PP 4353/05/2013 (033269)
April2016
KL
american
A Publication of the American Association of Malaysia KL American April 2016
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How to pack everything in The more you know about your destination, the sooner you can enjoy all it has to offer
Go knowing
www.crownrelo.com/malaysia 2
KL American April 2016
Crown’s service offerings include: • • • • • •
International & Domestic Shipments Transit Protection Immigration & Legalization School Search Settling-in Services Intercultural Support
Tel: +60 3 5636 9166 kualalumpur@crownrelo.com
Contents AAM April 2016 Advertisers Index Advertisers
(A-Z)
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President’s Message
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Membership Matters
Page
Asian Tigers Transpo
Back Cover
Color Parlour
p.15
Carpet Inn
p.7
Crown Relocations
Inside Front Cover
Eastern Carpets
p.17
Hop On / Hop Off
p.23
The Expat
p.24
RSDHC
p.26
Sime Darby
Inside Back Cover
Tropicana Medical Centre
p.14
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9
7 8
Community Services
Weekly/Monthly Activities
9 10
Membership
April Activities
U.S. Embassy Security Briefing Similarity
18-21
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24 25
AAM Messages
AAM Community Bulletin Board
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Photo by Jinan Jabagi.
Memories
AAM Calendar / April
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President’s Message
Board of Directors President Peggy Uptigrove President.aam@gmail.com Vice President Ann Blacklock FirstVP.aam@gmail.com April – what an exciting month. We are all geared up for our Retro Night – A Blast From The Past set to take place on 16 April at the Sheraton Imperial KL. I already have my decade themed outfit all picked out and ready to go – how about you? It’s going to be a really fun evening with great food, fabulous entertainment, dancing and surprises so if you haven’t picked up your tickets yet, be sure to stop by the AAM office or email klamerican.info@gmail.com soon. Time is running out… At the end of the month we will be hosting another casual pot luck dinner get together at the AAM Villa – really a fun night, come on out and meet with new and old friends, share some great food and play some board games. See you there.
Peggy Uptigrove President
Secretary Brenda Miller Secretary1.aam@gmail.com Treasurer Lesia Puri Treasurer.aam@gmail.com Publications Director VACANT Editor.KLAmerican@gmail.com Major Events Director Jamie Abbott Majoreventsdir.aam@gmail.com Membership Director Wendy Frazer Membershipdirector.aam@gmail.com
Liaison Directors American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce Stephanie Chua
Corporate Partners For 2016
Event Sponsors for 2016
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KL American April 2016
ISKL Hilda Alposilva US Embassy Alyssa Calabrese Kelli Baker
General Membership Matters
KL
American Magazine Team
A Letter from the President….. If you were at the AGM back in February, you would have heard me briefly speak to the current financial situation of the American Association and how this relates to us maintaining an office space for our members in the future. With membership numbers dropping as people are being transferred ‘home’ and the overall economic climate in Malaysia, plus the decline in our Corporate Partnership dollars, the AAM finds itself in the unique and unfamiliar position of having to take a serious look at no longer maintaining office space and getting ‘back to basics’ if you will. If I understand the history of the AAM correctly, there has never been a time since its inception, when we have not had a ‘club-house’, ‘villa’ or ‘office’ to call home.
Editor VACANT Photo Editors Judy Pescio Randee Duncan
Our lease at The Troika is up for renewal on 1 October, 2016 and on this date we will need to notify our landlord if we intend to renew for another year or terminate the lease. If we make the decision to move out, that will be effective 1 December, 2016.
Contributors Debz Rafferty Editorial Support Peggy Uptigrove
I want to assure everyone that the Board has not made any firm decision as yet. This is something we want to take time to seriously consider, weigh in on an, ultimately, vote on. It is, after all, our duty to be good stewards of the money the AAM has raised over the years, and leave that money untouched for the Board in the future.
Designer Yap Wai Kuan Advertising Sales Tel: (03) 2161-9008 / 9009 Printer Seng Hoe Printing Process 33, Jalan Hang Tuah 2 Taman Salak Selatan 57100 Kuala Lumpur Tel/Fax: (03) 8941-7603 Publisher American Association of Malaysia The KLAmerican is published 10 times per year. The deadline for inclusion is at least six weeks prior to publication, which is the 1st of the month. Advertising for non-profit organizations is free-of-charge on a space-available basis. The magazine staff reserves the right to edit copy for clarity, brevity, and accuracy. Information on AAM members is not to be used commercially.
When we look at the cost of maintaining the AAM office for our membership, it makes the most sense, at this stage, to close the office. This is not, by any means, the end of the AAM. Rather, it means we have to look at new and different ways of running the association without the high overhead costs. We still have six months in which to make a decision and we will take our time in doing so. This is not a decision to be made hastily or without looking at all the options available to us - and is certainly not one to be made lightly. I will continue to keep you, our membership, informed as this issue comes up in front of the board and again once we have voted on which direction the AAM will head during this economic downturn. Please be patient with us as we move through these growing pains. I also invite any and all members to email me any questions they may have, comments or concerns, not only on this subject but any matter concerning the AAM. Sincerely,
Peggy Uptigrove President
Reproduction, in whole or in part, without written permission, is strictly prohibited.
