Many types of cuisine, 1Malaysia

2009/11/23

By V. Josephine

KUALA LUMPUR: In conjunction with the Fabulous Food 1Malaysia campaign, Pavilion KL is set to treat its shoppers a host of gastronomical treats this month.

With new food and beverage tenants and numerous confectionery booths, shoppers can look forward to more exciting choices to satisfy their appetites.

Serai Satay Bar is the latest attraction at Pavilion KL's Food Emporium. The satay is contained in a funky-coloured paper cup that can fill six sticks of satay, two sticks of ketupat, onions, cucumbers, with a special compartment and peanut sauce for shoppers to enjoy satay on the go.

Shoppers can choose from not only the usual chicken, beef or lamb, but also tripe, venison and prawn. Other snacks one can pick up there are cucur udang, keropok lekor, keropok ikan, banana fritters, soto ayam and mee rebus. There is also nasi kukus, which is a dish of steamed rice, three types of Indian curry and Malay-style fried chicken with spices.

Wash it all down with the outlet's signature drink of Serai Blended, made of lychee essence and serai.

Cupcake Chic offers 25 different flavours classified under four groups -- Classics, Favourites, Lite Indulgence and Black Tie.

Grandmama's is a pork-free restaurant with has about 180 seating capacity.

A must-try dish is Grandmama's fish head noodles, which comes with chunks of deep fried fish in a tomato and salted vegetable soup, complemented by fried shallots and chopped scallions. Another interesting item is the nasi bojari set, which has tri-coloured rice, asam pedas, beef rendang and deep fried chicken drumstick.

Five shopping vouchers of RM1,000 each are up for grabs. For every RM20 spent at any food and beverage outlets, diners will receive one stamp. Collect 10 stamps and drop the stamp card into the Fabulous Food contest box at Concierge Counter, level 2 Couture Pavilion, to be in the running.

(source:http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/vjfo23/Article/index_html)

Making friends while learning

2009/11/17

KUALA TERENGGANU: From casual school mates to best of friends -- all because of the Exxonmobil's "A Moment in English" programme.

Five pupils at Sekolah Kebangsaan Rantau Petronas in Kerteh -- Muhd Haziq Abdul Manap, Ahmad Dhiyauddin Shihabuddin Arip, Skandakumera Selvaraj, Wan Amirun Naim Wan Bahruddin and Ahmad Nasreen Husaini -- joined the programme early this year.

They have since earned several accolades as a team. They became state champions in the "Story Telling and Action Songs" contest in Besut in June, represented Terengganu in the national championships in Perlis a month later and performed at various State Education Department's functions all over the state.

A part from winning competitions, the travelling and staying together as a team has made them close buddies.

Group leader Muhd Haziq said they were normal school mates when they joined the programme but were best of friends now.

He said they were, however, disappointed to finish fourth in the national competition but were happy to be in each other's company, performing song and dance routines to the tunes of Little Mermaid's movie soundtracks such as Under the Sea, Part of That World and Frozen.

"When we first joined the programme, our English was just average but now we are comfortable singing and speaking to each other in English," he said after their group's performances at the "A Moment in English" closing ceremony in Kuala Ibai near here, yesterday.

School English Language panel head Fadhilah Ab. Hamid said the students had worked hard and spent long hours since January to prepare for the state championship.

"Earlier this year, they practiced twice a week but a few weeks before every competition they practiced daily.

"But, I am happy to note that the students' proficiency in the English language has improved tremendously ever since they start participating in this programme," she said.

Meanwhile, in his closing speech, State Education Department director Ariffin Embong said the programme which was first mooted in 2003, had proven to be a success in promoting the usage of English in school extra-curricular activities.

(source:http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/22EXXO/Article/index_html)

Disciplinary board: We quit because of principles

2009/11/09

KUALA LUMPUR: The decision of the five-member MCA disciplinary board to resign en bloc on Nov 4 was not linked to the party's recently announced Greater Unity Plan (GUP) or clarification of the Registrar of Societies (ROS) over the status of Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

The decision to quit, former board secretary Ivan Chen said, was based purely on the "unwavering principles" of the board members.

"There was unhappiness over shortcomings in the party's disciplinary processes as its presidential council (PC) and the central committee (CC) could overrule the board's decision," he said in a statement here.

As stated in the party constitution, the board could only recommend disciplinary action against party members and it was up to the party PC and CC to make the final decision. In Dr Chua's case, the board recommendation of sacking was commuted to a four-year suspension by the CC.

"Members of the board also made it crystal clear that the shortcomings of the party's constitution are not the fault of the present party leadership. In fact, they inherited the deficiencies from the system.

"Hence, unless the relevant provisions in the MCA constitution were amended, members of the board were of the consensus view that the board would not be able to discharge its duties effectively."

Chen, who resigned together with the five board members, reiterated the decision to quit only showed their high standards of impartiality and independence. -- Bernama

(source:http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/4cca/Article/index_html)

RM500,000 fine for illegal fishing

2009/11/03

KUANTAN: Three foreign skippers -- two Vietnamese and a Thai -- were fined RM500,000 each for illegally fishing in Malaysian waters near here.

Magistrate Nordiana Abd Aziz also fined their 29 crew members RM50,000 each.

The foreigners, aged from 17 to 67, were arrested during Samudera Gagah operation by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency between 7am and 10am on Oct 24.

The skippers will spend six months in jail while the crew members five months, as they could not settle their fines.

(source:http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/22tann/Article/index_html)

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the inner surface of the eyelids and the front of the eyeball. It usually involves both eyes but it does not affect vision. It causes tearing, burning or itching and extreme sensitivity to light. The eyes become red and the surface of the eyes and eyelids swell. In more serious cases when bacterial infection takes place, watery mucus secretion may be discharged. This discharge may be so thick that your eyes get 'glued together' and it becomes difficult to open yours eyes when you wake up in the morning.