1月21日起一连18天‧东禪寺办春节灯会花展
“和谐之舟”上有3个娃娃的灯饰，代表著我国三大民族，同舟共济。（图：星洲日报）
佛光山东禪寺平安灯会暨花展將於2012年1月21日开启，今年以“龙天护佑”作为主题，吁请民眾踊跃前往参观。
这项灯会和花展將於1月21日至2月7日，一连主办18天，届时展示的花灯包括“龙天护佑”主题灯、吉祥龙舟花灯、祥龙呈祥花灯及可爱恐龙花灯。
马来西亚、新加坡佛光山总主持觉诚法师在新闻发佈会上说，马来西亚佛光山已於2011年成功获得入伙纸，今年也以星云大师的春联法语“龙天护佑”作为主题，勉励人们心里有著慈悲利人的想法，產生一股强大的精神力，在有限的生命做无尽的贡献。
精心设计“跃龙门”灯饰
她表示，今年灯展的特色保有去年环保救地球的理念，祈求今年不会有天灾，同时，大会精心设计的“跃龙门”灯饰，意味著把过去不好的都放下，迎接全新的一年。
她补充，“和谐之舟”上有3个娃娃的灯饰，代表著我国三大民族，同舟共济。
“明年我们也將会设计3个花园，分別以马来人、华人及印度人的传统文化设计，配上会跳舞的灯柱表演，非常生动。”
展出马六甲峇迪龙袍
大会也安排了美术展，其中展示著名琉璃家杨慧珊的琉璃作品及吴亚鸿的诗词画作，並会展出价值30万令吉来自马六甲的峇迪龙袍。
另外，在“人间佛陀”动画美展中將以情景佈景及播映立体动画《人间佛陀》，述说佛陀的生平故事，而佛陀纪念馆也將会在12月25日作开馆仪式，並会首播《人间佛陀》动画。
觉诚法师表示，展会时期，也鼓励民眾以共车方式前往，以舒缓交通阻塞问题，而大会也如往年一样安排6英亩的免费泊车地。
此外，大会为了提倡环保，鼓励民眾前往观展时自备水壶和饭盒用具，以便在现场购买食物时方便使用。
（星洲日报／大都会）
http://mykampung.sinchew.com.my/node/170439?tid=6
AirAsia to boost flights to Palembang
SEPANG - AirAsia is offering promotional rates to travellers from Kuala Lumpur to Palembang between Feb 6 and Oct 27 next year.
The promotional rates gives travellers an all-in fare starting from RM59 (S$29) one way. There will be daily flights compared with three times weekly.
Click here to find out more!
AirAsia's regional commercial head Kathleen Tan said the increased flight time options would also offer more convenience for travellers.
Booking period for the promotional rate ends on Dec 27.
Visit www.airasia.com for more details.
~News courtesy of The Star~
All set for grand launch
Next month Emirates will launch its A380 services from Kuala Lumpur, making it the first commercial A380 operation from Malaysia.
The Airbus A380 is the most environmentally advanced commercial aircraft. It also has the widest cabin of any aircraft in the world.
Emirates will operate 58 of them, far more than any other airline.
There are 14 private suites in First class, while the Business class seats extend into a 2m-long flat bed. The Economy class is fitted with new-generation seats that offer higher level of comfort.
Stand a chance to win a pair of return Business class tickets to Dubai by taking part in the contest below.
~News courtesy of The Star~
豪雨导致武吉免登及茨厂街附近再度淹水
据报道，半山芭（Pudu）地区情况较严重，附近大约20间商店水深约一公尺，导致商家忙于将污水抽出店外。
此外，武吉免登（Bukit Bintang）区著名的购物商场金河广场（Sungai Wang）也遭殃，地下停车场出现积水。
据目击者说，金河广场地下第三层停车场积水淹及轮胎，不过并没有造成严重影响，大多数汽车还能安全驶出停车场。
此外，靠近半山芭区的汉都亚消防及拯救局发言人表示，隆市内的塞车情况主要是因为下班车流造成，而非因为水灾。
吉隆坡前天和昨天一连两天在下午时分下起大雨，导致市内出现闪电水灾。其中，隆市中心敦拉萨路国家图书馆前的路段周二遭闪电水灾袭击，长长的车龙动弹不得，大约30名孩童更是受困于附近的一所幼儿园，消拯局出动两艘救生艇将他们救离灾区。
~以上新闻转载自omy~
Kuala Lumpur - Semarang (Indonesia)
Kuala Lumpur - Surat Thani (Thailand - Koh Samui)
www.airasia.com
吉隆坡狡匪 栽赃勒索游客
吉隆坡出现“栽赃狡匪”，爱到马来西亚的人要小心！这些另类劫匪，专向外国游客下手，将手机或钱包塞进游客口袋嫁祸后，趁机敲诈！
马来西亚的治安一直备受狮城客的关注，之前出现刺破轮胎干案、爱之针匪卷土重来等等的报道，近日网上又传出新的干案手法。这些劫匪不直接抢钱，反而是把不太值钱的财物送进别人的口袋，然后上演做贼喊贼的一幕。
歹徒栽赃嫁祸后，摆出一副理直气壮的样子，上前质问被陷害的游客为什么偷他的财物，诬告对方是“扒手”。
“当你被搞得一头雾水时，对方便把你拉去一旁，要你付‘和解费’。如果你乖乖就范，他会‘放你一马’，否则就威胁要报警。”
消息发布者自称来自马来西亚一家律师事务所，并指这种敲诈手段经常发生在吉隆坡国际机场或地铁列车，下手对象以外国游客为主。
“歹徒会把手机或装着几块令吉的钱包放进刚下飞机的外国游客的行李袋。跟着在几分钟后，好戏登场。假如受害人不付和解费，歹徒就报警捉人。”
他指出，曾有些人因拒绝付和解费，被警方关进监牢。
《联合晚报》
Many visit Selayang hot springs for health benefits
THIRTY-two-year-old Daphne Beh has been visiting the Selayang hot springs in Jalan Ipoh for about six months now and is already reaping the benefits of the geothermal-heated groundwater.
Beh, who lives in Kepong, said the water from the hot springs had made her hair softer, skin smoother and also improved her blood circulation.
She visits the hot springs four times a month and spends two to three hours each time by soaking her feet in a pail of hot water and wiping her body with a soaked towel.
She usually visits the place between 6pm and 8pm when there are many people because it is more enjoyable and relaxing and she can also interact with them.
Recently, she has also managed to convince her friend Annie Chong, 32, to go along with her.
“I find the water has healing properties and I am lucky that I live not far from here. I love hot springs from the time I was in Japan,” said Beh.
Distance is not an issue for Wong Yoon Hee, 63, who also goes to the hot springs at least once a week.
Before discovering the Selayang hot springs, Wong travelled to the Sungkai hot springs once a week. However, when she heard of the spot in Selayang, she comes here instead.
“I have been coming here for four to five months now and my knee pain has improved a lot.
Popular spot: Visitors bathing using buckets of water scooped up from the pool at the Selayang Hot Springs.
“It is also good for skin problems,” said Wong, adding that people of all races, including foreigners such Koreans and Japanese come to the hot springs.
Norazizah Yusuf, 44, who delivered a month ago, washes her baby’s head with the water to improve blood circulation.
“I always felt good when I wash with the water and that is why we brought our baby here,” said Norazizah from Jinjang, Kuala Lumpur.
Ganesh Kumar, 36, who used to frequent the hot spot 20 years ago with his friends, said the place was popular even back then when there were no facilities.
“Today there are facilities such as toilets and a cemented flooring at the spring area,” he said.
However, many people feel the hot springs needs maintenance and upgrading.
Beh and Chong feel the toilet needs much improvement as it was dirty and the overall area could be spruced up.
Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) public relations and corporate planning director Mohamad Zain Masoad said the development of the hot springs was still pending.
He said there was a proposed development plan for the area which only left one fourth of an acre for the hot springs.
“This idea does not appeal to the current councillors and they are insisting on maintaining the hot springs as a tourist attraction,” he added.
Mohamad Zain said the council and the developer had yet to come to a conclusion on the scale of development.
Council president Datuk Zainal Abidin Aala said MPS was planning to gazette the hot springs as a recreational spot and was studying its details.
“We will submit the plan to the state committee as the project will be funded by the Selangor government,” said Zainal, adding that the hot springs, which is managed by Selayang Municipal Council Cooperative Union, would be taken over by the council soon.
～News courtesy of The Star～
