Workshops can treat exam phobia

★ All the best: Chua presenting The Star's SPM workshop certificate to SMJK Chung Ling student Leong Kai Jian, 17. Also with them are Ooi (second left) and his other students at the school on Jalan Raja Uda in Butterworth.

MORE workshops should be held for students just before their examination to help them prepare.

Bagan MCA Youth chief David Chua, who is also Bagan Implementation Coordination Unit officer, said workshops had also proven to help students eradicate their fear of examinations.

He urged the corporate sector to organise more of such workshops which would benefit students, who are the future and hope of the nation.

Chua said this after presenting certificates of attendance to students of SMJK Chung Ling Butterworth, Penang, who had attended a two-day SPM workshop by The Star which was held at the KDU College in Penang yes-terday.

A total of 256 students from schools in the state had attended the workshop.

Commending The Star for organising the event, Chua said he had sponsored a total of 15 students from SMJK Chung Ling, SMK Bagan Jaya and SMK Convent Butterworth.

“It is indeed a meaningful and worthwhile event which will benefit the participants,” he said.

SMJK Chung Ling principal Ooi Poh Beng said such workshops should be held earlier as the students would have more time to pre-pare for the examination with enough gui-dance.

He also thanked Chua for sponsoring students from the school and hoped that more students would get the opportunity to participate in such workshops in the future.

The Star
Wednesday October 19, 2011

1Malaysia cake decorating competition

SOME 20 professional and 10 amateur bakers displayed their creativity in interpreting the 1Malaysia concept through a special 1Malaysia cake decorating competition.

The school hall of SJK (C) Chung Hwa 2 in Taman Bagan, Butterworth, where the event was held, was a hive of activity as the participants rushed to complete their tasks within 80 minutes.

The participants, from as far as Selangor, Taiping, Parit Buntar and Padang Serai, used multi-hued butter icing, royal icing, fresh cream and jam to decorate their cakes.

Many used the 1Malaysia logo in their icing designs, while many also depicted the Jalur Gemilang and other floral designs on their masterpieces.

Both the professionals and amateurs competed in their respective categories to win RM500, RM300 and RM200 for the champion, first runner-up and second runner-up respectively in each category.

■ Artist at work: Chew dressing his cake during the 1Malaysia cake decorating competition at SJK(C) Chung Hwa 2, Butterworth

The event was jointly organised by Barisan Nasional Bagan parliamentary constituency co-ordinator David Chua’s office, Penang Chinese Chefs Association and Chef Eddie Choong Bake and Culinary Centre.

Lee Ai Suan, 23, from Padang Serai, who emerged champion in the Professional Bakers’ category, said she featured the different cultural celebrations in Malaysia by designing a ketupat, an Indian oil lamp and oranges to depict Hari Raya, Deepavali and Chinese New Year respectively.

■ Home bakers: Winners in the Amateur Bakers category (from left) Norhayati, Rohana and Siti Rafinyal with their prize winning cakes after the prize presentation ceremony
“The competition was rather stiff as many other participants were equally good,” she said.

Lee, who took up a professional chefs’ diploma course from KDU Penang, said she was presently working as cake decorator at LA Delight bakery in Bukit Mertajam.

The category’s first runner-up Chew Ken Jit, 43, who owns Sweet Secrets Cake House in Taiping, Perak, said he used white chocolate to design caricatures of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Malaysians of different races.

“I have been in the baking line for 23 years, but this is my first time taking part in a cake decorating competition,” he said, adding that he used fresh cream to decorate his entry.

Second runner-up in the category, Ng Pei Ee, 18, from Selangor, who undertook a six-month baking course at Chef Eddie Choong Bakery and Culinary Centre in Butterworth, said she was glad her maiden entry, bearing a giant Number 1 on the cake, with small flags of the different states on the side caught the judges’ attention.

The Amateur Bakers’ category champion Rohana Abdul Razak, 29, from Butterworth, said she used butter icing for her design, which carried a unity theme, bearing the caricature of three young children.

The category’s first runner-up Norhayati Zainudin, 52, from Butterworth, said she had been in the baking line for over 10 years, but this was the first time she came in second.

“I am thrilled because so far, the highest I have attained in competitions is second runner-up.”

