PP 4353/05/2013 (033269)
Dec 2015/Jan2016
KL
american
A Publication of the American Association of Malaysia KL American Dec 2015/Jan 2016
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KL American Dec 2015/Jan 2016
Contents AAM Dec 2015/Jan 2016 Advertisers Index Advertisers
(A-Z)
4
President’s Message
Page
Asian Tigers Transpo
Back Cover
City Motors
p.6
Crown Relocations
Inside Front Cover
Eastern Carpets
Inside Back Cover
EvaAir
p.17
Hammam
p.26
Hop On / Hop Off
p.6
The Expat
p.27
RSDHC
p.29, p.30
Tropicana Medical Centre
p.14
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7
6 7
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Board Nominations
December Activities
10 16
January Activities
Round Table / Security Talk Similarity
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27
Memories
AAM Messages
AAM Community Bulletin Board
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AAM Calendar / December
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Picture of Alison’s Place Christmas Display at our 29th Annual Christmas Charity Bazaar – photo by Randee Duncan
Membership
Weekly/Monthly Activities
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Editorial
AAM Calendar / January
24 KL American Dec 2015/Jan 2016
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President’s Message Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to Everyone. It’s the most wonderful time of the year! I love the holiday season and we started it off with a bang in early November by hosting our 29th Annual Christmas Charity Bazaar. We had sold out tables of vendors and a record number of charities attend this year. Shoppers filled the room and were treated to a fabulous variety of unique items. We hope you had the opportunity to attend, find some hidden treasures and get a jump start on your Christmas gift giving. I know I did. It takes a village to put on an event as large as this, and I want to take a moment to recognize a few key people who put in the tireless hours to make this event a success. First, I would like to thank Lovie Alptunaer and Mary Mantei for being our wonderful Bazaar Directors not only this year but for the past few years. They have continued the tradition of helping to put together a successful Bazaar year after year and this year proved to be no different. The vendors, our charities, and the shoppers have all had nothing but positive comments about this year’s event. Great job Lovie & Mary! Second, I want to Thank Azizah Aziz, for all the work she did in keeping the vendor sign-ups, organized, collecting payments, fielding endless calls and keeping the lists up to date with ever changing information. Oh, there were so many lists! Thirdly, a BIG Thank You to Vicky Pounds and Leslie Sjurseth, for their work in preparing the White Elephant Table and the ever popular Bake Sale Table respectively – both were a huge hit. A huge THANK YOU to all the volunteers who helped us throughout the day – arriving as early as 7:00am to help with vendor and charity check-in, those that sold tickets, those that took tickets at the door, those that sold raffle tickets, those that baked, and those that stood at their post faithfully for endless hours. We could not do any of this without each one of you and I personally thank you for your time and dedication. And lastly, one more thank you – and that goes to the AAM Stitching Friends that put together the beautiful Charity Quilt that was sewn with love and care. It truly was a beautiful quilt and I just know the winner must have felt pretty lucky to have taken it home. As we all prepare for the upcoming holiday season and some of us travel to far-away places to be with loved ones, or we have our loved ones travelling to be with us here, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year. Safe Travels!
Peggy Uptigrove
Board of Directors President Peggy Uptigrove President.aam@gmail.com First Vice President Ann Blacklock FirstVP.aam@gmail.com Second Vice President VACANT SecondVP.aam@gmail.com Secretary Cindy Gros Secretary1.aam@gmail.com Treasurer VACANT 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 Community Service Director VACANT Communityservice.aam@gmail.com Corporate Relations Director VACANT Corprelations.aam@gmail.com Bazaar Directors Lovie Alptunaer and Mary Mantei Bazaardirector.aam@gmail.com
President
Corporate Partners For 2015 Presidential
Liaison Directors American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce Stephanie Chua ISKL Hilda Alposilva
Event Sponsors 2015
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KL American Dec 2015/Jan 2016
US Embassy Jessica Schnepple Samantha Elfmont
Editorial
KL
American
Magazine Team
Help Wanted… It’s time once again for our 2016 Board of Directors Election. Each year, at our Annual General Meeting, our new Executive Board is elected by you, our members. Nominations are being accepted now for Executive positions only. Please see page 7 for a description of these positions. If you want any other information, please contact Peggy at president.aam@ gmail.com. Thank you for your consideration.
Editor VACANT Photo Editors Judy Pescio Randee Duncan Contributors Debz Rafferty Editorial Support Peggy Uptigrove 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 spaceavailable 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. Reproduction, in whole or in part, without written permission, is strictly prohibited.
