百年茨厂街：茨厂街小市井变文化熔炉

百年茨厂街：茨厂街小市井变文化熔炉



价廉物美为招牌的茨厂街是游客最爱。

18世纪初叶，锡矿的开展吸引了当时中国的华人南下，掀开巴生谷锡矿发展的序幕，接着来到巴生河与鹅麦河的交汇处上岸，当年矿工上岸的地方，便是今天我们所熟知的惹密回教堂（Masjid Jamek）。

十八世纪的吉隆坡是个荒芜之地，靠着矿工的到来和开发，英国殖民以及吉隆坡第三任甲必丹叶亚来所带来的建设，茨厂街被逐渐琢磨成一块宝玉。

“茨厂”源自木薯厂

茨厂街也是目前吉隆坡少数中文与马来文名字互不协调的街名，其起因在于叶亚来在该路设立木薯厂，因此得以“茨厂”之名；而马来文的Jalan Petaling则是因为茨厂街位于八打灵山范围内，因而得此马来名。

叶亚来带着矿工以锡矿起家，将满目疮痍的吉隆坡发展起来，茨厂街从原始的亚答屋到后来因水患、火灾数度摧毁后也逐渐转为砖瓦屋，混入英殖民色彩以及南洋风格的楼房和商店，是茨厂街的建筑特色。

当年初步抵达的矿工多以广东籍为主，让茨厂街形成了一如“小香港”的社区，接着移民潮和矿业的带动，茨厂街林立了广东人特有的茶楼、五金店、杂货、木屐店；而妓寮、烟馆、赌场、剧社也不可或缺；妈姐、矿工的身影更是50年代最能带出茨厂街市井气息的一幅人物相。

街坊搬离 华人气息犹在

茨厂街最为人津津乐道的就是带着浓厚粤式文化的酒楼、歌伶，当时烟馆和妓寮在90年代之前还属于合法，广东人当道的茨厂街，也因为其他籍贯如客家人、福建人的涌入，而呈现了多元的盛况。

经营至少三代人的老店已不复当年盛况，许多老街坊也逐渐搬离，但是茨厂街的华人基地气息从没有淡化。

无论是外国游客或者国内游子，来到吉隆坡都曾经停驻在茨厂街寻觅最熟悉的回忆。

百龄芳华渐逝

茨厂街在后期因原有排水和基建跟不上吉隆坡的城市化发展，衍生各种社会问题，逐渐被人称为“三教九流、龙蛇混杂”之地，但它的存在仍宣告着华社先贤当年的一步一脚印。

征地风波再掀关注

如今回望逾百年历史的茨厂街，彷如气息虚弱的老人；当年充斥在茨厂街内为挣一口饭吃的工人、各行各业的老板、员工所组成的蓬勃生命力都像是逝去的年华。

若不是苏丹街因捷运工程而爆发的征地风波，或许，华社不会再度省思，我们到底遗忘了多少这个社区曾有过的明媚风光。外劳充斥的茨厂街，又是否显示出他们在踏着华社先辈的足印？

茨厂街百年来的面貌转变，就是最好的说明。

～以上新闻转载自南洋商报～

Total turf replacement at Dataran Merdeka

Total turf replacement at Dataran Merdeka



Brand-new: One of the new features at the square is the row of murals which show the pictures of past and present prime ministers.

DATARAN Merdeka field is all set for a RM3.9mil facelift with a new turf made of hybrid grass species.

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) spokesman said the third and final phase of the square’s upgrading initiative would include a total replacement of the field with new earth fill that has adequate nutrient content underlain with sand and aggregate fill to improve drainage system. A new irrigation system (sprinkler system) will also be installed. This is needed because the site is a popular venue for events.

“The new turf will have a relatively high-wear tolerance.

“The last turfing was done in 1989. The exhausted soil that has been used from then till now has attained an unhealthy level of micronutrients and pH level. It is not conducive for the present grass.

“The soil profile is found to be inconsistent throughout the field, which generally shows signs of too much compaction of soil and no sign of functioning of the existing subsoil drainage system.

“The overall irrigation system is not functioning too,” he said, adding that too many types of wild grass species were also growing on the field.



New feature: DBKL workers cleaning the area around the new cascading fountain.

DBKL confirmed that turfing work is scheduled to start on July 1, and is expected to be completed in April next year. No field bookings are allowed during that period.

The tender was awarded to RS Greenmaster (M) Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of the RS Group.

Its research and development director R. Subramaniam said the field would be constructed using the Greenmaster Applied Turf (GAT) technology.

“Its technology centres on a range of organic derivatives that are blended with fine wash river sand, biofiber and biosorb on improving or modifying root zone condition.

