Pelancaran Little India Brickfields oleh Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak dan PM India, Dr Manmohan Singh. Turut hadir Dato' Raja Nong Chik

Brickfields yang menjadi kawasan tumpuan utama kaum India di ibu negara yang kini berwajah baru diserikan seni ukiran pintu gerbang berwarna warni di sepanjang Jalan Brickfields yang direka hasil nasihat pakar ukiran dari India.

Lebih menarik, kedua-dua pemimpin menghadiahkan pancuran air setinggi 7.62 meter dengan arca flora dan fauna, di persimpangan Jalan Travers, Jalan Tun Sambanthan dan Jalan Brickfields sebagai mercu tanda utama Little India Brickfields.

Projek itu menjadikan seluruh kawasan Brickfields mengalami perubahan dari segi susun atur gerai, corak hiasan jalan raya, selain infrastruktur dinaikkan taraf terutama bagi menyelesaikan masalah kesesakan lalu lintas dan kekurangan tempat letak kenderaan.

Little India Brickfields kini bermandikan cahaya pada waktu malam, sekali gus menonjolkan imej dan seni budaya kaum India yang bertapak sejak ratusan tahun di negara ini.

Projek itu adalah cetusan idea Najib ketika melakukan tinjauan mesra ke Brickfields pada April tahun lalu, sehari selepas menjadi Perdana Menteri. Ia merangkumi kawasan berhampiran KL Sentral, hab pengangkutan di ibu negara dari Jalan Travers ke Jalan Tun Sambanthan dan dibangunkan dalam dua fasa oleh pemaju Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB) membabitkan kos RM35 juta.
Sementara itu, dalam ucapannya menganggap kehadiran Manmohan melancarkan Little India Brickfields adalah simbol hubungan kedua-dua negara yang semakin rapat.

“Majlis ini adalah simbolik kepada pembaharuan hubungan kedua-dua negara pada abad ke-21 yang sudah lama terjalin sejak ratusan tahun,” katanya.

Perdana Menteri turut berkata, bersesuaian dengan pelancaran itu, Brickfields kini memasuki era baru kerana ia bukan sekadar menjadi kawasan penempatan dan perniagaan kaum India, malah lokasi menarik pelancong asing.

Pelancaran Little India Brickfields oleh Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak dan PM India, Dr Manmohan Singh. Turut hadir Dato' Raja Nong Chik

• INFO: MoU sektor swasta Malaysia-India
• Quantum Sigma Sdn Bhd dengan ES Electronic (India) Pvt Ltd bagi menubuhkan kilang mengeluarkan panel solar dan palam jimat tenaga di Bentong Pahang. – Nilai: RM18 bilion.
• MK Land Holdings Bhd dengan Embassy Group of India bagi usaha sama membangunkan tanah seluas 120 hektar di Bangalore, India membina sekolah swasta, stesen minyak, stesen bas, kedai kejiranan, klinik, padang kriket dan landskap pejalan kaki. – Nilai: RM2 bilion.
• Budayatama Corporation Sdn Bhd dengan PEN Food Pvt Ltd bagi PEN Food bagi memberi nasihat dan menawarkan kepakaran dalam perniagaan menghasilkan campuran berkualiti tinggi baja biokomposit kepada Budayatama Corporation. Kilang akan dibina di Malaysia. – Nilai AS$31 juta.
• TH-NSTC Sdn Bhd dengan Davanam Constructions Pvt Ltd bagi membangunkan kediaman mewah bertaraf dunia yang densiti sangat rendah berserta rumah kelab yang diuruskan oleh General Hotels Management di bandar Enstek, Nilai membabitkan kawasan seluas kira-kira 80 hektar. – Nilai: RM1.5 bilion.
• Penerbangan Malaysia (MAS) dengan Tata Consultancy Services Sdn Bhd bagi kerjasama bidang teknologi dan khidmat nasihat.
• Universiti Tenaga Nasional Sdn Bhd dengan Institut Sumber dan Tenaga TERI bagi kerjasama pendidikan, penyelidikan, pembangunan kapasiti dan perundingan.
• IEM Training Center Sdn Bhd dengan Engineering Staff College of India bagi kerjasama bidang pembangunan berterusan jurutera di negara masing-masing.

Gambar dari: Commons Wikimedia

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Plus to that, there are quite a number of blogs that only write about foods and those blogs are famous, even to other countries. That’s why non-Malaysian said we are die-hard foodies and shopaholics.

Who said that?

January 28, 2010 14:19 PM

Kuala Lumpur On New York Times’ Must-see List For 2010

By Muin Abdul Majid

DUBAI, Jan 28 (Bernama) — Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, has been included in the top travel list compiled by the online version of The New York Times.

The daily recently named the vibrant and exotic Southeast Asian city among its “must-see destinations” this year in the latest edition of its annual travel list, “31 places to go in 2010″.

Besides Kuala Lumpur (or KL as it is commonly called), other destinations on the list included Damascus, Copenhagen, Norway, Los Angeles and Costa Rica, according to a statement from Tourism Malaysia.

The travel-section report described Kuala Lumpur as an increasingly popular destination among jetsetters in the region and one of the area’s “coolest and friendliest cities”.

It also described KL-ites as “die-hard foodies…and shopaholics, spending weekends trawling boutiques for the latest looks emerging from the sophisticated local fashion scene”.

The KL report was written by Naomi Lindt, a travel writer who focuses on Asia, said Tourism Malaysia.

KL’s “robust street food scene that straddles Chinese, Indian and Malay flavours” caught the attention of The New York Times, along with the burgeoning local fashion scene in the city, led by fashion designers Bernard Chandran, Khoon Hooi and Melinda Looi.

Bangsar was also highlighted for its cluster of fashion stores along Jalan Telawi 2 and 3.

– BERNAMA

This is a good news to us, and we should be happy about it. We’re being acknowledged by people, so what should we do now? Improve our country’s social and economical aspects, and Malaysia will become one of the leading countries in economy sector.

Raja Nong Chik talking to the press on Labuan’s Welfare.

LABUAN: A total of RM10mil has been allocated to resolve the squatter problem in Labuan, said Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Raja Datuk Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin.

He said the allocation was to build low-cost flats over four phases in Kampung Sungai Bangat.

“We still have squatters in Labuan and efforts are in the pipeline to resolve the problem,” he said after launching quarters for civil servants and the extension of the National Land Code to Labuan in Kampung Bukit Kuda here.

Areas with squatters in Labuan include Kampung Rancha-Rancha, Kampung Sungai Bangat, Kampung Muslim and Kampung Kiansam.

Sumber: Bernama

Do you know Barbara McKay? She’s a famous artist, you know. If you claimed you know arts, you should’ve know her or have been to her gallery or exhibition.

Last week, I went to her exhibition at Central Market. It was splendid!

Barbara McKay's leaflet

The drawing that she used for the front cover is really extraordinary. Oh! I took a picture of the drawing.

One of her drawing

I took a few minutes to grasp the subject of the painting. And all I can say that the painting deserved to be the theme for her exhibition this time.

Ok! Let’s go to the real thing now.

The venue

And the front look.

The exhibition

Well, I went there on weekdays (I think on last thursday) so obviously less people but if you go there on weekends, there will be more people. But unfortunately, her exhibition was till last friday. (that’s why i put the title like that ^_^ )

Some of her paintings

I really like her paintings but some of them, I can’t quite figure out the subject. Oh! I forgot to mention that the theme for these paintings is Kuala Lumpur. She has been in KL since January this year and put everything in her paintings within 3 weeks. And this week, she and her husband will go to Sarawak. I hope she have fun staying in Malaysia and guess what she said, she said KL is her second hometown.

People visiting her exhibition

Oh, did I mention that our FT Minister’s wife, Datin Nafesah was there when I went to Barbara’s exhibition. I heard that she really like Barbara’s paintings and planned to buy one. (or a few, I’m not sure) In the picture, Barbara herself explained the meaning of her paintings to Datin Nafesah.

And here are some more of the paintings.

One of her paintings

One of her paintings

I kinda like this one because the colour contrast that she used.

The guestbook

My friend and I wrote something in the guestbook, hoping that she continues showing her arts to the world.

Have you ever watch Cuci the musical theatre? Here is some words from the people involved.

Giving Cuci his musical best
KIREN KAUR

BIG-name television stars are sharing the stage, or wire harnesses in this case, for the first time in Cuci The Musical.

The show is based on the 2008 film which grossed RM2.8million at the local box office.

(From left) Adibah Nor, Awie, Hans Isaac and AC Mizal in a scene from Cuci The Musical at Istana Budaya

Says Hans Isaac, actor, producer and owner of Tall Order Productions: “It was always going to be a musical to me. The film took only two weeks to write. The musical has taken a whole lot more time and we are currently at the twelfth draft of the script.”

The four leading actors all reprise their celluloid roles — Awie as Jojo, A.C. Mizal as C’tan, Afdlin Shauki as Fairil and Hans as Khai.

Signing these actors early in the pre-production stage was crucial to maintain the successful masala of the film which bagged two awards at the Malaysian Film Festival (Best New Director for Isaac and Best Screenplay).

The supporting roles of CJ and her assistant are played by Vanida Imran and Adibah Noor respectively with Harith Iskander playing the part of baddie (if there really is one) Wira, owner of WiraMaju Enterprise, arch rival of Cuci-Cuci Services.

Those who have watched the film know that it is a simple story of how four young guys band together to form a cleaning company.

The leader of the group Fairil (Afdlin) is the visionary with the ultimate aim of winning the KLCC window washing contract.

“Although the musical stays pretty much true to the film, you can expect a shock in the third part of Act 1,” says Hans, his face shining with enthusiasm as he talks about the production.

It is hard to believe that before the show opened last Friday, Hans had spent two days in hospital after collapsing with exhaustion.

“This is the biggest production ever in Malaysia — biggest budget and biggest production, all funded by me and my company, all my savings.

“I’ve not said no to anyone in the production and I only ask the best of them. While Puteri Gunung Ledang set the standard, I aim to raise the bar and pull out all the stops with Cuci.”

The original score is composed by Douglas Lim and Pacai (Dr Syed Ahmad Faizal Al-Attas) with Janji Pada Umi listed as one of Hans personal favourites.

“Singing and dancing are my personal fears so for this musical I’ve had to brave that hurdle, calm down and give it my best,” he says.

The musical, which ends its run on Nov 8, will be performed in Malay with English subtitles. Tickets, from RM43-RM253, are available at the Istana Budaya box office (03-40265558) and at Axcess (03-77115000).

Source: NST

The musical theatre had ended a few days ago but I really respect Afdlin Shauki for his success.

Hi,

Have you ever heard of The Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM)? If you never heard of this organisation, ADFM is an organisation that aiming to provide information and help to Caregivers of Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia patients.

You can search around about the organisation, but if you’re too busy here are the links for you to click.

ADFM ‘s website

ADFM’s blog

Then, ADFM is organising an event. Of course to help Caregivers of Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia patients. So how about a round of entertainment plus something to give to the needed?

Actually I found out about the event in here.

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Monday November 9, 2009

Charity concert in aid of Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation

By JADE CHAN

THE audience is in for a treat next weekend at the Unforgettable: Royal Charity Concert as they walk down a musical memory lane of light classics, popular favourites and sheer symphonic magic.

World-class concert: (From left) AlzheimerÍs Disease Foundation Malaysia trustee Toh Puan Dr Aishah Ong, Wendy Ong, Pook, Sean, ADFM president Datuk Jeffrey Ng and ADFM trustee SS Leong having a chat after the press conference.

The Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM) is organising the event at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre’s Plenary Hall on Nov 14 and 15 to celebrate the 64th birthday of the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, as well as in aid of the non-profit organisation’s fund.

The concert will feature the Kuala Lumpur International Festival Orchestra, an all-star ensemble of 66 acclaimed international and local musicians led by Malaysian-born, New York-based conductor Eugene Pook, with guest soloists including virtuoso violinist Jessica Lee from the United States and Malaysian singer Sean Ghazi.

“It will be a musical journey of a variety of styles, eras and languages, from classical pieces to movie soundtracks, to oldies and pop numbers enhanced with a symphonic twist,” said Pook, who has established a versatile career for himself as a music producer, organiser, music arranger, orchestra conductor and clarinetist.

“We are presenting classical music in a modern way to reach out to the audience.

“The songs for the show were specially arranged by international arrangers from Britain and Malaysia for the concert,” he said, adding that the show would last about an hour an a half (not including intermission).

Pook revealed that the concert would feature two acts, with the first half comprising an introduction to a concert overture, followed by selections from the Broadway musical Phantom of the Opera, and a couple of instrumental solo work.

“We will be playing Russian composer Mikhail Glinka’s Overture: Russlan and Ludmila and English composer Gustav Holst’s Mars (from the Planets),” he said.

“Lee, the 2005 Concert Artists Guild International Competition first prize winner, will be playing two contrasting solo works – Czardas, a Hungarian dance number and Cinema Paradiso, a romantic breathtaking piece – while being accompanied by the orchestra.”

Vocalist Estee Pook will then present two songs – the theme from New York New York, and a Chinese tune entitled Zhang Sheng Xiang Qi (When the Applause Begins).

On the second act, Pook said the programme will kick off with a tribute to John Williams, the composer of memorable movie scores for Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Superman and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

Blending smoothness and soul with the orchestra is AIM award-winning jazz singer Sean Ghazi, who will be presenting a selection of English and Malay favourites.

Currently residing in Los Angeles, he returns to sing for a good cause and promises to enthral the audience with classics such as Bridge Over Troubled Water, Unforgettable, Sway and songs from his debut album like Hujan Di Tengahari and Ku Impikan Bintang - his cover of the Pink Martini hit Let’s Never Stop Falling in Love.

“I picked the songs that would suit the genre and evening, some of which had to be rearranged to fit a large-scale orchestra,” said Sean.

Pook personally chose the 66 musicians who come from Singapore, Thailand, Japan, the United States, Hong Kong, Poland and Germany. They will be joined by accomplished local performers from the National Symphony Orchestra and Penang State Symphony Orchestra.

“There have been some challenges in terms of coordinating with musicians from around the globe and we’re only rehearsing together two days before the show,” he said.

“But they are experienced professionals who accepted the invitation to perform because they wanted to showcase their talent in Malaysia and contribute to charity,” said Pook.

ADFM patron Puan Sri Wendy Ong noted that the concert’s theme – Unforgettable – signifies the struggles of Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers.

The Star’s Fit 4 Life and Sin Chew Daily are the media partners.

The main sponsors are SP Setia, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and Innovate Solutions.

Tickets for the charity concert on Nov 14 (Saturday) are priced from RM83 to RM383, while those for the royal charity gala night on Nov 15 (Sunday) are priced from RM100 to RM1,200.

Readers of The Star are entitled to a 20% discount when they present the newspaper’s masthead for issues between Nov 5 and 13 when buying the tickets at Axcess outlets.

For ticket enquiries and purchases, call Axcess Ticket at 03-7711 5000 or visit www.axcess.com.my.

Source: The Star

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Salam 1Malaysia,

I’ve always wondered about what kind of people who support themselves by doing some exhibitions. What kind of exhibition are they showing us? What are their inspiration? How can they concentrate on only arts and their products?

Certain people can’t understand what they are thinking and how arts keep them going this far. But this artist is really rare. You can’t find it anywhere else.

Home is where his art is

2009/10/29

KUALA LUMPUR: As a teenager, because of his ability to speak and write in English he was called “orang putih” (white man) by his Orang Asli community.

Artist Shahar Koyok, who is from the Temuan tribe, learnt the language during his secondary school education at a boarding school in Banting.

Shahar Koyok presents his first solo art exhibition, ‘Through My Eyes’, which focuses mainly on the Orang Asli’s struggle to find their place in the 21st century. — Picture by Supian Ahmad

“It is a blessing for me to be able to master the language. It has indirectly helped me to present the complexity of the Orang Asli issues in my work, as well as to share their stories with the rest of the world,” said Shahar who is fondly known as Shaq.

The 24-year-old is depicting the difficulties his community is facing in finding its place in the modern world through his art.

His first solo art exhibition entitled “Through My Eyes” is on until Saturday at RA Fine Arts gallery in Jalan Aman, off Jalan Tun Razak.

Over 30 pieces are displayed. One of them is an oil painting entitled “From Sublime To Ridiculous”, in which the Orang Asli’s struggle to cope in the 21st century are expressed through the scene of a head-to-head combat between an Orang Asli warrior and a drag queen.

“I’m trying to tell the viewer that the Orang Asli are determined to preserve their heritage even if the foreign and Western cultures are having negative impact on the community,” he said at a recent preview of his works at the gallery.

Another interesting piece is called “Wuz Dat?, an acrylic painting of three Orang Asli hunters trying to shoot down a shimmering disco ball dangling brightly above them with their hunting blowpipes.

The message the young artist is trying to convey in this is “clash of cultures”.

“I am showing the dark side of modernity, which I think has contributed to the identity crises faced by many Orang Asli youth today.

“Adapting to alien culture could diminish their cultural roots,” he said.

Shaq still lives with his family in the close-knit Temuan tribe family in Pulau Kempas, Banting.

His interest in art began in his childhood, when he drew on any available surface — except paper. The walls of his home, drawn on with a piece of used charcoal, were not spared his artistic expression.

“I drew dreams. My dreams, to be exact, of my world, my heritage and my kampung surrendering to modernity. It was what I wanted my people to have, to be part of the country’s development and modernisation,” he said.

As he grew up, however, his art took a satirical slant, filled with underlying messages of the chaos that his village has been thrown into by the development and modernisation that he so wanted as a child.

“I have six siblings and I am the second youngest. My father is an oil palm farmer and my mother was a tailor who also wove baskets to supplement the family income.

“My childhood was a rich one… I went on hunting trips, learnt to set animal traps, and catch wild boars and porcupines. I also learnt about plants and herbs, and how to dig ditches for their irrigation,” he said.

Shaq, who will be graduating from Universiti Teknologi Mara, Shah Alam, next month, knows he has been fortunate to have received a good education.

But as the only artist to emerge from the Orang Asli community, he also knows he has a lot more to do for himself and his beloved people.

Source: NST

See? He knows his objectives and he knows what keep him going. So even though we don’t understand what inspires him or how can he keeps on stay on his track, we should take him as inspiration. We should do the same either in life, or works.

Hi,

I found this interesting event in newspaper today. I never heard of this event but it suprised me that they even got this event from last year and I don’t know if they even hold this event the year before. I hope this kind of event will help develop our art industry, thus world will acknowledge our arts.

Taken from NST Online.

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All things Japanese at bazaar

2009/10/26

KUALA LUMPUR: The Japan Charity Fiesta and Bazaar 2009 will be held next month.

Once again, the organisers, The Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur and the Japanese Women’s Association, are inviting the public to their 37th charity bazaar to experience Japanese culture and give something back to the less fortunate.

From branded Japanese products, fashionable Harajuku kimonos and Japanese delicacies to Japanese games, there will be plenty of activities to keep visitors occupied at the bazaar which will be held at the Grand Ballroom, Hotel Nikko between 11am and 3pm on Nov 8.

“The annual Japanese Bazaar is well known for its hand-sewn items, handicraft, homemade Japanese food and merchandise contributed by Japanese manufacturers,” said Japanese Women’s Association president Chieko Kiyofuji at a press conference held recently to promote the event.

Many of the products which include items such as hair dryers, irons and cordless phones would be sold at 20 to 50 per cent below the market prices, she added.

Every year, the organising committee planned new programmes to entertain bazaar shoppers, said Kiyofuji.

“This year, the committee has introduced new activities such as traditional Japanese toy-making and ennichi which is played during Japanese festivals.”

Visitors can also have their blood pressure and cholesterol checked and gauge the state of their health at the Check Your Health corner.

“Last year, we had more than 3,500 shoppers and this year, we are expecting even more guests,” added Kiyofuji.

Proceeds from the bazaar will benefit 31 Malaysian charitable and non-governmental organisations.

To join in the fun, get a ticket by making a donation of RM12 before Nov 8 or RM15 on the day of the bazaar.

Tickets can be purchased from the counter of Japan Club, Jaya Jusco Supermarkets in Mid Valley, 1Utama and Taman Maluri and Isetan i-club at KLCC and Lot 10.

Source: NST

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Here is some pics that i found while ‘googleing’ the event.

The poster for the event - last year

The poster really emits some kind of  ‘japanese’ feeling, rite?

The banner for the event - last year

I hope the event this year will be successful, at least achieve their targets.

The people who went last year

We can see mix of nations there.

Bonzai? Hmmm..

I’m not sure if this is their culture or just some business there.. ^_^

Yup, this one for sure their culture.

Sweet ^-^