The Star Online: Nation
The Star Online: Nation |
- Going back to basics with Idumban Kavadi
- Khalid asked to explain decisions
- Afraid to lose newfound comforts
| Going back to basics with Idumban Kavadi Posted: 12 Jan 2014 08:00 AM PST GEORGE TOWN: Thaipusam's earliest kavadi, an Idumban kavadi, made its appearance at the festival here. Many were impressed by the sight of the Idumban Kavadi, which had two pots of offerings suspended from each side of a wooden staff, as a devotee carried it to the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Hilltop Temple in Jalan Kebun Bunga, Penang. Lord Idumban, for whom a shrine is dedicated at the foot of the hill, is said to have carried two hills on his shoulders for the sage Agastya but the hills were claimed by Lord Muruga. "Idumban is now the guardian at the foot of the hill where Lord Muruga's temple is," said R. Rajnee, 36. The freelance location scout for film companies has been carrying kavadi for the past 20 years, but it was his first time shouldering the Idumban Kavadi. He said the shaft weighed about 5kg and was custom-made. "One pot contains cow's milk while the other has rose water. Both are used for abhisegam (ritual bath) of Lord Muruga," he explained. At yesterday's kavadi session, which was organised by the Malaysia Hindudharma Mamandram for the 13th year, some 150 devotees celebrated Thaipusam earlier although the actual day is on Friday. Malaysia Hindudharma Mamandram deputy president D.S.V. Nandakumar said they usually chose the Sunday before Thaipusam to fulfil vows for the convenience of elderly devotees or those with children. |
| Khalid asked to explain decisions Posted: 12 Jan 2014 08:00 AM PST PETALING JAYA: Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim will be asked to explain his decision to drop state party chief Azmin Ali from the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) board. He would also be queried on his decision to work together with the Federal Government on the restructuring of its water assets and services. The decision to ask Khalid to explain his actions over the two issues was made at the state PKR emergency meeting held last night. State party secretary Amirudin Shari who spoke to reporters after the meeting said the decisions and recommendations made at the meeting would also be forwarded to the party's political bureau for further action. The bureau is scheduled to meet tonight. On Azmin's impromptu ouster from PKNS, Amirudin said it the party at its extraordinary general meeting last year had included a clause into its constitution that any changes made regarding party-recommended positions into state governmment-linked companies must be referred to the party's leadership. "The state should have informed the leadership if they wanted to drop anyone recommended by the party," said the Batu Caves assemblyman. He said the party was also concerned over the Selangor government's decision to work with the Federal Government to manage the state's water assets as it might adversely affect the people. Another leader, who declined to be named, said the meeting also questioned Khalid's appointment of his aide Faekah Husin into the National Water Services Commission. "Why Faekah? Why is she being made to be so powerful?" he asked. Related story: |
| Afraid to lose newfound comforts Posted: 13 Jan 2014 08:00 AM PST EXCLUSIVE: KUALA KUBU BARU: Lau Looi shuffles around the hospital ward and fidgets nervously with his dirty fingernails. He was one of five senior citizens found living in deplorable conditions in an abandoned old folks home at Taman Wahyu in Kuala Lumpur last week. Having lived in filth with nearly two months without piped water, the newfound comforts at the Kuala Kubu Baru Hospital are a luxury he does not want to lose. "I am afraid of where they are going to move me. Please don't send me somewhere else," said the senior citizen, who could not remember his full name or age. Lau Looi said he was born in Ipoh and worked as a contractor before he was divorced and separated from his wife and children. Full story in your copy ofThe Star today. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Star Online : Nation Feed To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan