REMEMBERING THE LESS FORTUNATE DURING THE FESTIVE SEASON

Saturday February 13, 2010
Single mums stand tall at reunion
By YIP YOKE TENG
Photos by SIA HONG KIAU

teng@thestar.com.my

THE reunion dinner is the most important meal of the year for the Chinese, and it should be a happy, heart-warming occasion with every one in the family coming together to celebrate the bond they share.

However, the occasion may be tinged with sadness for some families, in which some members are absent for one reason or another.

Still, the fact that they were from “incomplete” families did not stop 220 single parents and their children from revelling in a reunion dinner organised by Persatuan Rumah Caring Kajang at Fortuna Palace Restaurant in Kajang on Monday, alongside 20 old folks and 90 former drug addicts.

The single mothers kept their chins up, having embraced independence, and stood proud as their children, despite having had to endure pain and hardship in their growing years, had passed their examinations with flying colours or excelled in their career.

Thanks, mum!: Hiew Yoke Kuan (left) and Fu Xiang sharing Chinese New Year dishes with Liew at the reunion dinner

The hard work of 12 children who had scored straight As in the UPSR and PMR exams was recognised when they received awards from Kajang assemblyman Lee Kim Sin.

Among them were Hiew Yoke Kuan, 17, and her 12-year-old brother Fu Xiang, who had scored eight and seven As in their PMR and UPSR examinations respectively.

Nine years ago, their father succumbed to illness on the third day of Chinese New Year, leaving their mother Lim Mee Hua, 50, to fend for the family by ferrying children to school and making cakes.

Lim was thankful that she had a driving licence, which allowed her to eke out a living while keeping a watchful eye on her children.

Cherish the moment: Tan playing with her grandchild Looi Rui while Looi and his wife Tang Yi share the warm moment during the dinner

Two years ago, she started taking part in activities organised by the association and established close ties with its members.

“The Chinese New Year and reunion dinner used to remind me of the poignant moments of losing my husband, but now, these occasions fuel my spirit to brave the challenges ahead,” she said.

Another single mother, Tan Teaw Sim, 64, was all smiles at the reunion dinner, which she attended with her son Looi Joo Koon, 39, daughter-in-law Tang Yi, 39, and her four-year-old granddaughter Looi Rui.

When her husband left her, Tan took up to four jobs to raise Looi, who was then only seven years old.

A doctor now, Looi recalled helping his mother at a food kiosk and working part-time to earn tuition fees when pursuing his medical degree in China.

“The opportunities are out there and every one has an equal chance to taste success, so don’t be disheartened,” he told the children present.

He said the reunion dinner should not be the only occasion in the year to show love to one’s parents. “Find time to chat with them as often as possible; it will be good enough.”

Lim Mian Loong, 21, who amazed those around him with his excellent score of 3.97 out of 4 points in the first year of his accountancy degree at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, cherishes the reunion dinner as an occasion to thank his mother, Ong Lian Hiang, 51, who had raised him single-handedly since he was five, working in a restaurant.

Lim, who juggled his school work with part-time jobs, said it was time for his mother to enjoy life while he took over the role of breadwinner.

The festive mood was intense as the participants tossed yee sang, tucked into Chinese New Year dishes and were entertained by a world champion harmonica ensemble.

Residents from Caring Old Folks Home danced gleefully to the music while residents of six drug rehabilitation centres in Cheras and Kajang praised God in song.

Lee also penned chun lian (Chinese New Year couplets) on the spot and gave them to those present.

The association’s founder, Wendy Yap, said dedicating more than a decade to helping single mothers had proven rewarding.

“We believe helping single mothers is not just about giving them money and provisions; we must also make sure they can eventually live an independent life and, most importantly, their children grow up to be useful persons,” she said, thanking the 10 donors and sponsors who had made the reunion dinner a success.

“It is great that the children understand that only education can pull their families out of poverty and bring about a better life.

“Their mothers have done a great job in guiding them, despite the hardship they have had to bear,” she added.