Please note:
The AAM Office will be closed for the holiday season from: Friday, 18th December, 2015 and will re-open Monday, 4 January, 2016 We Wish You and Your Families A Very Merry Christmas & All the Best For the Coming New Year AAM Board of Directors
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 - Thursday: 9 a.m - 4 p.m. Closed 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. workdays for lunch Closed Friday - Sunday and public holidays
KL American Dec 2015/Jan 2016
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Membership “Selamat Datang ke AAM!” to our new members for October: Dinan, Dee & Patrick Lipp, Gina & Joseph Morandini, Anna Naas, Inger & Torkel Can you believe it’s that time of year AGAIN? This has been a year that has seen a lot of changes. We’ve had too many “last” lunches with tearful good byes and parting gifts. An ancient Chinese Proverb, “when the winds of change blow, some build walls, others build windmills”. As we enter in 2016, I encourage everyone to be a windmill. Instead of the usual broken resolutions of diet, weight loss, and exercise, I ask each of you to call on a friend you haven’t seen for awhile, commit to do a weekly random act of kindness, or make a stranger smile. Let’s make 2016 the year of the windmill!
Wendy Frazer Membership Director
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KL American Dec 2015/Jan 2016
2016 Board of Directors
Call for Nominations It’s that time of year! Join the 2016 Board of Directors of the American Association of Malaysia! We will be voting in the new Executive Board at the Annual General Meeting, date to be determined. All other positions are appointed by the Executive Board. Want to join this fabulous team, or know someone perfect for the job? Contact Wendy Frazer at membershipdirector.aam@gmail.com!
Executive Board (Elected Positions)
President This is the gal or guy in charge. She or he runs the monthly Board meetings and provides support to the whole gang. Represents the AAM at official functions and helps to support all Directors in their endeavors to bring fun and value to our membership families. This position also oversees all our Corporate Relations with our valued Sponsors. Vice President In the event that the President cannot fulfill his or her duties, the Vice President takes charge. The Vice President is also responsible for administration of our dedicated office staff, overseeing the operation of our AAM Villa and all things administrative. Secretary Attends monthly Board Meetings to take notes and composes official minutes. Works closely with our Membership Director when it is time for our AGM to ensure all documents have been sent to our membership and ballots are received and counted. Also takes the minutes at the AGM for official filing with the Registrar of Societies. This position will also be working closely with our supported charities to be the liaison between our office and their needs. Treasurer Works closely with our office accountant to ensure we keep under budget and writes the checks. Oversees the annual audit conducted by our chosen Audit firm and ensures our books are always up to date and our bills are paid.
Other open positions: Publications Director Membership Director Major Events Director KL American Dec 2015/Jan 2016
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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.) Please note that the last day for Mahjong play will be 7 December. Mahjong will resume 11 January, 2016. 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. Please email mahjong Coordinator, Randee at brduncn@gmail.com to confirm.
WEDNESDAY
Stitching Friends 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Members FREE / Non-Members RM10 donation (The first two visits are complimentary.) Please note the last day for Stitching Friends will be 9 December. Stitching Friends will resume 13 January, 2016. 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, Diane Tenney @ dianequilts@sbcglobal.net for details. Please be sure to put “Stitching Friends” in the subject line.
Monthly Activities Tuesday, 1 December / 12 January 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
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.
Where: Taps Beer Bar, One Residency, 1 Jalan Nagasari
Gentlemen’s Night Out
When: Wednesday, 2 December / 6 January 6:00 p.m. onwards
For many of us getting out and socializing with other menfolk 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!
Registration: None required, just show up bringing cash and conviviality
Calling all Gentlemen!
See you there! Stan. RSVP: Useful but not needed. Email: drstanbrook@hotmail.com
Friday, 8 January NOTE: There will be NO First Friday in December 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Starbucks located in CIMB Building (Across the street from The Troika and just behind Ampang Park LRT) Cost: Individual
First Fridays
Arriving in Kuala Lumpur can be overwhelming in the beginning, but the AAM is here to help! First Fridays is a social gathering designed especially for expats newly arrived in KL. We want to be the friendly face of the AAM and provide people the opportunity to ask questions, gather information, and take a second to relax with new friends. All members are encouraged to drop by and help us to welcome any newcomers. Please join us and pass along our invitation to new neighbors, co workers and friends. RSVP: Appreciated but not required Email: klamerican.info@gmail.com
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KL American Dec 2015/Jan 2016
December Activities
CAM & AAM
Celebrate the Holidays Join us for a Christmas lunch buffet including carved roast turkey and roast beef with all the trimmings December 13th from 12:00 pm – 3:30 pm PARKROYAL KL Jalan Sultan Ismail
Adult: RM100 / Child (4-11): RM60 Non-members add RM10 per person
Includes kids activities and a visit from Santa Parents are asked to bring one wrapped and labeled gift per child
RSVP BY DECEMBER 9 camticketsales@gmail.com klamerican.info@gmail.com
MALACCA ALL DAY TOUR – BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND Tuesday, 8 December 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (approx.time) Pick Up/Drop off at Starbucks/Avenue K Members RM207 / Non – Members RM234 Price includes local lunch, entrance fee to Malacca Museum, van with English Speaking tour guide, and mineral water. Minimum:10 participants Take a step back in time and discover over 600 years of history in the port city known as Malacca. Before the arrival of the first Sultan, Malacca was a fishing village inhabited by local Malays known as Orang Laut. Strategically located on the narrowest point of the Malacca Straits, it was soon discovered to be a good port that was easily accessible in all seasons. Join this tour to learn more about the history of this now vibrant city located just a short 1 ½ hour drive from Kuala Lumpur. Upon arrival in Malacca City, there will be a stop to visit the historic St. Peter’s Church, the oldest Christian Church still in use in Malaysia. We will drive past the largest 17th Century Chinese cemetery outside of China, past the “Sultan’s Well”, and continue through the Portuguese Settlement to see the pink Dutch administrative buildings, the ruins of St. Paul’s Church, and so much more. After a lunch stop in a local restaurant, the tour continues highlighting key historical sites and concludes with a stroll along Antique Street, which ends by the banks of the Malacca River. Be sure to wear appropriate, comfortable clothing, comfortable walking shoes, and bring your camera. RSVP: klamerican.info@gmail.com by Tuesday, 1 December. (Please inform the office at time of registration if you have any food allergies so our tour guide can be notified).
Tuesday, 15 December Sponsored by: 11:00a.m. – 1:00 p.m. AAM Office at The Troika, Tower B, Level 19 Cost:FREE (except you need to bring cookies!)
Crazy Christmas Sweater / Cookie Exchange Coffee Morning Come and join us for a fun-filled lunch featuring your crazy or ugly Christmas sweater and a home baked cookie exchange. The holidays are upon us and it’s time to don those funny, crazy, ugly Christmas Sweaters. Prizes will be awarded for the “best of the worst” top 3 holiday sweaters. After the judging is over, we will enjoy a special lunch and then do our home baked cookie exchange. Participants are asked to bring 7 dozen home baked cookies, squares or candy to exchange. We will actually exchange 6 dozen with others and the last dozen will be shared as dessert after our delicious lunch. Such fun – sign up today and don’t miss out. RSVP: klamerican.info@gmail.com by Tuesday, 8 December. KL American Dec 2015/Jan 2016
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January Activities
Feng Shui – Outlook for the New Year Tuesday, 12 January 10:00 a.m. – 12:00p.m. AAM Villa at The Troika, Tower B, Level 19 Cost: Member RM85 / Non-Members RM117 We are excited to welcome Ms. Susanne Schutz to our villa to share her in sights on Feng Shui. This session is entitled: Residential Feng Shui& Feng Shui Outlook for the Year of the Fire Monkey. What is Classical Feng Shui and why is it so important in Asia? How does it differ from the “New Age Feng Shui” practiced in the West? The first half of this talk aims at giving the audience a brief historical and cultural background of Classical Feng Shui, followed by some practical and very discreet tips and tricks on how to apply straight forward and simple Feng Shui techniques to your home to allow for better Qi flow and thereby improving your health, wealth, career and overall wellbeing. At the end of the talk, participants will know what building features to avoid and how to protect themselves from negative external influences. In the second half, this talk will provide insight into what 2016, the Year of the Fire Monkey, has in store in terms of Feng Shui, how to prepare your home or office for it, and how to make best use of the most auspicious dates of the year 2016. RSVP: klamerican.info@gmail.com by Tuesday, 5 January
Saturday Night Out – Wine Tasting & Jazz Music Saturday, 16 January 6:30p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Ambiance New Showroom Jalan Desa Pandan located on level 1 of G Residence / down from RainTree Club Cost: Members RM110 / Non-Members RM140 What better way to start to the New Year than with a Wine Tasting, Food Sampling, Jazz Trio Saturday Night out! Ambiance Showroom is a perfect spot for us to gather with friends, old and new, to share some lively conversation while sipping wine samples and having a light dinner. You will be treated to two red wine samplings and two white wine samplings while enjoying the soothing sounds from the Jazz trio. Wines will be available to purchase during the evening and there will also be a silent auction just for added fun. RSVP: klamerican.info@gmail.com by Wednesday, 13 January. No LATE RSVP’s will be accepted. 10
KL American Dec 2015/Jan 2016
AQUA Restaurant & Bar 3rd Floor, Spa Level Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur Wednesday, 13 January 2016 12:00 noon Cost: Individual To kick off the New Year, we will be having lunch at a secluded restaurant sporting a new look and a new menu. At AQUA, you will experience a high standard of food and service in a resort-like setting right in the heart of KL. Throw in a bonus view of the city skyline and it’s sure to be a pleasant start to 2016. Make it one of your New Year’s Resolutions to join us for Lunch Bunch of to on Wednesday, 13 January. Offering global tapas, wood-fired pizzas and an open kitchen concept, compliment your preferred selections with an array of signature Mocktails, Cocktails, Iced teas and Homemade Lemonades. RSVP: klamerican.info@gmail.com by 12 January (not required but would be nice to know how many to expect)
Sponsored by: Tuesday, 19 January 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. AAM Villa at The Troika, Tower B, Level 19 Cost: FREE
JUMP START January
It’s JUMP START January so be sure to join us at our first coffee morning of the New Year. We welcome Tan Yen Sing from Tropicana Medical Center who is going to help us keep our New Year’s Resolutions by giving a talk on Healthy Eating and Cooking. Ms. Sing’s presentation will focus on nutrition, reading labels and how we can all make better choices when it comes to eating. Don’t think Diet, think Life Style change. After the presentation, a light AND healthy lunch will be offered. RSVP: klamerican.info@gmail.com by Tuesday, 12 January