American Association of Malaysia Unit 19-1, 19th Floor, Tower B The Troika, 19 Persiaran KLCC 50450 Kuala Lumpur GPS Coordinates: N3° 9’ 28.899” E101° 42’ 58.217”
Tel: (03) 2161-9008 / 9009 Fax: (03) 2181-7005 E-mail: klamerican.info@gmail.com Website: www.klamerican.com
OFFICE HOURS Monday – Wednesday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Closed Thursday - Sunday and public holidays
KL American April 2016
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Membership AAM is making changes to the Membership Renewal Process:
In an effort to keep a more accurate record of our current membership and provide better support to our members, the AAM Board has made the decision to switch to an annual renewal effective January 1st, 2017. The changes to our current membership will be implemented this year so that we have a smooth transition starting in 2017. For our current members: Your membership renewal will be pro-rated for the remainder of this year according to quarters. Below is a chart of membership fees for the remainder of 2016: If your membership expires between April 1-June 30th You will pay RM159 inclusive of GST If your membership expires between July 1 – September 30th You will pay RM106 inclusive of GST If your membership expires between October 1 – December 31st You have two options: - Option 1 is to wait and renew January 1st, 2017 - Option 2 is to pay RM53inclusive of GST for the last three months of the year It should be noted that if you choose option one and there are member / non-member events scheduled between October 1 and December 31st that you wish to attend, you will pay the non-member price. For our new members: Joining between 1 January – 30 June you will pay RM212 (inclusive of GST) Joining between 1 July – 31 December you will pay RM106 (inclusive of GST) You will be reminded in December to renew your membership and then it will be effective for the entire calendar year of 2017 and every subsequent year thereafter. We thank you for your continued support.
Wendy Frazer Membership Director
“Selamat Datang ke AAM!” to our new members for February:
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Benoit, Cat & Weston
Farouki, Margaret & Mazin
Beutel, Rolf
Thomas, Catherine & David
KL American April 2016
Community Services Community Service. We hear the term a lot, whether it’s a celebrity talking it up on social media or a corporation “doing the right thing.” Wikipedia in part describes community service as performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions. Performing community service is not the same as volunteering since it is not always done voluntarily. It may be done for a variety of reasons: courts may demand it; schools may mandate it to meet class requirements or governments may require it to meet citizenship requirements. But perhaps the biggest benefits people get from community service and volunteering is the satisfaction in their lives and making a difference in their community – wherever they may call home. The intangible benefits alone, such as pride, satisfaction, and a sense of accomplishment, are worthwhile and cost effective. As an expat, it’s a good way to spend time, something we always seem to be short of when in our home country. Volunteering benefits the recipients of the service, the people who serve, and the larger community. American culture embraces community service. We look for solutions with the idea that every American has skills and talents to give and with the belief that ordinary people can come together and achieve perhaps extraordinary things but most certainly ordinary things. Consider volunteering. Volunteer with a local charity or with the American Association of Malaysia (AAM) or both and take advantage of all the benefits.
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Weekly Activities All activities are at the AAM Villa @ The Troika unless noted.
MONDAY
Mahjong 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Members FREE / Non-Members RM10 donation (The first two visits are complimentary.) Get rid of those Monday blues by playing a lively game of mahjong. We’ll shuffle the tiles, make ‘pungs’ and ‘kongs’, and enjoy the afternoon. Beginners are welcome. For more information, please email klamericaninfo@gmail.com and include “Mahjong” in the subject line.
WEDNESDAY
Stitching Friends 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Members FREE / Non-Members RM10 donation (The first two visits are complimentary.) New and seasoned sewing enthusiasts work together to share their love of the stitching arts. We meet at the AAM Villa @ The Troika. Please contact Coordinator, Jeanie Kennedy at jhkennedyuk@yahoo.co.uk for details. Please be sure to put “Stitching Friends” in the subject line.
Monthly Activities Tuesday, 5 April 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. St. Francis Xavier Home for the Elderly Taman Sri Bahtera, Batu Lima Cheras Tel: (03) 9131-1464 Wednesday, 6 April 6:00 p.m. onwards Tapas Beer Bar, One Residency, 1 Jalan Nagasari
Bingo with Little Sisters of the Poor
Join our monthly bingo game to help spread the joy at this home for the elderly! We will bring prizes for the winners. The bingo morning is one of the highlights of the month for the residents. Please email klamerican.info@gmail.com if you can join us or would like more information.
Gentlemen’s Night Out Calling all Gentlemen!
For many of us getting out and socializing with other men folk can be difficult, with working all week and weekends reserved for family. Well, no more! There will be a ‘Gentlemen’s Night Out’ every first Wednesday of the month in the popular Changkat Bukit Bintang area. The format is entirely informal with the chance to sample some craft beers and great grub - and plenty of scope to move onto play some pool, darts or even just talk on manly matters! See you there! Stan RSVP: Useful but not needed. Email: drstanbrook@hotmail.com
Friday, 8 April 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. The Dome / KLCC Ground Floor, Park side of Suria Mall Cost: Individual
First Friday
The roaming First Friday group is stopping over at The Dome, KLCC for our April First Friday Coffee. Newcomers are welcome to join us here to connect to others that are new in the area and hopefully connect you to our Association and all the great things we do here at the AAM. Everybody welcome. RSVP: klamerican.info@gmail.com (not required but would be nice to know how many to expect).