3 WAKIL RAKYAT VISIT KAJANG MARKET...WELL DONE.

Tiga Wakil Rakyat Turun Serentak Ke Pasar Kajang

Pagi ini tiga orang Wakil Rakyat turun serentak membuat "Kunjungan Tahun Baru Cina"

Ke Pasar Kajang. Mereka ialah YB Dr Che Rusli bin Che Mat Ahli Parlimen Hulu Langat, YB Teo Nie Ching Ahli Parlimen Serdang dan YB Dr Shafie bin Abu Bakar ADUN Bangi. Mereka bertiga dan pembantu-pembantu bergabung tenaga mulai jam 8.30 menemui peniaga-peniaga dan pengunjung-pengunjung Pasar mengedarkan kad-kad Selamat tahun Baru Cina 2010 dan Jemptan Majlis Jamuan Tahun Baru Cina yang akan diadakan secara bersama antara Ahli Parleman Serdang dan ADUN Bangi pada 20 Februari 2010 (Sabtu) bertempat di Pusat Komuniti Taman Seri Langat. Jalan Reko, 43000 Kajang mulai jam 3.00 petang hingga 6.00 petang. Semua pihak dijemput hadir.

Turun ke Pasar menemui rakyat bagi mengucapkan selamat sama ada Tahun Baru Cina, Hari Raya Idul Fitri dan lain-lain adalah merupakan program tradisi yang diadakan setiap Tahun. Cuma tahun ini ketiga-ketiga Wakil Rakyat, khususnya dua ahli Parlimen hadir bersama merupakan satu yang lebih bermakna. Lebih dari 30 peti limau dan lebih dari 1,500 kad jemputan dan Selamat Tahun Baru Cina sempat diedar. Kad-kad selain ungkapan dalam bahasa Malaysia, tertera sama ungkapan di dalam tulisan Cina.

Rombongan yang terdiri lebih dari 20 orang memasuki lorong ke lorong pasar. Peniaga-peniaga dan pengunjung-pengunjung menyambut mereka dengan ceria. Setiap orang dihadiahkan dengan 2 biji limau mandarin dan kad-kad ucapan. Kunjungan berterusan hingga jam 10,00 pagi. Kehadiran kami menandakan kepada orang ramai tentang ketibaan Perayaan Tahun Baru Cina. Kami sebenarnya turut sama memeriahkan sama Sambutan Tahun Baru Cina dan memperlihatkan sikap muhibbah dan menghormati budaya antara kaum, bahkan sama menyambutnya bersama berbagai kaum.

ADUN BANGI WENT TO SUNGAI CHUA MARKET

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Turun Ke Sungai Chua: Selamat Tahun Baru Cina

Sungguhpun hari ini bukan hari kelepasan Sabtu dan Ahad, Pasar Sungai Chua tetap meriah dan dikunjung oleh pengunjung-pengunjung tetapnya membeli keperluan harian.

Pasar ini boleh disifatkan salah sebuah pasar terbesar di Hulu Langat mendapat kunjungan tertinggi pembeli-pembeli dan ruang pasar penuh sesak dengan penjual dan pembeli.

Demikianlah dalam rangka mengucapkan Selamat Tahun Baru Cina, Pasar Sungai Chua menjadi Pasar Utama kami kunjungi. Pagi ini adalah giliran kami berkunjung ke pasar tersebut. Jam lapan pagi saya menelefon Saudara Shahrum berhubung dengan persiapan. Menurutnya persediaan cukup dengan limau dan kad-kad jemputan ke Hari Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina pada 20 Februari 2010 (Sabtu) bertempat di Pusat Komuniti, Taman Seri Langat, Jalan Reko, jam 3.00 – 6.00 petang.


