Kampung Jalan Karim

During my younger days I was staying in a kampung area where people of different races live in old Malay-styled wooden houses. The place my family stays in is house number 2267. It is an attap-roof stilts wooden house. Actually there are two "semi-detached" houses which shared the same house number. Initially we were staying at the house on the right. This is where my late father passed away in 1970. After our next door Indian family neighbour shifted out, we moved next door to the vacated house. An elderly kuih-making old lady with three grown up sons moves into the house that we vacated earlier.

There is a bathroom in front of the house on the right which both families co-shared. Modern toilet facilities are unheard of during that time and all houses uses the traditional method where all excrements are collected in a "tong najis" (bucket). The midnight soil will be collected by the municipal workers in the early morning between 2am -4am. Sometimes if the workers are not careful and spilled the midnight soil onto the roads surface, it really smells like shit in the morning when we walks past to take our school bus.

As far as I know the so-called "kampung" do not have a proper name but there is one kampung road by the name of Jalan Karim. This small road is accessible from Jalan Maharaja Lela (formerly known as Jalan Batak Rabit) which is one of the main trunk road linking Teluk Intan (formerly Telok Anson). My "kampung" is about four kilometres to the Teluk Intan town centre.

The kampung Jalan Karim run parallel to the stream Sungai Pak Kalong which is a tributary of Sungai Perak. In the absence of computers, Internet and Play Stations, Sungai Pak Kalong was one of our main play ground or swimming pool. During high tide when Sungai Pak Kalong reaches a depth of seven feet, the boys will be having a great time swimming or just playing at the banks of the river.

For those keen on fishing, Sungai Pak Kalong is a boon as the river is a major place to catch fresh water fishes like haruan, ikan keli, sepat and puyu. Since Sungai Perak flows side by side with Jalan Maharaja Lela, fishing accessories like hooks and fishing lines are easily obtainable from one of the sundry shops along the road. We will use whatever discarded wooden staff we can find from a nearby sawmill or cut a small tree branch or long twig to tie the fishing line. As bait for the fishes, we just digged the ground around our houses for earthworms. Within less than half an hour of digging, a bagful of fishbait worms will be available.

When the river reaches ankle length during low tide, some will take the opportunity to scoop the fishes with whatever basket that they can get hold from their house. If one's lucky there will be the surprise catch of the day in the basket, an udang galah. The freshwater prawn move along with the in flow of the tide from Sungai Perak and hides amongst the plants below the river banks during low tide.

Kampung Jalan Karim will be flooded at least twice a year. It is not like those life threatening flood which happens in Johor or Pahang in recent years but just about one to two feet deep. This is as long as we do not swim in the river during specially high tide. The river can be fun but can be dangerous too. I was nearly drown in that river once. I slipped from the side of the river towards the middle of the river bed. Luckily one of my brothers friend caught hold of me and pulled me up.

At the right end of the Jalan Karim kampung is the railway tracks which links Teluk Intan to Tapah town. The railway station is about two kilometres away from the kampung. A railway bridge runs across the Sungai Pak Kalong. During the occasion when a train crosses the bridge while we are swimming, we will stay under the bridge until the train crosses. Imagine the sound from the wheel thumping on the tracks and the metal bridge shaking and vibrating for at least one to two minutes. Those were the days.

The railway track is no more there but replaced with a tarred lane. No one will ever wants to swim in the Sungai Pak Kalong nowadays. The river is so polluted with effluents from nearby factories and motor workshops for so many years that the river water turned from muddy brown to oily black. It is no more looks like a river but a dirty longkang (drain). What a sad case for my water playground.- Loka

Public hearings just for window dressing

Below is the full press statement issued by the Selangor Buddhist Development Committee (SBDC) in regards to the lack of response from the local authorities towards the objections submitted by the Buddhist community on the Draft Local Plans 2020 by the relevant authorities.  About 40 Buddhist community leaders and devotees were present during the press conference. The Press Conference was held on 9 Dec 2010 at the Subang Jaya Buddhist Association which was chaired by Loka Ng Sai Kai, Chairman of the SBDC.

PRESS STATEMENT

Local authorities lack of response towards the public hearing objections on the Draft Local Plan 2020(Lack of Structural Provisions for Buddhist Places of Worship)

9th December 2010

SBDC (& its precursor, Buddhist Committee on MPSJ Local Draft Plan 2020) had submitted the objections with over 4000 signatories on January 28th 2008. The MPSJ DLP 2020 public hearing was held on June 22nd 2009. The Public Hearing Panel Chairman YB Iskandar Abd Samad stated the Selangor State Planning Committee (SPC) would decide if the objection(s) were relevant, if not, be discussed on a case-by-case basis (Attachment 1). SDBC submitted a letter (Attachment 2) to enquire the matter on June 10th 2010 but received no response. The gazetted MPSJ Local Plan 2020 is expected to be published soon with minimal considerations to SBDC’s proposals and objections (Attachment 3).

SBDC subsequently submitted similar objections to the MPS, MPAJ, MPKj, MDHS & MDKL DLP 2020 on January 31st 2010 (Attachment 4). To date, SBDC had attended the MBPJ, MDHS, MPS, MPKj & MPAJ Draft Local Plans 2020 public hearings on March 8th, June 14th, June 28th, July 8th & Nov 1st 2010 respectively. On all occasions, the Chairman YB Iskandar Abd Samad, accompanied by the Selangor Jabatan Perancangan Bandar & Desa Semenanjung (JBDS) director, Datuk Mohd Jaafar Mohd Atan, mentioned that SBDC would be consulted further on their objections. However it is with huge disappointment that SBDC was never invited for further consultations and NO such discussion(s) with any of the above-mentioned local councils had taken place since then.

Furthermore, responding to the authorities’ indifference attitude, more than 1023 residents of Putra Heights & USJ Subang Jaya have petitioned to request Datuk Mohd Jaafar to facilitate Putra Heights Buddhist Society’s land applications with the MPSJ and Petaling Land office for an update. There has been NO response or feedback since these applications were made in June & August 2010.

In view of such unfavourable developments which lacks of transparency and accountability, SBDC wishes to highlight the following

1. With reference to religious practice, we urged the State Planning Committee and Jabatan Perancangan Bandar & Desa Selangor to be more vigourous and professional in adhering to its own guidelines in relation to the provisions for building of places of worship for non-Muslims, which is one place of worship for every 2,600 devotees or 5,000 residents.

We emphasized that there are needs for more free-standing Buddhist temples (Vihara Buddha) with sufficient facilities to cater for the spiritual and religious education needs of the Buddhist Community in Selangor.

2. SBDC (& more than 4000 Buddhist objectors) urged the relevant authorities to be fully accounted for and explain why MPSJ (& other local councils) have NOT seriously considered SBDC’s objections. As such, the communiqués and consultation for their decision(s) MUST be done with more transparency and accountability.

We therefore seek the State Planning Committee to take cognizance of this matter seriously and listen to the voice of the people.

3. SBDC reiterates our objections to the usage of the term “Rumah Ibadat (tokong / vihara / kuil / gereja / gudwara )” in Draft Local Plan Majlis Perbandaran Selayang 2020 & all other draft local plans in Selangor. This will further dilute the Buddhist Vihara structural provisions in these local draft plans.

4. SBDC also urges the SPC, Selangor Land Office and the Jawatankuasa Hal Ehwal Selain Islam Negeri Selangor to clearly elucidate in writing the gazette mechanisms & provisions of land for non-Muslim places of worship.

We hereby stressed that the SBDC are prepared to engaged and work closely with the State and the relevant authorities for Buddhist temples to be built on land allocated by the Selangor State Government which are designated for places of worship. As stakeholders in this state, all we seek is the State government’s attention, understanding and compassion towards the needs of our community to have proper land to build and manage our Buddhist temples.

Buddha's Vacana on race supremacy

Are a person's birth, race, culture and religion the criterias to dictates one's supremacy and nobility over others? Many years ago during my university days when I began to study the Sutras which are the teachings of the Buddha as retold by His disciple. One of the earliest sutra which I studied was the Vasala Sutra (Discourse on Outcasts). The last verse of the said sutra which I still remembers by heart is as follows:

"Not by birth is one an outcast;

not by birth is one a Brahmin.

By deed one becomes an outcast,

by deed one becomes an Brahmin."

The term Brahmin denotes a certain caste or class of people who are considered the nobles and are positioned higher than other castes in the society in India especially in olden days.

So when certain people of certain race from certain area starts to claim they are more supreme than others due to their race and place of birth, it makes me wonder what will happen if each and every race and tribe in the world also declares they are a class above all and more noble than others. Will there be a Nobility Olympics so that each race competes against each other to decide who is the "noblest and supreme" of them all. Just like the Winter and Summer Olympics, there should be many events. The events can include the Best in Shouting Aloud, Most Publicity Seeker, Most Intimidating, Most Racist, Most Extreme, Most Rabble Rousers, Most Nonsensical Statements, Most Opportunists, Highest Mob Mentality, Smallest Pea Brain and whatever long list of other events that can be cooked up by these self declared "nobles and supremacies". But I doubt it will include most respectable, most decent, most well behaved, most polite, most dignify, most intelligent, most understanding and more importantly, Most Wise. - Loka

Vasala Sutta

Discourse on Outcasts

Translated from the Pali by Piyadassi Thera

Thus have I heard:

On one occasion the Blessed One was living near Savatthi at Jetavana at Anathapindika's monastery. Then in the forenoon the Blessed One having dressed himself, took bowl and (double) robe, and entered the city of Savatthi for alms. Now at that time a fire was burning, and an offering was being prepared in the house of the Brahman Aggikabharadvaja. Then the Blessed One, while on his alms round, came to the Brahman's residence. The Brahman seeing the Blessed One some way off said this: "Stay there, you shaveling, stay there you wretched monk, stay there you outcast." When he spoke thus the Blessed One said to the Brahman: "Do you know, Brahman, who an outcast is and what the conditions are that make an outcast?" "No, indeed, Venerable Gotama, I do not know who an outcast is or the conditions that make an outcast. It is good if Venerable Gotama were to explain the Dhamma to me so that I may know who an outcast is and what the conditions are that make an outcast."