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April Activities
All Souls Day Monday, 11 April Time: Pick up 9:00am / return approx. 3:30pm Pick up / Drop off at side entrance of InterContinental Hotel Cost: Member RM185 / Non-Member RM212
Join us for this cultural and fengshui tour to Sg. Besi and Nilai Memorial Park. Chinese believed in ancestral worship and life after death. Learn about the elaborate funeral rites and interesting stories such as hell notes and house warming for the dead. “Ching Ming,” or All Souls Day, falls in early April and this festival is celebrated for 20 days. The tour will start with a visit to the old traditional Chinese graves in Sg. Besi. It will then continue with a drive to visit modern graves in Nilai Memorial Park, which is built on a 200 acres of excellent fengshui burial ground. Believe it or not some graves are built for the purpose to cheat death! The tour will include a visit to some plots that are single, double, family sized and also plots which are for Buddhists, Christians and free thinkers. Most interesting is the Millionaires’ Row with some very expensive family plots costing over RM 2 million. Wear comfortable clothes (no sexy shorts or low cut shirts) and good walking shoes. It is important to bring a hat or umbrella and drinking water. Lunch is included on the tour so when you register for this event, please let the office know if you have any food allergies so we can alert tour guide. Recommend to wear RED underwear for good luck! RSVP: klamerican.aam@gmail.com by Wednesday, 6 March
Tuesday, 19 April Brolly / Ground Floor, Menara Felda, Persiaran KLCC 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Cost: Individual
GAME NIGHT / OPEN HOUSE Saturday, April 30 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. FREE EVENT
Have you had a craving for some Louisiana Style Gumbo lately? Maybe looking for a soft shell crab po’boy sandwich. Well look no further, this month we are heading just down the street from the AAM Villa to Brolly – a great little restaurant right in our neighborhood. But don’t let all this talk of seafood throw you off, they have a huge range of menu items for lunch from fried chicken to French fries- so they will have something for everyone. RSVP: klamerican.info@gmail.com by Thursday, 14 April. We need to know how many to expect so the restaurant can hold a section for us. Join us for our second night of open house / game night. We had so much fun back in February, we have decided to host another open house / game night at the AAM Villa. Come as a couple or as a single, just come to have fun. The evening will start with a “getting to know you” pot luck dinner, which you all will provide and after we will play board/card games. You are encouraged to bring a favorite board game from home and teach us all a new game. Casual and relaxed and you just never know who you will meet there! AAM will provide Adult Beverages. RSVP: klamerican.info@gmail.com by Wednesday, 27 April
Looking Ahead… Be sure to mark these dates for activities in May: 03 May – BINGO at Little Sister 06 May – First Friday 10 May – Lunch Bunch / Mother’s Day High Tea KL American April 2016
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U.S. EmbassySecurity Briefing – 24 February By Debz Rafferty
AAM members, Embassy Employees and their guests were invited to a security briefing at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence on 24 February. Mrs Melanie Billings-Yun, wife of the U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia Joseph Y. Yun, personally greeted everyone. After a delightful meet and greet with yummy cakes and entertaining small talk, a security talk was given by Samantha Elfmont, Community Liaison Office Coordinator and Bernard (BJ) Green, Regional Security Officer. First to speak was BJ Green, he promised not to scare us too much, as he transmitted essential information. He started with the obvious increase in armed police and military around Kuala Lumpur, saying that this is so the public will feel safer going about their day-to-day business, and not to let the armed officers’ presence faze you, they are there because the Malaysian government want to reassure the public that Malaysia is a safe place to be. The general threat assessment in Malaysia is listed as Medium by the US, although the rate of crime in KL remains high because of the ever-increasing number of purse snatching, smash theft and pick pocketing. Residential crime is also higher this year, especially in 10
KL American April 2016
standalone houses, as these ‘landed properties’ are easier targets to home invaders. BJ talked knowledgably about sensible target hardening. 1. Select a home in a gated community or security patrolled condo. 2. Do not go out wearing very large and obviously expensive jewellery. 3. Think before you walk out the front door with you prized LV or Prada handbag. 4. Take extra care when riding escalators as these are pick pocket hot spots. If you have a back-pack or large purse, move it so it is infront of your body when riding an escalator. 5. Do not leave your phone sitting out on bars. tables or counter tops - this also goes for iPads and computers. 6. If someone does snatch your property, do not give chase. These criminals usually do not work alone and you may get yourself into more trouble. 7. Make a police report, preferably within 48 hours. If you leave it longer than this, the local police may give you a hard time. Finally: ‘You just have to stay alert. If you are crossing the street and you see a scooter rider turn and obviously look at you, take extra care. Usually these scooter riders have a big visor sticking out at the
front of the helmet, if you see it point at you get moving, because you could be their next target.’ One of our members asked about the current terrorist threat, after Canada and Australia raised their threat level. BJ assured us that the US Embassyis not changing their security message. “We see no increase in threat to expats and are comfortable that the Malaysian government and police are on top of things. If this changes, we will let you know. We operate a ‘no double standards’ policy, if we know something we will tell you.” “The Royal Malaysian Police are first rate and great partners. We can say if anyone puts themselves on the radar they are toast.” He wrapped up his talk by saying “If you see something say something.” Samantha then came forward and spoke in her usual clear and nondramatic manner. Here are the key points. “What is it illegal for you as an Expat to do?” 1. It is against the law for you to ‘proselytize’, which means “to try to persuade someone to changetheirreligiousor politicalbeliefsor way of livingto your own”. The do’s and don’ts: Do check where you are volunteering, is the organisation registered with the government? If you are taking part in a bible study group, take care where you meet and who is attending. Do not teach religious education. When it comes down to it you have to use common sense, for example if your Christian maid asks you to bring her back a bible from the USA this is OK only“if” she is already a Christian. 2. You cannot take part in ANY demonstrations. It does not matter how benign the event, do not attend, and avoid all protest areas, even watching could lead to you being arrested. 3. Do not consume or carry drugs, this includes cannabis. No discretion or special treatment is given, and judges cannot change the sentencing for foreigners. The penalty for drug smuggling is Malaysia and most Asian countries is death! (And a South African Expat was recently sentenced to death in Malaysia.) The Embassy receives 15-20 calls a week from people who have been scammed for money via contact made on the Internet. It is an epidemic and centered in Malaysia. Most initial contact is made through social media sites like Facebook. They send friend requests, and if accepted they friend your friends. Sometime later (this can be a year or more) they pretend to be you and contact your Facebook friends, making up some story about you being in an accident and needing money for treatment! They can also clone your account. The stories they come up with are inventive and endless, so be aware!! These scammers represent themselves well online, they are articulate and seem genuine, until you part with your dollars, and then they are never seen again and are untraceable. They may not be after your dollars, but they may spend months grooming your teens for “other services.” Take precautions NOW - have that chat with your kids about internet safety and how much information they share. Make sure your accounts are not open, check privacy settings on all social media sites! Do not just add people because you think it is cool to have a lot of “friends” because there is a very real chance that they are anything but friends. Millions of dollars are lost every day, and more alarming, teens and women are at risk from sexual predators. There was a
recent case where a young woman had been invited to KL. She had been speaking to a young man here for over a year via social media. When she got here he, tried to force her into helping him with scams by being a female American voice. She managed to escape. In reality these internet predators are one step ahead, they are faceless, and difficult to trace. If you have been a victim of internet crime, report to the local police, the Embassy and IC3 partnership with the FBI. IC3 are private US companies, and a special branch of the FBI they can be found on www.ic3.gov. A report made on this site will also go to the legal attaché for the FBI in-country. Take care if you are ever asked to help with getting money from an account, we are not talking about “I am a prince from Africa and need your help.” The current scenario that is causing concern is: You are befriended on social media and have chatted to this “friend” for many months, you have seen pictures of their kids, wives, mothers etc. You are then told. “I am out of the USA and cannot transfer money from my US account to outside, would you mind helping me? If I transfer 5000 dollars to you in the US can you send it to me?” You are friends, so of course you do as instructed. Well you have just laundered money! If you are hurt in an attack or accident, you must go to public hospital. Then make a police report. You do not have to go to the police straight away, but be sensible with your timings. If you are in an accident in your car, stay in the car, as getting out may escalate a violent attack. If you are in a teksi and the teksi is in an accident, pay your fare and leave the teksi. You can leave the scene of an accident but you must make a police report within a reasonable time. Make notes and be clear what you want to say before you go to the policestation. You could write your statement in the comfort of your home then copy it when you are at the policestation. Only reports from Government hospitals supported by a police report are admissible in Malaysian Courts. Police will not come to an accident unless there is “a body on the floor.” Car safety: have your windows tinted, ideally with film that makes your window shatterproof. Keep your valuables out of sight, either on the floor or in the trunk. Be situationally aware. Know when you are most vulnerable to attack, and where the crime hotspots are. Keep your car doors locked when possible. Taking sensible and simple precautions can make a difference. How to deal with police road blocks. Keep your license handy, if you are in Malaysia for more than a year you should have a local license. DO NOT pay spot fines. Speeding offences and most other tickets can be paid online, and if you pay promptly you will get a discount. Do not be pressured into handing over cash. If in doubt take the name and number of the officer who is asking you for a spot fine, and/or call the Embassy. Credit card fraud is on the increase, do not let your credit card out of your sight and take care when using ATM’s. Take a moment to check if there is anything added to the ATM that means they may be able to clone your card. Better still use ATM’s in main banks, not standalone ATM’s in malls, etc. Be aware of who may be watching you. Asia is flooded with counterfeit dollar notes, only use licensed exchange offices. Take care when going out at night. Drugging is on the increase, be KL American April 2016
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aware of what is in your drink. Try to work a buddy system where possible, if your “buddy” seems to be drunk very quickly it may be because he or she has been drugged. Yes HE, date rape is not just a crime against women. Be Safe & Savvy and take a moment to educate yourself on the crime hotspots in clubs and bars, when out and about in Malaysia. Teksi information. When possible use a smartphone App to order a teksi. If you use a teksi rank, go to those regulated and managed by a concierge. That 2RM fee could save you a lot of problems. Do not sit next to the driver - an Expat teenager was recently sexually assaulted while he sat in the front seat next to a driver. Behind the driver is the best place to sit, and do not take the teksi if the driver is not alone, do not let anyone else get in. Look for a Hack license that should be on view on the dashboard. Make sure the doors have inside door handles & the seat belts are functional.
passports, the new passport has more pages when issued but make sure you have sufficient space for immigration stamps before you travel. Ms. Elfmont said it would be wise to develop an emergency plan, because if there is a state of emergency you will not be able to rely on your cellphone as this tool is often the first to go down. So it is important to able to drive to at least one hospital without the use of WAZE or Satellite Navigation. Speak to your kids, especially your teens. Things they need to know if they are stopped by or detained by Malaysian Authorities. 1. They should say “I am an American citizen. I need to call my Embassy this is the number 03-2168-5000.” 2. “I am under 18 and a minor. You must call my Embassy.”
You must carry ID in Malaysia. If your child is old enough to be out without an adult they also need ID. You should endeavor to have. 1. Photo copy of your passport. 2. Copy of your visa or your last entry stamp. 3. School ID may not be enough as not everyone knows what it is, so passport is preferable. 4. If you don’t want to carry photocopies then carry pictures of them on your cellphone, or email them to yourself. 5. Always carry copies of home phone number and the number of the Embassy. 6. Keep an eye on the expiry date of your passport – and your kids’ passports! Most airlines will not allow you to fly if you have less than 6 months to go on your passport.
There is some concern about carrying photocopies of passports, but as these documents do not carry Social Security numbers it makes identity theft a bit harder. It is about balance, and so far the reasons to carry copies outweigh the issues that could arise if you do not. An example of services offered by the Embassy: 1. Assistance with births and deaths 2. Help with extreme medical emergencies and hospitalization 3. Victim support and how to navigate legal system 4. Notary (USA) 5. Passport services 6. Up-to-date travel security information Actually the list is very long, the Embassy will help with almost anything.
You are reminded that the US Embassycan no longer add pages to
When you arrive in Malaysia, you should personally register with
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the Embassy. It only takes five minutes and can be done online (https://step.state.gov/step/). The Embassy can only contact you in an emergency situation if it has your information. Usually this is done via SMS and email. The USA takes the safety of its citizens very seriously, and it is estimated that there are 14,000 in Malaysia including tourists. Don’t be the fourteen thousand and first and not get the message. The US Embassy staff would like you to know that they operate under strict privacy policy laws, any information you give to the Embassy staff cannot be shared to others. This also means if you call about a possible missing person, for example your young adult is on holiday in Malaysia and has been out of contact, you are concerned and ring the Embassy. The Embassy will raise a “welfare and where about file” and start to investigate, if they find your young person and they say “Do not tell my mum.” They are legally bound to follow that instruction. So to save yourself stress and undue worry formulate a plan with your family. Establish a reasonable “check in schedule” and if they do vanish, talk to their friends on social media as well as contacting the Embassy in the last known country. If you wish to contact the Embassy you can email to KLACS@state.gov or call 03-2168-5000 (from within Malaysia) or 60-3-2168-5000 (from outside Malaysia). If it is after hours, press zero when you get through to the exchange and an on-duty Marine will facilitate contact with the Duty Officer. Please visit the Embassy website (http://malaysia.usEmbassy.gov/ service.html) for up to date information in Malaysia and with links to other countries. Remember the Embassy operates a “No double
standards policy!” If the Embassy knows something about a security or safety situation, then private citizens must also have access to this information by United States law. This is also very useful if you have visitors, you can give them the link to read, this will save time when relatives visit and have questions. The Embassy cannot tell you not to go somewhere that may put you at risk, but it can make sure you know the facts before you travel so you can make an informed decision. For example, the east coast of eastern Sabah should be avoided because of the frequency of kidnap for ransom. US citizens are not the only at risk in this area, recent victims included a Malaysian Policeman who was subsequently killed. Finally, we know we live in worrying times, the world stage has indeed changed. While we encourage you to become more vigilant we caution against listening to every rumor. If you hear a persistent rumor tell the Embassy, and try not to live in fear. Take steps to educate yourself about the truth, for example a friend contacted me yesterday about a recent event which was been reported as “KLCC was evacuated and shut down because bottles containing wires and explosives were found outside the aquarium” as the things unfolded it turned out to be a school science experiment. The bottles had been accidently left behind by school girls who had been on a school outing to the Petronas science center. City Police Chief Comm. Datuk Tajudin Md.Isa said the suspected explosive was destroyed by a bomb squad team. Which is exactly the reaction we would expect! Stay street savvy. Don’t cut corners when it comes to safety, keep an eye on what is going on via newspapers, media and the Embassy and we are sure you will have a wonderful experience as an expat in Malaysia.
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Don’t Shy Away, Take A Stand - Erectile Dysfunction Speaking as a guy, we all worry about Erectile Dysfunction (ED). Like all things, once we break it down a bit, we can understand it better and hopefully either prevent it or treat it. True ED is when the desire is strong but the body can’t keep up, i.e. the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. For an erection to happen 3 separate components must come together, the desire for sex, an intact electrical system to transmit the appropriate signals and an adequate flow of blood to get an erection.
By Dr. MuhilanParameswaran MBBS (India), FAGE (Manipal), MRCS (Edin), M.S (Malaya). Board Certified Urologist (M’sia), FRCS (Urology) (Glaslow),FellowLaparascopic Surgery (India), Fellowship in Urology (Austria) Consultant Urologist Tropicana Medical Centre
In true ED the problem is usually with step 2 and 3. (Fake ED is a lack of interest in having sex resulting in ED!). In step 2, disruption of the electrical system is seen in conditions like Diabetes, Stroke or injury to the spinal cord. In these conditions the desire for sex is not conveyed to the appropriate channels and blood does not adequately fill the penis, hence no erection. In step 3 which is the true end point, narrowing of vesselstogether with a dysfunction of a chemical called Nitrous Oxide cause insufficient blood flow into the penis, insufficient trapping of blood in the penis and will result in Erectile Dysfunction. A narrowing of blood vessels supplying the penis is almost always associated with significant narrowing elsewhere in the body, especially the heart. In this case erectile dysfunction is an early warning sign of an impending heart attack. As a guy, the first thing is: Can I prevent this or is it a part of ageing that I have to live with?It’s a yes and no answer, to a certain extent it can be delayed and reduced but as we get older our vessels do get older, hormone levels do drop and ED happens. What we can do is delay the process by several relatively simple painful steps, yep painful. Smoking is the first thing; it will decrease your fitness and speed up hardening of blood vessels.
TROPICANA MEDICAL CENTRE
11, Jalan Teknologi, PJU 5, Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. T: +603-6287 1111 W: www.tropicanamedicalcentre.com FB: www.facebook.com/TropicanaMedicalCentre E: enquiries@tropicanamedicalcentre.com
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KL American April 2016
Diet: processed high carb food with lots of sugar and transfats are the fastest way to drop your male hormone levels and shrink those blood vessels. Both your libido and erection will suffer. Exercise: Males benefit from High Intensity Interval Training and weight training to improve fitness and maintain muscle mass and hormone levels which will delay the onset of ED. Fresh Vegetables and fruits: they are rich in anti oxidants; selenium and zinc which help reduce damage to vessels and slow down the hardening of vessels. They are also essential in the production of hormones that maintain our health.
Diagnosis of ED is done based on the history given, a clinical examination and blood test to rule out confounding factors like low thyroid hormones, infection, exhaustion or other factors. It’s also important to ensure there is no evidence of heart disease at this stage. Evidence of heart disease may by itself need treatment or may require medication that cannot be used together with ED medication. ED would be nitratesbefore planning any intervention at this stage your doctor would ensure that the problem is ED and not a lack of desire or low Libido. Treatments for both are vastly different. Treatment is based on the concept of increasing blood flow to the penis and keeping it there under pressure until we can achieve penetration and successful intercourse. Prior to the 90’s alternative treatments like pumps,gels, herbals and injections were in vogue but thankfully have pretty much died out. First line treatment is almost always the usage of the appropriate PDE5 Inhibitor class of drugs like Viagra,VIVIC,Levitra,Cialis 5 and 20mg etc. Choice of drugs should be adjusted to the individual and sexual pattern of the individual. Each drug has a slightly different duration of action and onset of action. As a rule of thumb most are better taken on an empty stomach, well before sex. In treating ED, patience and support are essential. Most medication will not work well the first time and may require a couple of attempt. Additionally, pressure and worrying about performance are vicious cycles which will aggravate ED. For those who fail at this stage hormone medication will then be used to enhance the effect of ED medication. At the end more than 80% of men can be treated successfully with medication alone. Worry is to human beings … what a condom is to a man with erectile dysfunction. If you require an ambulance service, dial our 24-hr Emergency Hotline at +603-6287 1999. Our dedicated ambulance service is wellequipped with experienced paramedics and well-trained emergency medical staff to deliver a wide range of medical services in times of emergencies. For more info, kindly contact our Expatriate Liaison, Sarah at 018-2111 259. When should you call an Ambulance? Experience heart attack/severe chest pain, experience breathing difficulty, pediatric& neonatal cases, experience severe abdominal pain, experience severe bleeding, loss of consciousness, strokes, fainting, convulsions/fits/seizure, trauma (injury)/ road or motor vehicle accident, fractures / dislocation / serious sprain, require emergency evacuations, require medical transportation services
Your one stop shop for all your beauty needs.
Colour Parlour
Specializes in bringing out the beauty in your hair. Served by a team of hair stylists, manicurists and a waxing beautician, this hub personalise customers’ needs to rejuvenate the inner beauty to shine on the outside. We welcome walk in customers, but to avoid disappointment, Customers by appointment is much preferred. We provide free consultations on hair topics and a 20% discount
to first time customers.
We use L’Oréal Professional products. We are located on the third (3rd) floor, No. 306 Plaza Ampang City, off Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur. With easy assessibility, Colour Parlour is the perfect place to let yourself be pampered, relax and leave feeling beautiful. There is a car park located downstairs in the building and plenty of street parking available as well. Located very close to Susie’s Corner! Please contact Ms. Fiona Lau / Ms. Kelly Lao for free consultations and appointments. Tel: +603 4251 4484 [O] HP: +6012 267 2699 [Fiona] Email: Fiona_68@live.com KL American April 2016
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SPECIAL APPERANCE BY: Donne Ray Radford – former lead singer of the Platters will be joining us for a “set” to get us in
the dancing mood. Tickets are still available for this evening of good fun, good food and great music. Email klamerican.info@gmail.com
SPECIAL HOTEL RATES:
The Sheraton has offered our party guests a discount rate of RM395++ per night including breakfast for two. Please contact the Sheraton Imperial KL at verene.char@sheraton.com and put AAM Retro Night in the subject field. We’ve got you covered with a place to party and a place to sleep. See you there
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KL American April 2016
KL American April 2016
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Memories Coffee Morning – Jump Start January – 19 January Photos by Randee Duncan Staff from Tropicana Medical Center shared their morning with us and their knowledge of eating healthy as we welcomed yet another new year. Their very own chefs then prepared a delicious and HEALTHY lunch for us which was very delicious.
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KL American April 2016
Memories Thaipusam Festival – 23 January Photos by Leo & Kathy Jansen The annual Thaipusam Festival at Batu Caves is always awe-inspiring and this year the festival did not disappoint. Participants were able to witness the cultural ceremonies up close and experience the beliefs of another culture. If the spirit moved them, they joined in the procession that climbs the 272 steps to the temple.
KL American April 2016
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Memories Coffee Morning – Annual Charity Check Giving – 16 February Photos by Randee Duncan
This year the AAM is proud to have presented our selected charities with checks for RM7,000 – RM7,500 as a result of our Charity Christmas Bazaar. We had 11 charities in attendance and members got the chance to chat with these charity volunteers and help foster the relationships that we are forming with these charities. We appreciate all the work each one of these charities is doing within the community and beyond.
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KL American April 2016
Memories Security Talk / AGM – 24 February Photos by Randee Duncan
KL American April 2016
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Memories Spring Rug Auction – 4 March Photos by Peggy Uptigrove
The Spring Rug Auction was co-hosted by the Canadian & American Associations. Members from each club came together to enjoy an evening of food, drinks, laughs and carpets, carpets, carpets. As always, people were entertained by our auctioneers, Edmund & Shokur from Eastern Carpets.
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KL American April 2016
KL American April 2016
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AAM Messages AAM Online Communities
Holidays in April
There are no public holidays in April The AAM is on Facebook! “Like” the AAM Facebook fan page by logging on, typing ‘American Association of Malaysia’ in the Search bar at the top of the page and clicking ‘Like.’ You’ll get the latest information on all of AAM’s exciting events and activities!
Introducing the AAM Google Group - a forum for members to consult with other members on queries and recommendations for anything from best family hotels to dentists to household help. Members can join in two ways. First, you can send an email to secondvp.aam@gmail.com with the email addresses you would like to add to the Google Group. Please put “Need AAM Google Group Invite” in the header of the email. The second way to join is you can go to Google Groups, search for American Association of Malaysia and then ask to be invited and the Administrator can add you. When you receive the invite via email, you must respond to complete the registration process. For more information, go to http:// www.klamerican.com/online-communities.
Membership Renewal
To avoid missing any issues of the magazine and to continue receiving discounted prices for AAM events, please make sure your membership is up to date. Renewal notices will be emailed to you one month before expiration. Dues can be paid by cash or check in person at the AAM Villa @ The Troika by or cash deposit to the AAM’s bank account directly.