Saya bertolak dari Pejabat dan berjanji berjumpa di pintu masuk Pasar Sungai Chua, manaka Nada dan Nabilah mengikuti dengan kenderaan berikutnya. Tiba di Pasar Sungai Chua, kami mendapat maklumat kumpulan YB Teo Nie Ching dan YB Dr. Che Rusli Che Mat dan pengiring masing-masing telah tiba di pintu sebelah lain. Oleh kerana kotak limau kami telah dibuka dan kad jemputan di tangan, kami yang berkedudukan di pintu utama mulai mengedar kak-kad dan limau bersama Saudara Shahrum. Beliau pula berulang kali pergi mengambil kotak-kotak limau dari kenderaan. Ada kala pengunjung pasar sendiri tolong mengedarkan limau. Sebelum Nada dan Nabilah tiba, Sdr. Shahrum juga bertindak sebagai juru gambar dengan menggunakan kamera handset ADUN.


Dalam pada itu pasukan YB Sdr. Teo Nie Ching dan YB Dr. Che Rusli tiba ke bahagian pintu utama dan kami bersatu mengedarkan risalah dan limau kepada pengunjung-pengunjung yang berterusan melalui ruang menunggu. Pada masa inilah tiba pemberita-pemberita akhbar-akhbar yang dijemput seperti Sinar, Utusan, Nanyang Siang Pau, Sin Chew dan Chinese Press. Mereka sebok mengambil gambar semasa kami mengedarkan risalah dan limau-limau hingga semua peti limau kehabisan. Keputusan dibuat oleh Sdr. Foo untuk segera membeli 30 peti tambahan limau. Pembahagian terhenti sementara menunggu limau yang diorder tiba.

Sementara limau tiba perhatian tertumpu kepada peniaga-peniaga membuat protes kepada semua ketiga-tiga Wakil Rakyat berhubung larangan berniaga di pintu masuk dan larangan lori masuk ke tepi pasar memunggahkan barang-barang. Pada pagi ini juga ramai penguatkuasa tiba. Oleh kerana kesuntukan ruang dan kehadiran pembeli-pembeli ramai, terutama pada hari-hari minggu mereka memohon MPKj membenarkan mereka berniaga di pintu masuk selama dua hari. Kami berjanji untuk membawa perkara ini kepada MPKj. Perkara ini bukan baru. Larangan berniaga di pintu masuk pasar bertujuan untuk melicinkan laluan keluar-masuk, jika dibenarkan masalah kesesakan tidak dapat di atasi.


Apabila kotak-kotak limau tiba, keputusan diambil untuk memasuki ke pasar melalui lorong demi lorang. YB Teo Nie Ching bertindak sebagai pengedar limau dan jurucakap, kerana beliau memang banyak bercakap, lebih-lebih lagi hanya beliau memang berkemampuan menggunakan bahasa Manderin di kalangan pengunjung-pengunjung Cina dan Bahasa Malaysia untuk semua. Saya dan Dr. Che Rusli bertindak sebagai pemberi kad-kad. Sememangnya berlaku kesesakan di dalam pasar, tapi ini menjadi suasana lebih hidup dengan unjuk mengunjuk limau dan kad. Pengunjung-pengunjung juga amat ceria dengan kehadiran kami dan menyambut pemberian kami dengan penuh mesra. Ianya merupakan sebagai Pesta Kunjungan Tahun Baru Cina. Pengiring-pengiring berjumlah dalam lingkungan 15 orang. Limau yang dibeli sebagai tambahan juga ternyata tidak berkecukupan. YB Teo terpaksa, pada peringkat akhir mengurangkan pemberian limau dari 2 biji seorang kepada satu biji. Pada penghujung lorong terakhir limau kehabisan. Sejumlah 80 kotak limau berjaya diedarkan. Kami menghentikan edaran dengan kehabisan limau dan berpisah jam 10.00 pagi dengan penuh kepuasan. Cuma dalam masa mengedar limau dan kad, sebagaimana semalam di Pasar Kajang ada yang bertanya. "Mana YB Cikgu Lee Kim Sin ADUN Kajang?", Kami tidak dapat menjawab. Kalau beliau hadir tentulah lebih lengkap dengan kehadiran Ahli-Ahli Parlimen dan ADUN-ADUN Pakatan Rakyat dan tentulah lebih meriah.


