Singaporeans: We spend more on other things

JOHOR BARU: Singaporeans are said to spend six times more on food, entertainment and shopping compared with what they pay for petrol.
A Singaporean who only wanted to be known as Tang, said although he would frequent the petrol station for cheaper petrol, he also comes in for shopping and entertainment that cost about RM200 to RM300 per trip.
“I come here every weekend to buy groceries as they are cheaper here,” said the 32-year-old salesman.
Tang said although he gets to fill in about RM50-RM80 of petrol each time before he returns to Singapore, he spent much more than that for other activities that benefited the businesses here.
Desmond Foo, 47, leaves the island republic for Johor Baru and Kulai, about four times weekly for work and leisure.
“On weekdays, I come in for work but I also take my family here for food and entertainment during weekends,” said the father of three.
He explained that he spent at least RM250 per trip depending on the length of stay and his expenditure would be much more if hotel lodging was required.
Foo said the petrol ban would certainly cause a lot of inconvenience to him, as he had to visit his factory in Kulai regularly.
“I come in for work about three times a week and Kulai is one of the areas where petrol sale is banned for foreign registered cars,” he said.
He added that while the Malaysian Government had the right to prohibit Singaporeans from enjoying the subsidised petrol, it would be good if foreigners were allowed to fill in petrol at market prices.
Foo said it was not the question of getting the cheaper petrol but a matter of convenience.
Hashim Sani from Bedok, Singapore said he had been driving into Johor Baru almost every week for the past seven years.
“I come here with my family and we will shop for groceries here,” said the 39-year-old technician adding that he also had his hair cut and car washed here, as it was cheaper.
The three are examples of the tens of millions who enter Malaysia from Singapore on a frequent basis.
Last year alone, about 22 million Singaporeans entered the country via the Second Link and the Causeway.

From the STAR 4th June 2008

Pinang Tree

The Pinang trees near the National Museum.

The Pinang trees at the Independence Square.

The Pinang trees at the King's Palace.

Have you ever wonder why in most of the touristic spots in Malaysia there bound to be the Pinang trees?

This is because the Pinang trees has the resemblance of the bunga manggar. Bunga in Malay means flower. Manggar in Malay means mangoes. During the Malay important ceremonies, the bunga manggar is a prominent item found in Malay wedding, VIP welcoming or sent offs, etc. The bunga manggar is an item whereby the Malays welcome the special guests. Hence, at the important touristic spots, the pinang which resembles the bunga manggar is a sign of welcoming the important guests to our country.

The Bunga Manggar procession of welcoming and sending off VIPs in a school.

The man made bunga manggar can be found in a few places in Kuala Lumpur for example at the Parliament building and at the Independence Square. During the night time, they are lit up and it gives a very colourful scenery. These man made bunga manggar is also to beautify the town and also to welcome the foreign guests to the tourists spots.

However, during the course of my research, I realised that there are so many varieties of the Pinang. Hence, I would like to clarify a few species here. Although they look a like, please becareful that we differentiate the species through its fruits, leaves and trunks.

Pinang Tree

Scientific Name : Areca Catechu

Normal Name : Pinang Tree

This plant is planted for its economic purposes in some countries for eg. Fiji, Hainan Island, Taiwan etc.

When the fruit is consumed, a person will feel drowsy because the fruit contains alcaloid like the arecaine and arecoline.

The state of Penang is named after this tree because of its abundance in the island.

In the wedding ceremony of the Malays and Indians, the sireh pinang is a symblic item which is a must have during this important ceremony. Leaves of betel, pinang fruit, gambir, black pepper, etc. will be placed in a box known as the tapak sireh in Malay.

The Bukit Pinang name is also the name for the capital of Kedah before the 18th century.

The False Pinang

Scientific Name : Areca Carpentaria

Normal Name : False Pinang

If observe careully, the fuits are red in colour. The actual pinang fruit is orange in colour. And the fruits are so much more smaller than the normal pinang.

The false pinang can be substitute with the real pinang but the taste of it is different.

Greenery In Malaysia

Upon recieving the foreign guests, my opening commentary about Malaysia will include a brief intoduction on the geographical background of Malaysia. And after that I will continue with the climate.

Then from here, I will usually tell the foreign tourists that due to our equatorial climate where we have ample of sunshine and rain throughout the year, we have more than twenty over thousand varieties of plants in Malaysia. As a self protection from the demanding foreign tourists, I will usually tell them because of the varietiness of the plants, please be understanding that I am a tour guide and I am not a botanist. So, please do not ask me about the plants. I will only let them know if I know of any special and unique plants.

Malaysians should feel very fortunate that we are so rich with the varietiness of plants in our country. But very unfortunately, most Malaysians took for granted for what we have in our country and very few of us will take the heed to know more about the plants.

Later, after being a tour guide where I communicate with the foreign guests most of the time, I found that they are very keen on the plants available in our country. I felt so ashame that when they asked me about the name of the trees, I could not answer them at all.

So, the foreign tourists are the eye opener for me to learn and appreciate more what we have in our beautiful country, Malaysia. Hence, from here onwards, I will post the plants which I come across from time to time.

When I was doing my research on palms or more popularly known among Malaysians as pinang, I was shocked on the varieties of pinang available in Malaysia. If we as the normal laymen who do not put in the effort, we can easily mistaken on the specicies available.

This is also the reason why the research has delayed my posting on plants here.

Tour Guide Extraordinaire

Meet Alan Danker, touted as one of the best tourist guides Malaysia has had.

He is credited with raising the standard of the guiding profession in the country — for which he has been recognised, nationally and internationally.

Because of his experience and knowledge as a tourist guide, he was approached by Tourism Development Corporation Malaysia and Mara to conduct tour-guiding classes for students enrolled in tourism courses.
Danker, who undertook a variety of guiding roles, including sightseeing coach tours, walk-abouts in towns and cities as well as visits to mosques, cathedrals, stately homes and museums, passed away quite suddenly, on Aug 30, shortly after his 51st birthday.

He is recognised as a guide who gave tourists an impressive image of Malaysia, being proficient in subjects like Malaysian history, geology and the monarchy — and even the gestation period of the orang utan.

He earned the "Best Tourist Guide" award from TDC Malaysia in 1993.

Born Alan Gerard Danker in Alor Star on Aug 27, 1957, his father Benedict was of Eurasian-Dutch descent who was an air traffic officer at the Alor Star airport and his mother a teacher at the local convent school. The family lived their early years in Kedah, before moving to Petaling Jaya.

A fragile baby at birth, Danker had a bone deformity in his sternum. It would have been fatal if he took a hard blow or knock around his rib cage. Corrective surgery was done, at the Assunta Hospital in PJ, when he turned five.

He schooled at the La Salle Christian Brothers school in PJ, from primary until Form Five, and was an outstanding student, a class monitor during his junior years and a prefect in his senior years. His was also a commanding voice in the school's Literary and Debating Society.

Outside school, he was involved in church activities, serving as an altar boy during his teens, a youth choir master and a member of the Assumption Parish Youth Club. He was a church warden in his later years.

On completing his education, Danker joined the Kuala Lumpur Equatorial Hotel for a few years before becoming leader of a three-piece Country and Western band called The Moonshiners.
They performed at various hotels and resorts around Malaysia in the Eighties. The exposure gained from going places and meeting foreign tourists gave him the confidence to become a tour guide, a job he felt he was cut out for.

It was during his rounds as a musician that he met Cindy Cecelia Lai, whom he married on Jan 6, 1990. They have two girls, Bianca Rowena and Helena Geraldine — the second named after his schoolteacher mother Helen Ivy Hayden, who died on July 7 (see A Life Remembered, Aug 5).
Though being a tourist guide kept him away from home for long periods, Danker never failed to spend time with his family on his days off.

Birthdays of family members and Christmas were occasions for celebration, besides Chinese New Year, at his Balakong home.

Danker spent his 51st birthday with his family in Malacca. Two days later, at home during lunch on Aug 29, he suffered hemorrhaging of the brain. He slipped into a coma from which he never gained consciousness, and passed away the next day.

Danker was one of nature's gentlemen, emanating kindness, courtesy and humour. Above all. he was a family man who had many friends, local, national and worldwide.

Sources : The Malay Mail 11th Sept 2008

P/S : Mr. Alan Danker was my model tour guide for the Kuala Lumpur city tour when I took my tour guide course in the year 1993. This is a special dedication for someone and tour guide super super extraordinaire. A real pity that Malaysia lost one of its talents...

Super VIP Group ( Guang Dong )

On the 10th Sept 2009 to 14th Sept 2009 I was assigned to take a group from Guang Dong. Following is their itinerary:

10th Sept Arrival from Hanoi at 1.20pm KLIA. Lunch. Transfer to Istana Hotel.
11th Sept Lunch. KL City tour. Dinner.
12th Sept Send the group for meeting at Shangri La hotel at 9am. Transfer back to Istana Hotel and dinner.
13th Sept Lunch. Transfer to Melaka Renaissance hotel. Dinner.
14th Sept Melaka City tour. Lunch and transfer to Tuas, Singapore at 5pm.

No of pax : 8 + 1 ( Using a whole 40 seater tourists bus )

Here I would like to share my experience with these so called Super VIP tourists from Guang Dong, China...

Firstly, for your information, I was having fever from the day I recieved the guests till the final day I sent off the guests. It is very important for tour guides to know that once we are assigned to a group, we are attached to the group and we should take the responsibility no matter we are in what kind of situation. So, I was down with fever but still I have to lead the group.

On the first day, my travel agent boss and I were all the way in the KLIA terminal to recieve these Super VIP guests. Upon recieving them, the guests are sent to the 5th floor Eden restaurant for their lunch. After lunch, I have to transfer them to the Istana hotel.

While in the bus on the way to the hotel, as usual, I am giving my introductory commentary on Malaysia generally. Then suddenly, the boss of this group, put up both legs right on top of the front seat. And worst of all, using his fingers to dig into his nose. ( A good tolerance for tour guides... a very common bad habit of China tourists where they like to take off their shoes and put up their legs on right on top of the seat. )

At night, sent the group for dinner. Only 2 of the tourists turned up for the dinner. I was told the others were having their own arrangements since they have their friends entertaining them here. While at the dinner, I was told by the tour leader that the boss loves to eat salted fish. So, if possible try to arrange salted fish for every meal.

From here, I realised that in most of our Chinese restaurants, it is rather difficult to get salted fish as part of the meal. Seems that hardly Chinese will go for salted fish for the meals.

The next day, I was early to prepare to take the VIP's for lunch and city tour. Only 3 of the guests and my tour leader turned up. So, I sent them for lunch.

After lunch, I was told they did not want to go for city tour. I have to send them to KLCC and wait for them there. Then send one of them to Shangrila for a short meeting and send the rest back to the hotel. Then wait for information for dinner.

While waiting for the group for dinner, I was told by my tour leader, I have to arrange part of the guests to go for dinner at Seremban and the boss for dinner at Concorde hotel. I told the tour leader, I can only arrange one group whereby the other group has to arrange it himself.

Finally, it was decided that I have to send the group to Seremban for dinner and the boss will go to Concorde hotel himself. The guests were having dinner at Seremban and we reached hotel only at about 11pm.

The next day, 8.30am started the journey to Shangrilan for the meeting. Everyone was very punctual. I was told by the tour leader I have to standby at 11.30am to send the boss to the hotel to rest.

But after waiting and waiting, at 1pm, the tour leader called and asked me to send them back to the hotel. At 2.30pm, again got to send them back to the Shangrila. Then at 3.30pm send them back to Istana hotel again. And finally wait for instruction on what time to take them for the dinner.

Later, I was told by the tour leader that I have to make arrangements for the boss to have dinner at One World hotel and also dinner for the rest of the guests.

I had a discussion with my travel agent boss. It was agreed that the bus driver will send the boss and tour leader to One World hotel whereby I will use my car to send the rest of the guests for dinner.

The boss supposed to have dinner at One World at 7.30pm. I have told the tour leader, its best to be early at 5.30pm to start the journey there. But my tour leader insisted its too early and she did not want that the boss reaching there too early. I told her it will be very jam and its far away from the hotel. But she insisted on going at 6pm.

Then, at 7.30 suddenly I recieved a phone call from my tour leader asking me whether the driver know the direction to the hotel. And the driver told me it is terible jam every where and he could do nothing about it. The tour leader was blaming me for not organising it properly for her. I was very angry for getting the blame.

Later I was told by the tour leader, the boss is not going to Melaka with us. He has a dinner in KL and he will need transportation from KL to Melaka. So, I was asked to make the arrangement.

The next day, while waiting to take them for lunch, suddenly the boss said that he need not transportation arrangement from KL to Melaka. I told the tour leader to better make sure of this because once the transportation is cancelled, I cant help him any more at the very last minute. The tour leader told me to give her another hour before deciding on this matter.

So, while having lunch, the tour leader later told me the boss decide to have the arranged transportation from KL to Melaka again.

The boss did not join us to Melaka. Only 5 tour members joined us. One of the tour members has gone back to Guang Dong at the last minute. While on the way to Melaka, we made a trip to Putrajaya.

Reached Melaka at about 5pm. Then took the group for dinner at Nyonya Suan restaurant. Wanted to get something special for them, so I thought its good that I can arrange a baba and nyonya food for them.

Too bad that the tourists do not really enjoy the food. The good thing is that they told me that they are not used to the food. ( M saying this is because if its for those normal China tourists they will be saying the food is not tasty. But maybe because these tourists are more exposed and travelled a lot, they were saying the proper thing that is they are not used to the food. )

However, luckily that upon their requests, the owner of the restaurant managed to prepare a big bowl of porridge and salted fish for them. So, they basically enjoyed this simple meal.

While on the way back to the hotel, the assistant boss inquired me if I can make arrangement for him to play golf. I was told by the hotel staff I can only find out from the concierge captain at 7am the next morning.

So, I have no choice, arranged my own 7am morning call. Then I personnally went down to look for the concierge captain to inquire about the golfing. I was told that it is Sunday so I cant make any golfing arrangement. I waited till 7.30am and called up the assistant boss to inform him that I am sorry that I cant make the golfing arrangement.

At about 9am, I suddenly recieved a phone call from the concierge requesting me to call up the assistant boss to inform him that the golfing arrangement cannot be made. ( It is very usual of the China tourists for not believing tour guides even though we have put in the effort to make the arrangement for them. They will some way some how try to make arrangement on their own. )

The final day, we are going for Melaka city tour and then transfer them to Singapore.

When we were stopping our bus near the Sam Poh temple, everyone was waiting for the boss to make a decision whether to tour the temple. Finally, the boss decided to get down to have a look on what is there in the temple.

Even though, I tried hard to give commentary about the temple and about Cheng Ho, but the boss and the rest just refused to follow. I have to follow them instead. I had a hard time to explain to them on what is there in the temple.

When we reached at the red house, the boss decided not to go for the Dutch buildings tour. So, we went for lunch at the Beijing Restaurant.

While having lunch, one of the tour members told me that the boss is not feeling well. The boss needs to look for a Chinese medical shop to buy some medicine. I told him I will try my best and it is not easy as it is Sunday because most of the shops are closed.

So after lunch, I told the driver to drive to Jalan Bunga Raya to see if there is any Chinese medical shop available. While driving slowly, I finally found there is one Chinese medical shop open.

So, the bus was stopping by the road side and I follow the boss to go to the medical shop. The boss just took his own sweet time to list down the herbal and did not even bother if the bus is blocking the rest of the vehicle. Finally, I have no choice but to call up the driver to ask him to make one round.

The businessman packed the medicine as requested by the boss. And we started our journey to Singapore. We finally reached Singapore at 5.30pm.

Please take note that for such VVIP China groups needs lots of tolerance on the part of the tour guides.

The guests will behave as if they are the kings and are very demanding. Their requests and needs changed all the time.

All the guests are really afraid of the boss. They will all bow and only listen to the boss. As a foreigner, you will be very surprised the way the subordinates treat the boss. They are so afraid of the boss and meet every demand of their boss.

Its one of a torturous group for me as a tour guide to tolerate the ever changing wants and needs of these guests. The five days with them is just like years with them and the time is so difficult to past compared to the normal group.

However, finally I am happy that I finally achieved to send them to Singapore happily without any bad incidence.

Facts On Wi-Fi

While during the course of our guiding, from time to time tourists bound to ask us " Where can I surf the internet? "

So, its a good news for the tourists in Kuala Lumpur...

Sources : The Malay Mail September 16, 2008 Categories: News

Wi-Fi is the name of a popular wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed Internet and network connections.

Wi-Fi works with no physical wired connection between sender and receiver by using radio frequency (RF) technology, a frequency within the electromagnetic spectrum associated with radio wave propagation. (source: http://www.webopedia.com/)

What is Wireless@KL?

KL Wireless Metropolitan Project, Wireless@KL is one of the pioneer projects initiated by DBKL and MCMC under the ‘Klang Valley Broadband Push’ (KVB90) to transform Kuala Lumpur into a wireless city. It is also in line with Kuala Lumpur Structural Plan 2020 to make Kuala Lumpur a world-class city.

