The Star Online: Metro: South & East
The Star Online: Metro: South & East |
- WWF Malaysia kicks off Regatta Lepa water festival in Samporna
- Johoreans want their new MB to select individuals of worth, intellect and capability for the state’s new executive council
- Malaysian men are becoming too serious and should laugh more
| WWF Malaysia kicks off Regatta Lepa water festival in Samporna Posted: 13 May 2013 06:43 PM PDT KOTA KINABALU: The laughter of some 100 children and their parents were among the distinctive "music" which could be heard during the annual Regatta Lepa water festival in Sabah's east coast Semporna district. The children and their parents were seen working together to solve puzzles and playing other games regarding environment protection in conjunction with the water festival. Organised mainly by the World Wild Fund for Nature Malaysia – WWF Malaysia – the event held from April 26 – 28 not only allowed participating children to enjoy the games and activities but also learn more about conservation. Together with volunteers from Green Semporna, the national conservation organisation engaged the children in activities including "Ninja Sea Turtles" that showcased the lifecycle of sea turtles, a matching game to identify terrestrial and marine creatures according to their environment. WWF-Malaysia's Sulu Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion Programme manager, Robecca Jumin said it was important to engage children and their parents in awareness activities such as this. "It is important for the local community, particularly children to understand marine life specifically coral reef and turtles," she said. Jumin said sustainable development and protection of natural treasures in Semporna is crucial as the area features the largest coral reef concentration in Malaysia, which is a valuable resource for fisheries and tourism. "The dependency of Malaysia on fisheries and other coral reef resources has increased over time. "However, 97% of reefs in Malaysia are under threats of over fishing including destructive fishing, land-based pollution and unsustainable tourism development," she added. Jumin said statistics from the tourism ministry showed that there were over 2.88 million tourist arrival to Sabah in 2012. "This shows the value of tourism as a key income resource as well as highlights the need to focus on sustainable tourism and environmental conservation," she explained. The annual Regatta Lepa is held to celebrate the heritage and culture of the people in Semporna, especially the Bajau Laut (or sea gypsies). |
| Posted: 13 May 2013 06:41 PM PDT BATU PAHAT: Professionals, knowledgeable, people-friendly and able to serve all races equally are among the qualities that people hope to see in Johor state executive council line-up. Eyes will be on mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohmed Khaled Nordin, on whom he may choose for his exco line-up, usually comprised of 10 people from Umno, MCA and MIC. Chinese Chamber of Commerce Batu Pahat president Gan Eng Huat said the government should appoint professionals who have strong knowledge in the portfolios that they are entrusted. "For us, whether the exco member is someone from the elected-representative or not is not important because we want people who know their area of duty well. "Be professional, creative and able to resolve the people's plights fast and effectively," he said. Gan also raised his concern about the exco new line-up that would not have Chinese representatives since MCA had decided not take any government posts when the party did not improve general election result compared to the last election in 2008. "The line-up will only complete and balance if all three Malay, Chinese and Indian races are included because it is multiracial society," he said, adding that exco members have the responsibility to look into the needs of their respective communities. Self-employed Mustapha Ismail, 62, said he wanted to see exco members who can perform well. "For me, gender, race and age are not the problem as long as he or she is able to deliver and not just talk. "They must also know how to serve the people and keep their promises," he said. Director of a telecommunication contractor S. M. Anand, 30, said he hoped to see the government officials who could get close to the people regardless of race. "They must able to communicate with all races, hard working and make the public needs their priority," he said. Executive in a private company Dolly Huan, 33, said she is worried how the government is going to serve the people effectively, especially the Chinese community, without Chinese representatives in the government. She hoped to see the state line-up comprise people who are educated and be inclusive to all races. Graduate Tan Jia Min, 25, said people's lives are tougher now with increasing cost of living and she wished to see a government that is able to fight against inflation and help the poor. "They must be able to listen to the people's grouses, explain the issues and resolve their problems," she said, adding that the line-up should also have people who are polite with good image. |
| Malaysian men are becoming too serious and should laugh more Posted: 13 May 2013 06:42 PM PDT JOHOR BARU: Malaysians should take time off to start laughing at themselves as they are becoming "too serious" in today's competitive world. Johor Baru Happy and Joyous Club secretary Goh Siew Mei said they would be surprised on how laughter could bring positive changes on them as well as others around them. "Laughter is free and you don't need reasons to laugh," she told StarMetro at the laughter walkabout organised by the club at Plaza Pelangi shopping mall over the weekend. Apart from Plaza Pelangi, club members also visited AEON Big Pandan (formerly known as Carrefour) and KSL City shopping complex here. The walkabout was held in conjunction with the World Laughter Day 2013. At the event held at the three shopping complexes, participants performed three Malaysian-styles laughter – the teh tarik laugh- ter, shopping laughter and handshake laughter. Shoppers at Plaza Pelangi were sporting enough and did not need much coaxing to join members from the club laughing to their hearts content. "Malaysian women laugh more, unlike Malaysian men and our men should start laughing again," added Goh. She said 10 minutes of laughter was equivalent to 30 minutes of jogging as laughing helped to improve one's respiratory and immune systems. Goh said Malaysian politicians also do not laugh enough and they took things too seriously and not good for their health as they were "a group of busy people". She said with the GE13 just ended, elected candidates and even those who lost should make efforts to relax and unwind after their hectic schedule of campaigning. At Plaza Pelangi, Pasir Gudang Community College lecturer Sharifah Masitah Syed Salim, 32, was crowned "Queen of Laughter" while technician Quek Yak Wah, 53, took the "King of Laughter" title. "I'm joining the event just for fun and did not expect to win but I'm happy,'' said Sharifah Masitah. The first World Laughter Day was held in Mumbai, India in 1998, where 12,000 members from Indian and international laughter clubs joined together in the mega laughter session. The event is a positive manifestation of world peace and it is intended to build global consciousness of brotherhood and friendship through laughter. Its popularity has grown exponentially and the Laughter Yoga movement now has over 6,000 Laughter Clubs in more than 65,000 countries. |
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