Your $0.02 Do you have any ideas or suggestions for new activities, events or workshops that may be of interest to our members? Can you think of ways we can improve our current line-up? Any concerns about the AAM’s building facilities? Your feedback, whether positive or negative, is always welcome. Kindly drop us a note in the Suggestion Box located in the villa or email klamerican.info@gmail.com.
Solicitation Policy Solicitation of business by any member or guest is not allowed at any AAM function without prior board approval. Members are requested to respectfully observe the policy that membership information is to be used solely for AAM business and is not to be used for personal or business solicitation purposes. If you are interested in sharing your talents/services with the AAM, please contact the AAM office.
Reservation & Payment Policy
Event and Activity reservations can be made via email to klamerican. info@gmail.com, in person or via fax. • If the reservation is made via email or fax, the AAM office will send you an acknowledgment receipt and advise whether or not the activity is still available. • Fees MUST be paid within 48 hours of signing up for an event or activity. You will not be “confirmed” for the event/activity until payment in full has been received by the office. • You may pay by cash or check in person at the AAM Villa @ The Troika or cash deposit to the AAM’s bank account directly. If you wish to deposit cash payments to the AAM’s bank account, please contact the AAM office for account information and instructions (your bank may charge you a minimal fee for this service). • We cannot accept credit card payments at the office. We are currently working on details to secure an on-line payment system for your convenience. Further information to come.
Cancellation Policy
• Reservations MUST be cancelled FIVE BUSINESS DAYS prior to the activity in order to received a refund. If you do not cancel your reservation within this time period or you are a no-show the day of the Event/Activity, a refund will not be issued. • For Events/Activities that have a required minimum attendance, AAM reserves the right to cancel or reschedule when circumstances warrant. • Each Event/Activity will have a sign up deadline date and we must adhere to those dates. This allows instructors of classes to gather all required materials or tour companies to arrange the proper transportation for our group. • If you still have not made payment by the reservation deadline for an Event/Activity, your name will be automatically removed from the sign-up sheet and there will be no further correspondence from the AAM office. To avoid disappointment, please make your payment within 48 hours of making your reservation.
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KL American April 2016
TAKING The KLIA Ekspres – how easy
US EMBASSY We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Malaysia enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at http://www. travel.state.gov/. STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the embassy or nearest consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don’t have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur is located at 376 Jalan Tun Razak 50400, Kuala Lumpur and is open 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. If you are a U.S. citizen and have any questions or concerns, please call the U.S. Embassy at (03) 2168-5000 or visit the U.S. Citizens Service website at http:// malaysia.usembassy.gov/. We will post the most updated information on the website. USEFUL LINKS: CountyOffice.org is the most accurate internet database of county government offices in the United States. Use our site to locate your county assessor, board of elections, chamber of commerce, child support offices, colleges, coroner, courts, and much more, with all relevant details.
USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS EMERGENCY POLICE......................................................................999 FIRE & RESCUE.........................................................999 CIVIL DEFENSE.........................................................999 ANY EMERGENCIES FROM MOBILE PHONE............112 UTILITIES... ELECTRICITY/POWER FAILURE............................ 15454 WATER DISRUPTION................................1800 88 5252 SEWAGE SYSTEM.....................................03 2780 1100 OPERATOR DIRECTORY ENQUIRIES............................................100 ANIMALS MISSING PETS..........................................03 4021 1682 SNAKES & PESTS......................................03 4042 6742 ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER. (24 HRS.).....03 4041 6742
For more than a decade, KLIA Ekspres has been taking air travelers and commuters to their destination safely, comfortably and on time. The service remains the fastest and most reliable way to get from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to KL Sentral, with the journey taking just under half an hour. However, the success of KLIA Ekspres is not simply due to it being the most rapid airport transfer in Malaysia. The state-of-the-art trains are immaculately clean, quiet, have ample storage space and are equipped with complimentary 4G WiFi. KLIA Ekspres also offers an easy-touse online ticketing and Trip Planner to help passengers get to where they need to go without fuss. Positive TripAdvisor reviews continue to laud KLIA Ekspres as a convenient and smooth means of travelling to Kuala Lumpur’s major hubs. It was also named AirRail Link of the Year at the 2012, 2014, and 2015 Global AirRail Awards. There are even more reasons to choose KLIA Ekspres on the horizon. Despite the revision of the standard fares, as of 1st January 2016, a variety of special offers will allow you to continue using the KLIA Ekspres while making significant savings. 1. Buy a Return Ticket and save RM10 Although the Single Trip Ticket has increased to RM55, the cost for a Return Ticket is only RM100. The trains depart every 15 minutes during peak hours, so you can beat the rush hour traffic and save on both the time and money you might otherwise spend on a taxi fare. 2. Save 10% when you buy online, via the mobile app or at the Self-Service Kiosk (SSK) KLIA Ekspres is committed to helping people reach their destinations as quickly and easily as possible. Travelers have the option of buying tickets for both themselves and their family effortlessly via the website or with the user friendly app. Passengers also have the option of using self-service kiosks (SSKs) at the stations to avoid waiting in line at the ticket counter. For additional convenience, those who purchase their tickets online, through the mobile app or at the SSKs will save an extra 10% off the overall fare. For example, as of the 1st of January this year, an Adult Single Trip Ticket between KL Sentral and KLIA/ KLIA2 will cost just RM 49.50 when you pay via the above methods. What’s more, a Return Ticket will be RM90 overall, meaning just RM45 each way. 3. Save 20% with MasterCard Credit and Debit Cards In addition to the discount you get when you buy online or via the mobile app or at the self-service kiosks, you can save even more on the ticket price by using your MasterCard Credit or Debit card. If you use your MasterCard, you can buy a Return Ticket for just RM80, and a Single Trip Ticket to your destination would cost only RM44. 4. 20% cashback for purchase with any AmBank, AmBank Islamic or MBF credit card KLIA Ekspres works with partners such as the banks to offer great deals to the public. For example, there is a 20% cash back offer for passengers who use AmBank, AmBank Islamic, or MBF credit cards when buying tickets at the counter, online, or at the kiosk. 5. Save 10% when using Touch ‘n Go Card at the Gates Using a Touch ‘n Go card is an ideal way to get to your destination in the quickest time possible. When you use your Touch ‘n Go card for the KLIA Ekspres, you can take 10% off the ticket price. That means a Single Trip Ticket between KL Sentral and KLIA/KLIA2 will only cost you RM49.50 rather than the RM55 you would have to pay otherwise. So, get smart and make full use of the various offers available to enjoy savings with KLIA Ekspres. These offers are valid from 1st January 2016 until further notice. KLIA Ekspres will be coming out with more smart saving options for its passengers to continue enjoying the fastest airport transfer in the country. Look out for more promotional deals at www.kliaekspres.com. KL American April 2016
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american association of malaysia KL Sun
Mon
Tues
VENUE KEY
AAM Office Tel: (03) 2161-9008 / 9009
AAM Villa @ The Troika
email: klamerican.info@gmail.com
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1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Mahjong
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9:00 am 3:30 p.m. All Souls Day Tour
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10 - 11 a.m. Bingo @ Little Sisters of the Poor
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Wed
Thu
April 2016
Fri
Sat
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9:30 - 11:30 a.m. First Fridays @ The Dome / KLCC
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10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Stitching Friends 6:00 p.m. Gentlemen’s Night Out @ Taps
10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Stitching Friends
1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Mahjong
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1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Mahjong
1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Mahjong
11:45 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Lunch Bunch @ Brolly/ Menera Felda
Subang Jaya Medical Centre
For enquireies, please call -
+603 5639 1212
10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Stitching Friends
10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Stitching Friends
Ara Damansara Medical Centre
ParkCity Medical Centre
1, Jalan SS12/1A, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor
Lot 2, Jalan Lapangan Terbang Subang, Seksyen U2, 40150, Shah Alam, Selangor
No.2, Jalan Intisari Perdana, Desa ParkCity, 52200 Kuala Lumpur
Your One-Stop Medical Centre with Centres of Excellence in
Your One-Stop Medical Centre with Centres of Excellence in
Your Family-friendly Hospital aiming to be a regional leader in the specialties of
• Cancer • Blood Diseases • Digestive & Liver Health
• Brain • Heart • Spine & Joints
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6:00 - 10:00 p.m. Pot Luck Dinner / Game Night
• Women • Children • Elderly Health
or email -
mcu@ramsaysimedarbyhealth.com
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KL American April 2016
www.ramsaysimedarby.asia
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Aneurysm is the abnormal dilatation of a vessel wall, more than 50% of its normal diameter. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is the abnormal dilatation of abdominal aorta, more than 3cm in diameter. Commonest area involved is the infra-renal aorta. (Figure 1)
Detecting AAA nowadays is very easy with the wide availability of ultrasound machines (Figure 3). When treatment or intervention is needed, patients will be subjected to a Computed Tomography (CT) scan (Figure 4) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to further delineate the anatomy. This helps with the planning and preparation of treatment and to give surgeons a better picture before intervention.
Figure 3. Ultrasonographic picture of AAA
Figure 1. Illustrating common site of AAA.
Aneurysms of aorta are common. The incidence is on a rising trend in the past 3 decades. This is mainly contributed by the aging population and the readily available modern diagnostic tools like ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT) scan. The reported prevalence is around 4-8% in male and 1-2% in female. With those aged above 80, the male to female ratio almost becomes 1:1. The diagnosis of AAA is mainly clinical, and most of the time it is detected during routine abdominal scans for other reasons. Symptoms of AAA is wide, from asymptomatic to upper abdominal discomfort, pulsatile abdominal mass (Figure 2), supra-umbilical abdominal pain, backache and peritonism. It is fatal when the diagnosis is missed but that is not uncommon as up to 25% of AAA is actually diagnosed during autopsy.
Figure 2. Pulsatile abdominal mass
Complications of AAA include leaking, ruptures, acute aorto-iliac thrombosis, thrombo-embolization to lower limb and erosion into bowel causing aorto-enteric fistula and gastro-intestinal bleeding.
Dr. Tan Kia Lean
Consultant Vascular & Endovascular Surgeon Ara Damansara Medical Centre
Figure 4. CT scan delineates the anatomy of AAA
Management of AAA is individualized, and has to take into account multiple factors. These include patient’s age, co-morbid factors, symptoms and complications, the size of AAA and the morphology of the aortic sac. Various studies have shown that treating AAA when the sac size is smaller than 5.5cm has no extra advantages. Hence from 3.0cm to 5.5cm, patients will be advised to continue on surveillance follow up and modifying their risk factors. When the AAA size comes close to 5.5cm, a treatment plan should be put forward. Treatment options available include open repair (Figure 5,6) and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).(Figure 7,8)
Figure 5: Cartoon illustrating open graft repair
Figure 6: Intra-op picture of Inlay-graft
Figure 7: Cartoon picture of EVAR
Figure 8: Angiographic picture of AAA, pre & post EVAR
Both open repair and EVAR have almost similar long term outcomes, however, EVAR carries less peri-operative morbidity and mortality.
+603 5639 1212 mcu@ramsaysimedarbyhealth.com www.ramsaysimedarby.asia KL American April 2016
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(60-3) 5565 2200 KL American April 2016
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