"Listen then, Brahman, and pay attention, I will speak."

"Yes, Venerable Sir," replied the Brahman.

1. "Whosoever is angry, harbors hatred, and is reluctant to speak well of others (discredits the good of others), perverted in views, deceitful -- know him as an outcast.

2. "Whosoever in this world kills living beings, once born or twice born, in whom there is no sympathy for living beings -- know him as an outcast.

3. "Whosoever destroys and besieges villages and hamlets and becomes notorious as an oppressor -- know him as an outcast.

4. "Be it in the village, or in the forest, whosoever steals what belongs to others, what is not given to him -- know him as an outcast.

5. "Whosoever having actually incurred a debt runs away when he is pressed to pay, saying, 'I owe no debt to you' -- know him as an outcast.

6. "Whosoever coveting anything, kills a person going along the road, and grabs whatever that person has -- know him as an outcast.

7. "He who for his own sake or for the sake of others or for the sake of wealth, utters lies when questioned as a witness -- know him as an outcast.

8. "Whosoever by force or with consent associates with the wives of relatives or friends -- know him as an outcast.

9. "Whosoever being wealthy supports not his mother and father who have grown old -- know him as an outcast.

10. "Whosoever strikes and annoys by (harsh) speech, mother, father, brother, sister or mother-in-law or father-in-law -- know him as an outcast.

11. "Whosoever when questioned about what is good, says what is detrimental, and talks in an evasive manner- know him as an outcast.

12. "Whosoever having committed an evil deed, wishes that it may not be known to others, and commits evil in secret -- know him as an outcast.

13. "Whosoever having gone to another's house, and partaken of choice food, does not honor that host by offering food when he repays the visit -- know him as an outcast.

14. "Whosoever deceives by uttering lies, a Brahman or an ascetic, or any other mendicant -- know him as an outcast.

15. "Whosoever when a Brahman or ascetic appears during mealtime angers him by harsh speech, and does not offer him (any alms) -- know him as an outcast.

16. "Whosoever in this world, shrouded in ignorance, speaks harsh words (asatam) or falsehood expecting to gain something -- know him as an outcast.

17. "Whosoever debased by his pride, exalts himself and belittles others -- know him as an outcast.

18. "Whosoever is given to anger, is miserly, has base desires, and is selfish, deceitful, shameless and fearless (in doing evil) -- know him as an outcast.

19. "Whosoever reviles the Enlightened One (the Buddha), or a disciple of the Buddha, recluse or a householder -- know him as an outcast.

20. "Whosoever not being an Arahant, a Consummate One, pretends to be so, is a thief in the whole universe -- he is the lowest of outcasts.

21. "Not by birth is one an outcast; not by birth is one a Brahman. By deed one becomes an outcast, by deed one becomes a Brahman.

22. "Know ye by the example I now cite (the fact that by birth one is not an outcast). There was an outcast's son, Sopaka, who became known as Matanga.

23. "This Matanga attained the highest fame so difficult to gain. Many were the warriors (kshatriyas) and Brahmans who went to attend on him.

24. "Mounting the celestial chariot (the Noble Eightfold path, and driving) along the passion-free high road, (Sopaka, now a monk), reached the Brahma realm having given up sense desires.

25. "His (lowly) birth did not prevent him from being reborn in the Brahma realm. There are Brahmans born in the family of preceptors, kinsmen of (veda) hymns.

26. "They are often seen committing evil deeds. In this life itself they are despised, in the next they are born in an evil state of existence. High birth does not prevent them from falling into a woeful state, or from censure.

27. "Not by birth is one an outcast; not by birth is one a Brahman. By deed one becomes an outcast, by deed one becomes an Brahman."

When the Buddha had thus spoken, the Brahman Aggikabharadvaja said to the Blessed One: "Excellent, O Venerable Gotama, excellent! Just as, O Venerable Gotama, a man were to set upright what had been overturned, or were to reveal what had been hidden, or were to point the way to one who had gone astray, or were to hold an oil lamp in the dark so that those with eyes may see things, even so in many ways has the Venerable Gotama expounded the Dhamma, the doctrine. I take refuge in the Venerable Gotama, the Dhamma, and the Sangha, the Order. May the Venerable Gotama accept me as a lay follower who has taken refuge from this day onwards while life lasts."

Managing an expanding Rocket

nThe growth in membership and branches of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) since the breakthru 12th general election in 2008 creates a new challenge to the party especially for its leaders in Pakatan Rakyat ruled states particularly in Selangor and Penang.

For a party whose membership some 30 years ago was just more than two thousand, the current monumental growth in membership is surely a situation which many veteran  DAP leaders can never imagined. Previously with small membership it is easier to manage the party in terms of secretariat affairs and branches coordination. Fast forward to year 2010 when the membership and branches had rocketed to such numbers which is unseen in DAP's history. The party HQ  and some state secretariats workload must have increased tremendously in processing and managing the new membership and branches applications. While DAP works towards a progressive and people friendly policy development in the state and federal governments, the party is now faced with the challenge to further enhanced its office management and coordination at all levels of party hierarchy.

