Uptown Cafe's creative western fare garners regulars

The Star, Monday September 30, 2013 

by yip yoke teng
photos by low boon tat

Fresh and aromatic: Grilled Salmon with Cheese Sauce.

Uptown Cafe,
35, Jalan Ria 1, 
Kawasan Perniagaan Ria, 
Kajang.
Tel: 03-8723 1021
Business hours: 7.00am to 12.00am

THE youthfulness of the chef helming the kitchen in Uptown Cafe, Kajang, has translated into an array of creative and exciting dishes, much to the delight of food lovers.

Tang Kiang Yew, 26, has impressed many customers who first initially gave the six-month-old restaurant a try and ended up becoming regulars.

Apart from the good flavours, the restaurant is garnering a bigger following by the day with its affordable prices ranging from RM7.90 for local favourites such as nasi lemak to RM17.90 for Grilled Salmon.

Set in cosy and bright atmosphere, Uptown Cafe offers mainly Western fusion delights complemented by a selection of popular Asian dishes. It also serves as the coffeehouse for the adjacent Hotel Uptown.

“I like to experiment with various ingredients to create new flavours. I think both the chef and customer will appreciate something different from the norm,” said Tang, who has six years of experience.

His culinary talent is evident in the offerings, which are made better with a strong dash of enthusiasm.

Creative team: Tang (left) is in charge of Uptown Cafe while Ng Mun Chiew is the executive chef of Melia Seasons Restaurant. They are responsible for the kitchens of Hotel Uptown in Kajang.

 

Hawaiian Chicken can “transport” one to the seaside with its combination of smoky aroma, tangy sauce and heady whiffs of the Western herbs used to marinate the meat, reminding one of having barbecue by the ocean. The chicken chop is roasted to perfection, tender and flavourful.

Teriyaki Roll is another exclusive, comprising ham and cheese wrapped in a chicken chop. It is slathered with barbecue and teriyaki sauce before being sent to the grill. The result is an appetisingly sweet and slightly tangy dish enhanced by the cheese’s aroma and creaminess.

Most of the fillets, steaks or chops come with several choices of sauce. Grilled Salmon is served with cheese, black pepper, barbecue or Italian sauce. Tang noted that they did not use inferior ingredients despite the restaurant’s reasonable prices. Instead, they accepted the lower profit margin and put in loads of hardwork to ensure they served enough to sustain the business.

Appetising: The A1 fungi spaghetti is alluring with its light spiciness.

Spaghetti is available for those opting not to have such a meaty affair.

A1 fungi spaghetti is among the best sellers with a generous use of mushrooms enhanced by spicy flavours and an appetising aroma.

As for Asian favourites, one should not miss the nasi lemak that involves a painstaking process and generous use of herbs. Its fragrance from lime leaves makes it stand out from its counterparts elsewhere.

Another Asian special, Namya Island Prawn, also stands out as something different. It is a marriage between butter and nyonya prawn, which makes it tangy and creamy, coupled with tantalising hints from lemongrass and ginger flower.

This is the writer’s personal observation and not an endorsement of StarMetro.

Gift of warm showers for home's kids

The Star, Saturday September 28, 2013

By FARAH FAZANNA ZULZAHA
farahfazanna@thestar.com.my Photo by NORAFIFI EHSAN

Easy to use: Tan (right) testing one of the Joven water heaters installed at RKK as Culas looks on.

Water appliances company Joven is contributing instant water heaters and water purifiers worth up to RM30,000 to charitable homes nominated by the public as part of its 30th anniversary celebration.

The first to enjoy hot showers courtesy of Joven’s Showering You with Love social outreach programme were the 40 children of Rumah Keluarga Kami (RKK) in Kajang.

The home received RM4,000 worth of water heaters and a water purifier.

Joven managing director James Tan said the main objective of the programme was to uplift the lives of the unfortunate, the poor and destitute.

“We will continue to commit to our corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes to support the underprivileged and to elevate their lifestyle by providing some amount of comfort,” he said.

Apart from RKK, nine more homes will receive the water heaters and purifiers.

Tan said the homes that would receive the water appliances had been tested to certify that the electrical appliances could be installed.

“We carefully reviewed the electrical wiring in the homes to ensure that they are in good condition before agreeing to install the appliances,” he said.

He added that a total of RM21,000 worth of water heaters and purifiers had been given away and this included the cost of installation and wiring for all homes.

“Joven is still open for more suggestions of homes from the public,” he said, adding that they could nominate a home by visiting www.joven-electric.com.

RKK, operated by the Society of St Vincent De Paul, is now equipped with four units of Joven water heaters and one water purifier.

Society of St Vincent De Paul president Emmanuel Culas said the children would enjoy bathing with the new water heaters.

“We are truly grateful to Joven for their generous contributions.

“We have recently moved into a new premises and the Joven water heaters will come in handy as they have been installed in every bathroom in our home,” he said.