Thaipusam Festival 2016 Saturday, 23 January (eve of Thaipusam) 7:30 p.m. – midnight Meet at Bus Stop in front of Corus Hotel JalanAmpang (Ampang Park or KLCC Putra LRT) Cost: Members RM70 / Non-Members RM96 Thaipusam, a day of penance and thanksgiving for Hindu devotees, is held in honor of Lord Subramaniam. Our experienced guide will lead a tour to Batu Caves to see this unique religious festival. Participants will have the opportunity to join the procession with men carrying different types of kavadis (portable altars). Some also pierce their bodies, tongues and cheeks with long spikes before making their way up the 242 steps to the temple to give their offerings to their gods. This festival lasts for 3 days but the eve is the most interesting! Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes, conservative, light clothing (your legs and arms must be covered) and avoid wearing expensive jewelry or bringing large amounts of cash. Most importantly, remember to bring drinking water and your camera. (Note: This tour is not appropriate for children under the age of 8). RSVP: klamerican.info@gmail.com by Wednesday, 20 January
Special Event
29th Annual Christmas Charity Bazaar The 29th Annual Christmas Charity Bazaar was a great success for 2015! I want to Thank all the sponsors, Crown Relocations, The Renaissance Hotel, AKO Fitness and Scuba 101 Dive Center for their support! Thanks to the coordinators, volunteers, office staff and Board members who stepped up to help make this year’s Bazaar run as smooth as it did. Thank you to Mary Mantei for your support and help. We had over 105 vendors who responded to our email of the Bazaar within hours of notification, we Thank them. This year’s Christmas Charity Bazaar has raised over RM53,000, to be distributed to many of our supported charities. Serving as the Bazaar Director, I have made many new friends, from vendors, new and old members, what a wonderful experience. So volunteer or become a Board member, get involved. Remember next year’s 30th Annual Bazaar is right around the corner!
Lovie Alptunaer Bazaar Director
Looking Ahead…
Be sure to mark these dates for activities in February: 02 February – You For Scuba? 16 February – Charity Check Giving Coffee Morning 17 February – Love Yourself Lunch Bunch 23 February – Security Talk at U.S. Ambassador’s Residence KL American Dec 2015/Jan 2016
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Special Event
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KL American Dec 2015/Jan 2016
Our Charities
General Pictures
Special Event
KL American Dec 2015/Jan 2016
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Is Your Prostate Weighing You Are you waking up more than a few times to go pass urine at night? Are you having difficulty in initiating your urination? Do you have the feeling that you still have to go, even when you have just finished urinating? If this sounds familiar, you may be experiencing what countless men over the age of fifty have: benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). What is the prostate? The prostate is an organ that is part of the male reproductive system. It is about the size of a walnut and found just below the bladder and it surrounds a tube called the urethra. During sexual activity, the seminal vesicles that are attached to the prostate produce a protein that mixes with prostatic fluid which forms semen. Semen is ejaculated during orgasm through ejaculatory ducts that connect to the urethra. By Dr Hemanth Kumar Ramasamy M.B.B.S (MAHE), FAGE (MAHE),CMIA (NIOSH), M.SURGERY(UKM),FRCS(UROL) (GLASGOW), Board Certified Urologist (MBU), Fellowship in Uro Oncology and General Urology (Australia) Consultant Urologist Tropicana Medical Centre
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 Dec 2015/Jan 2016
What are the different types of prostate problems? Generally for men under 50 years, the most common prostate problem is prostatitis. For men over 50 years, the most common prostate problem is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Prostate cancer can be seen in older men as well, but this disease is much less common than BPH. What is benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)? The prostate gland is unique. As we get older other parts of your body shrink from disuse but the prostate gland on the other hand slowly increases in size. This increase in size starts around the age of 40 and is thought to be due to the hypersensitivity of the prostate to testosterone. Since the prostate gland sits directly beneath the urinary bladder, as it increases in size it puts pressure on the bladder and the urethra giving rise to multiple urinary symptoms. Some of these symptoms include: • Difficulty Initiating Urination - or better known as hesitancy. As the prostate enlarges it becomes increasingly more difficult to begin urination. • Sleep disruptions -Nocturia is when you have to wake up two or more times a night to urinate. This one of the most bothersome symptom. • Poor Urine Stream- spending a very long time standing in front of the urinal is a very common symptom of BPH. This is because the partially blocked urethra by the prostate allows only a small flow of urine to escape from the bladder. • Straining to pass urine. • Urgency - a sudden, compelling urge to urinate, which cannot be postponed. •Intermittency- The enlarged prostate compresses on the urethra, preventing urine from easily flowing out of the bladder. This leads to frequent interrupted urinary flow. • Sensation of not emptying the bladder completely. • Dribbling at the end of urination- this is due to the urine that can collect in the upper part of the urethra, which slowly discharges even when you think you have finished passing urine.