Sementara itu, malam tadi sejak dari jam 8.00 malam Selasa ADUN Bangi dan YB Teo Nie Ching dan pengiring-pengiring juga turun bersama di Pasar Seri Langat mengedarkan limau dan kad jemputan kepada pengunjung pasar berkenaan yang terdiri dari berbagai kaum. Pasar di sini agak kurang besar dan tidaklah ramai dengan pengunjung, sebab itu dalam masa satu jam kami dapat selesaikan edaran kad dan limau. Masing-masing bergegas ke program masing-masing selepas itu dan ADUN Bangi pulang untuk urusan mesyuarat. Kunjungan ke Pasar Kajang, Sungai Chua dan Seri Langat mengeratkan hubungan kami dengan rakyat.

"Selamat Menyambut Tahun Baru Cina –Gong Xi Fa Chai"

THE STAR ON MPKj - TEARING DOWN ILLEGAL BILLBOARD & HIGH MAINTENANCE

The Star has 2 articles today on Kajang as follows. If true about the billboard then it's fantastic.

Monday February 1, 2010

MPKj tearing down illegal billboards

By OH ING YEEN

ingyeen@thestar.com.my

THE Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) has begun operations to tear down illegal billboards.

The exercise started with Bandar Baru Bangi, where seven of the 20 illegal billboards had been taken down, and the remaining 13 would follow soon, council president Datuk Hassan Nawawi Abdul Rahman said at the Kajang Municipal Council full board meeting.

“It takes three hours to take down a big billboard (6.1m x 15.2m). There is even one that is located below TNB high-tension cables,” he said, adding that there were 1,600 illegal buntings in Kajang.

Several councillors pointed out that students were playing truant and visiting cybercafes near schools.

Hassan said there were guidelines on issuing licences for cybercafes. “It has to be at least 100m away from the schools. The council has the right to take action against operators who allow students in school uniform to enter the cybercafe. The maximum fine is RM1,000.

“However, the presence of cybercafes near schools is not the main reason for students playing truant. There are other reasons for them to skip school, too,” he said.

Kajang council spends RM95,000 for upkeep of vehicles

By OH ING YEEN

ingyeen@thestar.com.my

Kajang municipal councillors highlighted the exorbitant maintenance fees for council vehicles, which totalled more than RM95,960 last year.

At the monthly MPKj fullboard meeting, councillor Lee Kee Hiong questioned the reason for such high expenses for 14 vehicles.

A Jaguh motorbike costs RM4,645 a year for maintenance.

“There are even four vehicles that costs more than RM10,000 each, and these are only vehicles used by the enforcement department, what about the other departments?

“Despite such an amount spent on maintaining the vehicles, there are occasions when we had to abort certain operations due to vehicles breaking down,” she said.

One of the council directors said the motorbikes were used for escorting visiting VIPs such as the Mentri Besar.

Council president Datuk Hassan Nawawi Abdul Rahman explained that higher maintenance fees was needed for old cars.

“About 60% of the cars are more than 12 years old,” he said.

However, he could not provide off-hand the exact number of vehicles that the council uses.

He added that the council would use the hire purchase system when obtaining new cars.

Until the next time, cheers.

CUTTING DOWN ON CRIME IN KAJANG, THE STAR, TUE 12 JAN 2010

Tuesday January 12, 2010

Cutting down on crime for Taman Sri Reko and Taman Hijau

By CHARLES FERNANDEZ

RESIDENTS of Taman Sri Reko and neighbouring Taman Hijau have been keeping their doors locked at all times due to a spate of break-ins recently. However, they can afford to let their guard down a bit now.

Kajang district OCPD ACP Mohd Sakaruddin Che Mood has given his personal assurance that all would be well and that the police would send patrol teams to the area.

Taman Sri Reko is home to many senior citizens who are often left alone in the morning, caring for their grandchildren and they have been keeping their doors locked at all times.

