The Star Online: Metro: Central
The Star Online: Metro: Central |
| Cheras residents concerned over the lack of Chinese schools Posted: 19 Jan 2013 03:53 AM PST The Cheras parliamentary constituency was formed in 1995 and was carved out of the earlier Sungai Besi seat which was split into two constituencies — Cheras and Bandar Tun Razak. Cheras is largely a residential area with a number of government-built flats and old shophouses in the northern zone that covers Loke Yew, San Peng and Pudu. Its southern zone is dotted with housing estates crammed with terrace houses such as Taman Midah and Taman Miharja. The Cheras electorate is mostly made up of traders, businessmen and executives. Food traders are aplenty in the constituency, which is well-known for its hawker delicacies. The constituency comprises commercial areas in the city such as Jalan Loke Yew, Jalan San Peng and Jalan Pasar as well as residential areas such as Taman Segar, Taman Midah, Taman Shamelin Perkasa and Taynton View. The constituency has one of the highest percentage of Chinese voters in Kuala Lumpur at 81.9%, which will be a key factor during the coming general election. It is currently held by DAP veteran Tan Kok Wai, who defeated Barisan Nasional's Dr Jeffrey Goh in the previous election. Anti-establishment sentiments have always been strong in Cheras, which is regarded as a DAP stronghold. National issues remain a crucial factor in this constituency and the sentiments are expected to be the same in the coming election. There are several concerns for the voters in the constituency. However, it is said that national issues such as education, economy and security will be more prominent due to the high percentage of Chinese voters. One of the issues likely to be brought up in the area is the number of Chinese primary schools. Despite having the highest percentage of Chinese voters, there are only two Chinese primary schools in the constituency — one in the city and the other on the Cheras and Bandar Tun Razak border. "There have been a lot of grouses among residents as the two schools are packed to the brim. "Most new students who want to apply for these schools get sent to Chinese schools in other areas," said John Hon Su Kuan, who heads the Cheras MCA service centre. Hon, 56, who is also the Taman Taynton MCA branch chairman, has been busy attending to complaints from Cheras residents over the last few years. Another issue likely to be brought up is traffic congestion. Taman Midah Rukun Tetangga chairman Raymond Ng said traffic in the area was usually bad in most areas in Cheras during peak hours. "Traffic is at a crawl during peak hours. Driving from Jalan Cheras to Jalan Chan Sow Lin or even to Jalan Loke Yew is unbearable. "The number of people living in Cheras who work in the city causes this problem. In the morning, these people travel to work and in the evening, they come back to Cheras in the same direction," he said. For Hon, the traffic problem is caused by the pace of development. "The increase in the number of vehicles outpaces the development in the area. Even the development of the new Loke Yew intersection is not helping much. "These developments help for the first few years, but in the end, the traffic problem will return," he said. According to Ng, another problem in the area is security. "Taman Midah used to have the highest number of crime cases among all Cheras residential areas. There used to be break-ins and snatch thefts almost every week. "Now, after we formed our neighbourhood watch programme under the Rukun Tetangga committee, crime rate has gone down by 65%," he said. According to Hon, this is a trend among residential areas in Cheras. "Most of the residential areas in Cheras have employed their own form of security. "In fact, almost all have turned into gated and guarded communities due to the crime issues faced in the area," he said. However, of all the issues, the one that made the headlines in the Cheras constituency was the proposed privatisation of the Cheras crematorium. StarMetro had reported in May 2012 that Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) was discussing with interested parties to privatise the 37-year-old crematorium to provide better services. It was reported that a few parties had approached the mayor's office with plans, proposals and artist impressions on what the place would look like if they were to get the contract. DBKL sources said if the mayor agreed to the privatisation project, the entire Cheras crematorium would be restructured to look like a modern-day funeral parlour. Many non-governmental organisations, religious bodies and political figures had opposed the plan, fearing that the low cremation fees would increase after the crematorium was privatised. Former Kuala Lumpur Mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail received heavy criticism for the plan from religious leaders as well as local community leaders. The deal was finally scrapped after Ahmad Fuad confirmed that the crematorium would not be privatised following a cabinet decision. For the general election, DAP's Tan, who is also the party's deputy chairman, would most likely defend his seat. His challenger this time around would most likely be businessman Hon. |
| Zodiac society brings together those born in Year of the Snake Posted: 19 Jan 2013 03:50 AM PST What do Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Hong Kong actor Eric Tsang, Chinese leader Mao Zedong and James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan have in common? They were all born in the Year of the Snake. And, for those born in the Year of the Snake, there is an association they can join — the Malaysia Zodiac Snake Society (aka Assoc–iation for People Born in the Year of the Snake). The association was founded in 1997 by chairman Dr Gan Ching Meng, 60. Apparently the first of its kind for those born in the Year of the Snake, the association has around 2,000 members, including 300 lifetime members. It was initially founded to enable Gan and his schoolmates from SJK (C) Choong Hua, Banting, all born in 1953, to come together. "After we graduated, we met up every year and hundreds would turn up. However, the numbers dwindled as the years passed and in 1996, there were less than 20 who would attend these reunions," said Gan. The association was later expanded and open to all born in the Year of the Snake. "It is an avenue for these people to gather and our aim is to promote Chinese culture and traditions. "Every Chinese New Year, we organise a gathering for all the 'snakes'. It is usually a warm atmosphere." Gan related an interesting coincidence when registering the association with the Registar of Societies (ROS) in 2011. "When submitting our application, we found that the ROS secretary was also born in the Year of the Snake. Then on our third visit, we met the ROS director, who was also born in the Year of the Snake! "And once, during one of our gatherings, we spotted a python across the street. I believe snakes are spiritual beings," he said. The association members have travelled to several countries, including China. "When we visited the Guanzhou prefecture, we were told that we were the first zodiac association to visit the prefecture as they normally receive visitors only from business associations and schools. "We hope to expand the association to other places," he said. Among the association's members are couple Soo Hak Min and Ng Chiew Hoon, both 48. "We went to the same school but only got to know each other better when we were working as substitute teachers at the same school. "My wife says I'm as lazy as a snake," Soo joked, while Ng admitted to not being fond of snakes. The association also has an honourary member — China's Ambassador to Malaysia Datuk Chai Xi, who was also born in the Year of the Snake. "He was very happy to see our specially-made attire bearing snake logos and designs," said Gan. While the snake is considered a symbol of evil in the West, it was a symbol of wisdom in the East; Hindus even consider the snake sacred. "Some people are scared of it but it is actually a docile animal. As long as you do not provoke it, it will not attack," he said. Gan believed that people born in the Year of the Snake were friendly and pro-active. For the assocation's Chinese New Year gathering this year, all the the performers are "snake-year babies". The performances will include a snake show and and a snake dance inspired by the hit song Gangnam Style. For details on the dinner, call Jenny at 03-3187 5555. To know more about the association, visit persatuan-ular.org |
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