Sivil)
• Educational, Welfare and
ing issues that Bersih 2.0 wants the EC to address
Research Foundation Malaysia
• Empower
ahead of the impending general elections. Bersih • Friends in Conversation (FIC)
2.0 also has other long-term goals.
• Federation of Indian Non-
Governmental Organisations
One is to educate the public about the upcom- • Good Governance Penang
ing delimitation exercise, where the EC redraws • Group of Concerned Citizens Institute (OHMSI)
(GCC)
constituency boundaries every eight to 10 years. • Indian Malaysian Active Educataion Society.
“The last exercise was done in 2003 so we Generation (IMAGE)
• Independence People Action • Persahabatan Semparuthi
suspect they’re going to do it this year,” Ambiga Committee (IPAC)
speculates. • Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF)
• Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas • Persatuan Alumni Han Chiang, Independence (WAMI)
There are certain principles the EC must fol-
(JERIT)
low when redrawing constituency boundary, • Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM)
Ambiga notes, which are important for voters to • Klang Consumer Association
know. • Komuniti Masyarakat (KOMAS)
Bersih 2.0
to Empower
Voters
Two large street demonstrations were held prior
to the 2008 general elections: the Bersih rally on
Nov 10, 2007 and Hindu Rights Action Force, or
Hindraf, rally on Nov 25, 2007.
In fact, less than two weeks before the Bersih
rally, 2,000 lawyers and members of the public
had marched to Putrajaya due to the release
of the VK Lingam videos that demonstrated
meddling in a supposedly independent judiciary.
To some degree, the rallies demonstrated the
peoples’ frustration against the government and,
in hindsight, foretold the political tsunami in the
general election on March 3, 2008.
Bersih 2.0 steering committee member Maria
Chin Abdullah attended the Bersih rally with a
few friends.
“I’m proud to be part of the rally as it really
showed the will of the people,” she said in an
email interview.
The organisers had targeted 10,000 people
but Malaysiakini estimated around 40,000 people
turned up to march with each other to demand
for clean and fair elections.
However, the peaceful demonstrators were
greeted with tear gas and water-cannon from the
police force.
Then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi’s warning to citizens against taking part
in the “illegal” gathering and police roadblocks
Ambiga failed to prevent determined citizens from joining
the march.
Mohammad Khairie wrote in We walked
about delays in getting onto the electoral united in hope that he did not believe the rally
would change anything but he attended the rally
The roll after registration, automatic voter reg-
because he believed it was the right thing to do.
coalition is also istration will eliminate these problems,”
Ambiga argues.
“The streets were flooded with what has been
highlighting other Bersih 2.0 is also willing to work with
termed the ‘yellow wave’ as people poured in
from all over the country to join a protest against
other electoral political parties from both side of the divide what they believe was an insult to democracy.
issues including on electoral reforms. “We’ve invited BN ‘We demand a free and fair election,’ hearts
lowering the politicians to our events but they didn’t chanted and banners read,” he described in his
article published in March 8: The day Malaysia
voting age from come. But we still hope to work together woke up.
with them,” she said. There are plans for a
21 to 18, and meeting with Members of Parliament at the
He thinks the demonstrators had turned up
to show solidarity and to assure each other that
automatic voter next parliamentary sitting. they were not alone in thinking that the electoral
registration at Bersih 2.0 is also using social media to process was flawed and needed reform.
age 18. ” spread their message and reach out to young Bersih’s predecessor, the Joint Action
Committee for Electoral Reform, was formed in
people.
July 2005. Then, it comprised opposition political
four million unregistered eligible voters in “The young must start taking ownership
Malaysia. of our political process. If they’re not inter-
parties who have said they suffered injustice due
to a flawed electoral process.
“We can’t force people to vote, but we ested to vote because they don’t think their In November 2006, Bersih was born when
should at least make the registration process votes can make a difference, then we’ve civil societies joined the political parties in their
easy for them. We’ve received complaints failed,” she said. fight for fair elections. The coalition was officially
launched in Parliament, and the first Bersih rally
was successfully organised one year later.
More than two years after the March 2008
The political tsunami, Bersih was re-launched as
young must Bersih 2.0 and this time the coalition is made up
entirely of non-political, civil society groups.
start taking Bersih 2.0 will continue the quest for fair
• Kumpulan Akhbar Independen
(KAMI)
Daerah Petaling Jaya
• Pertubuhan IKRAM Malaysia ownership of and clean elections and it has been organising
• Labor Resource Centre (LRC)
• LLG Cultural Development
(IKRAM)
• Research for Social
our political activities around the country, including in Penang,
Terengganu and Sarawak.
Centre Advancement (REFSA) process. If Its steering committee member Maria said
• Majlis Kelab Bell Belia Tamil
Malaysia
• Rumah Anak Teater (RAT)
• Sahabat Wanita
they’re not they are in the midst of setting up a complaint
section at their website (www.bersih.org) so that
the public can alert them of any discrepancies or
University Graduates
• Malaysian Dravidian
Malaysia (SABM)
• Sembang-sembang Forum to vote discriminatory practices during elections.
Association
• Malaysian Hindu Youth Council
• Sisters in Islam (SIS)
• Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia
because they They have also linked up with Sarawak non-
governmental organisations recently to document
don’t think electoral violations that have happened in the
& Unity Association
• Malaysian Indian Historical
• Southeast Asian Centre for
e-Media their votes state, she said.
Association
• Malaysian Tamil Forum
• Students Reserve Unit (SERU)
• Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram)
can make a In addition, voters education programmes
to make them aware about gerrymandering in
• Micah Mandate (The) • Tamil Foundation Malaysia difference, delimitation exercises will run from February till
• Movement For Change,
Sarawak (MoCS)
• Tenaganita
• University Malaya Association
then we’ve July this year.
“We need help to organise our voter education
• Oriental Hearts and Minds of New Youth (UMANY) failed.” programmes on delineation, on how to do visual
• Women’s Aid Organisation
• Penang Independent Schools (WAO) and written documentation of electoral violations,
• Women in Disability Association to write short papers on electoral issues, and to
• Permas • Women Institute for Research find creative ways of presenting the demands of
Development and Advancement Bersih 2.0 online and offline,” she said.
• Persatuan Alumni Han Chiang, (WIRDA)
Malaysia. • Writers’ Alliance for Media
Those interested to volunteer with Bersih 2.0
