The Star Online: Metro: South & East
The Star Online: Metro: South & East |
- Metro Watch
- Malaysians are an amicable lot until they get behind the wheel
- Kiber Sambas wins boat race
| Posted: 21 Jun 2011 03:50 PM PDT DARTS COMPETITION The winner of the 14th Malacca Open Darts Championships will be pocketing RM14,100. It will take place at the Grand Continental Hotel from June 25- 26. For details, contact 012-635 2665 (V.M. Ganesan) or 012-693 1295 (Shariff Ahmad). HANDICRAFT'S LURE Looking for unique and beautifully carved wooden and traditional batik and ceramic products for souvenirs or home decoration? Check out the Pahang Handicraft Corporation complex at Kampung Pandan II, Kuantan-Terengganu bypass. Opens from Monday to Friday, 8am-5pm. For details, call 09-538 5677. ZERO WASTE ZONE Kuantan Municipal Council (MPK) has launched the Zero Waste Zone 2011 and it is MPK's aspiration to ensure that Kuantan Town Centre becomes a zero waste zone from Jalan Tanah Putih in front of Giant Hypermarket to Teluk Cempedak. For details, call 09-5121 555/666 or log on to their website at www.mpk.gov.my CANCER COUNSELLING Mahkota Medical Centre will be providing comprehensive cancer counselling services for free to the public, in collaboration with Malacca Cancer Society, every Friday from 4-6pm at No.76, Jalan Taman Melaka Raya 25, Taman Melaka Raya, Malacca. For details, call 06-285 2931 (Dr Sanjeev), 06-285 2975 (Dr Jayendran) or 06-285 0988 (Michaelina/Koh). BALLROOM DANCE CLASS A beginner's ballroom dancing class for cancer survivors, family, friends and caretakers is held every Thursday from 11am-noon at a monthly fee of RM10 at Malacca Cancer Society's Oasis centre. Conversational Mandarin class is held every Tuesday from noon to 3pm at a monthly fee of RM20. For details, call 06- 283 0988 (Oasis) ,012-399 7176 (Koh) or 012-323 9300 (Chua). VOLUNTEERS NEEDED National Stroke Association of Malaysia (Nasam) Kuantan branch is looking for volunteers to help rehabilitate stroke victims. Nasam, a non-profit organisation, will provide training. For details, call 09- 566 8195 or 019-951 0012 (Chua) CENTRE RELOCATION The Salvation Army's Hopehaven Centre for Special Children in Malacca has been relocated to its former premises at No.321, Jalan Parameswara (opposite Banda Hilir jail). It is also expanding its Early Intervention Programme and Sheltered Employment Programme. For details, call 06-288 2693 / 283 2101 (Sarala Gopi). ITEMS FOR RECYCLING Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation Malaysia Kuantan branch welcomes used items such as metal containers, aluminium cans, glass and plastic bottles and clothing at its recycling centre. The centre is open every Sunday from 9am to noon. For details, call 09-517 2969 / 061. SIGN LANGUAGE Those wishing to learn sign language can attend classes organised by Johor Deaf Association at Johor Communication Centre, 64-01, Larkin Perdana 3, Taman Larkin Perdana, every weekend from 2pm to 4pm. For details, call 07-234 9925 (office hours) or 019-732 5100. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| Malaysians are an amicable lot until they get behind the wheel Posted: 21 Jun 2011 03:50 PM PDT AS FAR as manners go, Malaysians can be described as civil as we go out of our way to avoid conflicts — except on the road. Behind the wheel, we would morph into a braver and more confrontational version of ourselves. The windshield and surrounding metals of a car are like suit armours. When we're sitting behind the wheel, we feel powerful, in control and wear the illusion of invincibility like a cloak. People who would never have jumped the queue at the movies or McDonald's would cut into a long lane of cars without blinking. Apparently, normal rules and etiquette don't apply on the road. Malaysians frown upon discrimination and promote harmony with a smile, but we make fun or take advantage of smaller, slower or more hesitant vehicles when driving. When we see a vehicle with a 'P' sticker or trail behind an 'L' driver, we would heave an impatient sigh of frustration before speeding up to overtake the vehicle. At the toll, people would grumble and curse at those who are incompetent enough to get stuck at a Smart Tag lane. One would think that Malaysians drivers would always arrive at our destination on time or early — such is our eagerness for utmost speed on the road — but we are always late. Blaming the traffic for tardiness is not just an acceptable excuse in our nation, it's part of our ever-attractive culture. For example, just like adopting the word lah into their vocabulary, every foreigner who wants to feel like they've made Malaysia their home would just have to participate in the blame-the-traffic custom and we would welcome them like one of our own. Sure, traffic is such nightmare during peak hours, but most of the time, bad traffic is more a handy scapegoat than anything else. Case in point: The very important people in our country blaze across highways with wailing sirens and police escorts; but they always seem to arrive