Housewife Siti Rafinyal Ahmad, 60, from Butterworth, who came in second, said the last time she won such a competition was in the 60s.

Chua said the event was aimed at fostering closer ties among the different races, which was similar to the objectives of the 1Malaysia concept.

Also present was Barisan Sungai Puyu constituency co-ordinator Sum Yoo Keong, Barisan Bagan Jermal co-ordinator Teh Lay Cheu, Penang Chinese Chefs Association chairman Datuk Tan Gin Soon and Chef Eddie Choong Bakery and Culinary Centre Bhd proprietor Eddie Choong.
Star MetroFriday October 21, 2011

Kami Syukur atas keprihatinan itu

Light at the end of tunnel

BAGAN MCA has come to the aid of a single mother and her three children who have been living without power supply to their flat un it at Ampang Jajar in Mak Mandin near Butterworth.

Bagan MCA Youth chief David Chua, who is also the Bagan Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) officer, and Sungai Puyu ICU officer Sum Yoo Keong made arrangements to restore the power supply which was disconnected about a month ago.

R. Kogilam, 40, said Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) disconnected her power supply and dismantled the meter when she failed to settle her RM150 bill for three months.

“I went to the TNB office but they asked for the tenancy agreement with the state Housing Department. I then sought Chua’s help as my agreement expired on Aug 31,” she said.

Kogilam said Chua obtained a letter from the department after he made an appeal and agreed to settle her outstanding rental of RM1,500.

★ Household essentials: Chua (right) presenting food item to Kogilam (left) and her daughter Joyce. With them are (from second right) resident committee member Nordin Mohd Saad, Sum, Flat Ampang Jajar KRT deputy chairman Ibrahim Md Din and Bagan MCA member Mary Tong during their visit to Kogilam's flat in Mak Mandin, Butterworth.

She said she could not go to work as she has an intestinal ailment which required her to visit the Alor Setar Hospital once a month for treatment, and her eight-year-old daughter Joyce is suffering from a form of amnesia.

Kogilam’s husband died 10 years ago from a heart ailment. Besides Joyce, who is in Year Two, she also has two other daughters, aged 17 and 18.

She said she received an RM200 monthly aid from the Welfare Department and RM150 from the Buddhist Tzu-Chi Merits Society Malaysia, and her eldest daughter is looking for a job.

Chua said he would go to the TNB office tomorrow to restore the power.

“I will check with the Health Ministry whether Kogilam could seek treatment from the Seberang Jaya Hospital or Penang Hospital, or if the hospital could courier her medication to her house, as the travelling incurs additional expenses,” he said.

Chua also handed over food items to the family, including a birthday cake for Joyce who turned eight on Sept 18.
The Star
By S. ARULLDAS

Chua tells PDC to submit report to Lim, not Dr Ng

★ from left to right : Tang Heap Seng, David Chua Teik Siang and Sum Yoo Keong

BUTTERWORTH: The Penang Development Corporation (PDC) should submit the report on the controversial RM5mil ‘Kancil car park’ to its chairman Lim Guan Eng and not to Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

Bagan MCA Youth chief David Chua said PDC general manager Datuk Rosli Jaafar should follow protocol and submit it to his boss, Lim, who is also the chief minister.

“Rosli does not report to the tourism minister. What is the rational in submitting to her (Dr Ng) and what sort of protocol is this?” questioned Chua.

He also questioned the sincerity of Lim, who claimed that he was not informed about the project.

Chua said this at a press conference at the Bagan MCA office at Kampung Bengali here yesterday.

Also present were state MCA vice chairman Tang Heap Seng and Bagan MCA vice-chairman Sum Yoo Keong.

Chua was responding to the article ‘PDC to submit Kancil car park report to Yen Yen’ published yesterday.

Chua, who said Lim should make a stand, questioned his refusal to elaborate on the matter.

He also urged Lim to set up a committee to investigate the matter and reveal its outcome without further delay.

Tang, who is the Bukit Bendera MCA chief and a civil engineer by profession, said the enquiries about the project started in 2009/2010.

He said the project was forced to be delayed after rocks were found embedded in the ground during foundation work.

The allocation for the project was approved in 2007 while the structural and layout plans were submitted to the Penang Municipal Council in 2009.

Tang said the media has been reporting the matter since 2009 and until today, there has been no response from Lim.

“Lim will only respond if the matter is to his favour and if it is not, he will not respond,” he said.

Bagan rises to the occasion

Bagan MCA Youth is literally going to town with the Jalur Gemilang in the Bagan parliamentary constituency.

Bagan MCA Youth chief David Chua, who is also the Bagan Barisan Nasional (BN) co-ordinator together with Sungai Puyu BN co-ordinator Sum Yoo Keong and Bagan MCA Wanita chief Teh Lay Cheng and several MCA members distributed the Jalur Gemilang in the constituency.

★ Patriotic duty: (From right) Dhingaran, Chua and Bagan MCA vice-chairman Sum Yoo Keong (fifth right) and other BN coalition party members affixing the 'Jalur Gemilang' onto a vehicle at Jalan Raja Uda in Butterworth, Penang.

Also present to lend support was state MIC Youth chief J. Dhinagaran who also helped distribute the flags.

The group, acting in response to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s ‘Fly the Jalur Gemilang’ campaign, also raised 100 of the Malaysian flag at shophouses along Jalan Raja Uda in preparation for the country’s 54th Merdeka Day.

Chua said the campaign in the constituency kicked off yesterday morning with the group distributing 500 mini Jalur Gemilang flags to 500 pupils of the SJK(C) Chung Hwa (II) in Taman Bagan, Butterworth.

“We distributed the flag to the pupils to teach the younger generation to honour and respect our flag and to love our country, as the future of our country lies in the hands of our youth,” he said.

Chua added that the campaign also saw the group giving away 300 mini flags to motorists at Jalan Raja Uda.

Report from The Star. North Metro Tuesday August 23, 2011

Chor lashes out at Penang Govt

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THE Penang Government must fulfil its promise to the Rumah Hijau squatters in Mak Mandin to build affordable flats within their present village.

MCA vice-president Datuk Chor Chee Heung said Pakatan Rakyat’s alleged pledge to the Rumah Hijau squatters in Butterworth during the 2008 general election has apparently vanished into thin air.

“The state government is now trying to push this to the Federal Government to solve but our hands are tied as the land belongs to the state. Nonetheless, I will try to help,” he said.

If Barisan Nasional manages to win back the state in the next general election, Chor said he would take it upon himself to ensure that the long-suffering Rumah Hijau villagers got what was promised.

He said this during a dialogue session with the people at the Bagan MCA division headquarters on Sunday.

Sixty-six families there are demanding that the current state government build new flats within the village for them, as allegedly promised.

★Squatters in Butterworth open Dialog with Dato' Wira Chor Chee Heung,10 July 2011. from left to right Loo Khay They, Chor Chee Heung, David Chua & Sum Yoo Keong.

On a separate matter, Chor, who is also the Housing and Local Government Minister, said his ministry would investigate a developer allegedly involved in building an inferior quality housing project in Ampang Jajar.

The Ampang Jajar project is located near Rumah Hijau.

“I will wait for an official report from Bagan MCA and if it is true, the developer will be blacklisted,” he said.

Chor also urged Chief Minister and Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng to assist the Ampang Jajar homeowners in getting a soil test report, as they could not afford it.

“I understand that this is a big problem as some houses are now sinking. The state must look into this because the hard-earned money of the buyers is at stake.

“Meanwhile, I will check with the Seberang Prai Municipal Council president (Maimunah Mohd Sharif) to see how my ministry can help,” he said.

Later in Jawi, Chor presented appointment letters to the Village Safety and Development Committee members and presented two Proton Arena cars to the Sungai Jawi and Kampung Valdor voluntary firemen there.

He said at present, there were about 26,000 firefighters nationwide — half of whom were volunteers.

“It’s just not possible to have fire stations in every kampung nationwide, hence we need volunteer firefighters on standby, especially in villages,” he said.

He added that the Government was actively looking at ways to improve the welfare of volunteer firefighters.

Also present was Jawi Barisan coordinator Tan Cheng Liang.

In her speech, Tan said under Chor, the constituency’s drainage and flooding woes would be taken care of as they came under his ministry’s purview.