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

Is Buddhist population declining in Malaysia

Basing on the report on the National Population Census 2000, Malaysian citizens of the Buddhist faith comprised 20.2% of the total citizens of the country.

The National Population Census 2010 was launched this week and enumerators are going from house to house to conduct the census. When the census are over and report published, what will be the number of Buddhists in this country? Will it increased, reduced or remained the same? If the percentage increases, will it be due to natural procreation amongst the Buddhist populace or the results of persistent missionary activities by Buddhist groups in the country.

But if the percentage drops, what will be the reasons that causes the number of Buddhists in Malaysia declining? Maybe Buddhist parents did not teaches their children their own religion? Or the Buddhist monks, nuns and lay preachers did not work hard enough for the last ten years? Or the loss of the followers due to conversion to other religions or they just declared themselves as not adhering to any religion.

If the percentage and total reduces due to the possibility of more people declaring themselves as no-religion or atheist, then the situation can be serious enough for all stake haolders in the Buddhist community to do the necessary to educate these Buddhist-by-birth to know more about their own religion.

As the national population census report will be used as a reference to help the government to plan for the country development in different sectors, the numbers of Buddhists in the country will be taken into consideration when the federal and state governments deliberate on the need of the community. This is especially so in matters related to the allocation of religious land and also financial allocation to built and maintain Buddhist temples.

As numbers speaks for itself, it is therefore very urgent and most important for all Buddhist temples and centres in the country to urge their devotees and those once-a-year (Wesak) Buddhists to declare themselves as Buddhists in the census form. - Loka