Brew your own

MACROBIOTIC counsellor June Lim who runs Woods Macrobiotics in Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur, shares a recipe for a dragon fruit digestive tonic.

“This enzymatic digestive tonic has no added sugar, so no alcohol is produced during the fermentation process. The tonic is an antioxidant,” says Lim, who conducts classes on enzymatic nutrition and alcohol-free enzyme preparation.

Lim claims that the tonic helps to improve digestion, strengthen the immune function, improve cell function, discharge waste from the body, improve skin condition and prevent fungal and yeast growth.

Dragon Fruit Enzymatic Digestive Tonic

Makes 4-5 servings

Ingredients
1 medium-sized dragon fruit (organic)
500ml filtered water, boiled and cooled

Equipment
A 1-litre wide-mouth glass jar with lid
A 3-litre stainless steel pot

Method

Clean work-table and wash hands clean before starting work.

1. Sterilise the glass jar and lid by putting water in and boiling over stove for a few minutes.

2. Remove from fire and air-dry.

3. Rinse and peel dragon fruit.

4. Transfer to a mixing bowl.

5. Use a wooden pestle and crush the dragon fruit into tiny pieces.

6. Transfer to the sterilised glass jar.

7. Add the boiled and cooled water.

8. Cover with lid and screw tight.

9. Refrigerate for three days in the refrigerator.

10. Remove from the refrigerator and leave in a cool and clean place for 2-3 days to culture the microorganism.

11. The liquid will taste sourish when the carbohydrate in the dragon fruit is tranformed by the microorganism and developed naturally into beneficial acids which help strengthen the intestinal flora to improve digestion.

12. Take about 100ml two times a day before meal. Pulps can also be taken together.

13. Refrigerate the balance in the refrigerator.

14. Consume within 3-4 days for best result.

For enquiries (03-2287 0959 / info@macrobiotics-malaysia.com / www.macrobiotics-malaysia.com).

Eggs-traordinary’ lesson for kindy kids

GEORGE TOWN: A group of pre-schoolers squealed excitedly when an egg seemed to magically “stand” on its end.

The Learning Garden Kindergarten kids were conducting an experiment to see if it was true that the strange phenomenon could only occur during the Chinese Bak Chang Festival.

The festival, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, usually coincides with the summer solstice. It is also the longest day of the year.

Six-year-old Lois Tolley said she was surprised to see the egg “stand” and would try it at home.

Kindergarten director Chow Chee Keong said the egg experiment was organised to expose children to local culture and astronomy.

“This egg experiment was held to celebrate the Bak Chang Festival but we also explained the reason behind the phenomenon,” said Chow, who is also the Penang Pre-school Association president.

Universiti Sains Malaysia Astronomy Club academic advisor Dr Chong Hon Yew said the fifth day of the fifth lunar month was “just like any other day”.

“Even during a total lunar and solar eclipse when the earth, moon and sun are perfectly aligned, the difference in gravity is insignificant.

“Yesterday, none of these were aligned but even if they were, Newton’s Law of Gravity states that it wouldn’t affect the raw egg’s balance,” he said, adding that a raw egg can stand on its end at any time of the year.

“Eggs with a rougher shell surface are easier to balance,” he said, adding that the Chinese myth has inspired many youngsters to get involved in astronomy.

“When they try the egg experiment during the Bak Chang Festival, they start asking questions about gravity and astronomy, which is a good thing,” he said.

Passion for pies

By FARIDAH BEGUM
Photos by RICKY LAI

He started out by eating them, ended up making them, and now this accountant has carved a name for himself as the hottest pieman around.

AS an accountant, Thomas Romal had the luxury of travelling and living in different cities around the world.

And wherever he went, he always took in the sights and foods of the places where he sometimes stayed for long stretches of time.

Say pie: Thomas Romal is having the time of his life, making and selling pies.

It was during his last posting in New Zealand, about a decade ago, that he was introduced to the ritual of eating pies as snacks every other day.

Given his ease in the kitchen, it was just a matter of time before he started making and eating his own pies.

He worked on improving the pastries and fillings and before long he was making pies not only for personal consumption but also for sharing with friends and neighbours.

While in Australia, he saw a notice about a pie franchise. Romal, who was then preparing to come back to Malaysia, decided that it could be the ideal thing to break the monotonous cycle of dealing with figures.

He met the Australian behind the set-up and they talked about possibilities of setting up a pie production company in Asia.

To the Australian, however, Asia meant China so he went on to suggest that both of them each pitch in AUS$1mil and get the wheels of their plan moving.

Romal explained that he meant Malaysia, and even as he said that, he felt a sense of apprehension as to whether Malaysians would actually take to pies.

“Well, everything starts with a dream and if it fails, I can only say I did try,” he said when met at his outlet in the Hartamas Shopping Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

On Sept 1, 2004, he put his plans into action. He began making pies in his kitchen and supplying them to several outlets in the capital.

He also tried to sell them himself at the Mont Kiara flea market on weekends.

“It was really funny seeing people buying several pies and eating them in front of the stall. I would approach them and ask how the pie was.

“They would look at me strangely but open up when I say: ‘Sorry to bother you but I am Mr Pieman’,” he said with a chuckle.

That strategy won fans over, enabling him to open his own pie outlets at the Hartamas Shopping Centre, Mid Valley Megamall, Sunway Pyramid and One Utama.

Romal still supplies pies to other cafes and restaurants although he currently has four outlets and is preparing to open another soon in the KL city centre.

His operations begin at 3am and the last batch of pies are on the road to the outlets by 10am.

The pies are baked fresh daily and if there are any leftovers at the end of the day, they are destroyed.

“Here’s a tip to knowing if you are eating a fresh pie or not: If it’s fresh, the juices or gravy in the filling will flow or drip when you bite into the pie. If they don’t, then it is not fresh,” he said.

There are chicken, beef, vegetable or apple pies to choose from, and these are available in different sizes. There are big pies that would make excellent lunches or dinners with a side of salad and also an array of little pot pies that make great snacks.

Romal also makes potato-top pies or taewas, smaller versions of cottage pies.

Romal also obliges customers’ orders for big pies. He can be contacted at TRC Resources Sdn Bhd, 11-1, Jalan SS 5A/11, Kelana Jaya, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor (Tel: 03-7874 2581).

A humble beginning for late tycoon

By NG SU-ANN

MANY of the rich and famous have humble beginnings in the pre-war houses of inner city George Town in Penang.

Among them is the late business tycoon Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew who was a teenager when he arrived in Penang in a small boat from China in 1924.

According to local historian Datuk Khoo Keat Siew, Loh, who could speak only Hok- kien and had virtually no formal education, worked as an apprentice car mechanic upon his arrival in Penang.

"The teenager stayed in a coolie keng (workers' quarters) at 4, Katz Street.

"Loh supplemented his income by washing buses at nights for a meagre 10 sen per vehicle," Khoo said.

4 Katz Street, which was once a coolie 'keng' where Loh lived.

This young man, who was destined to make something out of his life, was not just hardworking but thrifty. He saved almost every sen that he earned, he said.

Many old timers described Loh as a man with fore- sight and a superb memory. Because of his inability to read and write, he depended a lot on his memory.

His adventurous and diligent nature eventually led to his rise to fame and fortune. Also, one must not forget the legacy he left behind as the man responsible for bringing the Honda motorcycles to Malaysia.

After the workers' quarters were closed down, the double-storey house was rented out to several tenants.

The current one is grandmother Gan Ai Tee, 82, who lives there with her two sons.

"In the 1930s, my father brought the family from Singa-pore to live in Penang. We were staying a few doors away from the coolie keng but I don't remember meeting Loh," she recalled.

Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Lee Hack Teik said: "Such inspiring stories of locals who started out from scratch should spur our youths of today to make something out of their lives.

"They may come from destitute families but bear in mind, self-determination and endurance are the keys for one to choot tau (make it big).

"When we fail, remember to get up and try again. Those who don't give up easily are the ones who are likely to triumph at the end."

He said many entrepre-nuers may now be living in mansions and bungalows but they had once lived in the far humbler quarters of inner city George Town.

Apart from Loh, other rags-to-riches examples include Yew Lean Foundry's founder Loh Eng Kim who lived in Noordin Street Ghaut during his youth while manufacturer Teoh Guan Lee used to reside in Weld Quay , he added.

Botanic Gardens ride

By CHRISTINA CHIN

IF all goes well, the Penang Botanic Gardens will soon have a new attraction - an environmental-friendly mini-tram to take people for a ride around the green enclave.

Tram operator Richard Wong told The Star that four mini trams would run at the oldest botanical garden in the country from Wed-nesday for a month-long “trial run”.

It is learnt that the tram ride will be launched by state Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Danny Law on tomorrow.

Children having a feel of the tram.

“If public response is good, we may continue operating at the garden on a profit-sharing basis with the state. It is still pending discussions,” Wong, who is the managing director and chairman of Aqua Bike Malaysia, said.

“The trams can ferry a total of 100 passengers if all are running at the same time. Two of the trams have been specially decorated with orchid motives for the Penang Floral Fest.

“This will be the first tram ride in the Botanic Gardens since the garden was opened in 1884. We are expecting a lot of visitors,” he said, assuring the public that the trams would not pollute the surroundings.

“It travels very slowly. In fact, people will probably be zipping past it.

“The 1,300cc engine runs on unleaded petrol. The head of the tram is imported from Japan and the coach is made locally.

A family of tourists from Thailand admiring the tram during the Floral Fest.

“The tram is small and will only occupy one-third of the path so there will be plenty of walking space for visitors,” he said.

The company also operates the tram service at the Taiping Zoo and Sungkai hot water springs resort in Perak and the Terengganu Museum and Islamic Civilisation Park in Kuala Terengganu.

Botanic Gardens agriculture assistant officer Ahmad Razali said the trams were brought in for the upcoming Floral Fest from May 31 to June 7.

“We hope the public will come and enjoy the trams as part of the whole Floral Fest experience.

“The rides will be available from 8am until 9pm daily.

“We will set up a booth where visitors can purchase the tickets for the rides,” he said, adding that the rides would cost RM1 (adults) and 50 sen (kids).

The 1.5km trip will take between 15-20 minutes.

The best ways to learn

SIGHTS AND SOUND WITH XANDRIA OOI

I HAVE always believed that there are two good ways to learn: Learn from a mentor/teacher/boss, or learn through experience.

Either way, the learning process is fulfilling, Both allow us to make mistakes, and the more frequently we fall, the quicker we learn.

I have never had a full-time corporate job; hence, I have never had a boss. I have had mentors for brief periods of time – teachers, editors, producers – but only my parents have consistently mentored me at every major turn of my life.

Parent mentors can be quite different from boss or teacher mentors. Parents usually coach us on life’s issues while bosses and teachers train us to excel in a particular field or business.

A very good mentor, however, coaches us on life and work. To me, the two are two halves of a whole that complement each other.

Some people might say that work is a subset of life, which, logically, is not untrue. However, for many people, work all but consumes their lives. Money is essentially the drive to work harder and in the pursuit of it, we tend to forget that the reason we desire money in the first place, is to live a good life.

How can life be good if it is all about work?

By that, I do not just mean the hours we invest in work. Work becomes larger than life when we are easily angered by mistakes, frustrated by problems and so afraid of being out of the game that we compromise our values or choose to stay in the safest corner of the box.

In some of the most successful companies of this era, work is not about merely surviving or being safe – it is about being different. Take Google, for example.

The Google headquarters (also called the Googleplex) in Mountain View, California, has 20,164 full-time employees. Google hires people not for their skills, but for their attitude.

Douglas Merrill, former chief information officer and vice-president of Engineering of Google, was quoted as saying: “I’ll ask candidates who aren’t engineers how to build a Web crawler. The right answer doesn’t matter. I want to hear you think the problem through, because the odds are good that since we’re an innovative company, you’re not going to know how to do what you’re going to be asked to do. You’re going to have to figure it out.”

At a time when many businesses have resigned themselves to the pursuit of sameness and safety, Google takes risks and gives employees the autonomy to make judgment calls.

It makes perfect sense to me. Why would we hire people and then micromanage to the point of hindering them from doing their jobs? How will a company innovate if people do not present new ideas?

During a job interview right after I graduated, a potential employer had asked: “What is most important to you? Money, workplace culture or career development?”

I thought it over and replied: “Work culture is most important to me; career development, second, and money, last.”

“If I don’t fit into the work culture or if it is not conducive, then I will be miserable and my job performance will suffer,” I explained. “Where there is good work culture, there will usually be good career development possibilities; and if the first two exist, it will enhance my job performance, and when I excel at my work the money will come.”

I have always found that using money as the main motivation is a very dangerous business strategy as it can impede one’s ability to make good and fair decisions.

Not being in the corporate workforce and being my own boss means that the only way I get to advance on the learning curve is to learn through experience. There are both advantages and disadvantages to this.

I have expressed my discontent to my mum on several occasions: “I wish I have someone to show me the ropes instead of groping in the dark!” If I had someone to teach me, the learning process would undoubtedly be faster.

However, the lack of direction was also the reason I took the initiative to be creative and learnt how to troubleshoot problems to make my next project twice as good.

It also means that I dare to think out of the box and be different. Because the faster I fail, the earlier I learn and the sooner I avoid making the same mistakes later on a bigger project.

I have also recently realised that I do not have to grope in the dark. We live in the incredible age of technology. Not only do we have thousands of willing teachers to learn from, we can choose our own mentors.

Websites, articles, blogs – these are the teachers of tomorrow. That is the greatest gift of the Internet – information at our fingertips and at our command.

The time has come when companies are rewarded for being different. It is not a good formula to live our lives well, yet have a separate set of work ethics. The most successful companies incorporate their lifestyle and infuse their personality into their corporate culture.

My company is still an infant, and it is at this stage that it needs clear direction and culture to achieve success in the long term.

Google’s corporate philosophies are casual principles, like “you can make money without doing evil”, “you can be serious without a suit” and “work should be challenging and the challenge should be fun”.

Funny; that was what my mum had been saying since I was old enough to read and write.

Life and work philosophies are not, and should not be, all that different, and I am looking forward to having a good time in my pursuit of success.

Beating a wonder trail

By CHRISTINA CHIN
Photos by RONNIE CHIN

PENANG Island’s beautiful coastline stretching all the way from Batu Maung, Pantai Jerejak and Bayan Bayan Lepas to the clan jetties, Esplanade and Gurney Drive in George Town and Tanjung Tokong, Tanjung Bunga, Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang can be developed to become the latest tourism attraction for Penang.

Pantai Jerejak assemblyman Sim Tze Tzin, who said this shoreline was currently under-utilised, has proposed the creation of the Great Penang Trail.

“The aim is to create a 3m-wide lane along a 30km scenic route from Batu Maung right up to Teluk Bahang.

“From Batu Ferringhi, the trail will pass the popular tourist belt and sandy beaches of Tanjung Bungah. In Gurney Drive, there will be famous food and shopping outlets. Trail users will find a different scene in George Town where they can admire colonial heritage buildings and visit century-old jetties.

“Up in Bayan Lepas, the trail will pass Queensbay Mall — the largest shopping complex on the island — before ending in Batu Maung, a small sleepy fishing village famous for its tasty ikan bakar,” he said.

Sim said the trail could be used by cyclists, joggers, trishaw riders, roller skaters, pedestrians and those using Segway personal transporters.

He added that viewing platforms,cafes, gift shops, barbecue areas, food courts and recreational facilities could be constructed at certain parts of the trail.

“We can build mini playgrounds and shopping areas like those at the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angles and Pier 39 in San Francisco. This concept has proven to be a success in many other countries,” he said.

Sim noted that the Great Penang Trail would also create job opportunities for food operators, petty traders, hawkers and those in the hospitality and service industries.

“The cyclists can soak in the view, browse at the shops or grab a quick bite,” he said, urging the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) to conduct a study to determine the cost of designing and constructing the trail.

He said the MPPP could initiate the Great Penang Trail by linking up the existing partial trails like the ones in front of Queensbay Mall and the Jelutong Expressway (JE) pedestrian promenade.

Sim proposed that an open tender be called to design the trail using the California Transportation Design and Standards as a yardstick.

Sim said he drew inspiration for his idea from the San Francisco Bay Trail (SFBT) where he used to cycle.

“To date, the trail is 288 miles long and will eventually connect San Jose in the south to San Francisco and eventually Napa Valley up north,” he said

Test of grace and agility

By MANJIT KAUR, Photos by CHARLES MARIASOOSAY

Young talents: 120 gymnasts from throughout the country stretch, skip and leap their way to glory at the three-day Pela[is Carnival in Penang.

Sweet success: Nur Aqila Junaidi doing the ball routine and finally clinches a gold and a silver medal in two events.

DOLLED up and clad in glittering leotards, some 70 girls fluttered gracefully to the background tune while mesmerising the crowd with ball and hula-hoop tricks.

The gymnasts, who came from throughout the country, were among 120 girls aged between six and 11 participating in the annual three-day Pelapis Carnival held at Queensbay Mall in Penang recently.

Not letting go: Amisha Sofia Azli wins a bronze medal for the Grade One free-hand category and a silver medal for the ball category.

The event, jointly organised by the Malaysian Gymnastics Federation (MGF), Malaysia Schools Sports Council (MSSM) and Milo, saw the gymnasts performing using ropes, balls, hula-hoops, ribbons and free hand (without any apparatus).

The participants were given a maximum one-and-a-half minutes to showcase their skills.

The judges had a tough time selecting the winners, as all the cute little girls with broad smiles fascinated them in their own way. The parents were all excited, as they were seen clicking away their cameras and giving moral support to their children.

Stretch: Aesyah Umairah showing her agility during a ball routine.

There were four categories — Little Gymnasts, Grade One, Two and Three.

In action: Cindy Law Pui Yee from Perak doing the hula-hoop routine.

The overall winner for the Little Gymnasts category was Arisha Amalyn Mohd Arif, with Yap Jane Ling and Tham Ling Ling trailing behind.

Nurfatinah Mohd Anuar was adjudged the overall champion in the Grade One category, clinching the gold medal at the same time, while Mariah Izabelle won the silver medal and Sharifah Zeynah Alhada took the bronze medal.

Nurfatinah, nine, who also won a gold medal last year in Kuantan, said she had been active in the sport since she was seven years old.

Smile: Izzah Azman stretching her way to a bronze medal in the Grade Two category.

As for Grade Two, the overall winner was Fariza Alia Mohd Nasir, followed by Zaily Neesha Zainuddin and Izzah Azman.

And in the Grade Three category, the overall winner was Nuryn Syarafana Saupi, followed by Puteri Nellissa Syarifah and Shasangari Sivaneswary.

The technical chairman of the event, Petrina Low, said the event was held twice yearly, with the next meet to be held in Malacca in August.

She said besides gymrama, the carnival included other sports such as swimming, boxing and archery that were held at various locations in the state.

Practise makes perfect: The gymnasts practising before the start of the competition at Queensbay Mall in Penang.

Help for the Unfortunate

GONE are the days when less fortunate members of society seeking government aid are confronted with lots of red tape or simply do not know who to turn to.

Instead, under the new ‘Projek Cari’ (Lookout Project), the government will actively seek them out and provide them with financial aid.

The project is targeted at the elderly, disabled, sickly and hardcore poor families with school-going children, and is open to all Malaysians.

The programme was initiated by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and is also a joint effort with the MCA Bukit Gelugor division, Social Welfare Department and Special Affairs Department.

To qualify for assistance, one needs to be a Malaysian citizen and residing in the country, have a combined family income of less than RM700 per month, or is disabled and have special needs.

Several other factors are also taken into consideration including number of offspring, age of applicant, deformities or disease-related disabilities as well as dwelling conditions.

State Social Welfare Department community development assistant Wong Kok Wai said that needy people could obtain and fill in application forms from their respective Rukun Tetangga.

“The applications will then be forwarded to the department which will in turn send officers to the respective applicants for follow-up evaluation.

“In the past six months from November 2008 to May 2009, a total of RM135,420 has been disbursed to 78 applicants in the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary constituency,” he said.

A special ceremony will be held this Sunday from 4pm to 6pm at the community hall in Block 9/11, Taman Terubong Jaya to raise public awareness on the programme.

Paya Terubong MCA service team chief and project advisor Koh Wan Leong hoped this would help inform the public about the existence of such a programme, as many were still unaware of it.

Good service: Koh (centre) helping disabled Farlim resident Dass Anthony (right) to fill out an application form. With them is Wong (left).

He also urged people to spread the word so that those really in need could come forward and apply while those approved would usually be notified within several weeks.

“In the past, the poor and needy need to look for the government.

“But now, the government will look out for them instead, as we are very concerned about their welfare. This is in line with the government’s efforts of promoting 1Malaysia,” Koh added.

He reminded applicants to bring along two passport-sized photos, photocopied MyKad (front and back), disability card (if any) as well as a referral letter from government doctors (for medical cases).

For application forms or more information, contact Wong at 016-4150480, Koh at 017-4665577, or the respective Rukun Tetangga area chairmen: Ooi Eng Kooi (Taman Paya Terubong Satu - 016-4683066), Chiew Siew Kam (Taman Paya Terubong Dua - 012-4740418), Frank Lee (Tingkat Paya Terubong - 012-4126352), Khoo Ah Tit (Taman Lau Geok Swee - 016-4699933), Goh Teong Eng (Mk13 Relau 1 - 017-4231014), Lee Kok Poh (Tanjung Court - 016-4768558), Patrick Soo (Desa Delima - 012-4670868), Kung Cheow Teik (LMC Taman Lone Pine - 016-4400193), Goh Kok Aun (Desa Permata - 012-4252534), Yeoh Ah Leong (Jalan Teo Chew - 012-4515393), Teh Chee Leng (Desa Ixora - 016-4729317), Kathires (Sri Impian - 012-4614769) and Chooi Foo Cheong (Desa Intan - 012-4891813).

New Attraction on Penang Hill

Story and photos by JEREMY TAN

A PANAROMIC view of the island is not the only thing visitors can enjoy at the top of Penang Hill. There are now exciting stage performances on weekends to keep visitors entertained.

Performers Marsita Saad and Mohd Ali Dastagir have been wowing the weekend crowd for the past four months; the former with her fire tricks and the latter with his snake handling skills.

The performances, held at the hill’s main stage, was a joint idea between the pair and the Penang Hill Residents’ Association.

Their aim was to draw more tourists to the hilltop.

Visitors enjoying a fire show on Penang Hill

“The fire show is something quite special and seldom seem locally. The state government has allowed us to use the stage so we provide the entertainment,” said Residents’ Association secretary Beh Chin Siang.

Beh said that performances were held every Saturday.

Additional performances are also held on Fridays if it’s a public holiday, and on Sundays if the following Monday is a public holiday.

On show days, the snake show is held at 12.30pm and 3.30pm, while the fire show mesmerises tourists at 8pm.

“Penang Hill is one of the state’s tourist icons. But at nights, it could be quiet with nothing much to see.

“The fire show will provide some exciting entertainment for visitors at night,” Mohd Ali explained.

Fellow performer Marsita has been literally been playing with fire for the past four years, performing her stunts at hotels and bistros.

“I learned a lot of fire tricks from the Internet. The important thing is practice.

“Although it may seem dan- gerous, it’s an exciting hobby,” she said.

The snake shows are both entertaining and educational.

As Mohd Ali charms the snakes, he also gives the crowd tips on how to deal with emergencies resulting from encounters with snakes or from snake bites.

Wesak joy

BUDDHIST temples and the Malaysian Buddhist Association (MBA) premises in George Town were abuzz with temple monks, officials and workers making last-minute preparations to usher in Wesak Day today.

Workers preparing the float for Wesak Day procession in Penang.

Many devotees were also seen streaming into temples offering prayers, flowers and incense, lighting candles and giving donations while monks blessed them. Buddha statue bath tubs were also spruced up for the big day. At the MBA premises on Burmah Road, the main float was being given the final touches.

The Star pixmen K.E. OOI and RONNIE CHIN checked out the temples and the MBA premises to take pictures of the final preparations.

10 Questions with Michael Chong

You’ve helped so many people, but in which area do you think you have failed to help the needy? Tony Oon

Whenever somebody comes to see me about an Ah Long (loan shark) problem, I try to help. The victim is often not the borrower, but the family, because the borrower has usually run away. Over and over and in so many press conferences, I’ve been urging people not to borrow from Ah Longs. And yet, this problem never ends. Honestly, I’ve failed in this matter. It’s like prescribing Panadol when a person has a fever. There’s some relief but I just can’t cure the illness. But I will not give up. I will continue to attack the root of the problem and it will take time.

Have there been times when you wanted to quit your job? When did you get close to actually walking away? Douglas Peters, KL

This is not an easy job. You have to take care of other people’s problems before you can attend to yours. You face all sorts of risks and come across so much hardship and suffering. Who wants this type of job? But in doing my job, I not only have problems from those on the outside, but sometimes, I have to face my own people (those in MCA) who are envious of me. They don’t want to do the work but they don’t want me to do it either. These are the little Napoleons. Many times, after encounters with them, I have come close to throwing in the towel and walking away. However, I’m lucky to have understanding party leaders and the support of the media and the public. This gives me the strength to carry on. I’m a fighter.

Datuk Michael Chong: For over two decades, Chong has been helping people solve a myriad of problems ranging from the tiresome to the heartbreaking

What does it take to be effective at what you do? Sammy Tan, Kamunting

The most important thing is teamwork. You can’t do everything yourself. I get assistance from the Ministers, Deputy Ministers, State Assemblymen and other wakil rakyat. Above all, I have the backing of the media and the people to make my work effective. For example, when news of a missing girl comes out, I’m sure to get information from the public.

What have you achieved in your work that you are most proud of? Jasmy Ariff, Kepong

One way or another, people from all walks of life support my work. For instance, when I ask for donations to help the less fortunate, even schoolchildren sacrifice their pocket money to help others. This shows that people in this country care. This doesn’t happen everywhere. From my work, I realise that it’s the Malaysian culture to help the needy and I’m proud of that. It’s something money can’t buy.

What is your most complicated/toughest case? W. Seng, Kluang

People sometimes come to see me thinking that I can even deal with supernatural problems. In March, I had a case involving five young men from Alor Star who went to Cambodia on a holiday. There, they were possessed by the spirit of a man who asked them to look for his long-lost wife and son. When the five men came back, they spent RM12,500 to take out newspaper advertisements. That didn’t work and the spirit kept harassing them and mentioned my name. The men thought it would be difficult to meet me but the spirit told them to go to my office on a Monday morning. And true enough, I was available that time. A reporter covering the case couldn’t take photographs of the men – the camera didn’t work – until he “asked for permission” from the spirit. So how do you explain things like these? I failed to help the men locate the two persons, but the spirit has since left the men alone.

In your work with MCA what was the worst situation you have encountered and how did you deal with it? Bulbir Singh, Seremban

In 1997, I received phone calls from Macau from an 18-year-old girl pleading to me to save her, as she was trapped in vice. There were so many calls and I could not sleep. I was a bit scared because she told me her pimp was a powerful gangster. I went there with three journalists (including the late Kuldeep Singh from The Star). We also got help from the then Malaysian High Commissioner in Hong Kong and a TV station there. We had gone to rescue the girl but we ended up needing to be rescued. We were chased by the gangsters but fortunately, the police picked us up in a van and we were saved.

What do your wife and children feel about your work? T.K. Rajah, Klang

My wife and I came from very poor families. So she understands and accepts my work. It’s the same with my children. When we just started our family in the 1980s, life was a bit tough because I was the only one working, earning RM1,200 a month as a salesman. My wife and children are very supportive of my work. We’re Catholics, and every case I handle gives us satisfaction. Now, my eldest daughter, Marina, works for me.

What’s the one thing about you that most people don’t know? Shima

Many people think that I’m Chinese-educated because I work in MCA. But I’m English-educated. I speak Mandarin and some other Chinese dialects. I can only read and write Chinese a little. The most important thing is that I can communicate properly with everybody.

How do you relax after a tough day at the office? Terry J, Kemaman

When I go home after work, there’s usually no traffic jam because it’s already 7.30pm to 8pm. My favourite after-hours spot is Champ’s in Centrepoint, Bandar Utama, where I have a mug of beer and some conversation with friends. I come home in time to watch the 12 o’clock news, and it’s just nice. Sunday is family day, when my wife and I go window-shopping or watch a movie.

ALKALINE / ACIDIC FOOD CHARTS The charts below are provided for those trying to "adjust" their body pH through their diet. The pH scale is from 0 to 14, with numbers below 7 acidic (low on oxygen) and numbers above 7 alkaline. These charts are intended only as a general guide to alkalizing and acidifying foods. Note that there may be some discrepancies between foods included on these charts.*
ALKALIZING FOODS ACIDIFYING FOODS ALKALIZING VEGETABLES Alfalfa Barley Grass Beets Beet Greens Broccoli Cabbage Carrot Cauliflower Celery Chard Greens Chlorella Collard Greens Cucumber Dandelions Dulce Edible Flowers Eggplant Fermented Veggies Garlic Green Beans Green Peas Kale Kohlrabi Lettuce Mushrooms Mustard Greens Nightshade Veggies Onions Parsnips (high glycemic) Peas Peppers Pumpkin Radishes Rutabaga Sea Veggies Spinach, green Spirulina Sprouts Sweet Potatoes Tomatoes Watercress Wheat Grass Wild Greens ALKALIZING ORIENTAL VEGETABLES Maitake Daikon Dandelion Root Shitake Kombu Reishi Nori Umeboshi Wakame ALKALIZING FRUITS Apple Apricot Avocado Banana (high glycemic) Berries Blackberries Cantaloupe Cherries, sour Coconut, fresh Currants Dates, dried Figs, dried Grapes Grapefruit* Honeydew Melon Lemon* Lime* Muskmelons Nectarine* Orange* Peach Pear Pineapple Raisins Raspberries Rhubarb Strawberries Tangerine* Tomato Tropical Fruits Umeboshi Plums Watermelon *Although it might seem that citrus fruits would have an acidifying effect on the body, the citric acid they contain actually has an alkalinizing effect in the system. ALKALIZING PROTEIN Almonds Chestnuts Millet Tempeh (fermented) Tofu (fermented) Whey Protein Powder ALKALIZING SWEETENERS Stevia ALKALIZING SPICES & SEASONINGS Cinnamon Curry Ginger Mustard Chili Pepper Sea Salt Miso Tamari All Herbs ALKALIZING OTHER Apple Cider Vinegar Bee Pollen Lecithin Granules Molasses, blackstrap Probiotic Cultures Soured Dairy Products Green Juices Veggie Juices Fresh Fruit Juice Mineral Water Alkaline Antioxidant Water ALKALIZING MINERALS Cesium: pH 14 Potassium: pH 14 Sodium: pH 14 Calcium: pH 12 Magnesium: pH 9 ACIDIFYING VEGETABLES Corn Lentils Olives Winter Squash ACIDIFYING FRUITS Blueberries Canned or Glazed Fruits Cranberries Currants Plums** Prunes** ACIDIFYING GRAINS, GRAIN PRODUCTS Amaranth Barley Bran, wheat Bran, oat Corn Cornstarch Hemp Seed Flour Kamut Oats (rolled) Oatmeal Quinoa Rice (all) Rice Cakes Rye Spelt Wheat Wheat Germ Noodles Macaroni Spaghetti Bread Crackers, soda Flour, white Flour, wheat ACIDIFYING BEANS & LEGUMES Black Beans Chick Peas Green Peas Kidney Beans Lentils Pinto Beans Red Beans Soy Beans Soy Milk White Beans Rice Milk Almond Milk ACIDIFYING DAIRY Butter Cheese Cheese, Processed Ice Cream Ice Milk ACIDIFYING NUTS & BUTTERS Cashews Legumes Peanuts Peanut Butter Pecans Tahini Walnuts ACIDIFYING ANIMAL PROTEIN Bacon Beef Carp Clams Cod Corned Beef Fish Haddock Lamb Lobster Mussels Organ Meats Oyster Pike Pork Rabbit Salmon Sardines Sausage Scallops Shrimp Scallops Shellfish Tuna Turkey Veal Venison ACIDIFYING FATS & OILS Avacado Oil Butter Canola Oil Corn Oil Hemp Seed Oil Flax Oil Lard Olive Oil Safflower Oil Sesame Oil Sunflower Oil ACIDIFYING SWEETENERS Carob Sugar Corn Syrup ACIDIFYING ALCOHOL Beer Spirits Hard Liquor Wine ACIDIFYING OTHER FOODS Catsup Cocoa Coffee Vinegar Mustard Pepper Soft Drinks ACIDIFYING DRUGS & CHEMICALS Aspirin Chemicals Drugs, Medicinal Drugs, Psychedelic Pesticides Herbicides Tobacco ACIDIFYING JUNK FOOD Coca-Cola: pH 2 Beer: pH 2.5 Coffee: pH 4 ** These foods leave an alkaline ash but have an acidifying effect on the body. UNKNOWN FOODS There are several versions of the Acidic and Alkaline Food chart to be found in different books and on the Internet. The following foods are sometimes attributed to the Acidic side of the chart and sometimes to the Alkaline side. Remember, you don't need to adhere strictly to the Alkaline side of the chart, just make sure a good percentage of the foods you eat come from that side.* Asparagus Brazil Nuts Brussel Sprouts Buckwheat Chicken Corn Cottage Cheese Eggs Flax Seeds Green Tea Herbal Tea Honey Kombucha Lima Beans Maple Syrup Milk Nuts Organic Milk (unpasteurized) Potatoes, white Pumpkin Seeds Sauerkraut Soy Products Sprouted Seeds Squashes Sunflower Seeds Yogurt
RANKED FOOD CHART : ALKALINE TO ACIDIC EXTREMELY ALKALINE Lemons, Watermelon ALKALINE FORMING Cantaloupe, Cayenne Celery, Dates, Figs, Kelp, Limes, Mango, Melons, Papaya, Parsley, Seaweeds, Seedless Grapes, Watercress Asparagus, Fruit Juices, Grapes, Kiwifruit, Passionfruit, Pears, Pineapple, Raisins, Umeboshi Plums, Vegetable Juices MODERATELY ALKALINE Apples, Alfalfa Sprouts, Apricots, Avocados, Bananas, Currants, Dates, Figs, Garlic, Grapefruit, Grapes (less sweet), Guavas, Herbs, Lettuce, Nectarine, Peaches, Pears (less sweet), Peas, Pumpkin , Sea Salt Apples (sour), Green Beans, Beets, Bell Peppers, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carob, Cauliflower, Ginger, Grapes (sour), Lettuce (pale green), Oranges, Peaches (less sweet), Peas (less sweet), Potatoes (with skin), Pumpkin (less sweet), Raspberries, Strawberries, Squash, Sweet Corn, Turnip, Apple Cider Vinegar SLIGHLTY ALKALINE Almonds, Jerusalem Artichokes, Brussel Sprouts, Cherries, Coconut (fresh), Cucumbers, Eggplant, Honey (raw), Leeks, Mushrooms, Okra, Olives (ripe), Onions, Pickles (homemade), Radishes, Sea Salt, Spices, Tomatoes, Brown Rice Vinegar Chestnuts (dry, roasted), Egg Yolks, Essene Bread, Goat's Milk and Whey (raw), Mayonnaise (homemade), Olive Oil, Sesame Seeds (whole), Soy Beans (dry), Soy Cheese, Soy Milk, Sprouted Grains, Tofu, Tomatoes (less sweet), Nutritional Yeast NEUTRAL Butter (fresh, unsalted), Cream (fresh, raw), Cow's Milk and Whey (raw), Margine, Oils (except olive), Yogurt (plain) MODERATELY ACIDIC Bananas (green), Barley (rye), Blueberries, Bran, Butter, Cereals (unrefined), Cheeses, Crackers (unrefined rye, rice and wheat), Cranberries, Dried Beans (mung, adzuki, pinto, kidney, garbanzo), Dry Coconut, Egg Whites, Eggs Whole (cooked hard), Fructose, Goat's Milk (homogenized), Honey (pasteurized), Ketchup, Maple Syrup (unprocessed), Milk (homogenized), Molasses (unsulferd and organic), Most Nuts, Mustard, Oats (rye, organic), Olives (pickled), Pasta (whole grain), Pastry (whole grain and honey), Plums, Popcorn (with salt and/or butter), Potatoes, Prunes, Rice (basmati and brown), Seeds (pumpkin, sunflower), Soy Sauce, Wheat Bread (sprouted organic) EXTREMELY ACIDIC Artificial Sweeteners, Beef, Beer, Breads, Brown Sugar, Carbonated Soft Drinks, Cereals (refined), Chocolate, Cigarettes and Tobacco, Coffee, Cream of Wheat (unrefined), Custard (with white sugar), Deer, Drugs, Fish, Flour (white wheat), Fruit Juices with Sugar, Jams, Jellies, Lamb, Liquor, Maple Syrup (processed), Molasses (sulphured), Pasta (white), Pastries and Cakes from White Flour, Pickles (commercial), Pork, Poultry, Seafood, Sugar (white), Table Salt (refined and iodized), Tea (black), White Bread, White Vinegar (processed), Whole Wheat Foods, Wine, Yogurt (sweetened) UNKNOWN FOODS There are several versions of the Acidic and Alkaline Food chart to be found in different books and on the Internet. The following foods are sometimes attributed to the Acidic side of the chart and sometimes to the Alkaline side. Remember, you don't need to adhere strictly to the Alkaline side of the chart, just make sure a good percentage of the foods you eat come from that side.* Asparagus Brazil Nuts Brussel Sprouts Buckwheat Chicken Corn Cottage Cheese Eggs Flax Seeds Green Tea Herbal Tea Honey Kombucha Lima Beans Maple Syrup Milk Nuts Organic Milk (unpasteurized) Potatoes, white Pumpkin Seeds Sauerkraut Soy Products Sprouted Seeds Squashes Sunflower Seeds Yogurt
POTASSIUM-RICH FOOD CHART IMPORTANT FOR CESIUM CHLORIDE USERS: Those using Cesium Chloride MUST supplement with Potassium. Use the food chart below to add more potassium-rich foods to your diet.*
Food fromm Serving Size Potassium FRUITS** Apple w/skin Apple Juice, unsweetened Apricots, dried sulfured Avocado Banana Cantalope, cubed Dates Figs, dried Kiwi Mango Orange Orange Juice Papaya Peach Pear Prune Juice, unsweetened Raisins Strawberries, raw Watermelon 1 small 1/2 cup 10 halves 1 ounce 1 small 1 cup 5 4 1 1 medium 1 small 1/2 cup 1 cup 1 medium 1 medium 1/2 cup 1/4 cup 1 cup 1 cup Approximately 148 mg 125 mg 407 mg 100 mg 422 mg 427 mg 227 mg 516 mg 237 mg 323 mg 248 mg 236 mg 360 mg 186 mg 198 mg 354 mg 273 mg 254 mg 170 mg VEGETABLES Artichoke, cooked Asparagus, cooked Beet Greens, cooked Broccoli Brussel Sprouts, fresh Cabbage, cooked Carrots, fresh Cauliflower, fresh Garbanzo Beans Green Beans, fresh Kidney Beans, cooked Lettuce, iceburg Mushrooms, cooked Pinto Beans, cooked Potato, baked with skin Spinach, steamed Sweet Potato, with skin Tomato, fresh Tomato Juice 1 cup 1 cup 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 1 cup 1/2 cup 1/2 cup 1 medium 1/2 cup 1 1/2 cup 1 cup Approximately 595 mg 288 mg 655 mg 143 mg 47 mg 147 mg 177 mg 151 mg 240 mg 187 mg 355 mg 87 mg 277 mg 400 mg 422 mg 415 mg 508 mg 200 mg 535 mg DAIRY Cottage Cheese, 2% Ice Cream, vanilla Milk, 2 % Ricotta Cheese Yogurt 1 cup 1/2 cup 1 cup 1/2 cup 6 ounces Approximately 217 mg 131 mg 377 mg 154 mg 398 mg OTHER Almonds Beef, lean cooked Bread, wheat Brazil Nuts Egg Hamburger Halibut Molasses Peanuts, salted Peanut Butter, natural Rice, brown Rice, white Salmon, baked or steamed Salmon, canned Tuna, cooked yellowfin Turkey, roasted dark meat 2 ounces 3 ounces 1 slice 2 ounces 1 med. 4 oz. 3 oz. 1 tablespoon 2 ounces 2 tablespoons 1 cup 1 cup 3 ounces 4 oz. 3 ounces 3 ounces Approximately 412 mg 224 mg 59 mg 340 mg 55 mg 383 mg 490 mg 498 mg 374 mg 214 mg 105 mg 42 mg 319 mg 409 mg 484 mg 259 mg

Kota Kinabalu TAR Marine Park

For a spot of diving in a place within reach of civilisation, Kota Kinabalu’s Tunku Abdul Rahman Park is just swell.

Mention scuba diving in Sabah, and people are likely to think of Mabul or Sipadan.

These islands are about nothing but beaches and diving. While this may be great for many, those of us who need something a little more may find them wanting.

This is where Kota Kinabalu, the capital, comes into the picture. Or Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, to be exact.

The park is probably one of the best-kept diving secrets in the country, and it is a mere 20 minutes by speedboat from the town’s marina. TAR Park consists of five islands, Gaya (the biggest), Sapi, Manukan, Sulug and Mamutik.

A gorgeous nudibranch spotted in Agil Reef, Sabah.

At least 10 reputable diving sites are said to be located here, so this, for me, became a trip to verify if the convenience of the park’s location is backed up by quality.

I started off at Gaya Island, where the visibility was about average and the coral quality below average. The glaring damage from dynamite blasting was evident, a scene repeated in varying degrees of severity at other sites.

But as we continued exploring, we came across areas that had largely recovered and were spreading out on their own. Reef fish and nudibranchs abounded. I even spotted a couple of crustaceans and crabs.

After the requisite surface interval, we headed down to Agil Reef nearby. There we came upon another surprise: prowling goatfish covered the sands, while critters like crabs lounged in tubular corals.

I caught two lionfish in one of these hideouts enjoying a spot of, er, intimacy. I wasn’t quick enough with my camera but got the chance to snap one of them looking magnificently flustered.

Aside from a couple of pufferfish nearby, this particular spot was a veritable macro heaven, with more nudibranchs on offer.

The third dive was a simple one at the house reef off Sapi. A shallower site, it bottomed out to a flat bed of sand where visibility was very murky, but not murky enough that we couldn’t spot a harassed eagle ray flapping away from our group.

A defensive lion fish; a knobby nudibranch in Pulau Sapi

Our dive master had reminded us to look out for garden eels, and as we hugged the ground, we soon saw their heads sticking out. Dozens, in fact. But as soon as we were within a foot of them, they disappeared into the ground.

We foraged around for more fish life, mainly around a few old reef balls planted in the area. A lone barracuda scared me enough to avoid it swiftly, and I settled for portrait shots of a more benign goatfish.

It had been a long day, but some of us contemplated a twilight dive. Already feeling cold from previous dives, some decided to opt out. Wanting to take more pictures and knowing it would be a different experience at night, I opted to continue.

Jumping back in just after 6pm, we found the water was pleasantly warm; still heated from the day’s baking.

Bedtime pursuits

Night diving means getting closer to the nocturnal crustaceans. Right after bottoming out at a shallow depth of 9m, we bumped into a hermit crab walking across the sand. It looked sheepish under the glare of our spotlights and sidled off as fast as it could as the flashbulbs worked overtime.

The highlight was an encounter of a rather, urm, libidinal nature when I spotted not two, but three nudibranchs doing the horizontal samba (procreating). It felt nauseatingly voyeuristic but these moments don’t come every day so I snapped away.

Earthly paradise

Exquisite gardens and restored historical edifices around Hangzhou’s West Lake recall its past as the finest city in the world.

With a population of over a million, Hangzhou was then the largest and wealthiest metropolis in existence. Marco Polo reportedly called it “the finest and noblest city in the world”.

Bai Causeway (Baidi), constructed 1,200 years ago by Tang dynasty poet-governor Bai Juyi.

Many still consider Hangzhou the most beautiful city in China, though when I first visited in the late-1990s, it seemed that every important cultural or historical site had been ravaged by the Cultural Revolution and the city was still struggling to put itself together.

Ten years on and with an urban population of just under 4 million, 2,200-year-old Hangzhou is well on its way to regaining its former status as a “heaven on earth,” especially since much has been done to restore or reconstruct the sites around the iconic West Lake (Xihu). Among them is the thousand-year-old Leifeng Pagoda (Leifengta) where Madam White Snake of the Ming dynasty novel Legend of the White Snake was trapped by monk Fahai. The structure collapsed in 1924 because, according to our guide, people removed the bricks thinking they contained hidden gold; others say the rural folk believed the bricks could cure illness and prevent miscarriage.

A few years ago, Leifengta was rebuilt over the original foundations which have been preserved in a gallery under the new tower. I noted with mixed emotions the contemporary interior and “improvements” that have made the pagoda, which sits on a small hill, more accessible but which have also deprived it of its ancient character.

Leifengta (in the background) viewed from the grounds of the 10th century Jingci Chan (Zen) Temple. Legend says monk Jigong drew wood from a well for the temple’s construction.

Another significant site is a shrine dedicated to the larger-than-life national hero, General Yuefei, whose 12th century exploits against the Jin invaders of the north have been celebrated in innumerable stories, plays and operas. Yuefei was on the verge of victory when he was recalled by the southern Song Emperor, framed and executed together with his son. The official Qin Hui who advocated negotiating with the enemy was instrumental to his death.

A commemorative plaque with the words “Return our rivers and mountains” emblazoned in gold hangs above a large statue of the much-loved general in the memorial temple. From there a small side gate leads to the modest mausoleum of Yuefei (Yuefeimu) and his son, their high status evidenced only by stone figurines that flank the way to the burial mounds.

Iron sculptures of the traitorous Qin Hui and wife – half-naked and with hands bound behind them – kneel facing the tombs in eternal humiliation and penance. Such was the ire of the people that they made dough sticks to represent the reviled couple and fried them for breakfast; thus was invented the youtiao or, in Cantonese, yau-zha-guai (oil-fried devil).

It appears that nearly nine centuries after Yuefei’s death, anger against the couple has not abated. A sign above the kneeling statues tell people not to spit (on them); there was a patch on Qin Hui’s head where someone had drilled a hole and I was startled when a young man strode up and whacked the “traitor” with a rolled-up newspaper.

Traitors Qin Hui and wife do eternal penance.

The entire Jiangnan region south of the Yangtze River is home to numerous garden villas where landscaping has been raised to a fine art. However, few have the Guo Villa’s advantage of location on the West Lake. Our guide said this elegant mid-19th century manor used to be the residence of the Duke of Fenyang, hence its alternative name Fenyang Bieshu.

With sweeping grey roofs, white walls, unembellished windows and wooden arched bridges, the estate is exceptionally beautiful. Graceful pavilions extend over tranquil ponds amidst gardens so lush they partially obscure the architecture and the indispensable rock arrangements.

It was quiet that day at Fenyang Bieshu, with few tourists. A white duck napped on a rock in a brook; every view through the picture windows in the garden walls was postcard perfect, and there, beyond a gazebo surrounded by camellia bushes, the waters of the famous Lake.

Our guide said plans are under way to expand the West Lake as historical records show it used to be much larger.

Meanwhile, a Dec 11, 2008, China Daily article reported that to preserve the natural beauty of the area, lakeside buildings over 24m tall will be lowered. The city’s ultimate objective is to list the West Lake as a Unesco World Heritage site.

The luxuriant parks around the lake were certainly gorgeous in late autumn last year. With hectares of immaculate lawns and ponds, pavilions and bridges half-concealed by willows, small red maples and endless varieties of flowering and non-flowering shrubs, it was a living coffee-table book.

I was there again recently when the pink, white and red peach blossoms were in flower. Hangzhou’s West Lake in spring is certainly as close to heaven as one can get.