During a meeting attended by more than 30 residents from both the housing areas, the residents related how their peace of mind had been compromised since many of them had become targets of snatch thieves, robbers or even car thieves.

Taman Sri Reko and Taman Hijau

Anne Freeman, 47, from Taman Sri Reko said thieves were now employing a new method to break into the houses.

“They would first survey the area, study the movements of the residents and only break-in during a downpour.

“They know that cries for help are easily muffled by the sound of the rain,” Freeman said.

During the meeting, many of the residents told ACP Mohd Sakaruddin that they felt the police had been slow to act on their complaints.

One resident known only as Veni wanted to know if the police were supposed to get back to the complainants on the progress of an investigation.

Mohd Sakaruddin said by right, the investigating officer should get back to the complainant and inform them on the status of the case.

“They should get back to the complainants two weeks after the reports were filed and advise them on the status of their investigations,” Mohd Sakaruddin.

He also pointed out that while the residents had brought up many complaints at the meeting, the nearby police station had only received three reports last year.

“We hope in future the residents will work closely with the police. There are 1,2 million residents under the Kajang police district and the ratio is one policeman to 1,200 residents.

“We need your help to combat crime in the district before the statistics shoots up further,” he added.

Mohd Sakaruddin said residents could contact the police district headquarters at 03-8736 2222 or call him personally at 019-955 3555/019-600 0801.

NEW SRAITS TIMES TUE, 5 JAN 2010

Town that satay built

PHILIP LIM

Everyone knows Kajang is famous for satay but foodies seldom make their way here as Kajang satay is now available in big towns and cities. PHILIP LIM makes an impromptu visit to uncover its other secrets

Haji Samuri Kajang Satay Restaurant is in an impressive building

WHENEVER the name Kajang is brought up, the immediate response is always “satay!” That was probably true about 20 years ago. However, according to a long-time resident of Kajang, the best Kajang satay today is found in Kuala Lumpur.

Apparently, enterprising satay sellers have “migrated” to the big city because the high-income earners there don’t frown too much when they find out the price of a stick of satay.

That’s not to say, though that there are no good satay sellers left in Kajang. After all, the entire town’s reputation is built on this particular delicacy of grilled skewered meat with slices of cucumber and ketupat, served an aromatic peanut gravy.

Delicious Pit Stop

If you’re on a leisurely drive, returning to KL or Petaling Jaya from a short visit to Putrajaya, and want to take a break that will go eminently well with at least two tall glasses of hot teh tarik, Kajang is the town for such an unscheduled pit-stop.

According to 2006 statistics, Kajang has a population of 230,000. In recent years, the township has expanded but the town proper is still its charming old self, with narrow streets and the occasional traffic jam that reminds KLites of their own turf.

If not for a wrong turn on the highway, I would have bypassed the satay town because my planned destination was actually Dengkil. Dengkil probably lost carloads of premier visitors due to the poor positioning of highway signs.

Mother Of Satay Houses

At 4pm, the utmost thought on anyone’s mind is a quick bite of what makes Kajang famous. Naturally, it is the one and only Haji Samuri Satay Restaurant. This “mother of all satay houses” never ceases to impress, even for first-time customers.

A double-storey building with a huge compound for a car park, Haji Samuri Satay Restaurant even has several big dining halls to cater to private parties. There’s an air-conditioned hall on the ground floor.

Housed in Bangunan Dato Nazir, Haji Samuri Satay Restaurant is well organised and splendidly positioned. From the number of chairs and tables, it is estimated that the total number of seated customers is 1,000 or more at any one time.

Inside, numerous home-grown artefacts are strategically placed all over the building. Old motorcycles that look very much like the half-forgotten Vespa of yesteryears are positioned around the staircase that leads to an open veranda where customers can enjoy the views from various perspectives.

At the entrance, an ancient buggy-like vehicle, probably horse-drawn, lends that flavour of a bygone era to the establishment.

For KL folks who are not that keen on making the trip to Kajang, just go to Selayang Baru where you’ll find a Samuri Satay outlet located just outside the Selayang Mall. It’s just as good as that in Kajang. In fact, someone claims that the satay at this outlet is even better.

Chicken, Beef, Rabbit, Deer

The satay menu is handsomely displayed on the wall, offering chicken and beef satay as well as other choices of meat. This is one restaurant where the culinary adventurer can also have rabbit, deer, sheep or fish. Add to that the liver, heart and other edible parts.

Perhaps it’s the time of day, but we’re told that rabbit satay is sold out, so we settle for chicken and beef. The only complaint is that the beef has probably been sitting on the fire for too long as it’s a bit too tough.

It would also have been better if the sticks of satay are served piping hot, straight from the grill to the dining table as that’s the way most Malaysians like it.

More Than Satay

Yes, satay may be the town’s biggest billboard attraction but Kajang has more to it than just sticks of meat. There are other facets to its character just waiting to be discovered.

The pace, albeit slower than what city folks are accustomed to, is just perfect for a walking tour. Adjacent to the satay house is a charming but quaint post office that calls for a closer inspection.

The next time, you are in Kajang and drinking coffee, bear in mind that the town owes its early development to the coffee estates that once dotted the land.

Kajang has its historical roots in 1709 when traces of settlement were discovered. Then its foundation was laid in 1807 after the dust from the Battle of Kajang had settled.

Since then, it has taken Kajang two centuries to scale up the ladder of development. Today, the town is officially recognised as the district capital of Hulu Langat and plays host to several institutions of higher learning.

Among these are Universiti Tenaga Nasional, University of Nottingham in nearby Semenyih, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in close-by town of Bangi, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman in Bandar Baru Sungai Long and Universiti Putra Malaysia’s New Era College located opposite the town railway station.

For most residents of KL and PJ, Kajang is “where other people sometimes go”. But really, Kajang is worthy of a close-up, personal view by outsiders who usually give this place a miss as they head for other more publicised tourist destinations.

Pictures by PHILIP LIM

Until next time, cheers.

RUBBISH PROBLEMS ON NEW YEAR'S DAY

Friday January 1, 2010

Closure of RDF plant puts council in a bind

CHARLES FERNANDEZ AT THE MPKj FULL BOARD MEETING

THE Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) technology plant in Kampung Pasir Baru, Semenyih, which has temporarily ceased operations since Dec 26, has put the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) in a bind.

The board has urged the council to look into reviewing its contract with the RDF since the latter had only given a short notice, citing maintenance procedures, for the plant closure. This has made it necessary for the MPKj to look for alternatives for its waste disposal.

The RDF said it would restart operations after Jan 1 but the board was told that if the plant was closed for maintenance work, operations would not restart any time earlier than three months.

“Since it has put us in a difficult situation, we urge the council to review its contract with the RDF, including looking at its past performance,” said Lee Kee Hiong, who is also a member of the infrastructure committee.

Closed for maintenance: An excavator is seen working on the garbage dumped in the premises of the RDF plant in Kampung Pasir Baru Pasir. Semenyih.

The RDF facility has proven to be successful in producing energy and reducing municipal solid waste at the same time, and the sudden turn of events has forced the MPKj to dump garbage at the Sungei Kembong landfill.

RDF, a private company, has a 30-year concession with the MPKj and it is leasing the land in Semenyih where it has built Malaysia’s first RDF research centre and waste management plant.

“The Sungei Kembong landfill is not a feasible alternative to coping with the solid waste management in the Kajang municipality as it is both far and not easily accessible,’’ Lee said.

The board was told that the landfill in Bukit Mahkota, near Beranang, was not an ideal alternative as it was located close to two rivers.

The landfill was closed after a bund built to absorb leachate gave way during a storm, resulting in leachate flowing into Sungai Beranang and Sungai Semenyih.

Council president Datuk Hassan Nawawi Abdul Rahman told the councillors that he would request for a meeting with the RDF board to look into the problem.