“The sand base field offers several key advantages that cannot be provided by native soil.

“It enables high-water permeability, which allows for internal rapid surface water removal. Properly designed and installed sand-base root zone will protect against a field’s worst enemy, which is compaction,” he said.

Sand-base fields also have disadvantages in terms of surface firmness or strength, referring to the ability of a sand layer to resist surface forces such as foot and equipment traffic.

“Sand layers constructed from any size particles tend to lack firmness, and this can be a special problem when the turf becomes thin or non-existent.

From a field standpoint, footing and traction can quickly deteriorate under this condition. Sand also lacks water-holding capacity.

“However, inclusion of amendments such as organic matter or inorganic matter will improve their performance as a growing medium or a playing surface.

“Today, amended sand fields are being used more commonly. When properly designed and installed, they can offer dramatically improved playability,” said Subramaniam

Project consultant Sewajar Maju CSG Engineers principal engineer Y. H. Lee said amendments might take place during the returfing work should there be any site constraint.

“Currently, we do not know the exact condition of what lies beneath the field as the records of the field plan cannot be traced.

“Only the layers above the concrete slab will be dug up and replaced.

With the new turfing technology complemented by proper maintenance, we can guarantee zero pooling during rain.



Work in progress: A worker painting a fountain which has been built at the square.

“The water will seep through and channel into discharge points around the field that connects to an existing drain,” he said.

The first two phases costing RM4.5mil are complete. The highlights include three new fountains and a mural.

One fountain has been built at the podium area of the square, facing the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and the main road Jalan Raja.

Two more fountains are identically designed and are mirror images of each other. These have been built at the podium area of the square, facing the main field.

The mural incorporates pictures of all past and present prime ministers, made out of glass mosaic specially cut and arranged by a specialist.

Drains, walkpaths, planters box, podium floor on the main flag pole and the road in front of Sultan Abdul Samad Building, among others, were also upgraded.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Living it simple

Living it simple



Lush greenery: The view from the top of Bukit Jugra.

Selangor is offering homestay programmes at several Malay villages for tourists to sample the quintessential kampung life.

FOR a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, and an opportunity to experience the kampung life, take a short break and explore the various homestay programmes offered in Selangor.

Recently, Gaya Travel magazine and the Malaysia Co-Operative Societies Commission (MCSC) organised a four-day, three-night trip for the media to showcase some of the tourism-related products and services offered by MCSC.

During the trip, participants were given the opportunity to sample village life by staying with various keluarga angkat or host families.

The first stop was in Sungai Sireh, Tanjung Karang.

The picturesque village is a two-hour drive from the Kuala Lumpur city centre and has been labelled one of the important rice-growing communities in Malaysia.

Set amidst acres of padi fields, the village offers views of sweeping vistas and can be considered a quintessential Malay kampung.

The villagers in Sungai Sireh are a friendly lot and most actively participate in the homestay programmes.

Once the visitors had settled down, they were introduced to their hosts.

Two of the hosts were Mohd Tohid Ahmad Jumadi and his wife, Sudarwati Abd Rahman, who put up four of the participants.

After a sumptuous meal cooked by Sudarwati, who insisted on being called mak (mother), the participants retired to their rooms for some much-needed rest.

During their stay, the participants were given the chance to participate in various activities in the village, including helping Mohd Tohid, or Wak as he prefers to be known as, harvest homegrown vegetables and fruits such as cili padi, ubi kayu (tapioca), bananas and passion fruit.



Ready to go: All-terrain vehicles are available at the homestay in Sungai Lang.

Participants were also given the chance to experience other typical activities in the village, including catching eels, fishing in the nearby river and harvesting rice.

For dinner, the participants joined the villagers for the iconic nasi ambeng, a local favourite, while watching cultural shows presented by youths from the village.

Surprisingly, some of the villagers, including mak, can communicate in basic Korean, an ability they picked up after welcoming hundreds of South Korean guests to the village as part of the homestay programme.

The second stop for the group was in Sungai Lang, Banting, where the host families included Othman Johari and his wife, Umi Salamah Dalail.

Here, the participants had the opportunity to sample Malay-Javanese cuisine.

Activities planned for the group included All-Terrain Vehicle rides to visit the various SME businesses run by the villagers.



Away from the city: With lots of fresh air and a scenic view, Tanjung Karang is an ideal place for a homestay programme.

To wrap up the expedition, the organisers arranged for the participants to take to the air, with paragliding in Bukit Jugra on the agenda.

While gliding serenely in the sky, the participants witnessed the beauty of Selangor’s coastline set against a scenic panorama of the Straits of Malacca.