In Selangor itself, the branches had mutiplied from 40 branches before the March 2008 general election to the 145 branches which are sending delegates to the DAP Selangor State Convention this weekend. On top of that, at least 50 new branches are still awaiting registration by the Registrar of Societies. Assuming averagely there are at least 60 members in each branch, there are now at least 12,000 members just in Selangor. Just like any other organisations, managing an expanded membership list requires more manpower,  financial resources, better office management system and organisational skills.

Lau Weng San, Selangor DAP Secretary and Kg Tunku ADUN shoulders huge challenge 

in preparing for the 1k plus delegates attending the Selangor state convention.

With the setting up of new branches, more delegates will also be attending state conventions as each branch are entitled to send seven delegates. As such, this means larger venues are required to accommodate the enlarged delegates attending state conventions. Larger venues and more delegates translated to higher cost to organise the conventions. Sooner or later DAP will need to review its constitution in relation to the number of delegates entitlement for each branches to attend the state and national conventions as overwhelming delegates will be too heavy a task for the state secretary and a costly affair too.

For instance, what will be the scenario if in the future there are 500 branches in Selangor? That will be translated to 3,500 voting delegates! If each member took 10 seconds to select 15 out of 50 candidates and finally drop it into the ballot box, that will consumed slightly more than nine hours just to cast the votes! For the Selangor state convention this weekend, will 2.5 hours be enough for the whole election process to be over? That's assuming every delegates already decided and know who and where to mark the 15 candidates of their choice from the list of 50 names in multiple pages. If Lau Weng San is still the state secretary by then he will really need more assistants and full time secretariat members to manage the secretariat and organised the state conventions.

Assumed in the near future DAP as part of Pakatan Rakyat already takes over the Federal government  and its membership surged to 2,000 branches with at least 60 members in every branch. During the DAP triennial congress which elects 20 national leaders, every branch will be entitled to send 4 delegates and the total delegates will be 8,000! DAP by then will need to convene its congress at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil and a whole day for all to cast the votes! If that's the case, PKR might need to book all the available stadiums in the country just for their divisions direct election!

On another note, while it is indeed a good thing for DAP to be able to attract more people to sign up as members, it need to ensure these new members understands and accept the party's ideology and direction for the nation. It will be detrimental not only to the party but also the prospect of managing the country with a greater hope if newly enlisted members brings in certain political culture and approaches which the rakyat has been detesting all these years. It will be such a pity if any branches, new or old, existed all in name but only for the purpose of sending delegates to cast votes during state or national elections. For a political party to be relevant to the man in the street, local branch leaders are the frontline agents of change and need to engage the grassroots and the constituents continuously. This can be achieved by having community programs with the residents and to increase the citizens political awareness and participation especially in the democratic electoral process.

For all the candidates who offered themselves for the thousand plus delegates to elect them as state committee members, they need to think deeper than just a political position and government appointments but how to manage a growing party in terms of memberships, branches and also possibly larger financial resources. As state government leaders, there are many salaried civil servants providing the backbone and administrative support. But for a political party these resources are limited and may be too costly to even think about it.

For a party which is consolidating its power based in the state and strengthening its machinery, it will need more than mere slogans and fiery speeches but the capability to provide examplary leadership and good organisational and administrative skills for the party.  Not just the know how to lead but to manage the party well too. - Loka

Note: The blogger had organised many conventions and annual general meetings for NGOs, locally and internationally for the past 20 years and are aware of the needs and challenges faced to ensure the respective events proceed smoothly, especially during election year. Anyway, the blogger might have attended the opening ceremonies but had never organised any conventions for any political parties so far.

Images of Sri Lanka

 Landed in Colombo via UFO?

 Towards the pinnacle of wisdom

 Buddhism is part of our daily lives

 Tuk-tuk and train side by side along the sea front, container ship at the horizon.

 Fishing in the sunset

 Sri Lanka flying high

 March forward together

 The Buddhist flag was first conceptualised in Sri Lanka

Buddhist viharas in Sri Lanka for prayers and contemplation

Not to be missed....Sri Lankan tea

Turning around Sri Lanka

After going through years of internal strife that causes the economy to tumbled, Sri Lanka is set to forge ahead after peace arrives two years ago. After years of arm conflict against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ( LTTE), Sri Lanka is now going through a renewal and reconstruction process which expected to bring more development to the country.

It is with high hopes that the people of Sri Lanka re-elected the popular President Mahinda Rajapakse for a second term of office months ago which inauguration ceremony was held last Friday near the sea front.

The last time I went to Sri Lanka was more than 10 years ago and the impression that Colombo, the capital city gaves me was a very tense feeling to be at the place that time. During the flight home after attending the World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth 16th General Conference recently, an Sri Lankan engineer in his 30s sat beside me. He is visiting his supplier in Subang Jaya to quality check on the lamp posts which his company is procuring from the Malaysian factory. His company was recently awarded a contract by the Sri Lankan government to built new street lightings along Colombo city roads as part of the re-construction process.

