Thousands attend police do

The first-ever Penang police contingent Chinese New Year open house was a smashing success with thousands of people attending the festive event in Sungai Ara.

Heavy rain, which had battered the site in the early afternoon, abated just before cars started to arrive, leaving a comfortable, cool atmosphere that lasted the whole night.

The open house site — covering a basketball court and a surrounding open space on Jalan Sungai Ara 1 — was transformed with massive tents erected around a large stage and seating area.

And at 7.30pm, the food started to be dished out. There were rice with rendang, curry chicken and achar (pickled vegetables), ikan bakar (grilled fish), laksa, rojak, satay, fresh fruits and a variety of kuih.

There was also long lines for koay teow basah (fried rice noodles in gravy) and ais kacang.

“This is my first time at an open house. I was worried there wouldn’t be enough food, but there’s plenty and the hospitality is great,” said Cangkat Sungai Ara resident Scott Choo, 31.

While scores of people sat at tables or on stools enjoying the food, groups of performers took to the stage to provide the entertainment.

Among the memorable acts during the night were performances of 24-season drums, wuhsu and lion dances on high stilts.

The crowd was then treated to a colourful fireworks display that lit up the night sky for five minutes.

In his speech, state police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Wira Ayub Yaakob said he was heartened by the number of visitors who came dressed in their Rukun Tetangga, Volunteer Patrol Squads and Community Policing uniforms.

“This is a positive sign that many realise that it takes a collective effort to keep Penang safe,” he said.

Other guests included Penang MCA deputy chairman Datuk Dr Loh Hock Hun, Teluk Bahang assemblyman Datuk Seri Hilmi Yahaya, Pulau Betong assemblyman Muhammad Farid Saad and Barisan Nasional co-ordinators David Yim (Bayan Baru), Wong Mun Hoe (Pantai Jerejak) and Goh Kheng Sneah (Batu Uban).

The open house on Sunday was co-organised by the Southwest District Residents Association.



Over in Butterworth, more than 300 people thronged the Chinese New Year open house hosted by the Bagan MCA division.

The event was held outside the Bagan MCA division office and it was well attended by several leaders from the Barisan Nasional component parties and, also residents living in the area.

The highlight of the event was the ceremonial tossing of yee sang, which created a festive atmosphere.

Bagan MCA division chief Loo Khay Thye said he was delighted to see the big crowd.

He also took the opportunity to thank Barisan Nasional coordinator for Bagan, David Chua, for obtaining a federal allocation of RM10,000 to replace the water pump at the low cost flat at Taman Pantai Bersih in Butterworth.

- The Star - Metro North

DPM: Govt fair to all states

GEORGE TOWN: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the federal government had always been fair in its treatment of all states, including Penang and others under the Pakatan Rakyat rule.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the federal government’s policies and projects had benefitted everyone and called on Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to be fair to the people in the state regardless of their race.

He said Barisan Nasional had never side-lined Penang and the state had benefitted from the success of National Key Results Area (NKRA) initiatives.

“We have achieved almost 100% of the NKRA targets and Penang was not left out.

“We will continue to develop Penang because the rakyat need our assistance,” he said at the state Barisan Nasional Chinese New Year open house at the Penang Chinese Town Hall on Sunday.

Lim was also present at the function.

Muhyiddin urged Lim to be fair to Malays, Indians and Chinese.

“Serve the people of Penang - the Malays or Chinese or Indians. Give them the opportunity to do business as they want to earn a living by themselves,” he said, adding that the state government should provide opportunities and encouragement to entrepreneurs to earn a living instead of preventing them.

“I know that Penang is under the opposition government, but what is important is that the opposition makes a commitment to help the people just like Barisan, which has made a commitment to bring progress to the people without bias,” he said.

Muhyiddin said the government wanted to make sure that its initiatives touched all levels of society but stressed that efforts to develop the nation was not solely the responsibility of the federal government.

“If we want to become a developed nation by the year 2020, we must foster closer relationships between all races,” he added.

He said the government was trying its best to ensure that the delivery system was efficient as it realised that the people wanted to see results.

Those present at the function included state Barisan chairman Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, Penang MCA chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, state MIC chairman Datuk P.K. Subbaiyah and several state exco members.

Free haircuts for Taman Mesra folk

SOME 40 residents from the Taman Mesra flats in Bagan Lallang, Butterworth, were thrilled when they received free haircuts, courtesy of the Penang MCA’s 1Bagan mobile service team.

The residents eagerly waited in line as a female hairstylist engaged by the service team trimmed their hair.

■ Snip, snip: A child having his hair trimmed by a hairstylist during the community service effort at the Taman Mesra flats in Bagan Lallang, Butterworth.

Many school-going children grabbed the opportunity to get themselves a haircut during the event on Boxing Day before the new school term began earlier this month.

Bagan MCA division Youth chief David Chua Teik Siang said the activity was part of the team’s monthly community service programme for the parliamentary constituency.

“We are pleased by the strong turnout. A total of 88 residents underwent free medical screening tests. We also registered 103 new voters,” he said.

The half-day event was participated by representatives from the Seberang Jaya Hospital, state Welfare Department and the Employees Provident Fund.


from : The Star.Metro.North January 25, 2011

MCA issues warning on Islamic state agenda

KUANTAN: PAS’ intention to set up an Islamic state and impose Islamic laws in Malaysia should serve as a warning to the DAP and all non-Muslims in the country, said the MCA.

“If it (PAS) comes to power at the federal level, it would need to fulfil its political agenda in line with its party constitution.