are urged to join a group called Friends of Bersih
2.0 at a meeting on Jan 23 from 3pm to 6pm at
Pulau Pinang. • Youth for Change (Y4C)
• Persatuan Hak Asasi Manusia MBPJ Building, Jalan Yong Shook Lin, Petaling
(HAKAM) Jaya.
• Persatuan Pengguna & Sosial
14
views
JANUARY 14 — 16, 2011
The Curious Case
of the State Secretary
W
hat are the issues and
underlying problems with this
appointment of Khusrin as
Selangor state secretary? Merah Kuning,
via email.
If you have been following the ONLY
blawg you would know the answer by now.
LoyarBurok.com was the first to bring you the
accurate legal analysis of this crazy civil service
appointment. No political rhetoric, no mess,
no fuss. That’s why you should become a Lo-
yarBurokker and help Lord Bobo dominate
the world.
Basically, there are three views:
1. The Federal Government, the Public
Services Commission (PSC) and the Sultan
of Selangor think that the PSC (i.e. federal
level) is empowered to appoint the State
Secretary (SS) and impose him on the State
of Selangor. They say that in 1993 the power
to appoint was taken away from the Sultan on
the advice of the Menteri Besar and given to
an “appropriate Service Commission”. They
take this Service Commission to mean the
PSC.
2. The Selangor Menteri Besar (MB) and
his Executive Council disagree. They think
that while PSC may appoint (or for a more
technical term although PSC does not say it,
“second”), the appointment is only valid if it
is approved by the MB, or at least after con-
sultation with him.
The MB now wants to amend the Selangor
State Constitution to restore the power of
appointment to the Sultan on the advice of
the MB.
3. On LoyarBurok, you will notice posts
(if you have not read them, shame on you –
stop here, read these posts before continuing)
that have excavated the state constitution and
the federal constitution to say that for Selan-
gor, the PSC has no power to appoint the SS.
Both the Constitutions read together say
that it is the Selangor State Service Commis-
sion (State Commission) which is to appoint
the SS. Since the State Commission has not
appointed the SS, an appointment ought to
be made.
Khusrin is therefore a “trespasser” or “pre-
tender SS” as termed by the People’s Judge,
NH Chan.
If the third view is correct, then Khusrin
has no right to enter the office of the State
Secretariat. He should be stopped, like how
the Pakatan Rakyat Perak ADUNs were
stopped from entering the Perak State As-
sembly at the height of the Perak Crisis. Or
have you forgotten? It’s alright if you have – go
and get “Perak: A State Of Crisis” at Gerak-
Budaya, MPH, Times, Popular and Borders.
As for the “underlying problems”? Well.
You wake up everyday and read biased, inac-
curate and sensational news about the issue.
You see, politicians and the palace become
excitable because the media shines on them.
But life in your kampung, school, pasar
malam and restaurant goes on as if nothing
has happened. Are you affected? Do you ask
why Teoh Beng Hock died?
That’s probably more important. The
chances of you being arrested by law enforce-
ment officials are higher than bumping into
any work of any State Government’s SS.
Dear Lord Bobo, is there a difference
between living and being? What do
Khusrin: Controversy surrounds his appointment.
you live for, immortal one? @plgan, via
Twitter.
Living and being are two different sides of
the coin.
Being is mere existence, brought upon us
unwillingly and by sheer chance that our two
parents had met and copulated, giving rise to
a creation of a new entity which is our very
unique DNA, and eventual psychological
identity.
One eats, one desires, one licks popsicles,
one poops, one sleeps. One exists not of our
choosing, but from random chance. We exist,
breathing, aware, and with the ability to react
to the stimulus from our surroundings, be it
sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch.
Living, on the other hand is the pleasure
in existing awareness. It is a higher level of
exploration of the existence we were born
with. With the further application of what is
in our brains, we choose how we live.
We choose what to think. We choose how
to behave. We choose to pursue activities
which bring us much pleasure. Those who love
what they do work not a day in their life, and
such is the pleasure in living!
Lord Bobo likes to scratch its head, baffled
by the stimulus generated by the political,
judicial and administrative authorities in the
nation. Unlike other simians, His Supreme
Eminenceness chooses to spread the
luuuuuuuuurve movement far and wide to
share our joy and delight in things we are
‘forbidden’ to discuss and engage.
You want to learn how to live – to truly
live? Become a LoyarBurokker. Your life will
never be the same again.
I am a Malaysian studying overseas. Can
I vote in the next General Elections? If
so, how? Make It Count, via email.
Any Malaysian student overseas who is over
21 is entitled to register as an “absent voter”,
which means that he or she will automati-
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!
cally be sent a postal ballot at the next Gen-
eral Election. The same also applies to Sabah/
Sarawak students in the Peninsula, and vice
versa, as well as the spouse of any eligible
student.
Be aware that because of the registration
timetable, any students registered now may
only be able to vote provided that the Gen-
eral Election is after the first quarter of 2011.
According to the Election Commission,
Malaysians students overseas should contact
the local Malaysian embassy or high commis-
sion to register. However, when you contact
the embassy, be prepared to be told to go away
and contact the Election Commission because
the embassy is unable to register you.
In particular, the High Commissions in
London and Canberra have claimed that they
have been asking the Election Commission
for registration forms (in the case of Can-
berra, since before the 2008 elections), but
have received nothing. Some students have
reported that they have been able to register
if they brought their own forms, which can
currently only be obtained from Malaysia.
If you face this problem, please contact the
Registration section of the Election Commis-
sion at yusniati@spr.gov.my to complain.
We would also appreciate it if you could
describe your experiences to MyOverseasVote
(myoverseasvote@gmail.com) for the benefit
of other Malaysian students.
In addition to encouraging Malaysians
students overseas to register to vote, MyOver-
seasVote (www.myoverseasvote.org) is also
planning to take the Election Commission to
court to fight for the right of Malaysians work-
ing overseas to vote from abroad. Contact
them for more information, or if you wish to
support the campaign.
Although Lord Bobo already knows your
question before you even knew you had a
question, as a practical display of your true de-
sire 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 ano-
nymity).
• tweeting your questions by mentioning
@LoyarBurok and using the hashtag
#asklordbobo. The first 100 questions pub-
lished 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 (al-
though trembling is optional if you are some-
where very warm)!
Liberavi Animam Meam! I Have Freed
My Spirit!

Mixed reaction to relocation
By Basil Foo
seri kembangan: The
planned relocation of the biggest
and oldest night market here, at
Jalan Pasar, drew mixed reaction
from the over 200 hawkers who are
mostly unlicensed.
While some of the hawkers wel-
comed the Subang Jaya Municipal
Council’s (MPSJ) move to relocate
them to a more conducive site to-
gether with an offer of a licence,
others are apprehensive.
“I don’t want to move. No one
wants to move,” said Alice Teh, who
has been selling prawn noodles at
the night market for the past five
years. She and many other hawkers
were hesitant because they feared a
drop in business at the new location.
However, Wong Poi Sei, who
runs an accessories stall, thinks the
move would not have much of an
impact as the new location at the
Seri Kembangan commercial area is
just over 700 metres from the cur-
rent site.
“It is not so troublesome for me
to move my stall because my home
is nearby,” said Wong, who has been
working at the night market for
more than two years.
Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching said
Subang
Ria dispute
dominates
dialogue
By Rahmah Ghazali
subang jaya: The contro-
versy takeover of Subang Ria park
dominated the Wangsa Baiduri
town hall dialogue with Subang as-
semblywperson Hannah Yeoh on
Wednesday, but already, some resi-
dents feel they are fighting a losing
battle.
A resident from Summer Villa,
Teoh Weng Theong, said “some-
thing has truly gone wrong”, saying
that raising funds to match the
state’s offer to acquire the 72.63 acre
land from Sime Darby Property Bhd
was tantamount to nothingness.
“Something is very fishy here...
something has gone wrong some-
where. Our park may be lost and
raising money to get back the land
could be a waste of time,” said the
57-year-old who has been living
there for the past 10 years.
However, Yeoh said residents
should use up all avenues through
the action committee to derive an
equitable value for acquisition over
the next eight months, as given by
Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibra-
him.
“However, if you suspect any cor-
rupt practice, lodge a complaint
with the Malaysian Anti-Corrup-
tion Commission (MACC),” she
told the 150 residents who attended
A hawker complaining to Ean Yong during his visit on Monday.
on Monday the new site had room
for 300 stalls and the owners are
expected to move after Chinese New
Year. Teo also handed out relocation
forms to the hawkers.
“There are currently 200 hawkers
in the current night market so there
should be sufficient place at the new
location,” said Teo.
Yeoh speaking to residents at the dialogue
the dialogue.
Another resident, Neoh Ken
Chai, argued that the residents
should give Sime Darby a
chance to see what they had to
offer.
“That is Sime Darby’s land.
Unlike the majority of people
here who are adamant in pre-
serving the park, to be fair to
Sime Darby, we should see what
they can do for us here,” he said.
The 60-year-old college
teacher also said that the resi-
dents would benefit from the
development project, as Sime
Darby might build another ac-
cess road to their township.
“Besides, they could also
clean up the Subang lake that
has been dirty and smelly for the
past 30 to 40 years, a job which
Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya
has failed to do. We should all
agree to this (development pro-
ject),” said Neoh, much to dis-
approval from residents.
The debate became more
intense, prompting Yeoh to end
She said over 90% of the hawkers
were illegal but licences would be
issued to them after they move.
The relocation of the night
market, which has been operating at
the site for over 30 years, was due to
massive traffic jams every Monday
night, made worse by haphazard
parking.
the topic as this was a “sensitive
issue”.
Residents have been against
any development in the park
which they said was sold to
them as part of their township
and neighbourhood while Sime
Darby applied to develop hous-
ing units in the site.
Earlier, resident Richard
Chang complained about clean-
liness of eateries in Subang Jaya,
where cockroaches and rats have
become “unwanted frequent
visitors”.
“There is a coffeeshop which
does not even have a place to
wash your hands and the toilets
are horrible. A mamak restau-
rant provides a better place to
wash your hands, and their
toilets are always clean,” said
Chang.
He also complained about
potholes and damaged roads
leading to the Summit complex.
However, according to MPSJ
councillor Dr Loi Kheng Min,
who was present at the dia-
news 15
January 14 — 16, 2011
 “As you can see there are insuf- nearest one as well.”
ficient parking lots here and because Selangor ewxecutive councillor
of the double parking, the main road Ean Yong Hian Wah, who visited
is congested,” Teo explained. the market on Monday night, said
When asked to respond to the the date for the relocation will be
hawker’s worries of a drop in cus- announced after Chinese New Year
tomers, Teo said, “For the Serdang but the morning market here will be
folk, if they want to go to pasar allowed to remain at the same loca-
malam, the other location will be the tion.
Undergrads
Parliament
says aye to co-op
By Alvin Yap
SHAH ALAM:   The  inaugural Students’
Parliament which met on Tuesday passed a
motion  to set up a cooperative to help poor
undergraduates in the country.
“You could say that the proposal was unani-
mously accepted,” said Dineshweri Pushpanad-
an, the assembly’s media officer.
A total of 194 out of 200 undergraduates who
attended the National Students’ Assembly said
‘aye’ to the proposal.  
logue, the Health Department The  Students’ Parliament, which was held at
had done regular spot-checks on the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala
the eateries. Lumpur, brought together undergraduates from
He also told the residents both public and private higher institutions to
that the council had declared debate as well as to vote on campus issues. 
war on rats and cockroaches in “The floor was open to anyone to bring up
SS15, where they have revoked any issue, and one student said we had to take
some eateries’ licences and the initiative to run our own cooperative in order
closed them down for more to provide services to fellow students,” said
than a week. Dineshweri.
Among other issues that were Dineshweri, who is pursuing her degree in
addressed were building an- Education at Universiti Malaya, said students
other access road to the town- also spoke on the need to “gain financial inde-
ship as the current one could pendence. A majority, by a show of hands, voted
not cope with the increasing that the issue of being financially independent
traffic, and how to tackle traffic was important if we wanted to run our own
jams in the area. ventures.”
Wangsa Baiduri comprises She said the undergraduates saw the advan-
485 town houses, 10 bungalows, tages of setting up a students’ cooperative, saying
96 units of condominiums in that one pressing issue was the lack of bursaries
Spring Villa, 122 units of con- or financial assistance to poorer students.
dominiums in Summer Villa, “The students said that they knew of friends
and 396 units of condominiums who would benefit from micro-loans to purchase
in the Boulevard.  books, or even to sustain themselves when they
Also present at the dialogue don’t have enough money,” said Dineshweri.
were Kelana Jaya Member of She said the next Students’ Parliament –
Parliament Loh Gwo Burne and which has not been decided yet – will see par-
Subang police station chief Su- ticipants debating the mechanics of setting up
laiman Baputty. the cooperative.
16
news
January 14 — 16, 2011
The construction’s
dumping ground.
MPKJ to
solve Saujana
Impian
flat woes
By Rahmah Ghazali
KAJANG: Saujana Impian flat residents
can finally breathe a sigh of relief after the
Kajang Municipal Council (MPKJ) vowed
to resolve problems which have been plagu-
ing them for months.
Secretary to the flat’s Joint Management
Body (JMB), Rozman Mat Hazin, said that
he had been seeking answers from MPKJ
regarding their woes – from non-working
street lights to a damaged access road due
to a nearby construction since last August.
But their problems should come to an
end soon as MPKJ, together with Kajang
assemblyman Lee Kim Sin met the resi-
dent’s body to discuss the problems last
Friday.
After more than one hour of discussion,
all the parties reached a consensus to hold
a meeting with JMB and the residents to
address the issues.
“On behalf of JMB, I would like to
thank MPKJ and Lee for their cooperation
to help solve the residents’ problems,” he
said.
However, there was a slight disagree-
ment between Rozman and MPKJ during
the discussion, as the former argued that
the non-working street lights should fall
under the responsibility of MPKJ.
JMB secretary Rozman (second from right) discusses
problems with Kajang assemblyman Lee Kim Sin (right).
Taking a different stand, Lee said all the
maintenance involving the flat, which in-
cludes street lights within its compound
should instead fall under JMB’s purview.
But there was an obstacle for JMB to
carry out their duties as they only managed
to collect less than 20 per cent of mainte-
nance fees per month from each flat owner
since it took over the office in 2009, argued
Rozman.
In view of this, Lim said he would pro-
pose to the state government to reduce the
maintenance fees that have become a con-
stant burden to the low-cost flat owners.
It is understood that the residents have
to pay RM40 a month in maintenance fees
and RM120 in assessment tax per year.
“With this amount, the residents pay
more compared to landed property owners
which average around RM200 per year in
assessment tax without having to pay any
maintenance fees,” said Lim.
Lim also said that Commission of Build-
ing (COB) under MPKJ and himself would
urge the constructors at the nearby con-
struction site to repair the access road and
ensure that it is in good condition.
He also said he would monitor the situ-
ation to ensure that the constructors do not
dump their waste in the residential com-
pound.
MASUM invites
Muslim travellers
By Yasleh Hani Mat Yassin
SHAH ALAM: MASUM (MATTA In-
ternational Fair Selangor Umrah & Muslim
Travel) is back for the fourth time. The fair
will feature great bargains, exciting Umrah
and Muslim Travel Packages and out of this
world destinations.
MASUM is one of the travel fairs con-
sumers can look forward to, especially those
interested in umrah and travel packages that
focus more on Islamic tastes such as halal
food, ancient Islamic civilizations, unique
mosques and other Islamic features.
While the main focus of this fair is to
cater for Muslim travelers, non-Muslims will
also find great travel bargains here.
MASUM 2011 has a strong participation
from travel agencies, hoteliers, national
tourist offices, airlines and many more. This
means that visitors will have a lot on offer
and will be spoilt for choice. Admission to
the fair is free and there will be free limited
MASUM bags for those who come early.
This year’s event will be held at Shah
Joy for
Eng Ann
hawkers
By Choong Loo Wah
KLANG: After waiting for almost three
decades, hawkers at Taman Eng Ann’s
morning market finally got their business
licences.
Sungai Pinang assemblyperson Datuk
Teng Chang Kim said previously only 24
out of the 174 vendors were licensed to
trade at the morning market.
“MPK (Klang Municipal Council) had
awarded licences to all 174 hawkers on Jan
1,” said Teng, dispelling rumours that the
local council was planning to close down
the morning market.
He said the vendors were issued an
identification card with their names and
stall numbers printed on it, so they need
not worry that their space will be occupied
by others.
In addition, vendors only have to pay
RM4 for daily rental and only for the days
they are operating instead of the flat
RM1,000 every three months previously.
The move is expected to reduce the
financial burden of the hawkers.
He added that MPK would crack down
hard on foreign hawkers at the morning
market and advised hawkers against renting
their stalls to outsiders.
Teng, who is also the State Assembly
Speaker, visited the morning market last
Saturday with MPK enforcement director
Andry Arman Masrom and licensing
director Azhar Samsudin.
Meanwhile, Azhar said MPK will issue
temporary licences for vendors to sell
Chinese New Year goods two weeks before
the festival. He reminded hawkers that the
application deadline is today and the
licensing fee is RM5 per day.
As for shops wishing to sell Chinese
New Year goods on the five-foot way, the
fee is RM10 per day.
Alam Convention Center (SACC) from
today till Sunday. The exhibition is open to
the public from 10am and 9pm.
SELANGOR TIMES ⁄ January 14 – 16, 2011 ⁄ 17
18
Features
January 14 — 16, 2011

Paddle your way

to adventure
By Alvin Chin four years. near the river. No experience is needed to complete a
“Many people want to take a step back For those who also want to get to know course in Sungai Selangor because training

H
ave you ever experienced a sudden from the busy city life to experience mother the Orang Asli better, they can hire them as will be provided. However, be prepared to
drop while sitting on a raft paddling a nature in another way. They want to try guides for their rafting activities in Kuala test your endurance as rafting is no child’s play.
fierce stream with nothing strapped on something different from trekking and hik- Kubu Baru. A word of caution. It is not advisable to
but your lifejacket, helmet and kayak paddle? ing,” said Omar. Khersonese hires Orang Asli as guides use your own raft. Safety is the main concern
Just feel the excitement, the adrenalin rush Shafiq AL-Attas, who has been an out- because they are more familiar with the area of all operators in Sungai Selangor, with their
and the frigid water splashing you from every door enthusiast since young, explained the apart from creating jobs for them. equipment certified by US coast guards.
direction while trying to balance yourself on advantages of white water rafting to the
a raft together with a group of people. human brain.
White-water rafting may not be everyone’s “It improves people’s technical
cup of tea but it is fast catching on among ur- aspects of their left brain as most are
banites who want to get a feel of rollercoasting right-handed. It also enhances their
treacherous waves, scenes you only probably senses as manoeuvring around the river
see in movies. requires quick reflexes,” said Attas, who
Water rafting was one of the earliest forms has been working for Khersonese for
of transportation during the olden days, mov- three years.
ing people and goods around. It only became On average, white-water rafting
popular as a sport in the 1980s. in Sungai Selangor attracts about 60
The rubber river raft is believed to have people every month, and the number
been invented in the early 1840s. Although is growing.
the raft was invented in the mid-nine- Corporate people, families and
teenth century, it was young enthusiasts are
not until the turn of among the adventure seek-
the century that the Many people ers.
first ever commercial want to take a Wilson Asada, who is
white-water trip was step back from from Oxbold Sports, said
undertaken. about 250 people compris-
According to Dr the busy city life ing young professionals,
Yusof Omar, social to experience experienced the thrill of
entrepreneur and di- mother nature rafting every month.
rector of Khersonese in another way. However, Sungai Selan-
Expedition, more and They want to try gor is not only well known
more people are fall- for white-water rafting, but
ing in love with the
something different also for Orang Asli villages
sport, with a rise of 25 from trekking and around the area. There are
per cent for the last hiking.” still a few villages situated Experience the thrill of conquering the rapids.
 REVIEW 19
January 14 — 16, 2011

Serai @ Empire:
By Lee Lian Kong

M
alaysians are spoilt. At every corner,
food is abundant, good and cheap.
It is our fortunate fate to be blessed

Fusion with Finesse

with so much good food.
But there is such a thing as too much of
a good thing. However good that chicken
rice on Jalan Satellite is, chicken rice is still
rice with chicken. Perhaps because we are
spoilt, we crave for something new, some-
thing different, something to excite the
senses again. A restaurant up to that chal-
lenge is Serai Empire.
Tucked into a corner in the Empire Shop-
ping Gallery, Subang Jaya, this Serai outlet
is only one of the three different concept
stores under the Serai Group Sdn. Bhd. The
other two are Serai Satay Bar and Serai Thai,
at Pavilion and Shah Alam, respectively. The
one at Empire focuses on Malaysian, Thai,
fusion and continental cuisine.
At first glance, Serai looks like just an-
other Malay restaurant in a mall. But take a
look closer, and things start getting a little
more intriguing. The dessert counter is sag-
ging with huge cheesecakes and even bigger
pavlovas.
The menu on display outside boasts a
comprehensive list of not just old favourites
with a twist or two, but daring new creations.
If one is not tempted or hungry yet, you
would surely enter just to disprove the capa-
bility of such audacious pairings! However,
I am sorry to inform you that there will be
no disproving, only many lip smacking
‘Mmms’ and burps of satisfaction.
Serai is a restaurant of winning combina-
tions. From drinks to main courses, they are Serai Platter comes with
adventurous and creative in playing with rice, surrounded by little
flavours. Be it combining western flavours mounds of honey squid,
to Asian favourites or old with new, their oxtail asam pedas,
combinations are successful and acar and ayam goreng
delicious. berempah.
Their pastas hit the innovative
home run. Serai boldly took the
potent spices of rendang and com-

Fatty
bined it with the cylindrical penne
pasta, whose hollow centre holds
the rich rendang sauce. Topped

Crabs to
with a generous amount of tender
and juicy beef, the Beef Rendang
Penne (RM21.50) is a winner.

the rescue
Another splendid fusion pasta
dish was the Smoked Salmon
Pasta (RM23). Once again, it was
generous with smoked salmon
coated in Napoli sauce with a By Yasleh Hani Mat Yassin
touch of cream and chilli flakes.

I
Every bite of their fusion dishes is t is the end of a long day. You are tired
a delightful surprise, making you Berry Pavlova is rich in whipped cream & berries. and in no mood to cook for your in-laws
wonder why others have not tried who want to have dinner at your place
to do these fantastic combinations before. two sweet buns are surely the stuff meat lovers’ tonight.
The Serai Iced Tea (RM10.50) is a clever dreams are made of. You are about to have a meltdown when
concoction. Made with lemongrass juice Avid bakers will know pavlovas are tricky you suddenly remember a similar situation
with a scoop of lime sorbet, it will soothe desserts to make but here at Serai, they got it and how you were bailed out by Fatty
the spiciness from their beef rendang and just right, perfect, even. The meringue creates Crabs. You remembered the succulent Ketam Masak Lemak Cili Api.
give you a tangy reprieve before diving back a chewy yet crunchy frame for the layers of Thermidor crab you had with your husband.
into gluttony again. Another option is the whipped cream, berries and grapes. While they The crème cheese on the crab works Crabs such as claypot crab rice, crab
Milky Bandung (RM7), which is rose syrup say good things are best shared, and one por- perfectly. meehoon, soft shell crabs, prawns, squids,
with soda and a touch of pandan. Though tion of the Berry Pavloa (RM14.80) is cer- The mea l wa s memorable. You chicken wings, superior crab soup, mixed
slightly on the sweet side, it is creamy good- tainly huge enough for two, I would suggest remembered how your meal was delivered vegetables and “Loh Sang”.
ness in a glass. ordering one portion per person because you still hot like it had just came straight out of With your mind made up you dial
They don’t just stop at mixing the East just can’t get enough of it! the kitchen and onto your table thanks to 1-300-222-100 to place your order. As you
and the West. Old favourites are revamped The atmosphere is loud and boisterous as the temperature-controlled thermal bag wait to be connected, you reflect on how
and set against a modern backdrop, like their it is always full house during lunch, tea and they use to deliver the food. much easier life has become ever since you
Serai Platter (RM25) which arrived like a dinnertime. Be sure to make reservations for You begin to plan the menu and you discovered Fatty Crabs.
colourful medley set upon a large, white seats and for the pavlova. The two lady owners wonder which of the What you like best
plate. At its centre is their very own Serai will even personally drop by your table to make 13 delicious cooking is their assurance that
rice, surrounded by little mounds of honey sure everything is alright. Service is attentive, st y l e s y o u were your meals are cooked
squid, oxtail asam pedas, acar and ayam even with big crowds. going to pick for the in a hygenic kitchen,
goreng berempah. Hefty and hearty, this- All in all, Serai is a success. There is hardly fresh, live, meaty with the best quality
Serai specialty has just the right amount to anything wrong except for the fact that there mud crabs that Fatty oil, halal condiments
satisfy your craving for Malay food. is only one such outlet at the moment. It feels Crabs have on offer. and spices with no
While they do fusion with finesse, regu- unfair that only Subang Jaya folks get to enjoy You also begin to added MSG, food
lars aren’t left behind. Staples fare above having such good chow so close to them. De- decide on the other enhancers and
average as well, even great for their Gourmet spite that, Serai was a joyful surprise. Kudos menu choices colourings in a pork
Lean Beef Burger (RM25). Such a thick to creative, home grown brands, and here’s to available at Fatty free environment.
mound of juicy, beefy goodness in between more Serai outlets and heavenly pavlovas!
20
FICTION
January 14 — 16, 2011

Going home at last

✂
By John Ling
Lee had been lying in the grass
since the sun went down.
Watching.
Waiting.
Sweating.
But the hardest part wasn’t the
prickly heat or the oppressively still
air.
It was the mosquitoes. For hours,
they had swarmed him, buzzing,
biting, and now his hands were
bloody from all the ones he had
Take 5 minutes to fill this form up and drop it off at killed. But still they kept on coming.
the nearest police station to have regular checks Insatiable. Relentless.
at your house while you are away. This is misery, he thought.
Breathing through his teeth, he
Ibu pejabat Polis Daerah Subang Jaya couldn’t help but yearn for home.
How long had it been since he had
Tel: 03-5637 3722 Fax: 03-5631 9815 left his village? Since he had last
Borang maklumat played with his dog? Since he had
Memaklumkan tentang meningalkan rumah kediaman untuk last tasted his mother’s porridge?
bercuti. Two years? No. It was closer to
three. An eternity.
Kepada Kawasan Pentadbiran Balai Polis The growl of thunder dashed his
thoughts, and he blinked. The wind
.............................................................................................. picked up, and around him, the
vegetation rustled. Lighting streaked
Butiran penduduk: across.
Slowly, surely, the first drops of
Nama: .................................................................................. rain plopped on his head before
breaking into a drizzle. The
Alamat: ................................................................................. mosquitoes stopped buzzing, and
he felt better already. Cooler. Less
.............................................................................................. raw. He adjusted his sub-machine
gun, making sure it was beneath
.............................................................................................. him, protected from the rain.
That’s when lights appeared on
Nombor telefon bimbit/kediaman: ........................................ the dirt road below, twinkling,
followed by the drone of engines.
Nombor telefon yang boleh dihubungi: ................................ Lee felt his throat tighten, and
his fingers flexed around his gun.
.............................................................................................. They were coming.
Lee looked left and rig ht,
Tarikh meninggalkan rumah: ................................................ checking on his men, and they
peered back at him, only the whites
Tarikh dijangka balik ke rumah: ........................................... of their eyes visible beneath
camouflaged faces.
Kenderaan yang ditinggalkan (jenis model & nombor daftar “Stand by,” he said. “Stand by.”
kenderaan). The lights got bigger and brighter.
The droning got louder and
1. .......................................................................................... closer.
Lee raised his hand.
2. .......................................................................................... Wait.
Wait.
3. ..........................................................................................
Wait.
Now.
Lee slashed his hand down.
“Engage.”
The mortar squad behind him
dropped a shell into their weapon,
and it thumped, the shell arching
overhead, hissing.
Lee was conscious of his heart
drumming in his chest.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
On the road below, a truck at the
front of the convoy exploded,
flattening like a pancake.
Lee slashed his hand again.
“Engage.”
The mortar thumped once more.
This time, a jeep at the rear of the
convoy exploded, snapping into
two, flipping. Smoke and debris
swirled, and the soldiers in the
convoy leapt out, screaming as they
jostled this way and that way into
defensive positions. With fiery
wreckage in front and fiery wreckage
behind, they were now pinned
down. They couldn’t go forward.
They couldn’t go backward. No
escape.
“Engage.”
The machine-gun squad on Lee’s
right opened up on the enemy, their
rapid-fire parting the grass, their
tracers painting ribbons in the night,
and the enemy replied with dozens
of muzzle flashes, their bullets
snapping and cracking against the
trees all around.
“Banzai!” the enemy commander
cried out.
“Banzai!” the enemy soldiers
shrieked in unison.
They were preparing to charge up
the hill, preparing to overrun Lee
and his guerrillas, but he had already
anticipated this. Rising from his
position, keeping his head down, he
led his shooters — those armed with
rifles and sub-machine guns — to
the left. He would orbit around.
Catch the enemy in the middle in a
pincer movement.
Out-manoeuvre them with two
criss-crossing fields of fire from the
front and the left.
With his legs pumping , he
skidded behind a tree, taking up
position just as the enemy roared
over the crest of the hill, their boots
kicking up a dust storm and — yes
— this was the moment of moments,
the pincer picture-perfect as he
sighted and tracked his targets and,
with a long exhale, he opened up on
them, spent casings spiralling from
his weapon, his shoulder bucking
from the recoil, his ears ringing, and
it was a scene straight out of hell
with men convulsing, flesh tearing,
blood pluming.
Dear God.
It was over in seconds.
Soon there was nothing left to
shoot.
Panting, shaking, Lee leaned
against the tree, taking in the smell
of cordite and sweat and death, the
adrenalin still churning in his gut.
Nothing moved except the bloody
grass. He surveyed the carnage, the
bodies, and he felt sick. Bile crawled
up the back of his throat, and he
wanted to vomit.
Dear God.
They had won.
Yes, they had won.
But how much longer would the
killing have to continue?
That’s when someone stepped up
behind him.
Jittery, Lee turned and raised his
weapon, almost squeezing the
trigger before he recognised the man
as a messenger from base camp.
He was laughing, dancing. ‘It’s
over!’
Lee shook his head, confused.
“What?”
‘The war, the occupation — it’s
over! The Americans have dropped
a ne w b omb on the enemy.
Destroyed two entire cities if you
can believe that.
It’s over. It’s over!’
Lee froze, his lips quivering, his
gun slipping from his grasp, not
knowing what to think, how to feel.
No more killing.
No more killing.
At long last, he was going home.

Lain-lain maklumat: Lau (centre)

and
.............................................................................................. Jeyaseelan
officiate
the new
badminton
court in
Section 22
............................................... .......................................
Petaling Jaya
Tandatangan Tarikh last month.

Have you checked

your electrical
switches before New court for Section 22
leaving home? PETALING JAYA: Budding badminton champions
in Section 22 now have a court of their own to hone in
Before ieaving your home for a holoday, have you their skills, thanks to the Petaling Jaya City Council
checked all your electrical switches and turned off (MBPJ).
your gas tanks? The RM16,000 badminton court built near the
Section 22 Rukun Tetangga (RT) base was officially
Call the SS17 Bomba for advise at opened last month by MBPJ Councillor  Jeyaseelen
Anthony and Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng
03-5634 9444 San.
“The residents had asked for a court for the children
and youths in the neighbourhood so we arranged for
funds to be allocated for it to be built,” said Jeyaseelan.
He said the empty plot of land which belonged to
the RT was identified as the best site for the single
badminton court.
The simple opening ceremony was marked by a
badminton match between  Lau and Jeyaseelan.  The
event was attended by 100 residents.
 Feature 21
January 14 — 16, 2011

Jenjarom gears up for

lunar new year
There are a couple of ways to
spend a long weekend. One
is to watch TV, two is to catch
up on your sleep and three, as
LIN ZHENYUAN finds out, is
to drive aimlessly and end up
in a small town.

M
ost people head to Carey Island for its seafood
restaurants. But not too far from here is the little town
of Jenjarom.
If you are game for an afternoon of driving around the
outskirts, make a 3 o’clock turn at the roundabout, coming
from the direction of Telok Panglima Garang.
After a 10-minute drive, Jenjarom springs into view. There
are many small settlements in the district of Kuala Langat, and
Jenjarom is one of them.
It has a population of about 25,000. Most people do not
like to come out of their cocoons in Petaling Jaya or the Kuala
Lumpur metropolis. But if you just want to drive just for the
sheer joy of it, Jenjarom is about 55km west of KL.
The Chinese residents here are predominantly Hokkien.
The main landmark in Jenjarom is the Fo Guang Shan (FGS)
Dong Zen Buddhist Temple. Every year, it attracts hundreds A replica of a religious site in China at the entrance of the Dong Zen Temple.
of thousands of visitors to the town. Jenjarom folk, particularly
the business community, welcome
the influx of outsiders. The large Since its opening in 1994, the 22-
groups of tourists help keep the acre Dong Zen Temple has received
assorted businesses in the pink of
health, as far as their balance sheets hundreds of thousands of local tourists.
are concerned. With the new Lunar Year of the Rabbit
There are signs that Jenjarom is about four weeks away, once again
slowly crawling out of its new village Dong Zen Temple is a hive of activity.”
status. The place was created in the
1950s during the Emergency under in Kaoshiung, Taiwan where there Jalan Sungai Buaya, Sungai Jenja-
the New Villages Master Plan to are 62 temple branches. Across the rom. Those who are interested in
check the Communist influence globe, there are 98 more branches, learning more about this temple can
among Chinese settlers. of which FGS Dong Zen in Jenja- call 03-3191-1593 or visit its web-
In the 1990s, Jenjarom had rom is the Buddhist hub for South- site: www.fgs.org.my
an unsavoury reputation for its east Asia.   Presently, Jenjarom is still very
lion’s share of “pai kia” (bad hats). The statues of deities are strategically placed in the temple Since its opening in 1994, the much a laid-back town still playing
The authorities and social workers grounds. 22-acre Dong Zen Temple has re- catch-up with the rest of Selangor.
attributed the village’s ills to priority in the area. There are rows of grocery shops, ceived hundreds of thousands of If you are on your way to Morib or
secret societies, gambling and According to residents born here, coffeeshops, a 7-Eleven and at least local tourists. With the new Lunar Tanjung Sepat and have nothing
prostitution. there are two populated areas which one travel agency. Year of the Rabbit about four weeks much on your itinerary, you may
In the mid-80s, Jenjarom suffered reveal the racial diversity of Jenja- One could say that without the away, once again Dong Zen Temple want to drop by at Jenjarom for a
from a high unemployment rate. rom. Sungai Jenjarom is populated Dong Zen Temple, Jenjarom would is a hive of activity. quick bite, and perhaps a short visit
Young and reckless men engaged in by mostly Hokkien-speaking people. be lesser known today. Dong Zen The temple which also acts as a to Dong Zen Temple.
criminal activities to find an Kampung Jenjarom consists of Ma- comes under the umbrella of the cultural and educational centre is Jenjarom’s atmosphere is some-
alternative source of income. lays who live in traditional kampong worldwide Buddhist Order called presently making preparations to where in between its much busier
Fortunately, in recent years the houses. Fo Guang Shan or the Mountain of celebrate the Chinese New Year in sister town, Klang, and its urban
social face of Jenjarom has had a The more developed part of Jen- Light. its own unique and colourful way. cousin, Banting. One day in the
major facelift. This is mainly due to jarom is along the road leading to The FGS was founded by Master Four years ago, in 2007, there distant future, it may end up like
education which was given top the Dong Zen Buddhist Temple. Hsing Yun in 1967. Its head office is were an estimated 1.5 million visi- Subang Jaya but is currently in no
tors comprising tourists and devo- immediate danger of heading in that
tees during the Chinese New Year direction. The best time to get ac-
celebrations at the temple. quainted with this laid-back town is
Dong Zen Temple is located in now.

Visitors will not go hungry in Jenjarom because there are

Jenjarom town along the main road leading to Morib. plenty of restaurants and other eateries.
22
Gallery
January 14 — 16, 2011
ENVIROMENTALLY
UNFRIENDLY:
Children throwing
unwanted CDs into
a pile of rubbish
in Sungai Lima on
Jan 8.

A child watches a
singer perform dur-
ing a New Year’s
gathering at Indera
Subang Condomin-
ium on Jan 8.

A fishermen drying shrimps in Sungai Lima on Jan 8. The fishing island, located beside
Pulau Ketam, is planning to turn the area into an eco-friendly village.

Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching handing out angpows to traders at the Sri Kembangan Sri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah (second from left)
night market on Monday after infoming them that they would be relocated to a more watches the formation of two new Rela platoons at his constituency
conducive site. on Jan 1.
 culture 23
JANUARY 14 — 16, 2011

❚ COMPILED BY ZEDECK SIEW

REVIEW
A Shameless
Covers Night 2

A
bit into A Shameless Covers Night 2, (8 January
2011, PJ Live Arts) singer-songwriter Mia Palencia
— engaging in between-song banter as her co-per-
formers Reza Salleh, Zalila Lee and Melina William got
Editor’s Model Citizens
ready — explained that their first iteration of the show,
Pick True to form, The Necessary Stage’s latest offering is also a fun piece of
theatre that zeroes in on a topical subject. Just check out Model Citizens’
back in August 2009, didn’t include any Malay pop an-
thems. All four musicians thought this a deficiency.
Play premise: a man stabs a Singaporean Member of Parliament at a “Meet
The Necessary Stage & KLPac “So we decided to each choose one favourite Malay song
the People” session. Three women are caught in the fallout: the attacker’s
KL Performing Arts Centre girlfriend, an Indonesian maid seeking marriage and citizenship in the
to play tonight,” Mia said. That’s how we got to enjoy the
19 – 22 January 2011; RM33 island nation; said to be girlfriend’s employer, also coping with personal spectacle of Reza Salleh dressed as Francissca Peter (com-
03-4047 9000 tragedy; the MP’s wife, who has to cope with the subsequent media plete with wig and earrings), performing “Demi Negara”.
www.klpac.com attention. Immigration, such a Big Topic in Singapore at the moment, is It’s a worthy sentiment, that. There’s a store of Malay-
sure to feature prominently. language music that’s universally well-loved, and their exclu-
Model Citizens, which premiered in March 2010 will be performed in KL sion would have been a shame. Who doesn’t know Man
by Goh Guat Kian, Siti Khalijah and Karen Tan. Written by Haresh Sharma Bai’s “Kau Ilham Ku” — incidentally Mia’s own choice for
and directed by Alvin Tan.
the evening.
Behind all this, I suspect, is the eternal conundrum: what
makes Malaysian music Malay-
Someone Who’ll
Watch Over Me BOOKS There’s
sian? It’s an antiquated question,
easily answered: all it takes is for
Theatre Meet The moral rightness of medical a store local musicians to use interna-
The Actors Studio@Lot 10 tional forms, and make them their
5 -16 January 2011
Necessary Stage marijuana to relieve pain;
Gemuk Girls examined how
of Malay- own. We saw it in Pop Yeh Yeh
RM48 Book Launch
Theatre Reading & Talk ISA detentions (fine old language and its appropriation of 1960s
03-2142 2009
www.theactorsstudio.com The Necessary Stage & Singapore has them too!) music that’s psychedelic rock and roll; we see
In 1986, Irishman Brian
The Instant Café Theatre wreck havoc both within
and without the family. We
universally it in Azmyl Yunor and his com-
Keenan was abducted
Company
CHAI House saw those two plays in well-loved, mandeering of the Bob Dylan
model.
while on his way to work. 17 January 2011 2008, when they toured to and their Likewise, the success of a cov-
KL.
Part of the Lebanon
Hostage Crisis of the
free admission
Now, Haresh and TNS exclusion ers concert is determined by the
03-7784 9792;
1980s and 1990s, his director Alvin Tan visit PJ’s would have following question: How able
www.instantcafetheatre.com
kidnapping would birth an
Singapore-mari company
CHAI House to launch
TRILOGY, a collection of
been a were its performers in applying
award-winning memoir —
The Necessary Stage (TNS) Haresh’s plays. They will shame.” their unique artistic sensibilities
An Evil Cradling — and an to the pop canon?
is a known name to theatre talk about the TNS process
award-winning piece of theatre, Someone Who’ll Watch In that, A Shameless Covers Night 2 was a rousing suc-
audiences on both sides of of making theatre, and
Over Me, by playwright Frank McGuinness. the Causeway. Its resident oversee the performance of cess — but let me qualify that. The show wasn’t particu-
Instead of dealing with the politics — Jihadists playwright, Haresh Sharma, excerpts from five different larly fresh in its interpretations: I think we’ve heard acous-
meeting the West, etc — this play focuses instead on the is Singapore’s most prolific plays: Good People, Gemuk
“remarkable resilience of the human spirit and humanity”,
tic renditions of Blur’s “Girls & Boys” a few times before.
stage writer; he produces Girls, Hope, Talk 1, and Still Rather, Shameless’s singer-songwriter quartet succeed by
as played out between three characters — an Englishman, works that are invariably Building. With assistance
Irishman, and American, respectively. The KL staging fun, moving, and socially- from Singaporean
plumbing the twin-linked elements of heart and history:
of Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me is directed by Joe conscious. Good People performers Karen Tan and in introducing “Princes Familiar”, Melina William apolo-
Hasham, and features Charles Donnelly, Kingsley Judd and was a hospital drama Siti Khalijah, and Malaysia’s gised for playing Alanis Morrisette (considered somewhat
Gavin Yap. It’s been getting some rave reviews, so don’t dealing with religion and own Sukania Venugopal. frumpy these days), but her performance made it obvious
miss the performance’s last week in KL! that the music had touched her deeply — and we in the
audience got to feel the same way.
The Path Of Life: Leong whose 30-year career has seen The night’s best bit was its encore: a cover of “Bohemian
Chee Siong Retrospective his works exhibited internationally, Rhapsody”, which had the four self-consciously parodying
Exhibition and a Phillip Morris Arts Award! Queen’s famously bizarre music video. Kazoos and Guitar
The Annexe Gallery “The artistic creation is the Hero peripherals stood in for real electric guitars. Amazing,
Central Market process of life exploration, the laugh-until-sakit stuff.
12 - 16 January 2011 integration and reoccurrence Two things prevented me from completely enjoying A
free admission of thought,” says Leong. “It is Shameless Covers Night 2. Firstly, the PJ Live Arts theatre
03-2070 1137 the condensation of culture and
www.annexegallery.com is notorious for lousy acoustics; that so many music shows
the motivated force of cultural happen there (eg: Nick Choo’s Follow The Light) is a
Retrospective exhibitions are growth.” Grand pronouncements
a unique pleasure: they allow aside, the artist’s works are more
mystery. Also,
gallery visitors the opportunity to modest, being stylised and subtly- Shameless itself, being “shameless” and informal, would
chart, for themselves, the creative coloured explorations of pastoral/ have been better suited somewhere that didn’t have a pro-
evolution of a particular artist. In agricultural life: sarong-ed women scenium stage and sit-down audience seats: the venue
this case, the artist in question with babies, starfruit, etc. Still, forces formality. “Guess no one wants to dance,” one of the
is Leong Chee Siong, a painter quietly breathtaking. performers remarked, halfway through. Duh.
Published by Selangor State Government and printed by Dasar Cetak (M) Sdn Bhd No. 7, Persiaran Selangor, Seksyen 15, 40000, Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan.