Floria Putrajaya 2010

/* July 17th, 2010 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »
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From Floria Putrajaya 2010 Part 1

I’m sure many folks are aware of the ongoing Floria Festival in Putrajaya. It started on 10th July and will end on the coming Sunday, 18th. Its basically a flower exhibition. The theme this is on Heliconia flowers.

From Floria Putrajaya 2010 Part 1

We went to the festival last Sunday, at around 9.15am. Based on 2007’s experience,  I estimated about 3 hours would be sufficient to cover the whole area. Guess what, it took our 7 hours to cover the grounds, and we didn’t even managed to enter the indoor exhibition!

From Floria Putrajaya 2010 Part 1

We started at the Putrajaya Cruise area, visiting the booths set up by schools and IPTA/IPTS. Then, we proceeded to visit the lots of state governments, federal agencies and such. The Landscape Department had some performers from Peru.

From Floria Putrajaya 2010 Part 1

The outdoor exhibition are itself took us nearly 3.5 hours. We had to take a break to quench our thirst. There were two location for food, one was the numerous stalls along Persiaran Perdana, and the other is the few mobile vehicles (including fast food operators) near the lake. The weather was very hot, and I pity those who came with kids and elderly folks. Luckily, there were tram services along with rickshaw rides to alleviate the strain on the feet.

From Floria Putrajaya 2010 Part 1

By the time we reached the main tent for indoor exhibition, the queue was about 30 people long. At one of the locations near the tent entrance, we found five small ducklings try their best to hide under the shades. Pity the animals!

From Floria Putrajaya 2010 Part 1

We decided to visit the stalls selling flowers (especially orchids, herbs and fruit/vege plants) and gardening stuff. Bought some plants and stuff. Took another break to rehydrate. When we went back to the main tent, the queue was even longer! We decided to return another day to visit the indoor exhibition.

From Floria Putrajaya 2010 Part 1

By the time we left the place around 4.15pm, I think we covered most of the 15 acres of the festival.

We made our second trip on Tuesday the 13th, at around 7pm. The crowd was very minimal (According to the stall staff, Monday was even worse). I guess the frenzy is on weekends only. We visited the indoor exhibition which housed exhibition by famous designers. Sorry to say, very few of those impressed me. Maybe I’m not able to understand the exhibits.

From Floria Putrajaya 2010 Part 2
From Floria Putrajaya 2010 Part 2
From Floria Putrajaya 2010 Part 2
From Floria Putrajaya 2010 Part 2

We also dropped by the bonsai exhibition area (outside the tent) which we skipped on the first visit. Some pretty impressive-sized bonsai were on exhibition.

From Floria Putrajaya 2010 Part 2

We bought some stuff at the stall, and then made a quick walk along the outdoor exhibition plots. Night time photography was more difficult (I didn’t bring tripod). The second trip took about 2.5 hours. BTW, the ducklings were fast asleep, probably too tired and exhausted.

From Floria Putrajaya 2010 Part 2

Words of advice: Weekend crowd is a lot, so come early. The doors open at 9am. Bring hat/umbrella and water.

First trip Photos:

Second trip Photos:

Merdeka celebration on a smaller scale

/* July 9th, 2010 by poobalan | View blog reactions 10 comments »
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Something I read today morning triggered this posting. It was a news about the Merdeka day celebration coming soon. According to the Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim,  National Day, which falls during the fasting month, will be celebrated on a moderate scale at Stadium Putra in Bukit Jalil. There will be focus on “lighting and the flying of Jalur Gemilang” while fireworks is planned only for the launching of celebrations at  Stadium Utama Kangar in Perlis on Aug 1.

So, I wonder, can we “tone down’ patriotism/nationalism due to religion? Which has precedence? Not that I’m belittling anyone’s religion, but just curious.

Obviously, the private sector will still try to celebrate National Day on big scale due to economic reasons. So, celebrations are not purely due to patriotism/nationalism, but just an excuse to have a good time, spend some money, enjoy life.

And maybe certain quarters will threaten the private sector organisers to “tone down” as well since it will be fasting month and they’ll claim that such excessive celebrations can lead people astray. Would this constitute infringing on others’ right/freedom?

Anyway, Merdeka falls on Tuesday this year, so if you apply leave for Monday, then you get four days holiday. Selangorians have a holiday on the preceding Friday, so you can get up to 5 days holiday.

List of new councilors for Selangor 2010/2011 term

/* July 7th, 2010 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »
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My area councilor still remain.

PETALING JAYA: The Selangor state government has set up a 20-member local government advisory council comprising former councillors and members of NGOs and professional bodies.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the advisory body was independent and would not interfere with the running of the councils.

“They will take on an advisory role on policies and strategies. They provide recommendations to the state executive council in charge of local government headed by Ronnie Liu,” he said after releasing a list of 288 councillors for the state’s 12 local councils here yesterday.

He said the advisory council would also focus on issues like implementing local council elections, waste management contracts and welfare of local council employees.

Liu said the advisory council members would be paid a “slightly higher” allowance than the councillors but the amount had not been fixed.

“They will hold meetings at least once every two months,” said Liu.

List of Selangor councillors for the 2010/2011 term

Shah Alam City Council (MBSA)

1. Abd Manaf Yusoff
2. Adzhar Maludin
3. Ang Leng Kiat
4. Azli Yusof
5. Datuk Seri Indah Diraja Datuk Abu Bakar Abdul Hamid
6. Dr Daroyah Alwi
7. Ganabatirau Veraman*
8. Izham Hashim
9. K. Gunasekaran*
10. Kamarudzaman Sanusi
11. Mariam Abdul Rashid
12. Mesni Mohd Dahlan*
13. Mohd Harris Abu Bakar
14. Mohd Ismahali Ridzwan Ismail*
15. Ng Boon Teck
16. Noraini Hussin*
17. Norhalim Sirome
18. Pushpa Lingam Sinnakanu*
19. Raja Sarinah Raja Alias*
20. Sivarajan Arumugam
21. Tan Ah Kow @ Tan Sie Wai
22. Tengku Ahmad Tengku Kasim*
23. Yogasigamany Krishnasamy *
24. Zulkhairy Mohd Nasar*

Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ)

1.Ahmad Yusof Ludin
2.Anthony Siva Balan Thanasayan
3.Chan Chee Kong
4.Cynthia Manonmani Michael Gabriel
5.Derek John Fernandez
6.Ghazali Shaari
7.Halimey Abu Bakar
8.Jeyaseelen T. Anthony *
9.Kamarudin Suhaimi
10.Kandiah Subramaniam *
11.Khairul Anuar Ahmad Zainuddin *
12.Latheefa Beebi Koya
13.Mahharul Ismail
14.Mak Khuin Weng
15.Muzammil Hafiz
16.Prof Madya Dr Melasutra Md Dali
17.Richard Yeoh Yong Woi
18.Selvarajan Rathinam
19.Syed Abd Malik Syed A. Hamid Al Jafree
20.Tang Fui Koh
21.Terence Tan Teck Seng
22.Tiew Way Keng
23.Tiong Boon Keong
24.Tony Cheong Siew Thong *

Klang Municipal Council (MPKlang)

1. Andy Tan Hwai Yih *
2. Azmizam Zaman Huri
3. Datuk Setia Diraja Datuk Abdul Ghani Pateh Akhir
4. Deepakaran Karuppiah *
5. Dr Nendu Chelian *
6. Hamidah Mat Som
7. Ismail Arsat
8. Ivan Ho Fook Keong
9. Jamuliddin Elias
10. Lim Lip Suan
11. Maneyvannan Velue
12. Mat Irwan Ismail
13. Mohd Azmi Husain @ Yusoff *
14. Nalan M. Muniandy @ Balan *
15. Ng Swee Seng *
16. Noor Najhan Mohd Salleh *
17. Nor’ain Eusoff
18. Prof Madya Choo Teck Keong
19. Selvadurai Subramaniam
20. Sundarajoo Periasamy *
21. Tai Teck Chuan
22. Tan Heng Kim
23. Tee Boon Hock
24. Yew Boon Lye

Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ)

1. Arumugam Kalimuthu
2.Azizan Jamaluddin *
3.Cheah Sang Soon
4.Chong Hoong Ming
5.Edward Ling Sieak Meeng *
6.Gan Kam Seng *
7.Ismail Kamal Abdul Rahman
8.Jaberi Ami *
9.Keshminder Singh K.Karam Singh
10.Loka Ng Sai Kai *
11.Michael Tamilarason K.Nadaysen
12.Mohd Nasir Yusof
13.Ng Sze Han
14.Noor Azam Aziz *
15.Norhesni Ismail
16.Pooi Weng Keong
17.Rajiv Rishyakaran
18.Robert Tan Siang Chiok
19.Roslan Shahir Mohd Shahir
20.Sapiyan Mohd Din
21.Stephen Chin Sou Bong
22.Sufari Tinnin
23.Tai Cheng Heng
24.Tan Jo Hann

Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ)

1. Abdul Jalil Hasan
2. Abdul Latif Shaari
3. Ali Ismail
4. Azlan Mat Din*
5. Cheong Chye Wah
6. Ee Wai Leong*
7. Hamsah Djabir*
8. Jafrien Muhammad
9. Lee Shok Jing
10. Mat Jusoh Dollah*
11. Meor Rithuan Mohamed Said
12. Mohamad Samat*
13. Nik Md Zain Nik Mohamad
14. Razali Ramly
15. Sharifah Zaharah Syed Agil*
16. Sian Keng Eng*
17. Soorianarayanan
18. Subramaniam Rengasamy*
19. Supiramany
20. Tnew Kon Huang
21. Wan Hasrina Wan Hassan
22. Wong Khai Pun
23. Yazid Alias*
24. Zambri Kamaruddin*

Selayang Municipal Council (MPS)

1. A Rahim b. Ahmad Kasdi
2. Abdul Majid Hasan*
3. Abd Rahim Abd Wahab
4. Datuk Paduka Raja Datuk Wan Mahmood Pa’ Wan Teh
5. Gunarajah R. George
6. Hasbullah Mohd Ridzwan
7. Husnal Azahari Sanusi*
8. Khatifah Zamani Sulong
9. Lee Khai Loon
10. Lee Sew Hong*
11. Lim Ching How
12. Low Hock Kheng*
13. Maznah Abd Aziz
14. Md. Sabri Md. Taib
15. Murugan @ Murugeshu Arumugam
16. Nanto Gopalan Krishnan Rajoo*
17. Roslin Mohd. Rosli
18. Salsasiah Disa*
19. Tan Hui Chuan
20. Tan Pok Shyong*
21. Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji
22. Zulkifli Hamzah
23. Zaidy Abu Talib*
24. Zulnizam Shahrani

Sepang Municipal Council (MPSp)

1. Azlan Mohd Samin
2. Foo Weng Fui
3. Gunalan Velayuthan
4. Hajarah Abu Samat*
5. Hidrat Samsudin
6. Jashela Ayuni Shahidan
7. Kapt (B) Jaafar Pangat
8. Lau Weng Chan
9. Lwi Kian Keong
10. Maanor Yusoff*
11. Mashadi Saein*
12. Mohamad Azif Mohamad Aris*
13. Mohamed Makki Ahmad
14. Mohd. Haslin Hassan
15. Prof. Tengku Datuk Dr Jamaluddin Tengku Mahmud Shah Al Haj
16. Pulanthran Munisamy
17. Rajalingam Ramayah*
18. Ramlan Sajadi
19. Salehudin Muhamad
20. Santokh Singh Perumal*
21. Sivakumar Periasamy*
22. Teo Lian Sang*
23. Titus Gladwyn S G Gomez
24. Wong Chuan How

Sabak Bernam District Council (MDSB)

1. Abu Talib Bujang
2. Ahzaman Mat Noor
3. Anna Ramasamy Muthan*
4. Azhar Achil*
5. Azman Masri
6. Datuk Baharin @ Abdullah Mat Akhir
7. Dr Osman Sabran*
8. Faiza Samsi*
9. Hamidah Abd Malek
10. Lee Beng San*
11. Lim Choon Kiat
12. Loo Kim Yong
13. Low Tek Lem*
14. Mah Eng Kian
15. Muhamad Jail Ikhsan*
16. Ng Swee Lee
17. Noordin Atan
18. Omar Hashim*
19. Selvodory Subramaniam
20. Sia Chock Sung*
21. Siti Latiffah Binti Maulud
22. Tan Ah Kau
23. Yunus Ismail*
24. Zulkifli Ibrahim

Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj)

1.Adram Musa*
2.Arutchelvan A/l Subramaniams
3.Chan Jeong Hon
4.Chandra Mohan S.Thambirajah
5.Cheong Siow Foon*
6.Datuk Noorhisham Ishak*
7.Datuk Ungku Abdul Rani Shamsuddin
8.Lee Ah Seng
9.Lee Kee Hiong
10.Lee Learn Eng
11.Lim Khey Hoong
12.Mazwan Bin Johar
13.Mohammed Yusoff Bachek
14.Mohd Mohyiddin Bin Mohamed Mesbah
15.Mohd Sany Hamzan*
16.Mohd Shafie Ngah
17.Narayanan Perumal
18.Ng Tien Chee
19.Norsiah Md Nor *
20.Ong Seng Peng
21.Razaly Hassan
22.Samsol Bahari
23.Tan Boon Wah
24.Zulfikar Ali Ariffin*

Kuala Langat District Council (MDKL)

1.Ang Lee Yong*
2.Gan Kai Soon
3.Gunalan Balakrishnan*
4.Hasnul Baharuddin
5.Karunakaran Annavy
6.Lim Kuan Sion*
7.Maniarasan Ramaswary
8.Mesari Jasman*
9.Mohd Ghazali Abdullah*
10.Munusamy Erishin
11.Ng Khee Chong
12.Norazmi Mohamed Tahir
13.Othman Dol
14.Razali Ahmad
15.Rizuan Rahmat
16.Salmah Muhammad
17.Sapariah Sarmidi
18.Shaari Sarkoni*
19.Shamsuddin Kasran
20.Sivapregas Kuppan*
21.Wong Kim Loon
22.Y.A.D Raja Dato’ Uzair Tengku Zainon Rashid Shah
23.Yap Lai Keng
24.Yong Keh Chyn

Kuala Selangor District Council (MDKS)

1.Ahmad Alang*
2.Ang Boon Teik
3.Azli bin Idris
4.Dato’ Mohamad Yaacob Ismail
5.Jegathesan Subramaniam*
6.Kwi Ai Mei
7.Lakshmanan Subramoniam
8.Lim Piang Nam
9.Low Tan
10.Misran Serman
11.Mohd Faizal Baharuddin
12.Mohd Faizal Mohd Barja*
13.Mohd Fakaruddin Ismail*
14.Navaratna Chandreen Kanagaratnam
15.Nor Az Azlan Ahmad
16.Norfaizah Ismail*
17.Selvandran Pongudian
18.Sharuddin Dahlan
19.Siti Zalaha Abdul Rashid*
20.Tanarashu Krishnan*
21.Tee Peng*
22.Thirumoorthy Peri
23.Yap Kee Thian
24.Zainal Abidin bin Abdul Samad

Hulu Selangor District Council (MDHS)

1.Abdul Wahid B. Basri,
2.Arun@Harun Abdullah*
3.Chan Fook Heng*
4.Chan Kok Siew
5.Chandran Subramaniam*
6.Chua Yee Ling
7.Dato’ Aman Shah Mohd Shahar
8.Dr G Sukhdev Singh Ranu*
9.Gunasekaran Karpayah*
10.Hamiruddin b. Parman
11.June Leow*
12.Kamaliyah Bien*
13.Law Say Hin
14.Law Suet Peng
15.Look Soo Mooi*
16.Mahyuddin Ismail
17.Mai Mt Zin
18.Mat Rahat Ibrahim*
19.Mohammed Salleh Ri
20.Ong Thiam Hock
21.Rames Ittan*
22.Razali Mokhtar*
23.Sazali Nor Saham*
24.Yong Chan Hee

* new councillors

from the Star

another liquor shop in Hulu Selangor?

/* July 4th, 2010 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »
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The Indian Village Restaurant was where we had a chat with newly elected Hulu Selangor YB, P Kamalanathan few weeks back during our visit to the district.  It was a nice cosy place, and the food was OK too. Unfortunately, the owner has applied for license to sell liquor, presumably to compete with other shops in the area. Maybe alcohol brings in more money, and competition is tough in the food industry.

I hope it doesn’t become another watering hole. Gonna miss the place if it does. I’ll stay clear of it.

MIED loan given out

/* July 2nd, 2010 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »
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Surprising news indeed since there wasn’t any news of the loan application being open in recent times. Maybe I missed it.

Anyway, RM96 million has been given out since 1984, which is 26 years period. That’s about RM3.69 million per year. Its also an average of RM10105 per student. For the current session, RM1.5 million for 189 students averages about Rm7936 per student.

The Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED) has disbursed study loans and grants worth RM96 million to 9,500 students since 1984, its chairman Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said today.

Samy Vellu, who is also the MIC president said MIED would continue to assist needy students in pursuing their education at tertiary level.

“At the same time, I also urge recipients who are currently employed to repay their loans so that we can help other students,” he said before handing out MIED study loans worth RM1.5 million to 189 students at the MIC headquarters here.

He said to-date, the MIED had managed to collect more than RM38 million from previous MIED recipients.

“We managed to recover this amount following several reminders and legal notices to some loan recipients,” he said.

He also said the MIC owned-Tafe College in Seremban managed to create more than 40,000 professionals to-date.

“The MIC will continue to place priority on education amongst the Indians,” he said, adding that he was happy that the target set by the party to create a graduate in each Indian family has gained momentum.

“In fact, there are more than one graduate in a family and many of them are professionals. The MIED itself has helped thousands of students to become doctors and lawyers,” he added.