The Hakka Lady sings for Malaysians

Huang Hong-ying, the Chinese diva specialize in singing Hakka songs

The mostly 4,000 strong Hakka audiences were mesmerized with the Hakka songs belted out by Chinese diva Huang Hong-ying who performed at the Hakka Cultural event in Seri Kembangan recently.

At 49, Huang still at her best during the performance in Seri Kembangan recently

Huang a.k.a the "Hakka Lady" was part of the Hui Zhou city's 17 members cultural group who visited Malaysia recently. Huang shared that Hakka folksongs are the natural voices of the Hakka folks which developed from the daily chores performed by the ordinary folks. Huang was taught the art of singing Hakka folksongs since young by her mother. One of the more popular albums she produced was “Hakka Moi”.  She had performed in various countries in Asia, Europe and Northern America and will continue to promote Hakka folksongs as a flourishing art form. She also sings in Cantonese and Mandarin. Some of her admirers even claimed she is better than the late Teresa Teng.

Cai Ming-Er was happy with the reception given by Malaysian audiences
 

Hui Zhou is situated in Guangdong province in China. The Hakka dialect is widely spoken in Hui Zhou just as in Seri Kembangan. The group also performs in Kuantan and Kota Kinabalu.

Ean Yong, assemblyman for Seri Kembangan who hosted the event

The cultural group performances were under the auspices of the office of Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah and zone 21 - 24 Residents Committee (JKP) of the Subang Jaya Municipal Council.

Part of the 4,000 crowd thronging the open stage event

The cultural performance was held on an open air stage constructed at the end of Jalan SK 6/1 in Seri Kembangan where many cultural events have been held in the last three years. Residents started trooping in as early as 6.30 in the evening. The event started with performances by local groups which include middle aged ladies performing some dance moves with agility and stamina that can put some younger ones to shame.

MPSJ councillor Tai Cheng Heng presenting a souvenir to Cai Ming-Er, flanked by Ean Yong, Teo Nie Ching and other dignitaries

Present during the event were Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah, Serdang Member of Parliament Teo Nie Ching and MPSJ councillors Ng Sze Han, Tai Cheng heng, Chong Hoon Ming and Loka Ng Sai Kai. Also present was deputy director-general of Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Bureau of Huiyang District, Hui Zhou City Cai Min-Er and Ling Lifang, who is vice chairman of Returned Overseas Chinese Union of Huiyang District, Hui Zhou City. - Loka SK Ng

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

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。

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

Culture vulture shock

Refering to the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, the word culture was given various definitions but what interest me was those meanings that links to the human society. One definition means advanced development of the human powers; development of the body, mind and spirit by training and experience while another says it is the evidence of intellectual development (of arts, science and etc) in human society.

The meaning which most people generally equated on the word culture are stated as "all the arts, beliefs, social institutions etc, characteristics of a community, race, etc in the said dictionary while the Websters New World Dictionary defined it as "the ideas, customs, skills, arts, etc. of a people or group, that are transferred, communicated, or passed along, as in succeeding generations.

Basing on the above meaning, the question to be asked now is whether gambling can be considered a culture and are the Chinese or even non-Muslims accepts the notion that gambling is part of their culture?

Our attention are drawn to the ongoing debates on the necessity of the government to issue a licence to a private company to enable sports betting to be legally available to members of the public. One of the usual arguing point for those that supports sports betting is that it will generate income to the government in the form of taxation from sports gambling. It was further argued by those for the legalisation of sports gambling is that even without legalising it, billions of ringgit are transacted in illegal sports betting by local and overseas syndicates. So the point is, if you can't beat them, joins them!

Surely with the legalisation of sports betting it will make some selected few to be filthy and unashamedly extra millions richer by the click of the mouse. It also can turn one into a generous multi million ringgit philanthropist by channelling the profit for the a purpose built foundation which the public have not heard of until recently! Maybe a slice of the profit can be channelled to build a state of the art public day care centre for the old folks ( especially those who lost their hard earned life savings to gambling) in the city centre. The owner of the sports gambling company do not have to look far for a strategic piece of land for the centre as it is just a stone throw away. They can see it clearly from their office - the century old former Pudu Jail which is destined to be demolished and buried in history in the name of "development".

