The Star Online: Metro: South & East
The Star Online: Metro: South & East |
| Posted: 10 Jul 2011 04:58 PM PDT BUDDING chefs from higher learning institutes who came from all over the country showed off their culinary skills at the 'Young Chefs Search' programme held in Malacca's Seri Malaysia hotel recently. Participants had to utilise condiments provided by food manufacturer Adabi to employ their cooking skills and present the assigned dishes. Apart from the cooking contest, there were also talks on healthy living and eating right during the event. A team of judges comprising experienced chefs from Hotel Seri Malaysia and representatives from Adabi and Karangkraft were at hand to gauge the participants based innovation, taste, presentation, timeliness and hygiene. Celebrity Richie Rachman who hosted the event kept the crowd entertained as he offered updates on the progress throughout the competition. The winner was Mohd Zamri Shafri who said: "My recipe was extraordinary because I incorporated fusion cooking with traditional elements." The winners later took back home prizes ranging from RM 1000 to RM 3000 and hampers which was jointly organised by Seri Malaysia hotel, Karangkraf group and Adabi. Guest of honour was Datin Seri Hamidah Khamis, wife of Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| Singing an old Portuguese song for a new cause Posted: 10 Jul 2011 04:54 PM PDT MALACCA: A FORMER civil servant had promised to render a long forgotten Portuguese folksong at an open area in St Paul's hill here if the city council could resolve his problem. Manuel "Poppa Joe" Lozaroo said he would perform a 500-year-old Portuguese number called Cantiga De Conquisthdor if the council could provide a solution to prevent silt and rubbish from entering his restaurant after a heavy downpour. "It's a perpetual problem and I have sought help through proper channels but until today, all my efforts have been futile. "The only avenue for me now to draw the attention of those who can render assistance is to offer my vocal ability on a folksong that was sung widely in Malacca," said the 70-year-old restaurateur. Lozaroo, who operates a "watering hole" at the Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir, claimed that he is only one in the community who could render the full lyrics of the folksong. "I inherited it from my grandmother and was passed it down from one generation to another," he said. Cantiga De Conquisthdor was sung by Portuguese seafarers in their galleons and crew members who were brought from Africa to Malacca also learned the song. "Hence, the lyrics mention much about the Zulu tribe and the seamen sang this when they were homesick while their galleons docked in Malacca then. "Only one remaining descendant of the Portuguese can sing this folksong in full and I promise to do so if my problem is solved," he said. Lozaroo said he rendered the folksong when was invited for the Portuguese cultural fair in Portugal, Macau and Hong Kong in 1990s. He added that even the foreigners stood in amazement when he rendered the folksong which was thought to have gone extinct. "However, I have not gotten the opportunity to do so in my own country and am eager to render the song with peace of mind and not worry about the constant floodings at my shop," he said. He added that floodwater – had in numerous occasions – damaged his restaurant's fittings and caused heavy losses. "I really need help and hope that the MBMB could construct culverts to divert heavy volume of water resulting from incessant rain. "My wife and I are senior citizens and can no longer endure the strains of cleaning our restaurant each time it's covered by mud and rubbish," he added. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| Posted: 10 Jul 2011 04:54 PM PDT MALACCA: High-speed water taxis will debut here once the second phase of a RM130mil rehabilitation and beautification of the Malacca river is completed. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the water taxi that could ferry 16 passengers would cut the travelling time within the city. "We hope to reduce traffic congestion that seems to be perpetual problem for the locals. So commuters and tourists alike can opt for water taxi for city travel," he said at a briefing session on the river rejuvenation project at Seri Negeri on Thursday. The briefing was held in-conjunction with Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Unggah Embas' visit to the state. Mohd Ali said the width of the Malacca river would be widened from its current main jetty at Taman Seri Rempah adjoining a new quayside in Melaka Sentral where it would be the terminal for the water taxis. He added that the river would also be extended by another 2.3km to enable the water taxis to stop and pick passengers from five new jetties including one that would be constructed close to a twin shopping complex in city centre. "We will also beautify the river corridor by constructing walkways and decorate them with ornamental lights to rejuvenate the riverfront as a tourist attraction," he said, adding that the government would also develop a navigational system to enable the water taxis to cruise at high-speed. Mohd Ali also revealed that a floating market similar to Bangkok would also be introduced at a suitable stretch along the river once the whole project is completed in 2013. "We will also improve the water quality part from constructing new elevated bridges to enable the water taxi to pass through, converting the once polluted river into a major tourism hub for the state," he said. In relation to the matter, Douglas said the project is expected to commence on October once the land acquisition and tendering process is completed. He added that the Ministry had also asked the Malacca government to introduce bird watching travel packages along the river. In an unrelated development, Douglas said the Ministry would also carry out a coastline management project to address serious beach erosions affecting the shorelines in Pantai Kundur and Pantai Puteri. He said the climate change and erratic sea levels had contributed to the beach erosion and the ministry will consider the state's request to construct waterbreakers along these two affected stretches. He added that only Kuala Terengganu and Langkawi are well equipped with break-water system to prevent beach erosions. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
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