Down?
Complications of BPH • Urinary tract infections-Incomplete emptying of the bladder eventually leads to a risk of bacterial proliferation in your bladder. This can cause a significant urinary tract infection (UTI). • Acute urinary retention (AUR) is the sudden inability to pass any urine. AUR is a medical emergency as it can potentially damage the kidneys. • Hematuria – the presence of blood in the urine. • Bladder Stones or kidneys stones can be commonly seen in patients with BPH. • Renal failure is a rare complication of BPH How is BPH diagnosed? BPH assessment consists of a detailed history and physical exam by an Urologist. A specialized Symptom Score Index is used to help assess the severity of your symptoms. Depending on the symptoms, additional tests may be recommended to help diagnose BPH. • Uroflow: The patient urinates into a device that measures the strength and pattern of the urinary stream, which then is analyzed by an Urologist. • Bladder scan to look for Post void residual urine. This is a non invasive scan of the bladder to estimate how much urine is being retained after passing urine. • Ultrasound of kidneys, bladder and prostate: to look for any possible complications of BPH. • Cystoscopy, only in cases with mixed symptoms - a small, lighted, flexible endoscope is passed via the urethra into the bladder to evaluate the anatomy and rule out tumors, strictures and other conditions. How is BPH treated? For most patients the initial treatment is oral medication. There are three main classes of medications which are alpha blockers, alpha reductase inhibitors (ARIs) and the recently approved low dose phosphodiesterase inhibitor (PDE5I) such as tadalafil (Cialis). • Alpha-blockers work instantly by relaxing the smooth muscle of the prostate and bladder neck to help relieve symptoms. • Alpha reductase inhibitor drugs act on the prostate cells to shrink the prostate. These drugs may take up to 3-6 months to work. •Combination therapies with both of these medications are currently used for patients with more severe symptoms. Surgical treatment for BPH is the mainstay for patients with complications of BPH or for those who are unable to tolerate medication. Minimally invasive Endourological treatment such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is currently the gold standard in surgical management of BPH. Laser Treatment of BPH is another good option and offers some additional advantages. Do I Need Treatment for my prostate problem? BPH symptoms may vary from mild to severe. This means not all patients who are diagnosed with BPH necessitate treatment. In some patients surveillance is all that is necessary. The severity of the condition normally guides the Urologist in recommending the best treatment for the patient.
‘Twas a month before Christmas and all through Chiang Mai, Eleven expat ladies went shopping with a gleam in their eye. The trinkets were purchased and wrapped with such care, In hopes that there would be more shopping to share.
During the day we’d split into groups of three or four, So many things to do and we wanted to see more. Ladies rode elephants and the Segway’s were a trip, Don’t forget about the temples, something you won’t want to skip.
The ladies were hustled in to the seats of the van, Off to the Handicraft village was part of the plan. So much ground to be covered and places to go, Back in the van with our new found treasures to show.
There were massages and pool time and laughter to share, But the fun that we had doesn’t just end there. There were red taxi rides to town and a tuktuk for two, To get around to the markets it just what we had to do.
There were gems and baskets and Geodes to buy, And shipping of reindeer and elephants, oh my. With shopping bags in hand to the hotel we went, But we weren’t finished yet, our money’s not spent.
We all had such a wonderful time together, And made some memories that will last forever. With many pictures to show what a fine time we had, Time to pack up our suitcases, we were feeling so sad.
When out in the lobby there arose such a clatter, We sprang from our rooms to see what was thematter. Happy Hour had just started and went from four until six, Call over the bartender, for you two cocktails he’ll fix.
The time had come to say good-bye to Chiang Mai for now, But I know each of us will return one day somehow. As the taxi driver pulled away out of sight,
Safe travels my friends, hope you have a good flight!
Buy one get one was the nightly routine, The drinks were flowing like no one’s ever seen. With happy hour over it was time to get dinner, We attended a traditional Thai show,that was a winner.