What does Wireless@KL offer?

Wireless@KL offers you FREE access to the Internet via wireless broadband service at speeds of up to 512 kilobits per second (kbps) and at a maximum data usage (download/upload) of 500MB per month.

Where can I access Wireless@KL?

There will be 1,500 Wi-Fi APs (Access Points) around the city in commercial areas, offices, residential areas, community centres and other public areas. It aims to provide 80 per cent coverage of Kuala Lumpur, and it will be available for free for the first two years. Please refer to the coverage section for the list of outlets.

How do I access the service?

All you need to do is be in a Wireless@KL hotspot. You then have to switch on the wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) appliance which is readily available on your laptop. You then connect to the Wireless@KL network and sign up. It’s as simple as that.

What do I need to do to access the Wireless@KL Network?

Users are required to register to obtain their free account. Once registered, users need to login using their chosen username and password.

What benefits do I get by registering myself at Wireless@KL?

Users would able to surf the Internet for free. Users would also be able to access the Wireless@KL portal where you’ll find useful information on where to go around KL city, the latest news on KL happenings and much more.

If I go to a private premise like a restaurant, how do I get the service? Is it readily available or depends on the owner?

If the food and beverage outlet is a Wireless@KL partner, users will be able to utilise the service. All a user needs is a notebook enabled with WiFi and you can get Internet access for free.

Can I access it on a bus on the journey back home or on a moving transport?

No. Wireless@KL is a service available only in hotspot areas, which means areas where there are APs installed and activated.

How far does the Wi-Fi provide the coverage from the modem?

WiFi provides coverage to an average radius of 50metres.

How do private premises provide the service? Do they have to pay to P-1 or City Hall or otherwise?

As Wireless@KL is a community project, no charges will be incurred by outlets which want to be a part of the project. Our basic criterion to install the Wireless@KL APs is it has to be a public area where people can sit and surf, eg hospital waiting areas, lobby of complexes, F&B outlets, playgrounds and parks.

Spotlight: Fasting in the heart and mind

Nik Mustapha Nik Hassan, IKIM deputy director-general

Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month, is two weeks in, and two weeks away from its end. Around the world, nearly a billion healthy Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn till dusk, for one month. But where is the virtue in going without food and drink? And what is the great lesson that Muslims are supposed to learn from all this? ANIZA DAMIS finds out

A MOTHER is slaving over the kitchen stove, trying to prepare a delicious meal for her family. A businessman is bent over his desk, studying hard for an examination on marketing strategies to improve his business. An engineer is going over the details of a construction thoroughly, making sure that the building will be strong and safe. A doctor is going over a patient's symptoms once again, trying to identify the illness to cure the patient.

What do these people have in common? They are all abstaining from food and drink during Ramadan, and trying to be good Muslims.

All are fulfilling a religious virtue: Of being very human, yet trying to be the best that a human can be.This is what the end product of the fasting month should be.

Contrary to popular misunderstanding, the purpose of fasting is not just to appreciate what life must be like for poor people who cannot afford food. Rather, it is about man ruling over his base desires, instead of being ruled by them, says Institute of Islamic Understanding (Ikim) deputy director-general Nik Mustapha Nik Hassan.

"There are two faculties that exist within the nature of man which do not change: the angelic faculty and the bestial faculty. The bestial part is lust -- for food, drink, material possessions, sex.

"Fasting is spiritual training to strengthen the angelic part of man."

But being "angelic" doesn't mean that a person shouldn't enjoy life, Nik Mustapha says, as Islam is very much about living in this world. So, for instance, after the breaking of fast at the end of the day, a person is allowed to eat, drink, and engage in sexual congress with his or her spouse.

"The belief that the fasting month is about suppressing the desires is wrong. Fasting teaches you to discipline -- not suppress -- your desires.

"Desire is a very human thing. And it never goes away. But it is not supposed to direct how you live your life." Fasting, Nik Mustapha stresses, goes beyond not taking food and drink.

"You have to minimise the eyes, mouth, ears, etc, from all evil things."

As recounted by Bukhari, Prophet Muhammad said, 'God has no need for man to go without food and drink, who cannot shun evil and falsehood even during a fast'.

"For Muslims, all activities, even the mundane ones, should be guided by the ethics and morality of Islam.

But to achieve this moral and ethical part, a person cannot do it unless he or she has a close relationship with God, Nik Mustapha says.

"You can talk about integrity, legal procedure, anti-corruption, etc; but if you do not have a close relationship with God, it's an impossible task.

"Even when working, in whatever capacity, one does it to satisfy God. And to satisfy God means to achieve excellence.

"Another saying of the prophet, as narrated by Al-Baihaqi, illustrates this point: "Indeed, Allah loves that when you do a job, you do it perfectly."

Thus, in doing business, for instance, a businessman should aim to make a profit by embarking on efficiency and productivity, including pursuing education that contributes to making the person understand business opportunities.

But the businessman must also subscribe to ethical practices. He should not manipulate or exploit others.

"So, it's very wrong to be fasting and at the same time be very corrupt. But if people fast with the understanding that they are supposed to improve their discipline, then hopefully they will minimise their doing of bad deeds."

And, although this doesn't mean that a person will be successful in avoiding all bad things, learning to minimise irreligious activities is a very important practice. It is because of this that the fasting month is repeated every year because man, by nature, is forgetful, says Nik Mustapha.

But beyond the individual, fasting, if observed correctly, is also good for the economy.

Although some man hours is affected by Ramadan, Nik Mustapha says this is made up for by the discipline employees acquire during this month.

"You don't measure productivity over a month; you measure it over a year.

"So, when you measure it in a year, the discipline that employees acquired during Ramadan -- honesty, industry, mutual help and assistance -- should also extend to the other months.

"Productivity is not measured by how many hours you put in, but by how much you produce.

"It is in the fasting month that people should take the opportunity to improve their understanding of work and discipline, and try to achieve excellence.

"Whether it is to your family, neighbours or colleagues -- be they Muslims or non-Muslims -- as well as the animals and the environment, you must give serious thought to your contributions.

"You should ask yourself: "Am I serious in whatever profession I'm in?' "And since the Quran is the guide for Muslims, they should not only recite the Quran but should strive to read it, contemplate on it, and understand it.

"If a person chooses to concentrate on only one chapter from the Quran for this month and tries to thoroughly understand what it means and how it applies to his or her life, that's good enough.

"The Quran should be the guidance: How should I embark on this business (called life)?"

Sources : NST 14th Sept 2009

Preparations For Next Year (Hungry Ghost Festival)

Preparations for next year

The Ghost Festival is a huge event, and devotees take the task of preparing for it very seriously.

Head Committee for 2008, Lim Leong Onn, 45, said that a committee is formed every year just for the festival to decide on event mechanics such as programme, decorations and donations.

The head is not nominated through votes but by a ritual that seeks permission from the gods. Each person who wants to try for the post will be given two shen bei, wooden half-moons with two surfaces.

The shen bei are thrown to determine the next head. One open and one close shen bei denotes “yes”, two open shen bei means “go again”, and two close shen bei means “you are out”.

The person who has the most number of one open and one close shen bei will be the next head for 2009’s festival.

The person is said to be fated to take up the task. As it turns out, Lim’s wife, Kuan Lai Chee, managed to get the most number of desired throws, meaning she will take over as the head for next year’s celebrations.

A Keen Observer (Hungry Ghost Festival)

Stories by JOLEEN LUNJEW

With the Gates of Hell closed again, the Hungry Ghost month has come to an end but did you really understand what went on during that time?

You might have noticed elaborate set-ups along the streets or around temples with food offerings laid out in a feast in front of huge paper effigies the whole of last month. You might have asked about it only to be reprimanded with warnings not to ask so many questions.

For superstitious Asians, provoke not, and you shall be left alone.

The Hungry Ghost month is, the Chinese believe, when the gates of hell open and spirits are allowed to roam in our world.

It can be a creepy and frightening time for those who don’t understand the meaning behind the festival but the explanations are actually quite rational. And fascinating.

Intrigued by the festival, I was extremely excited when a friend invited me to witness the ceremony at Sin Leng Tan Temple, a Taoist temple in Jalan Ipoh.

He said different temples conduct their ceremonies differently; it all depends on the teachings of the temple master.











The spirit of Tua Pek Kong, a Chinese God, in invited by a medium to ensure that all goes well during the ceremony at Sin Leng Tan Temple.

Poh Toh

Poh Toh celebrations, also known as Zhong Yuen Jie, are quite common throughout Malaysia and usually involves appeasing the spirits with food, material offerings and entertainment.
As I stepped into the temple, I was taken aback by the total transformation made to accommodate the ceremony.

A paper effigy of Poh Toh Kong (also known as Tua Si Yah), or the God of Hades, who escorts the souls into our world, sits majestically in the centre flanked by gold and silver mountains and bridges on both sides that symbolise the link between our worlds.

The Horse and Bull General and the White (Tua Pek) and Black (Dee Pek) General, all keepers of the gates, are on his left and right. Five ghost soldiers are also on standby to keep an eye on the spirits.

A feast had been laid out in front of Poh Toh Kong. A whole roasted pig was the centrepiece, with roasted chicken, duck, fried fish, biscuits, fruits, packet drinks, cans of beer, bags of rice, bottles of oil and other goodies surrounding it.

Towards the sides, tables had been laid out with food and drinks, and there was even a mahjong set complete with hell notes. Each table had chairs with yellow paper and joss sticks, which meant it was reserved for the spirits.

There was an abundance of paper offerings — cheongsam, suits, baby clothes, shoes, watches, electronics goods like laptops and mobile phones, and even vehicles like cars, scooters and boats.










Gifts for the spirits include clothes....

Nearer to the temple, people were watching a movie on a giant projector screen but what fascinated me the most was the two front rows, which were vacant with yellow paper stuck on the seats. These were reserved for the spirits.

Temple head master C. F. Lim explained that the festival came about because there was once a lady who was very cruel to beggars and refused to give them any food. When she died, she was punished in hell to starve with a ball of fire in her throat which burnt food to ashes before it reached her stomach.

Her son, Mu Lian, a disciple of Buddha, went down to hell to find her and tried to give her food but with no success.

He consulted Buddha for help and was told to find masters from 10 directions to chant prayers and provide food offerings to the departed souls on the 15th day of the seventh month. Ever since then, people have been following this tradition.

“The festival is held for the spirits around this area. It is actually for all kinds of spirits but the ones who died hungry are the ones who cause the most havoc when they come to our world because they want to eat anything and everything. A lot of food is offered to these spirits so that they will leave the living alone and not disturb us.










...a mahjong set and...

“The rest of the spirits can enjoy the clothes, entertainment and other material offerings. There are even sweets for the child spirits. Some might have had a bad death and are still angry and want to harm the living. The offerings are hoped to calm and appease them,” said Master Lim.

Nearby, a man was dressed like a Chinese god in blue robes, complete with a hat and staff.

Although he looked young, his demeanour suggested otherwise. He walked around hunched, supporting his weight on his staff, and stroking his non-existent beard.

According to temple committee member Apple Chan, 32, the man was a temple medium who had invited the spirit of Tua Pek Kong, a god, to enter his body to oversee the ceremony.

Devotees would seek his advice on ceremonial concerns such as if the food was enough for all the spirits, if they needed more sweets because there were more child spirits or if there were enough hell notes to go around.

Apparently, 11pm is midnight for the Chinese, and it was when everyone helped to bring the entire display of paper effigies and items to a big field behind the temple to be burnt.

Master Lim chanted and rang a bell to reduce the sins of the souls. The longer the bell is rung, the more sins are absolved. The burning of all the paper effigies symbolises the return of the gods to the other world.











...a Mercedes with a road tax disc (which won second place in a Magnum draw the next day). — KATHY TAN & JOLEEN LUNJEW

Graveyard shift

Going to the cemetery to give offerings to forgotten souls is not very common in Malaysia but it is widely practised in Singapore.

“People die everyday, some in tragic deaths, some in painful deaths. Murder and accident victims are not ready for death, and their souls are lost in this world as they do not know what to do.

“We give offerings at the cemetery to these lost souls and also to the souls who have been forgotten or neglected by their relatives. The ceremony is to assist them in finding direction and helping them go where they are supposed to go,” said Master Lim.
He said that there was another reason why they conducted this ceremony.

“The Chinese believe in yin and yang, of two contrasting forces that balance the world. Heaven gods are the yang, and Earth/Hell gods are the yin. We believe in praying equally to both Heaven and Earth, and the cemetery is a yin place where most souls roam.”

Heading to a Chinese cemetery in Sungai Besi close to midnight was quite an experience. The place was dark and eerie, with looming headstones marking the graves. To make things worse, the graves were extremely disorganised and you never knew if you were stepping on someone’s grave.

We were not allowed to switch on our flashlights as the spirits are said to be attracted to the light, so we had to tread very carefully as it would be very bad luck if we were to fall into an open grave.

A huge paper ship, a paper community condo with 120 rooms, a paper Mercedes and various other paper offerings were brought up to the cemetery.

Devotees went around the graveyard with joss sticks to invite the spirits down for the ceremony. We were asked to remain within the circle of candles after that, as Master Lim didn’t want us to be disturbed by the spirits roaming around the area.

Master Lim led the ceremony with chants and prayers, ringing his bell the whole time, for the redemption of these souls. After the rituals were over, we were all given a piece of paper, a kind of passport to the other world. Everyone had to burn the papers and light the pile of offerings with it.

Once the fire was lit, we were encouraged to take as many photos as possible that we might perchance capture “something” in the fire. Devotes believe that the spirits will return the favour by giving us wealth through hidden winning lottery numbers.

The expiry date on the paper Mercedes’s road tax was 2020 and, true enough, the number came out second place in the Magnum draw the very next day!

Sources : The Star Saturday September 6, 2008

Rumah Panjang

The Rumah Panjang Penguang Sungai Banyok is the first longhouse in Sarawak to be equipped with a solar energy system by the Federal Government. The house in Batang Igan Mukah, Sibu, is home to 216 families. The solar panels, which cost RM30,000 per unit, are among the facilities provided for under the rural development project in Budget 2009, which removed import duties and sales tax on solar photovoltaic equipment and on local solar heating systems.

Sources : NST 2nd Sept 2008

News - Eye of Malaysia

Eye on Malaysia to be relocated to Malacca

By THO XIN YI
Photos by BRIAN MOH

IF YOU visit Taman Tasik Titiwangsa in Kuala Lumpur at night from now on, you will be sure to feel a sense of emptiness. Why?

There is a vacuum there now that the lights of the iconic Eye on Malaysia at the lake garden are switched off following the final day of its operation there on Merdeka Day.

The 60m-high Ferris wheel had been operating at the Taman Titiwangsa since January last year, but it will be dismantled and relocated to Malacca this week.

According to Widyanty Yusope, the executive director of MST AD Suria Sdn Bhd, the operator of the Eye on Malaysia, the structure was originally put up in conjunction of the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 (VMY’07), but its operation was extended to Aug 31 this year, following popular demand.

“With the conclusion of the VMY’07, our contract has also come to an end,” Widyanty said.
Starting on Thursday: Cross explaining the dismantling process of the Ferris wheel.

“We are sad to leave Lake Titiwangsa,” MST AD Suria events marketing executive Rahyu Waris said..

Throughout the 20 months at Lake Titiwangsa, the Ferris wheel with 42 gondolas had attracted nearly 1.8 million visitors.

The once quiet Taman Titiwangsa was bustling with activities following the setting up of the tourist attraction, which took visitors up in the air to view the breathtaking Kuala Lumpur skyline during the 12-minute ride.

Next to the wheel, there was an Eye Cafe for visitors to enjoy a cuppa beside the scenic lake.

The dismantling work will start on Thursday, led by four engineers from the German-Swiss manufacturer and assisted by 16 local workers.

“Only the manufacturer’s engineers and technicians know how to dismantle each part of the giant wheel and how to specially load the parts into the containers,” operations manager Graeme Cross said.

The first few steps of the dismantling process involve clearing up the walkway where visitors queued up to get on to the Ferris wheel, and taking down the fencing and entrance roof.

“After clearing the loading base, the gondolas will be taken off, followed by the storm bars, rim beams, spokes, globes and finally the axle,” Cross said.

“Given the optimum conditions, including fair weather, the work will be completed within six days. All the parts will be transported to Malacca, while the steel pins currently holding the parts together will be replaced with new ones,” he said.

In the historical city, the structure will be permanently installed at Kota Laksamana at the Malacca River mouth, close to the Straits of Malacca.

“It will be a 1.6ha leisure park equipped with a water screen, two restaurants and a space exhibition. We will develop it in three phases,” Widyanty said.

The structures at the park, according to her, will be a combination of modern and traditional buildings.

“It will be opened to the public in October and we target to have 700,000 visitors for the first year there,” Widyanty said.