Serdang Hospital canteen is a disgrace - Malaysia

Posted: Sunday April 19, 2015
07:40 AM GMT+8 By Michelle Tan

A customer was forced to eat at a dirty table due to the lack of clean ones at Serdang Hospital. — Picture by Azinuddin Ghazali 

PETALING JAYA, April 19 — Customers are wary of dining in hospitals after news broke about the filthy state of Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital canteen in Klang on Tuesday.  

Malay Mail checked seven hospitals in the Klang Valley and Putrajaya yesterday on their state of hygiene. 

The checks revealed an appalling state of affairs in Serdang Hospital canteen, with the floor littered with plastic containers, cutlery, plastic straws and soiled tissue paper.  

There was a foul smell in the canteen due to poor ventilation and washbasins were clogged with stagnant water.  

Despite signs asking customers to put their dishes away after eating, there was no proper indication of where to put them.  

Although there were cleaners present, there were not enough to clean the tables quickly enough for the next customer, forcing them to eat on sticky tables with plates and cups left behind for more than 15 minutes. 

Housewife Serena Ng, 54, said she was disappointed at the poor conditions. 

“I have no choice but to eat quickly and leave the place. I am uncomfortable sitting here. 

“This is not how a canteen should be run,” Ng, who was visiting a friend, said it was her first time at the hospital. 

Only visitors and hospital staff were at the canteen because patients were not allowed in and a separate room was available for staff.  

The staff room appeared clean and free of rubbish and messy tables.  

Further checks at Ampang Hospital, Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Putrajaya Hospital, Selayang Hospital, UKM Medical Centre and Universiti Malaya Medical Centre canteens bore out a feeling of greater cleanliness.   

There was no rubbish on the floor and stained tables were cleaned immediately after customers left. 

The cleaners also made their rounds with food trolleys collecting the used plates and cups after customers were done eating. 

Housewife Nor Azimah Ismail, 32, was satisfied with the level of hygiene in the Putrajaya Hospital canteen. 

“Canteens, especially in hospitals, should always be hygienic. 

“Customers should also cooperate by disposing of their trash properly instead of leaving it on the table or floor,” she said, adding it was her third time there while visiting her husband.

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Source: The Malay Mail Online - Malaysia

http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/serdang-hospital-canteen-is-a-disgrace

Tokyo park closed after rocketing radiation levels found

Posted: Friday April 24, 2015 MYT 1:50:00 PM 

Tokyo's Toshima ward office workers talk with a guard at a park, where high radiation has been detected on a playground equipment (rear), in Tokyo, Japan, 24 April 2015.

TOKYO, April 24, 2015 (AFP) - Extremely high levels of radiation have been discovered in a playground in Tokyo, officials said Friday, fanning fears for the health of children in the area.

Soil underneath a slide at the park in the northwest of the Japanese capital showed radiation readings of up to 480 microsieverts per hour, the local administrative office said.

Anyone directly exposed to this level would absorb in two hours the maximum dose of radiation Japan recommends in a year.

“Many children play in the park daily, so the ward office should explain the situation,” Kyodo News quoted a 62-year-old local woman as saying.

The radiation level is over 2,000 times that at which the national government requires soil cleaning in areas around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, where reactors melted down after the March 2011 tsunami.

That standard, however, is for measurements taken at 0.5 to 1.0 metres (20 to 40 inches) above ground, while officials in Tokyo’s Toshima ward checked the ground itself.

Officials were made aware of the contamination after a local resident reported it on Monday and say they do not think it is connected to the disaster at Fukushima.

“Because the area in which we detect radioactivity is very limited, and readings in surrounding parts are normal, we suspect radioactive materials of some kind are buried there,” local mayor Yukio Takano said in a statement.

The park was built in 2013, two years after the Fukushima nuclear crisis, a local official told AFP, on what was previously a parking lot for Tokyo’s sanitation department.

Top soil at the lot was replaced before the land was turned into a park, said the Toshima official.

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The park has been sealed, and Toshima ward is discussing with experts how to approach the problem, she added.

Many families in eastern Japan continue to survey the levels of radioactive contamination around their houses, distrustful of government assurances that most places were not affected by the Fukushima meltdown.

Such efforts have led some people to discover radioactive materials that have been dumped in their neighbourhoods.

Months after the Fukushima crisis started in 2011, officials found bottles of radium, used for medical tools and a glow-in-the-dark paint for watches, discarded under a private house and a supermarket in Tokyo.

The play park incident came days after a small drone showing traces of radioactivity was found on the roof of the prime minister’s official residence.

Source: The Star Online - Malaysia

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Regional/2015/04/24/Tokyoparkclosed/

Woman strips off in Petaling Street to avoid paying for chicken rice - Malaysia

Posted: Friday April 24, 2015
05:13 PM GMT+8

A woman stripped after being confronted by a chicken rice seller who demanded payment at Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur, April 24, 2015. — YouTube videograb -

KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 — A woman yesterday removed her clothing in the centre of the Petaling Street tourist hotspot here in a reported bid to avoid a RM18 bill for her meal.

According to The Star, the woman and her male companion – both believed to be foreigners – ate two plates of chicken rice before attempting to leave without paying.

“When the restaurant operator tried to stop her, she denied having eaten there,” a neighbour to the restaurant, identified only as Wong, told the newspaper.

“However, she was shown a CCTV recording of her eating in the restaurant, so she started stripping to avoid paying,” the jewellery stall operator was quoted saying.

Citing eyewitnesses, The Star said the woman’s male companion and the restaurant operator engaged in a scuffle, but the two foreigners ran off when policemen arrived.

In a video that surfaced on YouTube several hours after the bizarre incident, the woman was seen arguing with an individual believed to be the restaurant operator.

The woman was heard telling the latter not to touch her, also insisting that she had paid.

“What is your problem? I paid everything. I already put the money there,” she said in the brief video that lasted less than two minutes.

She then started stripping off and went completely topless as she taunted the latter, crying out “Shame on you”.

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In one of the links to the video, YouTube said it has taken down the recording for violating its policy against nudity or sexual content.

A censored version of the video is, however, still available online.

Source: The Malay Mail Online - Malaysia

http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/woman-strips-off-in-petaling-street-to-avoid-paying-for-chicken-rice

Parents urged to send children to only registered tuition centres - Safety - Malaysia

Posted:  Friday April 24, 2015 MYT 9:47:00 PM 
BY FIRDAOUS FADZIL

SERDANG: Parents should send their children to only registered tuition centres to ensure against unwanted incidents happening.

Education Director-General Datuk Seri Dr Khair Muhamad Yusof said safety guidelines had already been established for all registered private schools and tuition centres.

“The safety guidelines have already been prepared for all tuition operators to follow,” he said on Friday.

Dr Khair was commenting on the case at a tuition centre in Malacca where a 14-year-old boy was found to have had sex with an eight-year-old girl in different classes at the centre over three months.

In another case, an eight-year-old boy was reported to have fallen to his death while attending tuition classes at an apartment in Bandar Mahkota Cheras.

“We will investigate both matters and if it was caused by the centre’s negligence, we are not going to hesitate to take stern action based on the Private Education Act,” he said.

Dr Khair added that operators must be held fully responsible, as the cases had happened under their supervision at their premises.

“Their licenses will be revoked if it’s found that they have failed to adhere to the guidelines provided,” he said, adding that private colleges, schools and tuition centre operators were monitored by the Education Ministry constantly.

“Parents should also check the status of the private institution that they wish to send their children to with the Ministry’s private education department or with state Education Department,” he said.
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Source: The Star Online - Malaysia
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/04/24/Parents-tuition-centre/

SOLS 24/7 providing a ray of hope through education - Malaysia

Posted: Friday April 24, 2015 MYT 8:58:00 AM 
BY HANIS ZAINAL

Project 100 regional managers during a meeting at the SOLS 24/7 's headquarters in Sungai Besi. -Starpix/LOW LAY PHON

KUALA LUMPUR: Growing up in a village in the jungles of Pahang, Rojana Juarum thought that her ambition to become a tour guide was a pipe dream.

Without proficiency in English, Rojana felt it would be difficult for her to secure a job in the competitive market.

This all changed when she signed up for Project 100, a programme that seeks to teach marginalised communities English, computer and life skills.

"Learning to speak English has made me more confident in myself," said the 23-year old from Kampung Pos Iskandar, an orang asli village in Bera.

Rojana's confidence has increased since joining Project 100.

Rojana said she found it easier to learn English through the programme compared to school.

"We communicate in English with each other during the programme, which helps a lot," she said.

Project 100 is one of the initiatives under the Science of Life Studies, better known as SOLS 24/7, which is supported by Tan Sri Vincent Tan's Better Malaysia Foundation.

Amelia Brown, a Project 100 regional manager, said they had been successful because communities want to be part of the programme and nominate themselves for it.

"A key individual, usually someone of influence in the community, will act as laision between us and the community.

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"The key individual is really useful as she supports the centre, helps the community development officers (CDOs) and volunteers to get around," said Brown.

She explained that it also helped that many of the CDOs and volunteers - individuals from more than 40 countries - also try to learn the local language to integrate more with the communities.

"Learning a new (local) language helps volunteers empathise with the difficulties faced by students learning English," said Brown, a Briton who was stationed in Ayer Hitam, Kedah for a year.

SOLS 24/7 co-founder Raj Ridvan Singh said the next step for the non-governmental organisation would be to open a university-college to provide affordable education for Malaysians.

Raj wants to provide tertiary education at a fraction of the cost of current options.

"The cost of (private) education in the country is ridiculous," said Raj, adding that SOLS 24/7 plans to make fees 70% cheaper than current market rates.

As for Rojana, she has now moved to Kuala Lumpur to work with the Malaysian SOLS 24/7 chapter, to acquaint herself with the working world before pursuing her dream of becoming a tour guide.

"I'm more confident now. I feel that my dreams are now within reach," said Rojana with a smile.

Source: The Star Online - Malaysia

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/04/24/Sols-247-project/

Best cafes in Melaka - Malaysia

Posted: 22 April 2015 10:57 AM
BY HUNGRY GO WHERE

Calanthe has got some of the best toasts around! — Pic courtesy of HungryGoWhere, April 22, 2015. 

When it comes to cafés, Penang's got chic interiors and adorable 3D latte art while Ipoh goes old school with vintage stylings and nostalgic snacks. 

Now, Melaka joins the fold with anything from big breakfasts to fusion dishes in old shoplots steeped in history and heritage. 

Serial café-hoppers can now indulge in their favourite past time in the historic state!

We at HungryGoWhere have shortlisted some of the best cafés in Melaka - the best part is, that they're all within walking distance of Jonker Walk so you won't have to stray too far from the tourist action! 

Calanthe Art Café


Located in a small alley, Calanthe Art Café delights its customers with coffee from all 13 states of Malaysia.

Popular with locals and tourists alike, the décor evokes a beach theme with pebbled floors and wooden boardwalks. 

Our order of the Johor kopi 'o' (black coffee, RM3.95) was thick and dark. Made from Liberica beans roasted without sugar, it was mildly bitter and went down smooth.

If you're slightly more adventurous, delve into the art of coffee with the Eunice (RM10.25). A mix of jasmine tea and coffee, it struck the perfect balance between the two pleasantly bitter drinks.

You can pair your coffee with Calanthe's mean kaya butter toast (RM3.25) where crisp, fluffy bread sandwiches a thick slab of butter. Full meals are available too, like their Nyonya laksa.

Backlane Coffee


Mr Owl’s Iced Latte is perfect for those who like to play around with their food and drink. — Pic courtesy of HungryGoWhere, April 22, 2015.

Tucked on the ground floor of the Fomecs Boutique Hotel next to the Jonker Street stage, Backlane Coffee is a cosy, friendly café with large windows looking out onto, well, the quieter backlane.

Their comfy tables and chairs can accommodate large and small crowds while a stash of board games to keep patrons occupied while sipping on their hot chocolate (RM12).

Opt for milk chocolate which yields a sweeter, milkier flavour while dark chocolate makes for a more full-bodied, richer cup.

If coffee is your drink of choice and you’re looking for something different, the do-it-yourself Mr Owl's iced latte (RM12) would be right up your alley. The drink is presented with three components — hot milk, syrup, and owl-shaped coffee cubes — which you stir all together.

The longer you leave it, the stronger it gets as the coffee cubes melt and flavour the milk. The café also serves a selection of cakes and macarons if you're feeling peckish.

Locahouz

It was the adorable sheep doodle on the soda bottle that got us! — Pic courtesy of HungryGoWhere, April 22, 2015. 

Duck into Locahouz, a café-cum-art gallery, to seek shelter from the tropical heat and be greeted with much-needed air-conditioning, vintage paraphernalia stacked haphazardly into corners, and art displays by local artists.



Their menu also offers welcome relief with very reasonably priced coffee, tea, juices, and homemade infused water.

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If none of that floats your boat, try Locahouz's homemade infused water (RM9.90) with health benefits like anti-aging and fat-fighting. We went for the beauty queen with moisturising properties.

With no sugar or artificial sweetener in sight, the drink was refreshingly tangy thanks to slices of lemon and lime. 

For the perpetually hungry, there's a compact menu of snacks and mains too.

We know how much you love cafes (we do too!), so here are a few more to complete your café round-up of Melaka! — April 22, 2015.

Source: The Malaysia Insider

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/food/article/best-cafes-in-melaka

MRCB to sell 51% stake in Nu Sentral for RM120m - Malaysia

Posted: Thursday, 23 April 2015

The Nu Sentral shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur. Nu Sentral’s principal activity is operating the mall and property management.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB) intends to sell its entire 51% equity stake in Nu Sentral Sdn Bhd to Pelaburan Hartanah Bhd (PHB) for RM119.77mil.

MRCB, in a filing with Bursa Malaysia yesterday, said it had entered into a share sale agreement with PHB to dispose its 51% equity interest in Nu Sentral, comprising 10.2 million ordinary shares of RM1 each and 91.8 million redeemable non-convertible preference shares of one sen each, to PHB.

Nu Sentral is a jointly controlled entity owned by MRCB and PHB on a 51:49 basis. Nu Sentral’s principal activity is operating a retail mall and property management.

MRCB said the disposal was arrived at on a willing buyer-willing seller basis after taking into consideration PHB’s valuation of the sale shares and Nu Sentral, including, without limitation, the financial condition of Nu Sentral as at Dec 31, 2014.

MRCB said the disposal was part of MRCB group’s “macro strategy to monetise its non-core assets and focus its resources on the core businesses of property development, specialised infrastructure and environment projects”.

“The board of directors is of the view that the disposal would enable MRCB to better utilise and focus its resources on its core businesses. The cash consideration from the disposal could be reinvested into the core business of MRCB such as property development,” it added.

The disposal is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2015.

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In a statement, MRCB group managing director Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din said: “As with other moves that involved our development partners that MRCB has initiated this year, such as a share-swap deal we had executed with another business partner (DMIA Sdn Bhd), the disposal of MRCB shares in Nu Sentral reflects our larger initiative to enhance strategic focus on our current projects.”

He said this was in line with MRCB’s focus on offering innovative and focused development that sought to fulfill the aims of various market segment buyers. “Apart from our continuous effort to increase land bank holdings that will allow diverse development ideas to unfold, the group’s main thrust is to develop ideas and fresh living and working spaces for the acreage that we hold.’

Source: The Star Online - Malaysia

http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2015/04/23/MRCB-to-sell-51stake-in-Nu-Sentral-for-RM120m/?style=biz