Sasanarakkha, Taiping

[UPDATE: The title of this post has been amended from Sasaranakkha (wrong spelling) to Sasanarakkha (correct spelling). My apologies.]

This has been a rather odd week: working days alternating with public holidays. I know that some people have commented that each of this week's working days - Monday, Wednesday and Friday - all felt like Fridays to them!

My wife took Monday off so that she could have the benefit of four days off from the office, Saturday to Tuesday. We were wondering what to do with the extended weekend and then decided that perhaps we could drive to Taiping on Monday. It would be a good time to visit the Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary where the Ven Aggacitta Mahatera was the chief monk.

But first, we would have to be at the Taiping Insight Meditation Society before eight o'clock in the morning if we wanted to offer food to the monks from the Sasanarakkha. From there, we would then proceed to the Greeneries Remembrance Park. We didn't know it then but this park was right smack in the centre of one of Taiping's Chinese cemeteries. A four-wheel drive would then take us up the steep road to the SBS. We stayed there until about 12.30pm before the car took us down.

This is the Taiping Insight Meditation Centre. It's not my picture but lifted from someone's facebook photo collection. The TIMS is just a short distance from the Taiping Lake. Turn left at the roundabout outside the Flemington Hotel and a five minutes' drive would take you here. Every morning, the monks would walk down from the Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sancturary, take a shortcut through the cemetery and arrive by 8.30a.m. By then, the devotees would have prepared and laid out the food for the monks' once-a-day meals.

The main prayer and activity hall on the upper floor of the TIMS. 

A close-up picture of the image of the Buddha.

A smaller image of the Buddha on the ground floor of the building.

The Ven Aggacitta leading the monks to receive the food.

So this is the first time that we were meeting the Ven Aggacitta. While Saw See went on to ask him some Buddhist questions, the first question that left my lips were, "So you were from Saint Xavier's Institution?" I guess the question caught him by surprise because momentarily, he let his guard down. "Yes, and what about you?" he asked in return. "Free School," I said. "Then we must be enemies," he said. We laughed.

"How about your wife? From Convent Green Lane?" he asked. No, no, I told him, she was from the mainland. "There's no one here from Convent Light Street, or is there?" I said. And we laughed again. Little joke which perhaps only an Old Free and an Old Xavierian can appreciate.

Pretty soon, we took our leave of the TIMS and sought breakfast in the town. By 10.30a.m. we were already back at the Greeneries Remembrance Park to wait for the SUV to take us up to the SBS. I suppose a normal car would not be able to travel up there so easily as some of the slopes were very steep. So we spent about two hours there. Took the time to walk around the place. Needless to say, from such an elevation, the view was magnificent although it was all foliage, foliage, foliage. We couldn't see the Taiping town or its famous lake. Nevertheless, a great and quiet place to hang around for meditation or self-reflection. A good book will also be very helpful.

What Remembrance Day in Penang?

I happened to pass by the Cenotaph Memorial at the Esplanade in George Town, Penang, this morning.

Went up to have a closer look but the Cenotaph did not seem to have seen much activity despite today being the 11th day of the 11th month. For the uninitiated, today is Remembrance Day, the day when the world goes quiet to remember the ultimate sacrifices of men who died during periods of conflict, but it is an almost forgotten date in the Malaysian calendar. All I saw at the Cenotaph was a small posy of red and white flowers, left there by some anonymous persons. Sad that this occasion had been forlornly overlooked.

Meanwhile, less than 50 metres away outside the City Hall, under huge billowing tents set up by the authorities, a loud Deepavali open house was gaily in session, graced by the Penang Chief Minister, his State Exco members, the Municipal Council presidents of Penang Island and Province Wellesley, senior officers of State Departments, invited guests and the general public. Sad.

When speeches go missing

Late last week, I received a telephone call from an old schoolmate asking me whether I could help him cover an event in Penang. "We are rather short-handed here in Kuala Lumpur," he explained to me. So could I help by representing his publishing company at the opening of the Philips Lumileds second plant in Bayan Lepas?

I must say that I had to hesitate a while before answering because while I was keen to help him out, it has been quite a long while since I last did this sort of thing. Too long, actually. But eventually, I told him, "yes, I'd do it."

The seventh of November rolled by and I made my way to the Philips Lumileds facility. A spanking new 300,000 square foot facility. Just to turn into the road leading to this plant was daunting. I was stopped at the junction, which was some 100 metres away from the gate, by some security people and asked what business I had over there. My invitation wasn't even on an invitation card; it just an email message from a media company in Kuala Lumpur. But I was let through easily enough.

I have to admit that I knew nobody at the function except for a very familiar face, an ex-colleague from my JobStreet days, who is now a key staff at the Penang government. He was the only person I knew but he wasn't exactly there to enjoy himself. I could see that he was tense although I couldn't put a finger on why. But I let it pass. I had my own job to do and after registering at the Media Representative counter, I went into their makeshift hall and sat at one of the seats in the media section. There were three rows of reserved seats and I occupied the end corner of the middle row. I reckoned it would be easier for me to move around, especially as I needed to take some photographs too.

Eventually the function started. The VIPs - Nor Mohamed Yakcop from the Federal government and Mansor Othman from the Penang government - strolled down the corridor followed by the Philips Lumileds bigwigs and many others. Except for Nor Yakcop and Mansor, I didn't recognise anybody else among the invited guests. It was then that I sensed how daunting this assignment was going to turn out. I looked at the other media representatives. Sorry, I didn't know who they were too. Strangers to me, just like I was a stranger to them. A lone ranger who sat by himself in a corner.

The Managing Director of Philips Lumileds Malaysia, Chooi Chin Leong, was the first to speak and he was then followed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Philips Electronics, Frans van Houten. As they spoke, I followed their speeches on the handouts, just in case there were deviations. Of course, there had to be.

They were followed by Mansor who, as the Deputy Chief Minister I of Penang, was representing the Chief Minister who had to accompany the Penang Governor to the Rulers' Conference in Kuala Lumpur. Mansor read out the Chief Minister's speech. I riffled through the media handouts. I couldn't find a copy of the speech. Missing. Was the media file given to me complete? Never mind, I would check with the media company later.

Then it was the turn of Nor Yakcop, a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department. The Prime Minister was supposed to be here too but like the Chief Minister, he had to remain in Kuala Lumpur to accompany the Agong at the Rulers' Conference. As I couldn't find a copy of the Prime Minister's speech either, I texted the media company's representative immediately and requested for a copy.

Someone duly came to find me. Sorry, she said as the handout was thrusted into my hands, the Prime Minister's speech was distributed late and unfortunately, nobody recognised me as a media representative when they gave out the copies. What about the Chief Minister's speech then, I enquired. Can I have a copy of that too? Sorry again, this lady said. They don't have a copy for distribution. In fact, nobody at the function has one. Very peculiar, I thought to myself. But never mind, if anybody would have a copy, I would know how to get it later.

But you know what? There was a very small incident at the start of Mansor's delivery. It was too fleeting and quiet for anyone to barely notice. That I happened to be aware of it was by coincidence, I think. And at first, I didn't pay any attention to it. Not initially. As Mansor walked to the stage, I overheard someone briefly telling a media person seated two chairs away from me, "This one no need." I mean, this short comment could mean almost anything. But instinctively, I turned and looked around. I saw the back of a person moving away but like I mentioned earlier, he was nobody I knew.

Much later when I mulled over the incident, I started wondering whether someone was telling the media representatives to ignore the speech by the Chief Minister's representative? Was it because of that interference that the Chief Minister's speech wasn't made available to the media representatives? It was so strange that despite everything having been arranged to the minutest detail, only three of the speeches were given out to the Press. Don't tell me that the Chief Minister's Office had not wanted the speech to be available to all? It would seem weird.

But never mind, just in case anyone wants to know what Mansor read out last Wednesday afternoon, here it is. I did manage to get a copy of it eventually. After all, I am not without resources of my own:

The Chief Minister sends his regrets of not being able to join you here on this memorable occasion and I wish to convey the state government’s message to all of you today. 

Penang has a longstanding history for its involvement in the LED Industry since the early 70s. When Hewlett Packard started its first operation in Penang in 1972, the company was involved in the assembly of core memories for its mini computers as well as various LED display units.

Since then, Penang has been successful in attracting three of the world’s top LED manufacturers in the world. There are also other foreign and locally owned LED companies that support and produce for the global market. The last 2 years, Penang has emerged #1 in investments. In 2010, Penang topped investment in Malaysia with inflows of RM 12.2 billion and repeated that feat in 2011 with a total of RM9.1 billion, contributing 28 per cent of Malaysia’s foreign direct investments (FDI) in 2010 to 2011.

A McKinsey’s 2012 Global Lighting Market Model predicts the LED share in general lighting at 45 percent in 2016 and almost 70 percent in 2020. The growth in market share will be contributed by LED penetration in many segments – office, retail, hospitality.

Because of these bullish trends, many LED manufacturers in the world have undergone aggressive capacity expansion in 2012. Today’s opening of this Plant 2 of Philips Lumileds Lighting facility marks the commitment that has been made by Philips Lumileds Lighting to increase and expand their capacity in Penang.

Lumileds made its entry into Penang in year 2000 as Lumileds Lighting Sdn Bhd and was bought over by Philips to create Philips Lumileds Sdn Bhd in 2004.  Since then, Philips Lumileds has grown its competencies in Penang. Today marks an important event for the LED Industry in Penang. Philips Lumileds does not only carry out standard assembly production but also manufactures and develops phosphor for the conversion of blue LEDS to white LEDs.  Philip Lumileds has also launched its research and development activities in Penang, focusing on its highly successful range of mobile phone camera flash products, i.e. the LUXEON Flash.

I am proud to note that this new facility also includes:

• a new facility dedicated for phosphor and new product research and development centre as well as a design centre; 
• a new facility for Philips Lumileds Global Customer Quality Team and Finance Team;
• and a clean room manufacturing facility for the production of high-brightness power LEDs, LED modules and assemblies. 

And what an exciting site it has turned out to be - modern, innovative and a real state of the art, having completed only within a year or so. What makes me a Penangite proud to note is this expansion will contribute to increased output of LEDs from Penang, thus putting Penang on the world map as a major producer of LEDs. 

Another key area to note is that greater employment opportunities have been and will be created, especially for the knowledge-based workers in Penang. This is in line with Philips Lumileds who has pledged to invest significantly in the development of skilled engineering talents in Penang and Malaysia and will also grow its workforce over time.

What is exciting for all of us is, this facility is the first factory in Malaysia designed with 100 percent LED lighting, both interior and exterior, to lower energy consumption, to reduce carbon footprint and to support the State’s campaign for a Cleaner Greener Penang. 

Last but not least, I wish to thank Mr. Frans van Houten and his team at Philips Lumileds Lighting for choosing Penang to be your partner for success.

Jeremy's diploma

Here was where we were last Saturday: at the Penang campus of the Tunku Abdul Rahman College in Tanjung Bungah. It was convocation day and my son was all prepped up to receive his Diploma in e-marketing and business.

The above pictures weren't very clear because they were not snapped directly from the stage but rather, from the projector screen. Still, I managed to catch this candid photo of a beaming son as he walked back to his seat:

After the ceremony was over, we all met up outside the hall for this picture. Can't help it if I'm grinning from ear to ear. It may only be a diploma but to me, it was his day and it was his greatest achievement.

Guaranteed to bloat

I'm the "proud" owner of one of Apple's most infamous spare parts: their old, bloatable Macbook battery! Went to the store from where I had purchased the Macbook some six years ago, and they told me that they would have to source for a replacement battery from around the region. I dithered for a while but then decided that it wasn't worth throwing RM490 to buy a new battery with only a three-month warranty. I would interpret this to mean that yes, the replacement battery is guaranteed to bloat again after the three months are up!

Bao Sheng Durian Farm's second season

How can I ever miss turning down an invitation to the Bao Sheng Durian Farm in Sungai Pinang, 10 kilometres from Balik Pulau town on the "other side" of Penang island, when an enticing picture of a durian fruit is posted on the owner's facebook page?

Despite not feeling entirely well, still recovering from a sore throat and a loss of voice, I chose to make the 57-kilometre journey from my house in Bukit Mertajam to Sungai Pinang.

When I arrived at Bao Sheng, nobody was in sight. Not the owner, Durian Seng, nor his wife or children. So I decided to simply walk down the trail from his house into the valley below.

And soon enough, I caught sight of Durian Seng, with a basket on his back, as he went searching for durians.

"The end-of-year season has just started," he told me, "and there aren't too many that has dropped. But I tell you, the quality looks better than earlier in the year." He said that he was surprised with the D604 strain which turned out so much more yellow and creamier.

We walked back up the steep track to his house. There, we found a few people who had arrived since I did.

Without skipping a beat, Durian Seng launched into his explanations of the durian, how to determine that the fruit was fresh and not stale, which part of the fruit to sniff for the best fragrance, and how to tell whether the fruit was ripe enough.

So how long will the season last, I asked. "Until the middle of December," he replied. There may still be supplies after that but the quality at the tail-end of a season would have gone down.

While we were talking, a family arrived and started unpacking their bags. "They are here for the homestay programme," Durian Seng explained. The family made their way through his property and checked into the dual chalets a few metres from his house. The chalets flanked a small swimming pool. Further away was another chalet, a newer one that was completed in the middle of this year, with its own pool. "We don't provide meals or cooking facilities," he explained, "but only the fruits from the plantation." It would cost RM180 per night for a chalet stay, he added.

More information about the Bao Sheng Durian Farm.

Recovering, thank goodness.

This is the third day of my sore throat-infected influenza. Basically, body feels much better. That is, except for my throat. Voice has recovered somewhat but it's not a 100 percent recovery yet. If you ask me, I would say my noise level is improved to 50 percent of my usual.

However, the thick phlegm still reigns supreme. Coughing and hacking just to expel the darn gooey stuff. But at least, it's a pale yellow. The antibiotics that the clinic gave me must be working or otherwise it would be green. I'm sure nobody is interested to see it or want their meals upset and therefore, it is best that I do not post it here. Just be satisfied with this picture of all the medicine that I was asked to take.

Influenza season

I guess it had to happen: me succumbing to a big influenza attack again. I'm always susceptible to colds and influenza and every time it happens, usually I would end up with irritating phlegm in my throat. Once the initial flu attack ends, my phlegm would thicken until it starts off bouts of coughing fits and I'm put on a second round of antibiotics.

But today, for only the second time in my life, I lost my voice as well. Haven't been able to speak above a whisper. So I haven't been very communicative at all, save for text messages.

I had taken an anti-influenza injection before but it was so long ago. The jab quite effective and for a long while, I didn't have to endure the misery of a flu attack. At that time, the doctor had told me that the protection couldn't last forever. She said that because of new strains of the influenza virus appearing, it would be necessary to take the injection once a year. But I had been holding off partly due to procrastination and partly due to wanting to find out how long I could go before having another injection.

Well, I guess with today's brush with influenza, it is about time that I seriously think about getting another anti-influenza jab again.

I had to search through my archives on this blog to find out when exactly I had the first injection. Took me quite a while to go through the archives but I finally uncovered an entry dated in May 2008. Wow, that would be almost 4½ years ago. The protection had lasted so long. It was well worth the RM60 paid for me to remain relatively influenza-free all this time.

Let me recover from this latest bout and I'll definitely go and get covered again...

Tommy Emmanuel in Penang, again

Tommy Emmanuel gave his much anticipated concert at the PenangPAC auditorium on Tuesday night. We enjoyed ourselves immensely. Too bad that we weren't able to take more photographs during his performance.

And here we are, below, with fellow Old Free Ray Cheong who was one of the more impressive opening acts.

PFS in the news

Two reports in yesterday's English language newspapers that recorded the annual tradition by the Penang Free School at the tomb of the Rev'd Robert Sparke Hutchings in the old Protestant Cemetery at Northam Road, George Town.

Though I'm not a Christian, it makes me proud to be an Old Free to see that this tradition in remembrance of the School's founder is still solemnly observed during these turbulent times of the 21st Century when racism still rears its ugly head to serve self-serving politicians!

Remembering Robert Sparke Hutchings

It was already at the end of the 89th annual dinner of The Old Frees' Association. My old schoolmate, Oon Hup, took one look at me and said that I looked tired. Why not, I told him, I was up since five o'clock this morning and it had been a very long day. And after I told him why, he had only two words for me: "You're mad."

Maybe. But my madness had some justification: I've now satisfied myself by seeing the final resting place of the Rev Robert Sparke Hutchings. As the founder of the Penang Free School in 1816, education in Malaysia has much to be grateful to this man. He was pivotal in laying down the vision that education in this country should be free of any racial or religious prejudices. That's why the school he founded was always to be known as the Free School.

For a very long already, I had been asking around whether the prefects of the Penang Free School do still make it a point to visit the tomb of Hutchings at the old Protestant Cemetery in Northam Road every year of Founder's Day. There was only one answer that I received every time: no.

Apparently, I have been asking the wrong people. I should be asking the school authorities, not just anyone who do not know the answer.

So last week when I received an invitation from the school to attend their Speech Day (or Founder's Day) on 21 Oct 2012, I grabbed the chance to accept it. I phoned the school. I spoke with their Senior Assistant in charge of co-curricular activities and she confirmed that yes, the school prefects and some teachers still make the visit to Hutchings' tomb every year. What time should I be there, I asked further. Seven o'clock in the morning. There'll be a simple service.

Hmm, seven o'clock. It would mean that I have to drag myself out of bed at five in the morning, get myself ready and drive the 30-odd kilometres from Bukit Mertajam to Northam Road. When I arrived at about 6.40a.m., the parking lots along the road were already almost full. Ahead of me, people were already walking towards the locked main gate into the cemetery. I recognised two PFS teachers in the small crowd. Everybody was waiting for the Penang Island Municipal Council people to come and open the gate.

Waiting in the dark outside the gates of the old Protestant Cemetery

Some of the teachers got impatient after a while. Together with Rev Ho Kong Meng, they climbed over the wall. I was debating with myself whether I should do so too, but I really didn't want to soil my clothes as I would then be going to the school for the Speech Day after this.

I took a closer look at the gate. There was a long metal chain and a lock. I thought to myself: if it was a chain, perhaps I could push the gate doors ajar slightly and squeeze through the gap. Better than climbing any wall. To my surprise, the chain was just wrapped around the gate doors. The lock wasn't even engaged. How long this has been so, I don't know. Anyhow, I called out to the other teachers and we all simply strolled in, the prefects following behind.

The simple and solemn service started at 7.10a.m. Rev Ho, the Minister from the Anglican Church, began: "We have come together to praise and thank God for the life and work of the Rev'd Robert S Hutchings, the founder of our School, Penang Free School. We remember with thanksgiving his services to the School; and for its continuing legacy in the development of our State and Nation through the countless students whose lives have been enriched."

There followed some Bible readings, then the laying of wreaths in remembrance and honour of Hutchings. Rev Ho concluded with a short prayer: "Almighty God our Father, we thank You for Your Servant Robert S Hutchings who served You as a missionary proclaiming the message of salvation in Your Son Jesus Christ at St George's Church, Penang, We thank You, especially this morning, for his pioneering work in education, in the founding of Penang Free School, the first public school in Malaysia, and the schools associated with it: Hutchings Primary and Hutchings Secondary Schools. Bless and inspire the Headmasters, teachers and staff of these schools; inspire them in the vital area of educating the young minds under their charge. Bless the students that they may fulfil the potential You have given each of them, that they may use their gifts and talents to serve their fellow citizens in Malaysia." By 7.20a.m. the service was over.

Belated seventh month horror story

The Chinese seventh lunar month may be well over but this story from today's online edition of Malaysiakini is guaranteed to send shivers down the spines of our corporate leaders. Thought it would be significant enough to reproduce the story here since this section of the Evidence Act 1950 impinges on all of us.

The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) has expressed concern over the recent inclusion of Section 114A into the Evidence Act 1950 and its impact on businesses.

The new section could have an impact on businesses that extensively use online and social media platforms, FMM said in a press statement yesterday.

In view of this, FMM said, it would hold a seminar on the matter at its Kuala Lumpur headquarters on Oct 30 to educate the business community on the matter.

"The seminar will aim to cater to the needs of the business community that runs websites with forums, manages e-commerce sites, engages via social networks, provides free Wi-Fi in their premises and other areas that may expose them to the ‘risks' of Section 114A.

"While there may be concerns (real or perceived), it is important for the business community to have a clear understanding of Section 114A and its impact on their business operations.

"FMM would like to provide a neutral, business-oriented platform for businesses to understand and to be ready and protected," the FMM's ICT and multimedia committee head Yong Yoon Kit said in the statement.

Among the speakers at the seminar will Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee and the chief executive officer of Malaysian Insider Jahabar Sadiq.

Gov't unmoved

Legal experts believe that the new Section 114A of the Evidence Act will allow anybody, including the government, to initiate legal or criminal action against social network users, website owners, mobile device owners or WiFi network service providers over content posted by other individuals.

Led by advocacy group Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), a widely received campaign against the amendment was carried out in August, forcing Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to order cabinet to "discuss" the matter.

The cabinet did discuss the matter in Najib's absence, when he was abroad on official duty, and it decided against reviewing the amendment. This position was also taken by attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail.