The Star Online: Metro: South & East

Carnival a big hit
Dream comes true for ambitious lady
Ti: PAS recent guidelines in Kedah on public entertainment done in bad taste

Posted: 21 Jan 2013 06:15 PM PST

KOTA KINABALU: It was a fun-filled day in Bongawan as a large number of people turned up for the Papar Water Sports and Environment Carnival 2013, organised by Petronas in collaboration with the Papar District Office.

The carnival was preceded by a "gotong-royong" last week to clean up the various venues as part of the programme that culminated at the beach recently.

Over 1,000 people turned up later at the Bongawan Mall for the carnival's closing ceremony, which featured among others, a performance by veteran singer Datuk M. Daud Kilau.

In his speech, Sabah and Labuan Petronas chairman Joseph Podtung said the carnival was part the company's corporate social responsibility programmes.

"As a responsible corporate citizen, Petronas is committed to implementing its CSR programmes over a long term, particularly in our areas of operations, like what we have seen in today's carnival," he said.

Podtung also thanked all those involved for their hard work in making sure the smooth running of the day-long carnival which was aimed at raising awareness on the importance of safeguarding the environment.

Among the events held were boat race, angling competition, beach volleyball, people's sports as well as futsal and cooking competitions.

Dream comes true for ambitious lady

Posted: 21 Jan 2013 06:16 PM PST

KOTA KINABALU: Daring to dream and wanting more in life may sound cliché but these are factors of how one woman changed her life for the better.

Mary Kay Cosmetics senior sales director Mariani Ramli attributed her success to her great urge for shopping and of course, Mary Kay Cosmetics.

"Before joining the company, I was just a bank clerk earning about RM1,000 a month," she said.

"But I had a dream, to buy my own house and my own car. I wanted to buy bags, clothes and accessories without having to depend on my husband, so I was trying to search for a way out," she said.

Luck came rolling down her path when a relative introduced Mary Kay products to Mariani in 2007, and allowed her to venture into direct selling through the company.

"Through the assistance I was given by the company staff, I was able to earn enough to get myself a down payment for a house within one and a half years, and get my dream car – a pink coloured Toyota Altis offered by Mary Kay," she said.

She was among the earliest people in Sabah to become a sales director, and earned about RM8, 000 during her first month holding the post.

Mariani who is now a single mother to three children also managed to bring her late husband to a trip to Australia before he passed away not long ago.

"I could not have done this if I never wanted more in life nor could I ever have made it without the support and guidance from Mary Kay cosmetics," she said.

In this respect, Mary Kay cosmetics Asia Pacific Region president K.K. Chua said the company focuses on changing people's life, not just through its cosmetics.

"We want to change women's lives so that they may be able to stand on their own feet and we want our clients to be happy with our products and become more beautiful people at the same time," he said.

Mary Kay cosmetics held its 50th anniversary cum inaugural leadership conference at the Pacific Sutera on Jan 18, and had over 90 members nationwide to share their experiences working with the company.

Ti: PAS recent guidelines in Kedah on public entertainment done in bad taste

Posted: 21 Jan 2013 06:18 PM PST

KUANTAN: The PAS-led Kedah Government's recent guidelines on public entertainment is a gross infringement of non-Muslim's rights and it has showed that DAP failed to stand up for the Chinese community, said MCA central committee member Datuk Ti Lian Ker.

He said Malaysians were lucky that the three major Barisan Nasional parties representing the races could sit down together and say what must be said unlike the Opposition parties.

"MCA is not ashamed of fighting for the rights of the Chinese unlike DAP which dare not voice up against PAS. At least Umno respects MCA. PAS does not respect DAP at all," said Ti at a meet-the-people session at Kampung Baru Seri Teruntum here recently.

Meanwhile, Teruntum assemblyman Datuk Chang Hong Seong warned that the Chinese community risk losing their voice in the Government if MCA lost support.

"We do not wish to see only the Malays and Indians support Barisan Nasional with only the Chinese opposing. If it keeps going this way, the situation will turn out to be like the Sarawak state elections that ended with most of the Chinese support going to DAP, which is not part of the Government," he said.

Chang added that it would be very difficult for the people to get help from MCA next time if it was not given the mandate to represent the Chinese community in the Government.

During the event, chief coordinator for the Teruntum state assembly seat Tengku Datuk Zulkifli Tengku Ahmad was given the honour of dotting the eyes of a 1Malaysia dragon, which would be used during Chinese New Year celebrations.

When asked if he was running as a candidate in the general election, Tengku Zulkifli said it was just speculation.

Rumours that the Pahang Malay Chamber of Commerce president was eyeing candidacy were fuelled by his frequent appearance at public events lately.

"I am just working with all Barisan parties to ensure victory in the Kuantan constituencies," said Tengku Zulkifli.

However, Chang said it was "very likely" Tengku Zulkifli would run for the Tanjung Lumpur state seat under the Barisan ticket.

Kuantan Umno chief Datuk Wan Adnan Wan Mamat, who is also the Pahang Youth, Sports and Culture Committee chairman, currently holds the Tanjung Lumpur seat.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Selasa, 22 Januari 2013