We asked some of our members to share with us their Christmas traditions and here’s what they said… “Every Christmas Eve we have a nice dinner and then one of my boys will change the star on top of the tree from the silver to the gold one. We then sit beside the tree and I read Was the Night Before Christmas and Jon reads the Cajun Night Before Christmas. We leave cookies and milk for Santa and then leave the fire going in the fireplace.” – Ann “Ever since our kids were little, we started the tradition of ordering Chinese food on Christmas eve and watching classic Christmas movies. Our favorite is a Christmas Story. After dinner, we turn on the Christmas lights, put on Christmas music and each one of us get to open one present. It’s always our new Christmas pajamas.” - Peggy “Growing up in a family of five kids, Christmas was always a BIG DEAL at our house. Every Christmas eve, all five kids would have to hold up together with our oldest brother keeping “watch” so no one left the room and snuck upstairs to get a peek at what Santa would bring. Then we would have to wait until our parents were awake, and had their coffee in hand before they would call us all upstairs to open our presents and see our stockings from Santa.” “When Jeff and I married we immediately went overseas, so we did not have the opportunity to hang with our families to share each others traditions, so we had to make our own. We tried to merge our experiences in some countries where Christmas was not celebrated. it was quite fun trying to figure out what traditions we would start, which ones we would take from our own family experiences and the adventure of trying to make them happen in places where Jesus, Turkey and Christmas trees where not even known about. We have come to realize it is not the place or even the day (due to work, we may not even be with family on the actual day), but who we are with and what we can do to make the Christmas spirit alive in our home.
One of my favourite experiences was as a young 21 year old wife, I was trying to make leftse (a Norweigian potato flat bread that Jeff’s family eats with their Christmas Turkey and fixings) I could not get it to work out and was not able to talk to Jeff’s Mom due to no FaceTime or Skype and very expensive telephone calls. I was living in Tunisia and my Irish friend said she could make anything out of potato’s…So Jeff’s family tradition was passed on to our family with the help of a special Irish friend. While in Doha, we found adding a pitcher of Margaritta’s helps make the flat bread roll out smoother. In Austrailia we found that the leftse taste great with the Shrimp on the Barbie, when in Egypt eating it with hummus was added to the tradition and when we are back in the states we are making the leftse now with our adult kids for them to pass this tradition on no matter where they are in the world (and they love the margarita part!).” – Leslie MANGER NIGHT “On the Sunday before Christmas, we invite four families over for dinner. These are people we would like to get to know either from our church or school community. We serve dinner and then after dinner I call all the families into the kitchen and hand them an envelope with a note of instructions in it. Our gift to each family is... ONE HOUR OF FAMILY TIME to enjoy each other’s company. We explain in the note that we have assigned them to a room in our home that is already set up with a table and chairs and a box. We set the timer for one hour and there is no talking, except to your family members. In the box are all the trimming to make a manger with your family. It includes things like: ribbons, felt, pipe cleaners, Popsicle sticks, unpainted clothespins, yarn, cotton balls, a walnut, Spanish moss, tacky glue, scissors and whatever else you can think of. We set up a hot glue station in the kitchen with extra supplies. Each family goes off to create their masterpiece and when the hour is up, we all come back together and display our mangers and have dessert. Awesome family time.” - Kim
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Round Table By Debz On October 20th I received an email from Farah Intan, Personal Assistant to Datuk Dr Amin, inviting me to attend the Malaysian Crime Prevention Round Table Session. The event was scheduled for Tuesday 3 November 2015, 14:00 to 15:30hrs, at the SimeDerby Convention Centre. Of course I replied immediately that I would be honoured to attend. On the day of the event I arrived as usual thirty minutes early, and was immediately impressed by the easily accessible, airy conference centre. I must admit I was not entirely sure what to expect at this “round table” and visions of the Knights in King Arthur’s Camelot were never far from my mind. Men in dark suits and lovely ladies in head scarves busied themselves checking names on lists, ID’s were checked and I had to sign in twice, security was indeed impressive. After polite screening I was told I would be directed to my seat very soon, I was made to feel very welcome. I waited in a quiet corner with a good view and began one of my favourite past times, people watching. My corner was not quiet very long as I was joined byUva Raj, Senior Fellow and Consultant at the International Association for Counterterrorism and Security Professionals-Centre for Security Studies. Could it be that my “view everything spot” was magnetically attracting like-minded people? With a smile I have to say YES. We chatted easily with backs to the wall and one eye on the door, like-minded people indeed. I felt totally at home. At 13:45 we were shown to our seats, I could hardly contain my delight at being seated next to Sac Dato’AishahBinti Mohammad, who had just been promoted to head the Police Force in Johor. She was charming, friendly and articulate, I felt I had known her for years. In the spirit of “girl power” I congratulated her on her promotion and felt instant pride at my new friend’s achievement, in an industry traditionally fuelled by testosterone, she had indeed succeeded. I should add that I had attended a “women’s conference” a few years previous with the then Deputy Prime Minister, and it soon became obvious that women felt the Government’s commitment in opening more upper management jobs to women was not being met. Looking around the room now, I could see that a difference was indeed being felt, all be it slowly. On a personal note I would like to think that this is because the government are finding the right PERSON for the job and not just promoting people because they are women. At 14:00 we were all politely but firmly seated. This was not the “round table” or even boardroom setting I had expected. It was a theatre, and as I looked at the sheer number of people around me I understood why. There must have been over 3000 people. We rose to our feet to welcome YabDato’seri DrAhmad Zahid Hamidi, the Deputy Prime Minister. Dato’ Seri Dr Ahmad ZahidHamidi has been Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia since 2015 in theBarisanNasional coalition government of Prime Minister NajibRazak. He certainly has the experience to take Malaysia forward in crime prevention. As he entered the auditoriumhe greeted everyone warmly and took a seat at the front. The “round table session” was started by a smartly dressed young man, unfortunately I did not catch his name and he was not one of the main listed speakers, but he certainly set the tone for the event. 16
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He started with a quotation attributed to Alexander the Great “I would not fear a pack of lions led by a sheep, but I would always fear a flock of sheep led by a lion.” He then welcomed Dato’seri Dr Ahmad to the stage. The Deputy Prime Minister was obviously flattered by the introduction and indeed the “lion inside” would be referred to by nearly all the speakers, much to the amusement of the audience. Hamidi spoke in both English and Bahasa Malay, and was both knowledgeable and entertaining. His audience followed his every word, not an easy feat in this age of mobile phones and the general reluctance to unplug. He was followed to the stage by: 1. Dato’SriAlwi bin Hj Ibrahim, Secretary General of the Minister of Home Affairs on “Crime and Security Policies” 2. Dato’ PahlawanZulkifi bin Abdullah, Director of the Department of Management on “Modern Policing &Balai Transformation.” 3. Mr Richard Wee, Chairman of a Safer Malaysia on “Public Perspective on Crime & PDRM.” 4. Dr Chandra Muzaffar, Chairman of the Yayasan 1 Malaysia on “Causes of Crime: Social Disorder.” 5. Dato’Acryl Sani Bin Abdullah Sani, Director of the Department of Crime Prevention & Community Safety on “Crime Prevention & Community Policing.” 6. Professor Madya Dr Sundramoorthy (USM) on “Understanding the CriminalMind/ Perception on Crime and Safety.” It would take more than one article to cover all the information they
gave us, and even more to fully cover the “question and answer” section, so here are some bullet points: • The fear of Crime is as bad as the crime itself. Basically the Malaysian Government are not happy that its citizens, residents and visitors are living in fear and are trying to put together a plan on how to engage with the public to reduce fear. • Constantly “bashing” the Police will not help the situation, but encouraging strong bonds between the public and law enforcement will. Together we can share ideas, come up with solutions and stay one step ahead of the criminal. • The Deputy Prime Minster asked the panel and the audience “What can be done to enhance the public’s participation in preventing crime?” Stating he was very open to suggestions and embraced sessions like “The Malaysian Crime Prevention Round Table” as taking a big step in the right direction. • Dato’seri Dr Ahmad and the other guest speakers may have used slightly different words but at some stage theyall said that they are colour blind when it comes to crime. There is not one race, colour, religion or gender that is more likely to commit a crime. • In the last 4 years crime has gone down by as much as 40%, car theft is down by more than 20%, but the public perception has not changed, and in many cases the public belief is that crime has increased. • The Crime Prevention Unit was set up in 2013. Despite this, changing public perception is still a problem. • The Crime Perception Indicator (CPI) would be made public very soon. This was to encourage a more transparent report that could not be disputed, and any accusations of manipulating statistics would be proven unfounded. • A new concept of Policing is being encouraged, with an emphasis on building communities and trust. The fight against crime in Malaysia goes beyond the number of arrests, keeping correct sta-
tistics and reducing all crime. There are new measures being put into place to strengthen crime prevention with a focus on building strong relationships between law enforcement professionals and the community, educating the public about personal safety, addressing social issues that have previously led to crime and preventing the criminals before they can get a grip. • The idea is to create a safer Malaysia with an atmosphere where people do not want to commit crime. It is thought that this will be achieved with vigilance, deterrence and prevention. • The public should be more involved in their community and not think only of themselves. However they should proceed carefully, for example if they see a crime beingcommitted they should raise other people’s attention, call the Police and not try to tackle a criminal alone. While the Police are actively asking for public involvement they do not encourage the public to “take the law into their own hands.” To finish, there were promises of a better equipped and more open Police force, more Police cars, more Police motorbike patrols, and most importantly more community policingworking with the community. A pilot project has been set up in Brickfields where the community are being encouraged to go to the Balai Police and chat about their concerns and ideas on how to make Malaysia a safer place to live. I for one am definitely going to pass by for a cuppa! All too quickly the afternoon was over. Many of the speakers seemed to share my own feelings that one afternoon was just not enough. The words “I can only speak for ten minutes but I have two hours of talk inside” combined with “letting the inner lion out” made for a very real experience. It was my impression that this is a group of people who are committed to reform, and with a little help from the public they might just make a real difference! KL American Dec 2015/Jan 2016
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Memories 13 October:
Japanese Healing Arts
Photos by Randee Duncan and Peggy Uptigrove
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Members were in for a real treat and eye opening experience as we welcomed four practitioners from the Meridians Group to the AAM Villa to talk to us about energy based therapies. We learned about different methods of healing and they even used us for their demonstrations to ease some of the “pains� that ailed us! It was a very interesting morning.
Memories
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Memories Braded Jewelry Class for Beginners – 20 October Photos by Peggy Uptigrove One of our crafty and talented AAM members kept us entertained all morning as she showed us the techniques and skills on how to bead our own jewelry. It was a great morning and we all went home with stackable bracelets and a set of matching earrings PLUS the tools necessary to carry on with our newly discovered talents! Thank you Robin
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Memories Rug Auction – 23 October Photos by Randee & Bill Duncan
The AAM and CAM co-hosted the Annual Fall Rug Auction where people were treated to a lovely menu of delightful eats and free flowing beer and wine. We were all entertained by the humor of Edmund and Shukor from Eastern Carpets as they auctioned off some beautiful carpets in all different sizes, shapes and colors. Don’t miss out on the fun in March when CAM and AAM will host the Spring Rug Auction.
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www.marchedenoelkl.com
KL American Dec 2015/Jan 2016
Le Marche de Noel
LOCATION CARCOSA SERI NEGARA TAMAN TASIK PERDANA PERSIARAN MAHAMERU 50480 KUALA LUMPUR
AAM Messages AAM Online Communities 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.
THE
EXPAT
Holidays in December Please note the AAM office will be closed: 18 December, 2015 – 4 January, 2016
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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Did You Know….? Effective 31 December, 2015, there will be no more extra visa pages added to U.S. passports. Instead, 52-page passports will be issued to U.S. citizens applying from outside the United States. Renew your passport early to make sure you have enough blank pages for visa stamps from other countries. Some countries require two blank pages for entry and exit. See travel.state.gov for more information on entry, exit and foreign visa requirements. To apply for additional visa pages before 31 December, 2015, please make an appointment via the U.S. Embassy website. Please note that they will only insert visa pages if your U.S. passport is valid for more than one year, not damaged or mutilated. There is a limit of three extra books of pages per passport (20 pages per insert).
Did You Know….? Starwood Hotels & Resorts will join together with Marriott International to create the world’s largest hotel company. This merger will give Starwood and Marriott members more choices to more hotel rooms in more places, giving you access to 1.1 million rooms, across 5,500 hotels and resorts in more than 100 countries. This merger will be taking place over the coming months.
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.
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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
american association of malaysia KL
December 2015
Sun
Mon
Tues 1
AAM Villa @ The Troika
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12:00 p.m. 3:30 p.m. Family Christmas Lunch with Canadian Assoc. Park Royale Hotel
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9:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Dim Sum Talk/Tour Stitching Friends
VENUE KEY
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10 - 11 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Bingo @ Little Gentlemen’s Night Sisters of the Poor Out TAPS Beer Bar
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1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Mahjong
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9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Malacca All Day Stitching Friends Tour Pick Up at Starbucks Avenue K
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11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Crazy Christmas Sweater and Cookie Exchange Lunch
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AAM Closed
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AAM Closed Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday
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Christmas
31 AAM Office Tel: (03) 2161-9008 / 9009
AAM Closed
email: klamerican.info@gmail.com
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american association of malaysia KL
January 2016
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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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1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Mahjong
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1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Mahjong
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6:00 p.m. Gentlemen’s Night Out TAPS Beer Bar
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10 - 11 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Bingo @ Little 1:30 p.m. Sisters of the Poor Stitching Friends 10:00 a.m. - noon Feng Shui / The year of the Fire Monkey
12 noon Lunch Bunch @ AQUA/Mandarin Hotel
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10:00 a.m. - noon 10:00 a.m. Jump Start January 1:30 p.m. Coffee Morning Stitching Friends
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10:00 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Stitching Friends
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6:30 - 10:00 p.m. Wine Tasting/ Jazz Trio Saturday Night Out Ambiance Showroom
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7:30 p.m. Midnight Thaipusam Festival
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(60-3) 5565 2200 KL American Dec 2015/Jan 2016
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