The management and staff members of Joven also spent time with the children by treating them to some food and games.

Better-equipped to serve the people

The Star, Friday September 27, 2013 

By JADE CHAN
Photo by SAMUEL ONG

Family man: Ng tries to be at home on Monday nights and weekends.

JUGGLING multiple responsibilities is something Eddie Ng Tien Chee is familiar with, for he was pursuing a part-time degree course while serving as a councillor, before being elected as an assemblyman recently.

The Balakong assemblyman is a former Kajang Municipal councillor, who recently completed a Business Administration degree at Twintech University, Kuala Lumpur.

“I had always intended to further my education after coming to Kuala Lumpur in the late 1990s to work,” said the native of Batu Pahat, Johor.

“During my tenure as MPKj councillor, then DAP party whip Senator Chandra Mohan S. Thambirajah encouraged me to pursue a higher education and assisted me in searching for the right part-time course.”

Ng admitted that it was quite hard to juggle between council work and studies, particularly after having left school more than a decade ago.

At your service: Ng and Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) councillor Lee Kee Hiong removing illegal stickers in Bandar Mahkota Cheras. Ng’s experience as a councillor comes in handy now that he is an assemblyman. —filepic

 

“I was fortunate to have the assistance of many friends and party members, who helped me with my studies or represented me at certain events,” he said.

“Completing my degree is definitely a personal achievement, and I feel better-equipped with this paper qualification.”

The 35-year-old, who owns an electrical component wholesaler business, is married with three children aged eight, 10 and 12.

Although his homemaker wife manages and takes care of the family, Ng makes it a point to also spend time with them.

“I try to be at home on Monday nights and weekends. We usually have dinner together or go shopping.

“My family is proud of me and understands that certain sacrifices have to be made,” he said.

No matter how busy he is, Ng tries to squeeze in one to two hours of badminton a week as part of his regular exercise and recreation routine.

“I usually play near my housing area in Cheras. I play with a group of regulars who are just a phone call away,” he said.

Ng said the experience he gained during his almost four-year stint as an MPKj councillor come in handy now that he was an assemblyman.

“I know the right channels to direct complaints to, and can provide an answer as to whether it is possible for my office to address a certain issue or whether it comes under a different authority’s jurisdiction.

“I work closely with the MPKj councillors, particularly the five whose zones are located in Balakong, to get things done faster. Teamwork is important,” he said.

Ng believes that the rapport he built with the community and his familiarity with issues in Balakong and Kajang contributed to his win in the 13th General Election.

“My priorities as assemblyman now are to resolve some of the long-standing issues of floods, environment and infrastructure, as well as more current ones such as safety and security.

“Balakong Jaya Industrial Park, Kampung Baru Balakong and Kampung Baru Batu 11 are some of the more flood-prone areas. The issue has been almost resolved in Kampung Baru Balakong by upgrading the drainage system.

“Poor town planning is another concern. When plot ratio and density are not properly considered, coupled with poor existing infrastructure, these lead to problems such as traffic congestion and over-development.”

Besides tackling these issues, Ng hopes to promote Balakong and make it better known as more than just an industrial area.

Ng’s service centre is located at 1-12A, Tingkat 1, Jalan Kasturi 1, Taman Kasturi, Batu 11, Cheras, Selangor.

For details, call 03-9076 0331, fax 03-9082 0331 or e-mail eddieng1131@gmail.com

Assistant principal under probe for "balik India, China" remark

The Star, Thursday September 26, 2013 

By TASHNY SUKUMARAN

Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan.

PETALING JAYA: An assistant principal of a secondary school is being investigated for allegedly telling some students to "balik India, China."

Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan said the ministry was waiting for a report on the matter from officers handling the case.

"If indeed the allegations are true then the ministry will take appropriate action," he told The Star Online.

The teacher allegedly became angry after some students did not participate in singing the Negaraku during the weekly assembly at SMK Engku Husain in Semenyih, Kajang a few days ago.

School principal Abdul Ghafar Kunchi Mohd told The Star Online that the school had reported the matter to the ministry and the Selangor Education Department.

He said a meeting was held on Thursday over the matter with ministry representatives and the school's Parent-Teacher Association where both he and the assistant principal were present.

He declined to comment further saying that the matter was now in the ministry's hands.

PTA president Prof Datuk Ali Hasan lambasted teachers who felt it was acceptable to tell students to return to where their ancestors came from.

"In my opinion they need serious re-training to refresh their minds on acceptable teacher-student behaviour," he said.

Ali said that teachers and educators who were found to racialise education should remember their roles in guiding children.

"The spirit of bangsa Malaysia should be inculcated in them, so they will extend it to their students instead of dividing issues racially."

He said that educators who caused racial issues should be dealt with, regardless of position.

The incident comes shortly after several racially-toned incidents involving schools, including a case in August when a Shah Alam school principal was made to apologise to students for telling them to "go back to India, China or Indonesia".