“Article Two of the PAS constitution clearly states the formation of an Islamic state,” MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said.

“But, when we bring up this matter, certain quarters allege that the MCA is trying to scare the Chinese.

“We do not need to do that but suffice if the Chinese can give serious thought to the implications on their lives,” he told reporters after presenting red packets to senior citizens here yesterday.

The event was organised by Kuantan MCA in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year.

PAS has repeatedly said it will go ahead with its Islamic state agenda even if its allies in Pakatan Rakyat – the DAP and PKR – are against the plan.

At a party function in Labis on Monday night, Johor PAS commissioner Datuk Mahfuz Mohamad reiterated his party’s stand and told the crowd that PAS would push for the setting up of an Islamic state if the party and its allies take over the federal government.

Dr Chua said it was evident that PAS had brought up the issue to gain Malay support for the upcoming Tenang by-election although it had toned down on the matter in previous by-elections.

With regard to PKR, Dr Chua questioned why only one Chinese was elected and not a single Indian won at the recent party elections.

On the DAP, Dr Chua said that except for Karpal Singh, the party does not have any prominent leaders from among the non-Chinese.

source from : -The Star-

Clinic to treat the poor

■ Making health a top priority: SPU Health District officer Dr Yusuf Hashim (left) checking Chua's blood pressure during his visit to Klinik 1Malaysia in Bagan Ajam, Butterworth.

ANEW medical clinic has been set up to serve the needs of 6,000 residents of the low-cost flats in Taman Pantai Bersih in Bagan Ajam, Butterworth, and surrounding area.

The new clinic is called ‘Klinik 1Malaysia’.

Its soft launch was held on Monday by the Penang Health Department director Datuk Dr Teh Lay Choo.

Two shoplots on the ground floor of Taman Pantai Bersih flats have been converted into the clinic.

It opens from 10am to 10pm every day, including on public holidays.

Each patient will be charged RM1 each but the fee will be waived for students and those who are poor.

Bagan Barisan Nasional coordinator David Chua said the mobile clinic received overwhelming response on the first day with 41 patients seeking treatment.

“The clinic provides treatment to patients with minor illness like coughs and colds, fever and minor skin diseases.

“Checks for high blood pressure and glucose tests are also carried out,” said Chua.

He urged the Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) to clear the litter and clogged drains near the clinic.

He also called the MPSP to get rid of the debris near Taman Tun Awang to enable the residents there to take a short-cut route to the clinic.

Chua also said that he would speak to Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai about the benefits of having the clinic in the area.

from : The Star. Metro North Friday January 21, 2011

Single mum hopes to find long-lost son

A 56-year-old single mother, who is suffering from a heart ailment, is appealing for the public’s help to locate her only son whom she lost contact with 22 years ago.

Looi Kim Bee said several days after delivering her son Lau Kok Boon in Johor on Dec 28, 1976, she placed him in the care of a baby sitter and came to Butterworth to look for a job.

■Please help me: Looi showing a photo of Kok Boon (inset) at the press conference called by Bagan MCA division. With her are Chua (right) and Sum.

She said when her son was six years old, she went to Johor and brought him back and asked her mother in Kampong Pacham in Ipoh to take care of him.

“I went back to Ipoh again when he was 13 to apply the identity card for him and returned here several days later and that was the last time I saw him,” said Looi at a press conference at the Bagan MCA office on Jalan Kampung Benggali in Penang yesterday.


Also present were Bagan MCA Youth chief David Chua and Bagan MCA vice-chairman Sum Yoo Keong.

Looi said several years later when she went back to Ipoh to see her family, the village houses were no longer there.

“I am suffering from a heart ailment and my last wish is to see my son,” she said.

Chua said he believed Lau was still in Ipoh.

He urged those with information on his whereabouts to call the Bagan MCA office at 04-3324545.

from The Star. Metro North
Saturday January 15, 2011

MCA mobile service on monthly basis

THE Bagan MCA Youth division plans to conduct its 1Bagan Mobile Service on a monthly basis following the overwhelming response from the public.

Its chief David Chua (pic) said his division planned to hold the programme every month after the large turnout for its third 1Bagan Mobile service at Taman Bagan Jaya near Butterworth on Saturday.

The event was launched by Teluk Air Tawar assemblyman Datuk Jahara Hamid and jointly hosted by the Kawasan Rukun Tetngga Taman Bagan Jaya.

In praising the Bagan MCA Youth’s effort, Jahara said such programmes should be ongoing.

She said the event would help forge a closer rapport between the public and the component parties of Barisan Nasional (BN).

The programme, from 9am to 1pm, also attracted 50 people who registered for the Rakan Cop at the police booth set up by the North Seberang Prai district police headquarters.

During the event, a North Seberang Prai National Drug Agency team led by its officer Ahmad Jafar held an exhibition and a drug awareness talk while a medical team comprising a doctor and nine nurses conducted free medical checks for the needy.

Other organisations present included the Welfare Department and the Elections Commission, which set up a booth to register new voters and change addresses of existing voters.

Chua, who is also the BN co- ordinator for Bagan Parliamen-tary area, together with Bagan Dalam BN coordinator Datuk P.K. Subbaiyah, later presented 50 food hampers to the poor at the Taman Bagan Jaya low cost flats in conjunction with Deepavali.

Other BN coordinators present were Maggie Teh (Bagan Jermal) and Sum Yoo Keong (Sungai Puyu) as well as Taman Bagan Jaya Rukun Tetangga chairman Mohd Nordin Saad.

The Star. Thursday November 11, 2010