Anyway, going back to the word culture, there are proponents and supporters of legal sports betting who said that while Muslims do not gamble, the government cannot denied the right of the non-Muslims to gamble as gambling is part of the Chinese culture. How does gambling becomes part of the Chinese culture? Does it means anyone who gambles are Chinese? What about those whites in Europe and US who has been involved in sports betting for years? Are they strongly influenced by the Chinese culture? Mind you, those bookies who provides sports bettings in football and boxing has been doing that long before any Asians got dragged into these multi billions industry.

It was said there is no reason for Muslims to object to the issuing of the sports betting licence as it does not involved them. Does it imply that all non-Muslims including the Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs and so on has valid reasons to support the government's intention to issue the sports betting licence because it is part of their culture? Are they saying gambling is allowed in the religions of non-Muslims?

Maybe sooner or later these sports betting proponents will be proven right that gambling is part of the Chinese and non-Muslims culture because the Chinese and non-Muslims has been sportingly silent on this issue. If this claims are not strongly  rebutted by the non-Muslims on the question of whether gambling is part of their customs and characteristics that are passed along from generations to generations, in no time it will be assumed and taken as an accepted fact that, other than the Muslims, everyone is a sporting gambler since it is part of their culture. - Loka

Cheng Beng and 1Malaysia

Cheng Beng is when the Chinese visited the graves to sweep the tombs and offer prayers to their departed parents, grandparents and other relatives as an expression of fillial piety, respect and gratitude to their ancestors. As traditions dictates, offerings and prayers items are offered and burned for the departed needs in the other world.

Many of our ancestors and dead relatives were holders of the blue identity cards or the latest MyKads that determines their status as citizens of Malaysia. In the spirit of once a family always a family, it will be apt to keep the belief alive that the departed ones will always be remembered as part of the family, part of Malaysia...dulu kini dan selamanya.

On top of the Mercedes Benzes, gold ingots, trillions notes, bungalows, international passports, Jimmy Choos', Armanis', Ipods', shopping vouchers, mahjong sets and other types and shapes of paper offerings, maybe for this season of oneness, those going to the cemeteries can opt to bring one of the latest hype in the nation.

Do bring along a 1Malaysia logo as offerings to the departed ones. This is in the spirit on one nation and to tell the departed ones that they will always be remembered as Malaysians first, even though they may be residing in a different world now. Their sacrifices and deeds in bringing up other fellow Malaysians and patriotism for the country will always be remembered, disregard of their current place of domicile as long as they regard themselves as Malaysians first when they were still eligible voters in this country.

Don't be too worried if you can't find any 1Malaysia logo to be offered for your departed love ones, shops selling joss paper and other prayer's paraphernalias will be able to help you to create one. - Loka

Happy Chinese New Year

Wishing all a Happy Chinese New Year. May every moment be filled with Good Thoughts, Good Words and Good Deeds.  May all be blessed with Good Health, Great Joy and Fantastic times with Family and Friends. Gong Xi Fa Chai.

                                                                                                        - Loka & family

Changing color of your blood

It is normal to hear of people changing their religious beliefs, political stand or even switching support to another football team. When to comes to race or ethnic origins, is it possible to change that?

Can a person who is born to true blue ethnic Japanese parents in Japan but now lives and works in Saudi Arabia, speaks fluent Arabic, converted to Islam after her high school and married a true blue Arab man after her graduation, morphed into an Arabic lady?

One shall not confused citizentry with the cultural lineage of her ancestors. No matter how hard she changes her appearance, improves her Arabic linguistic skills or even trying too hard to aped the locals in their way of life, the blood that flows throughout her body is still very much ethnic Japanese. No matter how hard she tries she will not be able to change that, even to the extend of behaving more than the Arabs themselves. Or even to the extend of putting in every possible effort to run down or suppress her own ethnic Japanese ancestry so that she could gain the acceptance of the Arabs.

