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Hello Kitty Run: Organisers Pathetic. Hello Kitty Fans Need Training on Good Behaviour Organisers

Hello Kitty celebrated her 40th birthday with much fanfare today (Nov 1), as 17,000 participants showed up for the first Hello Kitty Run held at Sentosa.

The event got off on a cheery note, with the famous Sanrio character serenaded with a birthday song by the race participants, and presented with flowers and a cupcake by childhood friend Dear Daniel. The pair then flagged off the race at 8am.

However heavy rain marred part of the run, and some participants said there was a mess at the medal collection area. A Facebook page created for the event was flooded with complaints. Some took issue with the lack of a wet weather plan, noting that many families with young children were soaked, while organisers themselves were equipped with ponchos.

Others pointed to “chaos” and “confusion” in the medal collection area. One participant told Channel NewsAsia that the original designated medal collection point was “massively” jammed. The organisers then announced a new medal collection in a more spacious area, and said they would only give out medals to participants who queued up and showed them their race bibs. Some said the announcement that there may not be medals for all caused a rush on the medals.

A few people alleged that the shortage of medals was due to runners who may have taken more than one. A check on online trading site Carousell found people selling their medals, with at least one seller who boasted: “I queued up 10 times and got my whole family to snatch it from the box. In fact, I got the whole box. I’m going to sell it one by one!”

Organisers posted a note on Facebook, apologising for the weather and the hold-up. They said those who were unable to collect finishing medals can collect them another day at venues to be announced. They advised participants to keep their race bibs for verification, and check the Hello Kitty Run Singapore Facebook page for updates.

Source: CHANNEL NEWSASIA

November 2, 2014
Launch of the Subhas Anandan Star Bursary Award for Ex-Inmates

Editor’s Note: This is a FB post on 31 Oct 2014 by K Shanmugam (Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law) lauding the achievements of noted criminal lawyer, Subhas Anandan
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Subhas Anandan has handled over 1,500 cases in his career. He is one of our best known criminal lawyers. In recognition of Subhas’ work, the Association of Muslim Lawyers held a tribute event on Tuesday where they launched the Yellow Ribbon Fund .The award is called the Subhas Anandan Star Bursary Award.

It will provide financial support to ex-inmates who wish to further their studies, and help give them a second chance in their lives.

I attended the event. It was quite a moving experience to hear people speak about Subhas. Subhas also delivered a touching speech where he thanked judges, colleagues and his family for standing by him during his recent bouts of severe illness.

I am glad that Subhas is practicing once again. All of us wish him the very best.

K Shanmugam

Source: www.facebook.com/k.shanmugam.page

October 31, 2014
Chef Wan: Men Should Help With Housework. It Is Not An Effeminate Act.

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysians should eliminate the stigma that is attached to men who do housework – that such men are pondan (transsexual or effeminate, in Malay), says Malaysian celebrity chef Redzuawan Ismail, popularly known as Chef Wan.

Such a mindset negatively affects the family institution, he was reported as saying by Bernama.

He said: “Men who do housework are not necessarily weak and soft.

“They do it to help their wives who are probably tired after working in the office.

“However, in our society, the perception still exists but not in the West.”

Chef Wan was speaking to reporters after appearing as a panellist in the discussion, Re-defining Masculinity, held in conjunction with a woman’s forum on Wednesday.

He added that men, husbands and fathers should set a good example to children by helping in any way possible at home.

“In fact, from my own experience, I find that when you do housework, it not only lightens the burden at home, (but) is also a healthy activity,” he said.

Source: straitstimes.com/news/asia/south-east-asia

October 31, 2014
Rumah Shah Iskandar Dipenuhi Kulat

KUALA LUMPUR: Kediaman yang selama ini menjadi tempat berteduh dan berlindung bertukar menjadi penuh berkulat selain lembap akibat kebocoran di bahagian siling rumah membuatkan pelakon Shah Iskandar tidak keruan jadinya.

Hal itu disedari Shah yang juga pemenang trofi Pelakon TV Lelaki Popular, Anugerah Bintang Popular BH 2013 sekembalinya beliau dari penggambaran drama di Cherating, Pahang selama dua hari.

Shah mengakui terpaksa meminta jasa baik produksi Zeel Production hari ini untuk mengecualikan dirinya daripada menjalani penggambaran drama Bib bagi menguruskan masalah kondominium yang didiaminya di Damansara Perdana.

“Saya sendiri jadi geli tengok baju, sofa, kasut dan beg contohnya tumbuh kulat. Selalunya saya ingat paip di sinki akan bocor yang menyebabkan berlakunya lantai basah. Ini kebocoran berlaku dari atas siling. Peliknya hanya saya yang mengalaminya.

“Sejak pagi tadi saya terpaksa bertemu pihak pengurusan kondominium untuk menyelesaikan masalah ini. Tapi hanya petang tadi, saya mendapat perkembangan terkini apa tindakan pihak mereka selanjutnya. Itupun selepas kali kedua saya ke pejabat mereka.

“Akhirnya pihak pengurusan menjelaskan berlaku kebocoran paip dari atas siling. Mereka akan menyelesaikan masalah ini secepat mungkin.

“Saya pula terpaksa mengetepikan barang di satu sudut supaya tidak lagi ditimpa air. Berkemungkinan saya kena tidur hotel malam ini,” katanya yang turut terpaksa memindahkan dua kucing peliharaan ke tempat lain sehingga rumahnya bersih seperti sedia kala.

Source: bharian.com.my

October 31, 2014
AVA: 62 Farms to Make Way for Military Land

62 farms in Lim Chu Kang have been asked to move and will be overtaken by military uses, said the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA).

Mindef said that because it is giving up some of its current training grounds for the development of the new Tengah New Town, it needs to take over the land in Lim Chu Kang.

The leases and tenancies of the farms expire between 2014 and 2021.

The leases which expire between 2014 to early 2017 will be extended until June 2017. The farms with leases which expire after June 2017 are allowed to remain until their time is up.

AVA will open up new sites for farming at Lim Chu Kang and Sungei Tengah but interested farmers would have to bid for them. The farmers affected by the demise of their leases will not be automatically relocated new farms.

The new farming plots will shrink. AVA said that, “new sites will have a smaller land area” because of “limited land for farming”.

AVA also said that it will help farmers “to raise their productivity and intensify the use of limited farmland through the adoption of technology and automation.”

In August, a S$63 million Agriculture Productivity Fund was launched by AVA to “achieve higher productivity” and “use farmland more efficiently”.

However, there is very strict criteria. Farmers would have to adhere to “minimum production levels”. It is unknown if farmers who are unable to do so, when faced with natural calamities for example, will face penalties. According to news reports, if they are not able to meet the production levels, they might lose their farms.

Not only that, the 62 farms affected by the Lim Chu Kang takeover will actually not be able to use this fund, rendering the fund useless.

It is unsure which farms the fund will then benefit.

Farmers whom are affected by the move are unhappy by the move as the farms that they have spent a large part of their lives working on will disappear. And if they are unsuccessful in attaining new farmland, they would have to give up their business altogether. Not only that, the new farm plots are expected to be more expensive, which is likely to reduce the already slim profits for the farmers. As the Agriculture Productivity Fund is not accessible to these farmers, it is unclear what form of help the government will give to the farmers, if at all.

It is not known when Tengah New Town will be built.

Source: therealsingapore.com

October 31, 2014