Another case was that of SK Seri Pristana, where headmaster Mohd Nasir Mohd Noor was accused of being racist after non-Muslim students were found eating their meals in a changing room during the Ramadan month.

Official opening of RKK's new wing

The Herald Malaysia, September 27, 2013 

 

 By Eddie Joseph

The National Society of St Vincent de Paul (SSVP) Conference of the Holy Family Kajang in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur is set to celebrate yet another milestone in its 50 years of commitment in the Vincentian Apostolate founded by Blessed Frederic Ozanam (1813-1853).

The parish Conference established in 1963, in celebrating its golden anniversary, marks the official opening of the new wing of its 23-year old care project Rumah Keluarga Kami (RKK) — known earlier as Our Family Home — at 139-A Jalan Bukit in Kajang, Selangor.

The official opening is scheduled for September 29 immediately after the 9.00am Sunday Eucharistic celebration at the Church of the Holy Family.

A challenging project of the SSVP Conference which caters to the underprivileged, abused and abandoned children who are in need of shelter, food, education and love, the RM1.8 million donation-funded extension to the project is now set to address the growing number of admissions.

A non-profit entity, Rumah Keluarga Kami (RKK) is wholly owned and managed by Yayasan Ozanam – a Foundation of the National Society of St Vincent de Paul Malaysia and is incorporated under the Companies Commission of Malaysia.

Seven men threaten enforcement officers with machetes, swords

The Star, Thursday September 26, 2013

KUALA LUMPUR: Seven men threatened enforcement officers from the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry with sharp objects during a raid at a pirated video compact disc (VCD) storeroom in Taman Mahkota, Cheras here.

The men aged between 16 and 46 brandished daggers, machetes, samurai swords and rotan at 13 officers and told them to release six men who were detained at the premise during the raid at about 4.30pm on Wednesday.

The ministry's Putrajaya enforcement division special task force chief Fahmi Kasim said the ministry had no choice but to release the men.

 "However, patrol policemen, who arrived at the scene shortly after, nabbed two of the armed men while the enforcement officers managed to haul up two of those they had detained earlier," he added.

He said the men were arrested when one of their getaway vehicles knocked into a car and the ministry's vehicle. The others managed to escape.

A report on the incident was lodged at the Sungai Long police station, he added.

Fahmi said the premise was used as a pirated VCD packaging warehouse for distribution in Semenyih and Kajang.

He said 6,916 pirated VCDs, including the latest movies such as Adnan Sempit, KL Zombie and Iron Man 3, worth RM70,000, were seized in the raid.

Kajang police chief ACP Abdul Rashid Abdul Wahab confirmed receiving the report. - Bernama

10 men who have been terrorising women at homes nabbed

The Star, Thursday September 26, 2013

By AUSTIN CAMOENS

Hard evidence: Items seized from the suspects being displayed during the press conference at the Selangor police headquarters.

SHAH ALAM: For over a year, 10 masked men have been terrorising women at their homes, committing at least 302 armed robberies – almost one everyday.

Threatening their victims with parang, they would stake out the women as they went about their activities before striking in the early hours of the morning.

Their reign of terror came to an end on Tuesday when a police task force moved in on them at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur and arrested seven men, including a 19-year-old private college student.

Selangor police chief Senior Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Shukri Dahlan said the gang had robbed a 30-year-old housewife at her home in Taman Rimbun Hijau Country Heights in Kajang at around 6.45am after she came back from her morning exercise.

“She had left her house gate open when three masked men rushed in and attacked her. They ransacked her home and stole jewellery, cash and other valuables worth about RM40,000,” he said at the Selangor police headquarters here yesterday.

“The task force, which has been monitoring a group that had a similar modus operandi, decided to raid the hotel following the latest incident,” he said, adding that the police nabbed a man at the lobby of the hotel four hours after the incident.

The man, said DCP Mohd Shukri, then led police to two rooms on the seventh floor where they arrested six other men, aged between 19 and 31.

“We also seized an assortment of mobile phones, heavy duty bolt cutters, wigs, MyKads, drivers’ licences, jewellery, crow bars, 15 fake number plates and five cars belonging to the suspects,” he said.
Based on investigations, DCP Mohd Shukri said the gang members, working in threes, would park their cars in neighbourhoods and stake out the houses, looking for an opportunity to strike.

“They would target houses where the women were either home alone or have just come home,” he said, adding that the mastermind – a 31-year-old suspect – was also arrested.

SDCP Mohd Shukri said the man had recruited his 29-year-old brother, a mobile phone shop staff, into the gang. He, too, was arrested.

The police, he added, were now looking for the other gang members who were still at large.

“People need to be extra careful when they reach home or open their gates. Never give anyone the opportunity to take advantage and rob you,” he said, urging anyone with information to contact its hotline at 03-2052 9999.