The Star Online: Metro: Central

Places of worship given more time to relocate

Posted: 07 Jul 2011 05:43 AM PDT

PLACES of worship issued with demolition notices to make way for the Besraya Eastern Expansion project have been given the assurance that they can remain where they are until a suitable place is found for the relocation, said Deputy Federal Territories and Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan.

Saravanan said this after visiting the 43-year-old Nam Poh Tuat Buddhist temple in Persiaran Pandan 1 in Kampung Sungai Kerayong, Cheras — one of the eight places of worship affected by the move.

"We will look into finding a new place for its relocation. This time, we will ensure the land is properly gazetted and become a permanent site for the temple," Saravanan told Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Nam Poh Tuat Followers Association chairman Lee Kooi Wah during the visit.

His visit came after StarMetro reported that the temple had received a sudden notice which left the devotees in a quandary.

Lee expressed joy at hearing the good news and hopes the temple will not be relocated very far.

"Most of our devotees are from this area. Many have been coming to this temple for a long time. If possible, we do not want to disrupt this and as such, we hope the relocation will be within a short distance away from the present site," he said.

Also present during Saravanan's visit were Bandar Tun Razak MCA division chairman Chiew Lian Keng, Titiwangsa Umno division chairman Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani, City Hall officers and the project developer Besraya Sdn Bhd representative.

The demolition notice issued by the Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur Land and Minerals Office was delivered to the various places of worship on July 1 and stated that the exercise will be carried out on July 18.

The notice further stated that the temple was situated on government land without permission and "No appeal will be considered anymore".

Devotees were in a quandary over the notice as it came out of the blue and gave them less than three weeks to move out.

When contacted, Besraya general manager Wan Salwani Wan Yusoff said they are looking into the matter.

"We will pursue the issue with the various relevant government bodies and decide on the next move from there," she said.

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At your service

Posted: 07 Jul 2011 05:42 AM PDT

Hassan Mokhtar

WHEN tourist guide Hassan Mokhtar from Mayflower Acme Tours Sdn Bhd was assigned to take American business magnate Martha Stewart around KL last year, he made a big impression on the businesswoman. So, when Stewart returned to Kuala Lumpur for business this year, she requested for Hassan. This was indeed an honour for Hassan, as everyone knew working with Stewart was not an easy task.

In fact Hassan's clients, mostly American and European tourists visiting KL, have been requesting for his service whenever they visit here.

"I try to make their stay here a memorable one. I want them to feel comfortable and appreciate our hospitality,'' said Hassan. Apart from providing first-class service to his clients, Hassan makes it a point to read up on the latest happenings in the news and when his clients ask, he is able to answer their queries.

"My clients are well informed about our country. So when you are able to discuss and hold a conversation with them on certain subjects, they appreciate and respect you,'' he said.

Hassan also caters to tourists who are elderly and are disabled and puts a lot of effort in taking care of them. He goes beyond the call of duty at times by carrying disabled clients and accompanying them even after working for more than 18 hours a stretch.

In return for his hospitality, Hassan's clients will repay his kindness by inviting him to visit their country for free. "I have visited many countries of my clients. They too really took care of me while I was there,'' he said.

Angie Ng Set Fui

LAST November, a German family of three travelled to Kuala Lumpur as part of the German delegation from Baden Wurtenbeg. During their flight to KL, the father Georg Anton Wengert suffered a severe attack on the airplane and was rushed to the hospital upon landing at KLIA.

Shangri-La Hotel, where the couple were supposed to stay as guests went the extra mile by lending a helping hand, which is part of their philosophy of extending service from the heart. The team from the Horizon Club where the guests were supposed to stay accompanied Wengert to the hospital and stayed with him till he was discharged.

Since he was not fit to travel, the Wengerts had to stay for the month in KL until Georg recovered and was fit to travel.

During that time, Horizon Club's Guest Service manager Angie Ng Set Fui, made sure that the family was treated well and Georg got all the care that he needed.

"We made sure that he ate only a specific diet prepared by our chef his every day. When he needed to go to the hospital, we arranged transport and accompanied him there until he was ready to go home,'' she said.

"It was a team effort, we all made sure that this family was well taken care off as they were away from home and we wanted to make their stay with us was very pleasant,'' said Ng.

The hotel also extended a special rate and gave the Wengerts a complimentary upgrade to a suite to make them even more comfortable. Ng and team left an unforgettable experience and memory towards the Wengerts by embracing them as the members of the Shangri-La family by going the extra mile.

Jasper Chow

IT WAS close to midnight on a day in October last year. Jasper Chow, who was working as a chef at Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur was returning home after work when he witnessed an American couple being robbed by a group of six drunkards in the Bukit Bintang area. Risking his life, Chow rushed to couple's aid and used his helmet to hit the drunken men repeatedly forcing the six to flee from the scene.

Noticing that the man was injured Chow offered to take them to the police station and clinic. When he inquired where the couple was staying, he discovered that they were guests at Shangri-La Hotel.

He then told them that he too was an employee there and took them to the hotel's concierge for treatment.

He further showed kind hospitality by providing them with painkillers and an ice pack. He then called for a taxi and accompanied them to the police station to make a police report. It was almost 3am when he brought them back safely to the hotel.

The incident left a black mark on the American couple and their perception of Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur, yet Chow's brave deeds and kindness touched their hearts. They still keep in touch with Chow.

"I was a victim of robbery when I was working overseas several years ago. The incident affected me badly and until today I have yet to recover from it,'' said Chow.

"So when I saw those men attacking that couple I reacted instinctively. I used my helmet to hit them and was not even thinking at all. The screams of the lady was just too much to bear,'' he said.

Chow's bravery spurred his employers to submit his name for the Excellent Front-Liner Award category for the KL Mayor's Tourism Award.

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Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Khamis, 7 Julai 2011

The Star Online: Metro: Central

The Star Online: Metro: Central

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