During the flight, he confided that before the LTTE was decimated, his mother was always very worried each time he walks out from home as bombings were happening regularly in Colombo and he might be the next victim as the bombings usually claims innocent pedestrians and members of the public. Now the fear is at the minimal as bombing in public places has been close to non existence for the last two years.

Many lives has been lost due to the 30 years internal strife. It would not be surprising if every Sri Lankan has lost at least one of their family members or known of someone who lost some love ones to the war. The three wheeler or "tuk-tuk" driver who fetch my Thai buddy Anurut and myself to the McDonalds also lost one of his brother to the war.

With his second term in office just being officially inaugurated, President Mahinda Rajapakse gripped on the country's future is as firm as ever and his leadership is expected to bring the long overdue progress to the people of Sri Lanka where about 77% of  of them are following the Buddhist faith. - Loka

Serdang Spiritual Connection

With the appointment as an Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya councillor, I  was also appointed as chairman for MPSJ's Zone 24 Residents Committee. Zone 24 is one of the 24 zones within the Seri Kembangan state constituency which constituents are mostly Chinese especially from  the Hakka clan. Seri Kembangan is part of the Serdang parliamentary constituency which also includes Bangi and Balakong state seats. Zone 24 can be said as the "last frontier" of MPSJ as the immediate Balakong neighborhood is under the administration of Majlis Perbandaran Kajang (MPKj).

At Zone 24,  the first place that comes to my mind was the Mines Resort City which was built on a former open cast tin mine. Within the resort city are various tourist related attractions including the Mines Wonderland, Capital Retail (previously Mines Shopping Fair ), Mines Wellness Hotel and other attractions. Other residential areas in Zone 24 includes Serdang Lama and Taman Sungei Besi Indah where the Zone 24 community centre is situated.

Interestingly my linkage to Zone 24 has been there for more than 10 years ago.

                                                        Source: The Sun, 30 July1996

 

In July 1996 I initiated and organised the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia's anniversary celebration rally held at the Mines Wonderland, a very popular theme park during that time. By then I was already in leadership positions of the Buddhist youth organisation's national council and the state committee. About 1,800 YBAM members and their families were provided free entrance to the Mines Wonderland for the rally held at the theme park's amphitheatre. A team of young volunteers especially from the Subang Jaya Buddhist Association was with me throughout the night to prepare the event venue. On event day, buses from all over the country arrives as early as 7am to take part in the rally.

                                               Source : K Sri Dhammananda - A Pictorial Retrospect

 

The highlight of the day that receives a standing ovation and thunderous applauses was the speech given by the Most Venerable K Sri Dhammananda who was also the Religious Patron of YBAM. For those who attended that memorable morning, that moment was something that we can cherished and remembers for a long time. A day when we were deeply very proud and happy to declared ourselves as a Buddhist, especially as Buddhist youth.

Source : Guang Ming Daily 30 July 1996

But then nothing is permanent. Since the demised of the late venerable and silence of his lion's roar, the environment in the community has been anything but an absence of national leadership and direction; feeling of void and emptiness ( too bad it is not emptiness as in the Heart Sutra) and worst - the disintegration of a firm and authoritative Buddhist voice in the local scene.

Source: K Sri Dhammananda - A Pictorial Retrospect

 

When the Mines Wellness Hotel, which was originally known as Mines Beach Resort and Spa was preparing for its' grand opening sometime in 1997 the owner invited the YBAM to organised a huge almsgiving ceremony for the Buddhist clerics, religiously known as the Maha Sanghikadana in the Buddhist context.  About 400 Buddhist clerics (monks and nuns) from all over Malaysia were present to accept  dana from the owner, Lee Kim Yew. It can be said that all the rooms and resorts has been blessed by the Sangha members before the resort received any other paying house guests.

A grand vegetarian lunch was prepared and served at the hotel that day. Interestingly, since it was a newly built resort, the kitchen facilities were all brand new and modern that the team of cooks from a local temple was reluctant to used the facilities.  They were worry that they might not adapt well to the new utensils and might damaged them! At the end of the day everything went smoothly and the resort was fully blessed by no less than 400 monks and nuns led by the Most Ven. Dr K Sri Dhammananda, the most influential and charismatic Buddhist monk in Malaysia's modern history.

Zone 24 indeed was one of the sites where some of my most memorable spiritual and community engagements with Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda unfolds years ago. - Loka

Tallest bird house in the world

After the 2011 Budget was presented live on national TV by PM Najib, I went to have teh tarik at my regular mamak joint with a friend. From the many issues discussed, the proposed 100 storeys tower to be built around the iconic Stadium Merdeka was the highlight.

Various questions about the need to have such a building were raised but before my cuppa of teh tarik reached the bottom, a quirky suggestion was made. Maybe the building will looks like a "bird house" which are gaining popularity in Malaysia.

Why not? The tallest "bird house" in the world! It will surely be registered in the Malaysia Book of Records or even Guinness Book of Records. Other than the swiftlets producing tonnes of bird nests for export, it will surely be listed as an attraction for tourists from all over the world. Wow. A fully occupied building, albeit by the swiftlets, will surely  increases the national coffers. On top of that it will cover Kuala Lumpur with renewal layers of bird shit! JKR don't have to re-surface the roads anymore. The birds will do it! - Loka

USJ "Tin" Lantern Festival

The kids and adults alike were very excited when they saw the tin lanterns. Those who are above thirty would have seen and played with the lanterns made from recycled tins during their younger days. About 100 of such lanterns were displayed to members of the public during the USJ Lantern Festival held recently at the USJ 1 Sports Centre Subang Jaya. Some of the tin lanterns were even fixed with rollers made from milk cans which enable the lantern to spin whenever rolled on the ground.

All the tin lanterns were crafted by Mr. Ling Hai Chong, 50 who was invited by the organizing committee to give a demonstration to more than one thousand people who attended the event. As the initiator of the event, I contacted The Malaysian Book of Records to look into the possibilities of setting a record for the largest parade of tin lanterns. But the numbers of lantern required for a record to be made was just too huge to be achieved in such a short period. So for now we are just happy to relived an art which not many kids and youngers had seen in their life.

With the support of some USJ residents and community leaders I arranged for the lantern festival to be organized under the auspices of the office of Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh . Programs on that night includes wushu performance from Rong Seng Wushu Federation, Tadika Didik Utama Ria, USJ 1 Line Dancing and singing duo Cedric Tan and Shaun Chow from the Messengers of Dharma.

The organizing chairman of the event Ng Chai Hing hopes by producing lanterns from tin cans it can promote recycling and reuse of materials which people usually disposed of easily. He also urged parents to teach their children to turn unwanted stuff into useful artwork, just like what they did during their childhood many years ago.

More than one thousand people attended this community-led inaugural lantern festival in USJ 1. The highlight of the festival was the parade of tin lanterns around the sports centre led by Hannah Yeoh together with other children and their parents. - Loka

由首邦州议员杨巧双办公室赞助的中秋晚会，别具一格。约有100个环保铁灯笼在USJ 1 首邦再亚运动中心的中秋晚会展示给大众们观赏。还有一些环保铁灯笼还放了用牛奶罐制作的轮子，让它们可以推动，非常有趣。当小孩和成人们看见铁灯笼都感觉到很新奇。年龄三十岁以上居民看了也都回忆他们童年时曾用铝罐制造的灯笼。

这些环保铁灯笼都是由林海中先生（ 50岁） 制造的，委员会特地从叻思邀请他而来展示给千人到来观赏。这中秋晚会是由首邦州议员杨巧双办公室与USJ 1 的居民举办的。这晚会的项目还包含荣胜武术学院，小宝贝幼儿园, USJ 1 踢踏舞，还有Cedric Tan和Shaun Chow的和唱。

筹委会主席黄振兴希望用铝制造的灯笼提醒了大众们推广他们循环物品，对环保更加注重。因为人们很容易就把他们扔掉了。他也呼吁父母们多教他们的孩儿们多用环保的道具创造成艺术品就如他们童年时用铝罐制造灯笼。

赞助人首邦再也州议员杨巧双说将会在来年再次举办这个有意义的中秋晚会，当晚的嘉宾有格拉拿再也国会议员 罗国本，首邦再也市议员罗斯兰沙黑, 黄世界与及林谢明。

根据晚会发起人黄世界，他希望这项庆典可以提升居民之间的团结与情谊。

当晚的高潮是由首邦再也州议员杨巧双提着环保灯笼带领小孩和他们的父母一起游行。晚会在晚上九点三十分圆满结束。

Just for show at UNGA

After the news of PM Najib's meeting with local religious leaders in his office in Putrajaya was splashed on front pages of the local newspapers, I was asked for my two cent worth on the matter.

Knowing similiar meetings being held in the past, I commented that the people especially the non-muslims should not take too seriously of what transpired. This type of meetings are held with the purpose far from what the religious leaders expected. The officers will diligently take notes of whatever grumblings from the attendees and the PM will nod his head to acknowledged those words uttered. But did he absorb and understands the issues raised? Most of the time meetings  of these sort do not have much follow-up and results. It is just for show.

Fast forward one week later, Najib was speaking to international leaders at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and he shared Malaysia's experience of religious inclusiveness. As reported in a local mainstream media, "Najib also shared with other heads of government at the United Nations that “although Islam is the official religion (in Malaysia), we honour other religions – Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism – by making their religious and cultural celebrations national holidays and celebrate them as national events.” “It is this equilibrium that leads to moderation or wasatiyyah in the Islamic tradition of mutual peace.” Malaysia, he added, was well poised to play its part in promoting understanding, given its geographical position. "

For those uninitiated, the meeting with the local religious leaders was held merely as a public relation exercise before he flies to New York for the UNGA so that he can speak with full authority and legitimacy as a open-minded and receptive leader of a multi religious nation. The pre-UNGA meeting with local religious leaders are just part of a facade to inject authority into his speech  at the UN.

Being compassionate and experience people, these local religious leaders just play along with the PM's Office on this public relations exercise. How much and how far this sort of high media coverage meeting can really promote moderation and respect amongst the readers and observers especially those hard core bigots are yet to be seen. Whether the meeting gave him extra brownie points to put up a good show in UN yet to be known too. Maybe those who attended the said meeting knows better since most of them are expected to be wise men. If PM Najib is really taking into consideration the feelings of the non-muslims seriously, he should first weed out those extremists in his own backyard and not preach to the international audience on what others need to do.

Anyway, speaking out at UNGA is not difficult as that's what the purpose of the UNGA all about. No one can stop any country leader from speaking out or condemning whoever or whatever he or she wants, even if it sounds hypocritical just like an US president asking for the banning of nuclear weapons when US has the most nuclear warheads in the world.

Sadly, at the end of the UNGA session, the only speeches that the delegates might remembers will be those by Barack Obama or Wen Jia Bao, not just another leader from the Third World unless Kim Jong-Il decided to drop by in New York. - Loka

Tin Lanterns

Tin lanterns enhance celebration, says carpenter

By CHRISTINA LOW
christinalow@thestar.com.my

THESE days, lanterns come in various shapes and designs. Most often they are made out of colourful papers which may only last a night, while the lucky ones are privileged enough to own the battery-operated ones bought at department stores.                                                                                                                                                                   



However, for Ling Hai Chong, his first lantern was not a paper lantern but instead one that was made out of a tin can which is no longer seen by anyone these days.


The 50-year-old carpenter said he first saw the tin-can lantern during the days when he lived in Behrang, Perak.

“My neighbour was busy making it for the Mid-Autumn Festival and I was curious how he can turn a normal tin into something so nice for the children to play with,” said Ling.

Variety of use: After the Mid-Autumn Festival, these lanterns can be used as a decorative ornament and can be placed anywhere around the house. ( Source: The Star )

After paying close attention to how it was made, Ling said he went out to search for used tin cans to try his hand at making the lanterns himself.“It was just trial and error, after trying a few times, I finally got it right just by watching,” said Ling who now lives in Rasah.

During a recent interview in Subang Jaya, Ling said the lantern he made usually had rollers made out of smaller cans, just so when the lantern was played by pushing it on the ground, it would make sounds.

 

“We want to have the sound because it signifies that everyone is enjoying the feasting and having a wonderful time,” said Ling who also demonstrated how the lanterns were made.

 

Armed with a used large round tin in hand, it took the carpenter just 30 minutes to complete the task with minimal tools such as a hammer, measuring tape, scraper, wire cuter, pliers, ruler and a small-sized piece of wood.

 

Although making lanterns is just a hobby, Ling said it had kept him busy.

He said for this year, he only started making lanterns for his young nieces and nephews some three months back and could only manage to make the lanterns during his free time.

Those who are interested to learn the art of making lanterns out of tin-cans can visit Ling at the Laman Sukan USJ 1, Subang Jaya at 7pm for its Lantern Festival Celebration.

More photos on the making of a tin lantern at
 http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/album.php?id=1204188083&aid=213707

Malaysian first and foremost

Today is Malaysia Day. It ought to be a celebration for all who declares themselves as Malaysians. For those who are unable to declare themselves as Malaysian first, we can't fault them if they can't comprehend the special meaning of this day because their heart is so much deluded and blinded with parochialism. Today in history was the beginning of a new era where free nations from both side of the South China Sea embraced each other as one nation.

After 47 years, today is the first time in the nation's history that this historical date has been declared and celebrated as a public holiday throughout the nation even though Sarawak and Sabah has been celebrating this day with much vigour and pomp before. Why is it there exists this sense of guilt that those from Peninsula Malaysia has not been placing the level of importance and weightage on this date in comparison to our brothers in Sarawak and Sabah?

Maybe for some this date is also a taboo date which shall not be ever mentioned or celebrated due to the embarassing failed event that happens in 2008 when a political leader declares that the federal government will change hand when a bunch of froggie lawmakers switches camp. At last the federal government did not change hand, only leaving red faces in many and a blacklisted date.

In the absence of political agendas it is with great hope that this special day shall not be treated as a political gambit but as the day when each and everyone will standup and declares that all of us are Malaysian first and foremost, no more no less where all across the South China Sea are brothers and shall be treated and respected as one. - Loka

From activist to policymaker

In early 2008 a group of leaders from Buddhist centres in Serdang, Seri Kembangan, Kinrara and Subang Jaya/USJ responded positively to my call to work together to look into the MPSJ Draft Local Plan 2020. After studying and analysing the MPSJ Draft Local Plan we managed to come out with the necessary counter proposals in respect  to the Plan. The most critical issue for the Buddhist community and other non-muslims religion was the lack of land allocated to build their respective places of worship.

In June 2009, we participated in the public hearing called by the authorities to present our views and suggestions on the MPSJ Draft Local Plan. Taking a leaf from our experience on responding to the MPSJ Draft Local Plan, we also widen our study on other draft local plans in other local authorities. So far we had also attended and given our views on behalf of  Buddhist centres all over Selangor during Draft Local Plan public hearings held by Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya, Majlis Daerah Hulu Selangor, Majlis Perbandaran Selayang and Majlis Perbandaran Kajang. We are still waiting to be invited to attend public hearing of another two local councils.

In March 2008, the PKR-DAP-PAS alliance was elected by the people during the general election to set up the new government for the State of Selangor. The new state government subsequently decided to allocate some councillor seats in the local councils to non governmental organisations (NGO) and professionals. The Buddhist community took the initiative to submit some names to the state government for consideration to be appointed as local councillors. But then, as far as we know none of the Buddhist leaders was appointed but it did not stop us from continuing working closely with the state government on issues related to the non-muslims particularly the Buddhist community.

As an pro-active gesture to involved the people in the policy making process on issues related to the non-muslims community, the Pakatan Rakyat state government then re-structured and changed the name of the "Jawatankuasa Rumah Ibadat bukan Islam Negeri Selangor" to become the Jawatankuasa Hal Ehwal Selain Islam Negeri Selangor. Some policies changes were implemented in regards to the working and structure of this committee. Firstly the committee is now co-chaired by three State Excos while non-Muslims NGO leaders were invited to sit in the committee. Previously the State Secretary chairs the committee and no non-Muslims NGO representatives were involved in the meeting. Meetings were conducted more regularly, ie every two months in comparison to irregular meetings previously which sometimes only held once a year.

As I has been invited to the meeting since its inception, I can notice the change and seriousness of the State Excos in ensuring issues related to non-muslims community are addressed promptly and justly.We speak our mind out during these meetings but always with decorum and respect to all.  

The recent called of duty in the apppointment as councillor of the Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya is an honour and also a surprise to me. I am not sure if this is a signal from the state government's to recognize the Buddhist community's role towards developing a better Selangor for all. But for all who called this sunshine state our home, more than ever, we hoped the state government will do better in time to come.

The Buddhist community usually do not seek the attention of the state or federal governments either through the open forum or confrontational approaches. This community just prefers the consultative approach but it is sad and disappointing when the powers-that-be mistakenly read this soft approach as a sign that this community does not need the ears and support of the government.

Change is part and parcel for every living and non-living beings. For more than 20 years, religious and youth activism has been part of my learning process since my days as a undergraduate in Universiti Kebangsaan Malasyia. In all these years of community service, many issues related to the Buddhist community, youth development, international networking, HIV/AIDS and some other local community issues were addressed, especially when I was the then vice president of the Malaysian Youth Council and secretary general of the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia. My involvement with the World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth (WFBY) as deputy president and now advisor to the Bangkok-based international  youth organisation provided me the opportunity to enhanced international youth networking and promote friendship amongst the young people and world Buddhist leaders.

And now by virtue being appointed as a local councillor, I am now shouldering the responsiblities as a policy maker in a local authority. Although I had been involved in government level policy making process during my stint as a national youth leader, but being a councillor will be a different ball game altogether. The years spend involving in organising and attending programs, meetings, workshops and conferences in government related bodies such as the National Youth Consultative Council, Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (National Service) and Ministry of Youth and Sports are experiences that I hoped will come in handy when playing my role as a local councillor.

Although I has been advised by someone that being a councillor is similiar to what I has been doing all these years as a community leader; ie planning, advocating, assisting and serving the people, I will still continue to pray that the Triple Gem will be my guide always so that my role as a local councillor will bring positive change to those who seek for it. Namo Buddhaya. Nama Dhammaya. Namo Sanghaya. - Loka

 

Julie Tan of Loka Mitta Buddhist Fellowship; David Tan and Chua Teck Seong of Putra Heights Buddhist Society. My Dhamma friends who came to support me during the oath taking ceremony. Bro. Seow CH(not in pic) advisor of FoKuang Malaysia was also there.

The new faces in the MPSJ Council having a chit-chat with the council president Dato' Adnan.

L-R:  Loka, Edward, Dato' Adnan, Noor, Azizan, Jaberi

Photo courtesy of SJ Echo.

Residents appeal for a Buddhist temple

It was about one in the afternoon and was raining heavily in Bukit Tinggi, Klang. But it did not deters a group of residents from the Bandar Bukit Tinggi housing estate to come out in umbrellas to put across their appeal to the Selangor state government to allocate a piece of land in the area for a Buddhist temple to be built there. The devas must be shedding tears of support for a Buddhist vihara in Bandar Bukit Tinggi!

In that area, a piece of land with the size about 28,000 sq ft has been designated for use to build a place of worship for the non-muslims. A local Buddhist organisation, the Mudita Buddhist Society has submitted application in early 2009 for that piece of land to enable the society to build a Buddhist temple. Considering that nearly 70% of residents in the surrounding areas are of the Buddhist faith, it is not too much too ask for a place of worship to be built there. Furthermore, within the vicinity there is not even one Buddhist temple to serve the spiritual and religious education needs of the Buddhist community.

Buddhist community in Malaysia are usually quite subtle in approaching the government for land to build temples or solving issues related to their religion. For a group of residents to come out in the rain to request the government to listen to their needs, this must be a matter of serious concern to them and close to their heart.

Therefore the Selangor state government are strongly urged to consider approving the land application by the Mudita Buddhist Society so that the religious needs of the community will be taken care of. The people already spoken, what say the state government? - Loka