late for a function. Cannot blame the traffic, lah. However aggressive we are on the road, Malaysians are still an amicable lot. When we see VIP vehicles with escorts on the road we always give way, some respectfully, many reluctantly. We would complain bitterly or swear savagely at the people who are important enough to warrant escorts; yet if we were offered the same deal, I hardly think that any of us would refuse. In fact, the citizens of this country do not really begrudge our VIPs the luxury of escorts on the road. What people are feeling increasingly discontent about is being pushed aside like inconsequential objects on the road. I have witnessed instances that could have ended disastrously as cars brake too fast and violently when they see a VIP entourage coming. We would look up to the leaders of our country and if they practice patience and respect on the road, our drivers will begin to emulate their actions. Whether we admit it or not, Malaysian drivers are in need of some lessons when it comes to good road manners. People complain about how expensive cars are in our country yet we reserve very little sympathy for those unable to afford one. Motorcyclists are the lowest regarded people on the road, even beneath cyclists. When we see cyclists on the road, we take extra care not to go near them. We even respect their tenacity and are in awe of their stamina and discipline. Motorcyclists, on the other hand, are looked upon as nuisances. I am in fear of snatch-thieves and abhor people who think nothing about putting a few scratches on my car, but here I'd like to remind everyone who drives that not all motorcyclists are out to get us. Some of us behave like kings of the road, where respect and right of way is due to us. You wouldn't think less of someone in a wheelchair just because you can walk and they can't, so why would we discriminate on the road? I do not understand the reluctance to make eye contact with other drivers, especially in acknowledgement of their patience or generosity in pausing for us to slip by. On the way outstation a few weeks ago, my friend Chelsia, jerked in surprise as a driver showed her the finger as he shot past. She was in the passenger seat and our car was crawling along in traffic. None of us did anything to provoke that rude gesture. After stewing over it for a good 10 minutes, my husband Yuri commented, "If you think thinking and being upset about it, the guy would've given you the finger 10 times over". We were instantly sheepish. The rules of the road should not be very different from the rules of life. We can't control what people do, but we can determine our own course of action. Be polite, be respectful and always be safe. Sometimes, it's just not worth it. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| Posted: 21 Jun 2011 03:50 PM PDT KOTA KINABALU: An inaugural outing at the Sabah Dragon Boat Race 2011 here turned out to be a rewarding effort for the Kiber Sambas team from West Kalimantan, Indonesia. The West Kalimantan team did not shy away despite competing against teams that make the annual event a regular item in their calendars and as a result they clocked the best time in the competition, as they clinched the main title - Sabah Head of State's Trophy. "We should have participated last year but we were involved in another competition," said Indonesia West Kalimantan Rowing Athletics Association head Abdi Norkamil Mawardi. "And it's been no waste coming here since we won the main race and we are very happy." He pointed out that the decision to contest in the event stemmed from the desire to get to know Sabah and build a network with other dragon boat teams. "We are all in the same island of Borneo so we must get to know each other as well as make new friendships," he said, adding the organisers have also been excellent. No stranger to the Sabah Dragon Boat Race, the National Brunei Darussalam team made their 21st appearance this time around and are eager to return again next year. Like Abdi, group leader Harris Ibrahim said victory was not their first priority. "Winning and losing is part of any competition but we are here to support Sabah and plus we have a lot of relatives in this state," he said. A total of 60 teams competed in the two-day 26th Sabah Dragon Boat Race that began on June 18 at the Likas Bay here. Kiber Sambas took first spot in the highlight event, the Sabah Head of State's Trophy, completing 800mof water and clocking a time of 3:14 sec and taking home RM4,000 as a result. The National Team Brunei Darussalam A and Penang Forward Sports Club claimed the second and third spots, respectively. Nine categories were contested in the race, which is one of Sabah's premiere events, offering a total cash prize of RM43,000. The event is organised by the Sabah Tourism Board, its wholly-owned subsidiary Sri Pelancongan Sabah SdnBhd and the Sabah Chinese Cultural Association. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Star Online: Metro: South & East 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