The Star Online: Metro: Central
The Star Online: Metro: Central |
| Posted: 18 Oct 2012 07:34 AM PDT AT THE Leng Eng Tian temple, amid the crowd of devotees praying or seeking advice from mediums, a dancing wooden puppet was the centre of attention. All eyes were fixed on the puppet and its puppeteer, Ng Chin Chai. With deft moves and manipulation of the strings, Ng brought the puppet to life. The wooden puppet monk was a delight to watch as it danced and knocked animatedly on the Chinese block, commonly known as the wooden fish. Ng, 60, learnt the art when he was seven and has been performing since he was 16 years old. However, the puppet master humbly states that there is more to learn. With an average of 32 strings, there are 20 movements to master. The puppet show, according to Ng, was started by Emperor Gaozu commonly known as Liu Bang, as a tactic to divert the enemies' attention during war times in the Han Dynasty. "The soldiers from the opposition were so caught up in watching the performance that the emperor managed to win the war," he said. Ng said he learnt the tricks of the trade from his father and grandfather. He is the fifth generation in his family to practise the art. "It is a serious business and there are rules to follow. We cannot fool around. We must play the puppet's characters with accuracy and suitable dialogue, be it classical Chinese or modern Chinese, depending on the era of the character's origin," he said. His sons, aged 28 and 33, are currently following in their father's footsteps. "They took the initiative to learn. I did not have to push them. "My son is better than me at manipulating the puppet that can spit fire," he said. Ng, who also makes some of his own puppets aside from buying them from craftsmen, has 100 string-puppets and 300 hand-puppets. Some are made locally while others are made in China. "I perform almost every month at temple functions in various states. I have also done charity performances, such as the one in aid of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake victims," he said. Before and after each performance, it is customary for Ng to pray to a god worshipped by puppeteers, for blessings and as a mark of respect. "I was in high spirits during my performance just now, I am sure the gods were happy, too," he said. |
| Traders appeal to authorities to do business in Brickfields Posted: 18 Oct 2012 07:30 AM PDT SCREAMING marginalisation and unfair treatment, a group of traders, many of whom were single mothers and from poor families, took to the streets of Brickfields yesterday, pleading to be given one final chance to set up Deepavali stalls in front of the shops of Jalan Tun Sambanthan for the upcoming Deepavali festival. "I have borrowed RM50,000 from loan sharks and I am saddled with hundreds of Punjabi suits that I cannot sell," lamented M. Parimala. "What am I to do now? What happens when they (loan sharks) come for their money?" cried the 40-year-old mother-of-two. A single mother, who only wanted to be identified as Nell, said she had baked cookies to be sold at the bazaar. "I am alone with little children at home who are depending on me; I need the business, my family needs it," said Nell with tears streaming down her face. "I am the sole breadwinner in my family," said another trader, G. Mageswari. "I am married but I do not get any financial support from my husband, and have to rely on myself," she said. "I have been doing business in Brickfields during the Deepavali festival period for the past nine years. It is during this period that we are able to make enough money to last for a whole year. "Business is very good here just before the festival, which is why it is so important that we are allowed to trade in front of the shops; it is only once a year," she added. When asked why they were not happy to move to the new location in Jalan Berhala and Chan Ah Tong field, the traders said they were worried that people would not visit their stalls at the new location. "What if people do not come?"asked Parimala. "We cannot take that risk,'' Mageswari stated. They are affiliated to the Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya Indian Petty Traders Association. Association president Jothy Appalasamy said he had sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister's Office, Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry, and the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry last week to look into their woes. "We have yet to hear from them. While we still hope for a favourable outcome, we have decided to go ahead with our bazaar on Sunday. "We would also like to go on record to say that we take offence with Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan for calling us gangsters," said a visibly upset Jothy. "Do we look like gangsters here, do these women look like gangsters to you?" he asked. Jothy said the traders were supposed to have started the Deepavali bazaar last Sunday. However, they decided to put it on hold and appeal to the Prime Minister. "But we are running out of time, Deepavali is three weeks away," he said. Traders are objecting to the balloting system as well as the new location provided by City Hall (DBKL) for this year's Deepavali bazaar. Unlike previous years, this year, DBKL is ensuring that everything is done by the book. This means no direct allocation to any particular NGO or organisation, to ensure transparency and resolve allegations of middlemen raking in thousands of ringgit by sub-letting lots to third parties. |
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