To find out more about the Sungai Sireh homestay programme, contact Faez at 019-318 8220 or Selamat at 013-305 1470 while the Sungai Lang homestay programme can be contacted at 03-3180 1021 or 016-341 7539.

Alternatively, visit www.skm.gov.my for more information.

~News courtesy of The Star~

花卉展6·22揭幕 18国花园点缀布城

花卉展6·22揭幕 18国花园点缀布城



去年布城花卉展共举办9天，吸引了约80万人前来观赏。（档案照）

一年一度的布城花卉展即将在今年6月22日，在布城2区湖畔公园掀开序幕，届时来自18个国家约23个参与者将展现属于该国风情的“花园”。

联邦直辖区部长拿督斯里东姑安南透露，今年主题为“胡姬花-热带宝藏”，相信在活动开始后，布城将被逾5000不同品种胡姬花布置得美轮美奂。

花草设计景观墙

这项活动由联邦直辖区部及布城机构主办；出席者有布城机构主席丹斯里阿昔仄末；副部长拿督罗加峇拉莫汉、部门秘书长拿督安南和林国荣创意科技大学创办人丹斯里林国荣博士等。

东姑安南今天在第6届花卉节非正式推介礼上说，除了各式胡姬花，也将会展出其他种类的花花草草。

“我相信，一些品种，甚至是我们未曾看过的。此外，参观者将可欣赏以花草设计的‘最长景观墙’。”

他说，据了解，东协国家只有大马主办花卉节，这显示我国希望透过与单位的共同努力，把布城发展成模范城市，进而也促进我国的旅游业。

“与往年一样，在各造的努力宣传下，花卉展已经成为我国一个旅游特点，今年相信将会吸引逾100万本地国内外游客。”

此外，他也建议将各类与园艺、景观等活动及计划，推动成全年活动，让国内外游客全年都有机会观赏各类的花卉园艺，其中包括花园中心、园艺师父、农业市场等。

阿昔仄末：胡姬花为主题 新元素吸引学校团体

阿昔仄末说，今年主题锁定胡姬花，因为国内人不少人都喜爱胡姬花。

他指出，本届花卉节也将加入新元素，包括“皇廷花园”、“茶会公园”、“革新公园”等。

他说，今年的花卉展除吸引布城区内的参与外，区外也有多所学校参与，还有其他非政府组织、政府机构与团体参与，令花卉展成功的筹办。

2013年布城花卉展主题：“胡姬花-热带宝藏”（Orchid-Tropical Treasure）

日期：6月22日至6月30日
时间：星期一至四，上午9时至晚上10时：星期五至六，上午9时至午夜12时
地点：布城2区湖畔公园（Waterfront，precinct2）
收费：免费
网站：http://www.ppj.gov.my/putrajayafloria/floria.html

～以上新闻转载自南洋商报～

耗资3千万全面翻新 金河广场年杪展新貌

耗资3千万全面翻新 金河广场年杪展新貌



金河广场正全面翻新工程， 图为竣工后的模型图。

吉隆坡历史最悠久和最知名的商场之一———金河广场，耗资3000万令吉进行全面翻新工程，并且将在年尾展现其新面貌。

从2012年11月22日开始的翻新工程，包括了更换全新的天花板和地板瓷砖、重新粉刷外观、升级升降机门廊、改善广场指示牌以及在中庭的新栏杆和照明灯。

此外，金河广场正在兴建有盖人行道。该人行道将一路沿至位于苏丹伊斯迈路（Jalan Sultan Ismail）的商场前方。 兴建有盖人行道

完成后，它将与由吉隆坡市政局建造的有盖人行道形成一个无缝的链接，让消费者在任何天气都能够舒适的来往武吉免登（Bukit Bintang）之间的购物中心。

广场经理邓福强说，让金河广场36年来屹立不倒，深受欢迎的秘诀，就是金河广场拥有不断重塑自身的能力，同时和消费者一起紧追潮流。

“此次的翻新工程非常符合这项惯例并将会带给消费者更佳更现代化的购物体验。”

他说，虽然工程仍在进行中，但消费者可以继续享受购物的乐趣，因为所有工程会在商场打烊后既晚上10时才开始进行，所以并不会影响租户的生意。

捷运运作长期受惠

金河广场的翻新工程，同时也响应了武吉免登—吉隆坡城中城购物商圈旅游协会1（BBKLCC Tourism Association）旨在改善吉隆坡武吉免登—吉隆坡城中城成为世界级的购物热点。

金河广场也预计成为捷运（MRT）工程的长期受惠单位之一。

一旦捷运投入运作，预计每个小时会有2万5000名乘客。

武吉免登捷运站位于金河广场附近，预计在2017年开始操作。

这是金河广场自1977年开业以来，第二次的翻新工程。

在1992年，金河广场致力于营造更方便、舒适的购物环境而进行大型的翻新工程。

～以上新闻转载自南洋商报～

城市德士机场载客反应佳

城市德士机场载客反应佳‧陆交会促勿漫天开价

陆路公共交通委员会主席丹斯里赛哈密指出，政府开放让城市德士到吉隆坡国际机场载客的制度获得德士司机的良好反应。

他今日向星洲日报透露，大部份城市德士对这项新制度都感到满意，积极到吉隆坡国际机场载客。

“陆路公共交通委员会从新制度落实的第一天，就开始在机场监督载客情况，收取德士司机和乘客的反馈，以不断改善城市德士在机场载客的服务。

载客前应先打理座位和外观

“我们鼓励城市德士司机在到机场载客前，先打理好德士座位和外观。机场有不少的外国游客量，如果城市德士的服务欠佳，將有损我国的国际形象。有鑑於此，所有欲在机场载客的德士都必须先通过执法组的检验。”

他披露，陆路公共交通委员会也有开放推特让德士乘客发表意见，该委员会接获的投诉包括德士司机刻意绕远路的问题。他希望德士司机遵守职业操守，不乘机漫天开价，因为违反纪律的行为將破坏大马德士司机的形象。

许力文：应交代检验德士標准

雪隆德士僱主司机公会总务许力文不反对当局“过滤”德士的策略，但是他希望陆路公共交通委员会可以清楚交代执法组检验德士时，所採取的標准。

“这样可以方便有意到机场载客的司机，先把德士整理或维修得符合有关標准，避免在机场接受检验后遭到过滤，而无终而返。”

另外，许力文表示，曾经集结雪隆地区的德士联合会已经长期陷入不活跃状態。他说，目前各个小分会是在有需要时，联手向陆路公共交通委员会反映他们面对的困难，以及提出相关要求。

“我希望我们以后能与陆路公共交通委员会有更好的沟通，协助司机瞭解各种政策的细节。”

（星洲日报／大都会）

东禪寺25日花车游行

邀各乡团参与同庆卫塞节‧东禪寺后日花车游行



美伦美奐的佛祖花车，在信徒的赶工佈置下，已准备就绪，准备在卫塞节晚出游。（图：星洲日报）

马来西亚佛光山东禪寺，为庆祝卫塞节“释迦牟尼佛诞纪念日”，迎接佛陀的喜悦，將於5月25日（星期六）晚上7时，在仁嘉隆盛大举行“佛祖出巡”花车游行，主礼嘉宾为州议员拿督邓章钦，佛祖花车將途经仁嘉隆大街及主要道路，欢迎沿途商店及住宅设香案恭迎，届时，佛光將普照仁嘉隆。

东禪寺法师將跟隨“佛祖出巡”花车，沿途洒净，为公眾献上祝福。此外，仁嘉隆八大姓氏宗亲会，各乡团及民间志愿团体等，都受邀参与游行，预料將吸引数以千计的信徒及公眾参与游戏队伍。

佛光会会长梁谢强、拿督黄世交、林玉、雪州州议员欧阳捍华、拿督邓章钦、地方党团领袖等，都受邀参与庆典。

24及25日办园游义卖会

东禪寺卫塞节庆典从5月24至25日，上午9时至下午3时，举行“园游义卖会”，“浴佛法会”，“毓麟祝福”等活动，欢迎信徒蒞临占香礼佛，希望以浴佛祈福法会增强大眾的信心，並兼具宗教仪式，素食及义卖，益智竞赛及系列生活趣味的多元化游戏，提供心灵之需，从而，推广人间佛教。

5月24日上午10时，佛光缘美术馆也特別举行”相遇VS悉达多太子“2013佛诞特展开幕典礼及美术馆佛画写生比赛──“我心中的佛陀”。5月25日上午10时，举行2013年悉达多太子走秀比赛。

现场呈献儿童戏剧

配合卫塞节庆典，东禪寺特別邀请爱说故事的洪姐姐工作室及绿精灵儿童剧团，在5月24日早上11时至下午2时，现场为小朋友说“天使棒不见了”故事及呈献儿童戏剧。

此外，Stylling Pavillion Academy造型设计师Pierre The与陶艺家刘育瑞与谢百风，现场为大眾主持“手部艺术彩绘”，玩玩新创意。

任何询问，可联络东禪寺，电话：03-31911533或03-31914304。

（星洲日报／大都会）