Mixture of Dances

January Low (right) and Guna (left) in dance pose to express adbhuta (wonderment) in Ramli Ibrahim's Rasa Unmasked at Dewan Sri Pinang recently.

RASA Unmasked, a contemporary dance performance held at Dewan Sri Pinang in George Town saw several cross-cultural elements in music and dance brought to life.

The presentation, a Malaysia-Australia collaboration, saw various dance traditions such as Bharata Natyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Malay/Indonesian dance vocabularies and the merging of Javanese and Indian classical music.

The show, presented in conjunction with Australia Month @ KLPac, is the result of collaborative efforts between Sutra Dance Theatre’s artistic director Ramli Ibrahim, Lingalayam Dance Company in Sydney artistic director Anandavalli Sivanathan and American-Chinese gamelan specialist, ethnomusicologist, composer and musician Alex Dea who is based in Indonesia.

Eye opener: Ramli (centre) in a scene carrying the kavadi-like prop.

Rasa brought to audience the power of eight dominant ‘rasas’ or core human emotions which are divided into nine areas: sringara (love), veera (valour), karuna (compassion), adbhuta (wonderment), hasya (laughter), bibhatsa (disgust), bhaya (terror), raudra (anger) and shanta (serenity).

The performance also saw the revitalising and transformation of aesthetics into a framework that connects with the audience.

Surreal: Rasa Unmasked invokes the power of core human emotion to the audience.

Accompanied by a cross-cultural orchestra featuring the Javanese rebab and the traditional Indian percussion, the show saw dancers perform the choreographed work of Ramli and Anandavalli.

Sutra’s Sivarajah Natarajan was responsible for the imaginative and dramatic set design and lighting.

The show opened with the prakriti (female/nature) and purusha (male/ unma -nifested creative energy) lying on the Water of Existence.

Anandavalli did a Kuchipudi solo to bring out the most basic of human emotions —love — portraying a courtesan’s passion and longing for the love from the nayak (hero).

A scene showing a unique human formation against the stark black stage backdrop.

In the following number, Ramli used movements from both the Balinese and classical Indian dance styles to evoke characters from the Ramayana.

He performed a solo number as a Balinese warrior, displaying the valour of a hero who is invested with symbols of power and imbued himself with ‘sakti’ prior to his battle with Ravana.

The other numbers brought together the combination of the different intepretations of the rasas which resulted in a commendable and highly entertaining performance by the dancers.

Home for useful wigglers

By ANTHONY TAN

WHAT are some 80,000 earthworms doing at the premises of the Consu-mers Association of Penang (CAP)? A lot it seems.

While many of them are busy reproducing, others are feeding on organic matter to produce vermicast which is used as an organic fertiliser.

CAP started breeding earthworms and producing vermicast, which is actually worm poo, since three years ago as part of its programme to promote sustainable agriculture and organic farming.

Its education officer N. V. Subbarow estima-ted that there were now 80,000 worms at the earthworm breeding and vermicast producing section at CAP’s premises on Jalan Mesjid Negeri in Penang.

The section, which is called Vermihome, doubles as a training centre for those interested to learn about earthworm breeding, vermicast production and natural farming methods, including setting up a compost bed and recycling kitchen and garden wastes.

These earthworms feed on organic matter to produce vermicast which is ideal as organic fertiliser.

Paying tribute to the earthworms in conjunction with World Earth Day today, Subbarow said the wriggly creatures were friends of farmers.

“As they tunnel through the soil to search for food, they render farmers a great service by turning over the soil and aerating it,” he said in an interview.

He said CAP sold the earthworms, at RM1 each, to farmers and individuals who used them to produce their own vermicast or even for breeding.

Subbarow said CAP had also given the worms free to schools for their organic farming projects.

He said five schools whose students and teachers visited Vermihome for training had started their own organic farming projects, adding that CAP staff members visited these schools periodically to monitor the progress of the projects and provide advice.

Subbarow said Vermihome produced some 10kg of vermicast daily which are bought by regular buyers at RM3 per bag of one kilogramme.

Don’t mistake the vermicast for black- coloured soil though and dump the whole bag into a pot. Remember, it’s a fertiliser!

Worker K. Acuran Mano tends to the worms at CAP's Vermihome.

“All you need to do is scatter a handful of the vermicast on top of the soil around your plant once a week,” said Subbarow while espousing the effectiveness of the fertiliser.

He said the fertiliser contained 19 types of minerals including nitrogen, calcium, manganese, sulphur and iodine which are absorbed easily and used by plants.

He said vermicast was a cheaper and healthier alternative to chemical fertiliser, adding that a lime farmer from Kulai in Johor who had been spending RM500 a month on chemical fertiliser reduced his cost to just RM150 a month when he switched to vermicast.

Subbarow said the worms bred and used to produce vermicast at Vermihome were the eisena fetida (red worm) and eudrilus eugeniae (African night crawler).

Besides vermicast, Subbarow said Vermihome also produced vermiwash, a foliar spray, which is prepared by letting water percolate through a column of soil containing earthworms active in their burrows as well as feeding on organic matter and coverting it into vermicompost.

The water, which trickles through these burrows and compost, gets collected at the base of the barrel as vermiwash.

Subbarow said some 2,000 farmers, teachers, students and members of the public had visited Vermihome where they learnt about organic farming, vermicast production and the advantages of natural farming methods.

Vermihome is the brainchild of CAP president S.M. Mohamed Idris. CAP has been promoting pesticide-free farming since the early 1990s.

And the association practises what it preaches. Its staff grow chilli plants in pots the organic way at the association’s compound.

Subbarow said schools and teachers were welcome to CAP’s Vermihome for study and training purposes. Those interested can call him at 04-8299511.

Response to terror attacks

THE Army’s 3rd Division Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence Unit (PNBK 3 Div) from Terendak Camp in Malacca demonstrated for their training on how to respond to biological and chemical attacks by terrorists.

The scenario of the 90-minute demonstration involved the aftermath of a series of explosions of chemical, biological and radioactive weapons at a busy cafeteria.

Protection gear: The army's Fire and Rescue Department personnel putting on clean-room suits.

The unit’s personnel were dressed in clean-room suits consisting of a main garment, face covers, thin cotton gloves, rubber gloves, plastic bags over normal work shoes, rubber boots and a plastic raincoat.

The main process involved cleansing of wounds, removal of contaminated garment and a body wash with cleansing agents before medical treatment was given.

Suspected contaminated vehicles were sprayed with chemicals followed by a thorough wash.

South-East Asia Regional Centre for Counter Terrorism (SEARCCT) director-general Zainol Abidin Omar said the demonstration provided an in-depth understanding on the best ways to deal with a surprise biological and chemical attack.

Thorough cleansing: A victim undergoing decontamination.

The army’s PNBK 3 Div was established in January 2007 based on the need to increase awareness on threats posed by biological, chemical or radiation contamination caused by a nuclear blast in times of peace.

Well enacted: Army personnel treating a victim of the chemical explosion.