The Star Online: Metro: South & East
The Star Online: Metro: South & East |
- A historical lesson for toddlers
- A lively affair in Sabah
- Thousands attend feast of the Holy Cross at Malim Hill
| A historical lesson for toddlers Posted: 20 Sep 2011 06:39 PM PDT ABOUT 500 children from 36 kindergartens in the Muar parliamentary area participated in a colourful 1Malaysia Merdeka Day parade at Dataran Tanjung Emas recently. The parade, organised by the Muar Community Development Department (Kemas) was aimed at instilling the spirit of patriotism among the younger generation. Muar Kemas activity bureau chairman Norhalim Hashim said it was necessary for young children to know the nation's history on independence. He said they should be able to recognise the late Tunku Abdul Rahmah Putra and other founding fathers who had strived to gain independence from the British rule. "We as parents, teachers and loyal citizens should always remember the struggles of those who sacrificed a lot to free this nation from the British. "The history of their fight for the independence should be passed down to the younger generation, including those in kindergartens," he said when launching the 1Malaysia Merdeka Day parade. Norhalim, who is also Muar Umno division deputy chairman, said many nations, especially in Africa, which gained independence from colonial powers, still lived in poverty. He said Malaysians should be grateful that they not only enjoyed continuous prosperity and growth, they also enjoyed peaceful and harmonious living. Earlier, Muar Kemas supervisor Zaiton Ismail said the department decided to organise the parade in a much bigger scale this year to celebrate Hari Raya Puasa. At the same time, she added, the country also celebrated Malaysia Day on Sept 16 and it was appropriate for Muar Kemas to hold the parade on the day. "Besides the 1Malaysia Merdeka Day parade, we will also hold activities for the children at their respective kindergartens this month. "We want to thank all donors and contributors, especially the Muar Municipal Council for the use of Dataran Tanjung Emas and its facilities for free," she added. |
| Posted: 20 Sep 2011 06:36 PM PDT KOTA KINABALU: An early morning parade kicked off Sabah's Malaysia Day and Merdeka celebrations that culminated with a 10-minute breathtaking fireworks display. The Malaysia Day festivities started off with a colourful parade made more vibrant with the presence of 54 youths dressed in traditional costumes, delighting the crowd of several thousands who thronged the event. The youths performed the 1Malaysia dance - a blend of dances of the country's communities with the local sumazau as a finale. They were among a contingent of 144 who took part in the two hour parade which kicked off at 7.30am at the Dataran Bandaraya (City Square) along the seaside of Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen. Among those who witnessed the parade were Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman, state ministers and other leaders. The sunny weather provided an ideal atmosphere for the parade that began with a march past by members of the security forces including the army, navy, police and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) personnel. Others who took part in the parade include students from 42 primary, secondary and institutes of higher learning, staff of government departments and NGOs. Among the highlights of the parade was a procession of some 20 Volkswagen cars led by the 2011 Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Queen) Bo Tiza Arthur S Disimon sitting in a convertible vehicle. The parade also featured a procession of Proton and Perodua vehicles amid applause from the crowds. The celebrations continued into the evening with the Malam Merdeka celebrations at the Padang Merdeka in the downtown area. The event kicked off with the raising of the Jalur Gemilang witnessed by a crowd of several thousands that included Sabah Yang Di Pertua Negri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin, Musa as well as various state leaders. Musa then led the crowd tocall out Merdeka seven times before a group of cultural performers took to the stage. This was followed by performances by local artistes including Adam, Candy, Abu Bakar Ella and Valerie Wong. The highlight of the evening was the fireworks display. |
| Thousands attend feast of the Holy Cross at Malim Hill Posted: 20 Sep 2011 06:33 PM PDT MALACCA: The deep fervour, devotion and thanksgiving of the thousands of pilgrims and devotees both Christians and those of other faiths to the feast of the Holy Cross at the quaint Chapel of Santa Cruz at Malim Hill was an inspiration to 73-year-old Englishman Arthur Rowens. The retired engineer from Manchester heard about the feast day celebrations, the only one of its kind in the region, from a group of Singaporeans while holidaying in the republic. He delayed his departure back home to witness the celebrations at first hand. "I must say, I found the deep devotion of pilgrims and devotees most inspiring. "The Malim Chapel is certainly the epitome of religious devotion and faith fervour while capturing the hearts of many people from all over Malaysia, Singapore and overseas. Despite its origins shrouded in uncertainty, mystery and legend, it is the strong belief held by so many that inspires me to seek special blessings and grace from the Almighty," Rowens said. Mary Manavalan, of Kuantan has been making the annual pilgrimage since 1986 despite her poor health. A non Catholic, she returns each year to give thanks as her prayers were answered in 1992 for peace and happiness within her large family. School teacher Lionel Chee, 45, was among hundreds from Singapore who gave donations and lit candles for prayers answered and graces received. He said: "I have been coming to Malim without fail since 1995, and am still awed by this feast commemoration which still continues to draw an ever increasing number of pilgrims and devotees simply based on belief and faith." Thousands thronged the little quaint chapel on Malim Hill along the old Malacca-Seremban trunk road to commemorate the Feast of the Holy Cross held annually on the second Sunday of September. Located between an old rubber estate and an ancient Chinese graveyard, the chapel, which comes under the jurisdiction of Malacca's St. Peter's Church, is only open once a year during the commemoration of the feast and has been a place for Catholic homage and devotion for around 150 years following the discovery of a wooden cross in the hill's vicinity. According to the book "Survival Through Human Values" authored by the later Fr. Manuel Pintado, a former parish priest of St. Peter's and noted local historian, Malacca was a Christian town from 1511 to 1641 during the Portuguese occupation and it was common to see a church or chapel along every street and atop hills. His notes read: "The cross found could have been a grave marker or affixed to a place of worship which subsequently went into ruin during the 154-year Dutch occupation of the state beginning late 1641, where public and open practice of the Catholic faith was not permitted. Hence the local Catholic populace had to go 'underground' to conduct worship and devotional prayers". Indeed, tracing the origins of the Feast of Santa Cruz proves an interesting exercise with varied versions from sources lending still more mystique. According to the notes of Fr.Manuel Texeira, a community leader who served the local Catholic populace in the early 1900s, states that in the mid 1800s, a young daughter of one Joanna Sta Maria of the Kubu Portuguese-Eurasian community dreamt for three consecutive nights about a wooden cross at a nearby hill. On hearing about the dream, the community in Kubu decided to explore Malim in search of the cross. They met with little success in the first few months until a Malay villager they met said a cross could be found at the top of the hill. The priest's notes added, that the search party subsequently found a 46cm wooden cross on the hill partially covered by a termite nest. The notes further read: "Unable to remove the cross from the spot, the group comprising carpenters, masons, blacksmiths and painters cleaned the area around it and knelt down to pray. As the news of the cross discovery, the path leading to the top of the hill was cleared and a small wooden altar was built. Later a small wooden chapel took shape and the spirit of pilgrimage by Catholics far and wide began sometime in the latter half of the 19th century." This wooden chapel since the early 1980s has undergone major repairs and renovations inclusive of improvements of the surrounding landscape. Today, the chapel represents a fully brick edifice complete with a large replica of the original wooden cross and grotto dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the compound, a wide tarred road leading uphill, a large concrete platform for devotees and pilgrims to occupy during religious services and a canopy-styled tiled roof altar at the chapel's entrance. Whatever the origins, the Feast of Santa Cruz continues to draw pilgrims, devotees and curious visitors from all over the country and this region. This feast has become well known just like the traditional Portuguese Palm Sunday and Good Friday celebrations at St. Peter's Church in late March or early April and the feast of St. Francis Xavier atop St. Paul's Hill right in the heart of Malacca Town in early December. |
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