The Star Online: Metro: South & East
The Star Online: Metro: South & East |
- Getting in the CNY mood to welcome the Year of the Snake
- Boost for entrepreneurs in Johor
- Are Malaysians a caring lot?
| Getting in the CNY mood to welcome the Year of the Snake Posted: 27 Jan 2013 04:42 PM PST JOHOR BARU: The festive mood is gaining momentum as Chinese Malaysians are preparing to welcome the Year of the Snake on February 10. Shopping complexes and hotels in Johor Baru have started putting up their Lunar New Year decorations at the beginning of the year. Temporary booths have been set-up at most shopping complexes offering a wide range of products such as hampers, cookies, decorative, apparel and decorative items. Red is the prominent colour of the decorations at the shopping complexes and the hotels as Chinese associate the colour with luck or prosperity. Apart from Malaysians, Singaporeans are also taking the opportunity to shop for their Chinese New Year items in Johor Baru due to the strong Singapore currency. A huge replica of God of Fortune at the entrance of Sutera Mall shopping complex in Taman Sutera Utama welcomes shoppers and inside there are more than 30 booths selling varieties of Chinese New Year items. At the JB City Square shopping complex, shoppers will be spoiled for choice from 28 temporary booths including those selling "cute and adorable" snake dolls as well as ang pow packets with cartoon snake pictures. There are also booths selling hampers and cookies including the SDS Cake House with its latest promotion of a limited edition "Fortune" hamper that comes in a large leather bag priced at RM168 only. Over at the KSL City Mall in Taman Abad, there are 44 booths selling cookies, hampers, dried meat as well as traditional Chinese attire for children tagged at discounted prices. Meanwhile, the AEON Jusco Tebaru City chose the theme "Embrace the Glow of Prosperity" to usher in the Year of the Snake. A make shift stage has been erected at the centre court where several activities and shows related to the Lunar New Year will be held to further add festivities to the celebration. |
| Boost for entrepreneurs in Johor Posted: 27 Jan 2013 04:40 PM PST NUSAJAYA: The Johor government is committed in getting more entrepreneurs expand their businesses to the international market. Johor executive councillor for Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Datuk Maulizan Bujang said the state government has introduced numerous programmes to get people interested in becoming entrepreneurs. He pointed out that since 2004, the state government has allocated RM5mil for its various entrepreneurship programmes such as Johor Development Entrepreneurs Council (MPUNJ) Entrepreneurs Incentives Programmes (PGU), and many others. Maulizan added that the programmes organised by the state government has become a success to guide entrepreneurs in helping to market their products, increase their product quality, promotion and increase production. "As of last year, a total of 5,700 entrepreneurs were involved in the programmes held by the state government. "Their sales profit has also increased tremendously as records show that they are getting up to RM150mil a year," he told a press conference at the state administrative building here recently. He added that the state government also helped to market their products to foreign countries for them to gain more profit. Maulizan added that recently the state government brought six entrepreneurs to Cairo, Egypt for them to promote their products at a food expo. He said a big hypermarket chain from Cairo agreed to import and sell their products there. "Most of these entrepreneurs are those living in poverty and the state government's target is to elevate them to middle or higher income status. "For this year, the state government targets 2,000 people to get involved in entrepreneurship," he said. |
| Posted: 27 Jan 2013 04:40 PM PST THE brutal gang-rape cum attack of a woman in New Delhi, India on Dec 16, had ignited a lot of debate on public's role in combating crime around their neighbourhood. The death of the 23-year old physiotherapy student has reminded each of us that there are "monsters" within the community and people should always be vigilant and alert. The fact that the victim along and her male friend were dumped naked on the roadside and helpless for more than an hour before they got treated despite a lot of onlookers showed that people could no longer turn a blind eye to crime victims. StarMetro talked to Malaysians living in Johor Baru and Batu Pahat to find out about whether they were willing to become good Samaritans and render their helping hands to crime or accident victims if they were happened to be at the scenes. Remisier P. Wilfred, 59, said vicious attack was beyond cruelty and that the perpetrators should be severely punished. He said that a woman's sexy dressing should not be used as an excuse when it comes to a rape case. "I'll look at the seriousness of the injury and I believe it will not be wise to move a person with serious injuries like broken bones or excessive bleeding,'' said Wilfred. School laboratory assistant Norlen Ahmad Cha, 24, said she would immediately alert the police and rush the victim to the nearest hospital. "Others might refuse to take a bleeding victim to hospital as they are uncomfortable to have blood stains on their car seat cushions," she said adding that saving a life was far more important than worrying about her car. Bank employee Lee Sin Hui, 26, felt it was uncalled for that it took more than an hour before the rape and attack victims in the Indian capital received help. She said in emergency situations, she would first offer help to the victim and then call the police. Meanwhile, the Johor Red Crescent Organisation director Tahir Ahmad said shouting for help should be the first action taken by members of the public in such situations to attract attention. "Refrain from touching the victim without other eye-witnesses as you could be blamed for the incident," he advised those wanting to assist the victim. Tahir said immediately after someone else had arrived to the crime or accident scene, the person should check the victim's pulse to ensure whether he or she was still alive. He added that if the victim suffered serious injuries, did not move him or her, instead immediately contact the police and the ambulance. "Shake off your nervousness and swiftly respond to the cries of the victim as few seconds or minutes could make a big difference whether the person will survive," said Tahir. Batu Pahat deputy district police chief Supt Mat Razali Awang said Malaysians were generally caring regardless of their ethnicity backgrounds and religious beliefs. He said when an accident happened; passers-by would be the first to offer help to the victims while waiting for the arrival of the police and the ambulance. "For crime cases, they help by providing police with information which has helped us resolve many cases and prevented many unwanted incidents," said Supt Mat Razali. He said caring for others has become part and parcel of Malaysian society and the police appreciated any help they receive from from members of the public. A 25-year-old clerk Kevin Chok concurred with Supt Mat Razali that Malaysians were generally helpful and willing to give their helping hands when the situation arose. "At a road accident scene you'll be surprised to see many passers-by including young people who are actually helping the victims while waiting for the ambulance," he said. Lim Tian Soon, 28, said he would stop whenever he saw road accidents to help the victims and the last time he did that was late last year when a motorcyclist rammed into a trailer at Parit Bilal, Batu Pahat. He said the accident took place at night and the victim was unconscious and suffered a deep cut on his face. Lim helped to cover the wounds and waited until an ambulance came. A volunteer fire fighter in Ayer Hitam new village Wong Boon Hang said more that 160 villagers from the village and neighbouring areas participated in volunteer firefighting. "Majority of them are youths and I'm happy to say that they are willing to do something good for the society," he said. |
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