Incidences like the fictitious Japanese lady above are not alien to many of us. During World war Two, there were many who had forsaken their own ethnic ancestry by aping the Japanese or their masters to gain favours or brownie points. These people may have a good time during the three and a half years of Japanese occupation by betraying their own community which caused deaths, undue harm and unnecessary sufferings to their friends and villagers. In the eyes of the people that they betrayed, these double faced agents are traitors and shall be destined to the 18 levels of Hell, literally.

Are these sort of people stil exists nowadays? Open our eyes and we shall see them in the guise of different shapes and colours, professions and organizations. They may be just lurking around the corner or may have studied or work in the same place as any one of us. We just need to be vigilant and cautious with their existence and not to fall into any of their manipulation. We cannot do anything to help them.

It it their own choice of trying to hard to change their ethnicity even after knowing they can't change the colour of the blood that flows within them. The harm that they might possibly cause to the community and themselves, we will leave it to karma to take its own course. - Loka

Chinese Educationist Exemplary

Sim Mow Yu ( 1913 - 2009)

The late Sim Mow Yu, an authoritative and influential Chinese educationist, passed away recently on Feb 5, 2009 at the age of 96. Thousands of people from all walks of life send him off during his funeral in Melaka.

His contributions and legacies for Chinese education in Malaysia will be forever remembered by the people. He stood tall among all who believes in providing Chinese education for all. In 1987, he was even thrown into the Kamunting detention centre under the draconian ISA for his beliefs.

I am not a Chinese educationist but as a Buddhist, I am always grateful for his efforts that enabled the most important and holiest day in the Buddhist calendar, Wesak Day, to be declared a national public holiday in this country. - Loka

Ox Year and PS

Still in time to wish everyone a Happy Chinese New Ox Year. Hope the Ox will be a very strong one to pull through the slowing down market by giving an unexpected bull run.

Whatever the economic reasons, during this festive season there is the high spirited celebration of family ties, cultural practices, sumptous of good food and not forgetting the blast of fire crackers even though it has banned in Malaysia years ago. But the sound of fire crackers are heard less this year compared to previous years. This is one of the sign that people are spending only on the necessity only.

This jotting was done at my wife's hometown which is in the state of Pahang. The house is situated in a Chinese new village. Most of the single storey houses in the village are built from wood with zinc roofing although there are some which are already rebuilt with bricks and cement tiles roofing. It is no more a laid back village as expected because town center is just a short walk away. The bus station is also situated nearby.

The usual fast food - KFC, Pizza Hut and McDonalds - are at the town center since few years ago. The old cinema, where an autographed poster of Jackie Chan's movie " Who Am I" was pinned on the board, was teared down about two years ago. Part of the movie was filmed at a nearby primary jungle. On the site now is a block of three storeys shop houses and Guardian Pharmacy already opened it's latest branch in one of the shops.

Whatever it is, what is Chinese New Year minus the "balik kampung" feeling? My kids are having fun re-connecting with their cousins - not through chasing the neighbours chickens but going after the "enemy" with the Play station games. Hmm.... sign of change in the way kids are engaged nowadays. - Loka

Ghosts, Fairies and Politicians

Three groups of beings are going to have their parties this August-September period.

During the 7th month of the Chinese lunar calendar the gates of hell are opened for the hungry ghosts to roam the human world freely and a chance to renew relationship with friends and relatives. These underworld beings are given a month to enjoy the freedom that only comes once a year. These visitors from the underworld will be partying all night long with the food and giant joss sticks offered to them. The Festival of the Hungry Ghosts this year is from August 1st to 30th.

The Mid-Autumn or Moon Festival which is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month which is on September 14. This is an occasion where the moon is admired for being roundest and brightest in all months. This celebration originates during the Tang Dynasty ( 618-906 AD) and has been celebrated widely amongst the Chinese worldwide. We will be looking at the moon with resident fairy Chang Er who is still there due to her consumption of the Elixir of Life. Usually fairy tales are childrens great companion but sometimes politicians too need some fairy tales ending.

The third group of being who are also partying are of course the politicians. With the campaigning in the by-election for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat being held around these occasion, politicians will be enjoying the freedom of speech to the fullest. They will be campaigning in one of the most watch by-election ever to be held in Malaysia. The freedom to decide and vote will be in the hands of the Permatang Pauh voters and their decision on who they vote will provide a significant impact on certain politicians and development in this country.

What's the connection of all these festive occasions with the by-election?

It surely does. The politicians not only have to worry of bumping on those "lost" beings after their late night ceramahs but also having "ghost" voters taking part in the election. Furthermore, those who still have skeletons in their closet will be very worry that ghosts from their past will rise freely to haunt them in these by-election. The politicians will be campaigning very hard, even using the "ko tai" (stage shows) which are very popular in Penang as their platform during the Phor Tor (Hungry Ghosts) Festival. Will they be speaking to the voters and the hungry ghosts too?

During the Moon Festival cakes in round shapes filled a variety of pastes known as moon cakes are specially baked for this occasion. These moon cakes which are sold in bakeries, restaurants and supermarkets are popular delicacies. In one of the legend related to moon cakes, it was said that secret message was inserted into the mooncakes to convey the message to the people. Will the politicians adopt this strategy too since PKR and PAS's logos are related to the moon. Adding the rocket, it will be interesting if DAP will reach-out to the "moon" permanently.

For those who adheres strongly to cultural beliefs and practices, if they want to win this election with the help of the ghost voters they better pray that the voting day will be held within the Hungry Ghosts Festival i.e. before Merdeka Day.



If those who always seek divine help in their endeavours, it will help them significantly if voting is held on Sept 15 where fairies will be around to help them in full force or at least the moons shines on them brightly for the voters to see their true colours. - Loka

Respect Others of Different faith

Living within a society with different cultural background and religious practice is an opportunity for us to understand, share and appreciate our practice better.


Last Friday was Cheng Beng Day, the day for children, grandchildren and relatives to visit, clean and pray at the tomb of their late parents or relatives. I still prefers to use the Hokkien term Cheng Beng, a term which I has been accustomed to since I lost my father when I was five.


This year the whole lot of my siblings families and my family visited our parents tombs this weekend to pay our respects. This is the first Cheng Beng for my late mother who pass away last year.



Two pertinent comments were raised by my eldest boy during this Cheng Beng season which I took as an opportunity to advised on the importance of respect to the elders and family ties.


The question or comment he raised with me when I told him about our plans to visit and pray at the graves of Ah Kong (grandfather) and Ah Mah (grandmother) was that some of his Christian friends will not be visiting their grandparents grave. I told him that no matter which faith we adhered to, we need to respect our elders and our ancestors as this is not determined by our religion but our practice of fillial piety which is an important culture and traditions for people of Chinese descent. The practice of fillial piety is also an important teachings in Buddhism.



Another observation my boy notice is that my other siblings still practice the usual Chinese traditional and folk practice of offering and burning of joss papers and other Cheng Beng accessories. I am sure he raised this because my children has been taught the difference between Chinese traditional folk practice and the teachings of the Buddha. We do not burn those joss papers at home and the local Buddhist temple that my family congregated adhered to the Buddhist approach to devotion.



He must be curious why we participated in those offerings when we are together with my siblings families?



I explained to him that we need to respect other people beliefs and traditions. Furthermore what is important the relationship among our relatives are intact and stay together. It is not wise to push our beliefs upon others and causes friction and breakdown in the family. As long as we understand and be strong with our Buddhist teachings, these Chinese traditional practices will not undermined our faith and practice as Buddhists.


To be a Buddhist did not mean we have to severe ties with others of different faith or traditions. In contrary it should be taken as a responsibility and opportunity to share the Teachings of the Buddha.