PP 4353/05/2013 (033269)
September 2015
KL
american
A Publication of the American Association of Malaysia KL American September 2015
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Some things we haven’t changed in 50 years … Like making time for everyone
Go knowing
www.crownrelo.com/malaysia 2
KL American September 2015
Crown service offerings include: • International & Domestic Shipments • Immigration & Legalization • Intercultural Support • Transit Insurance • Home Search • School Search
Tel: +60 3 5636 9166 kualalumpur@crownrelo.com
Contents AAM September 2015 Advertisers Index Advertisers
(A-Z)
4
President’s Message
5
Page
Asian Tigers Transpo
Back Cover
City Motors
p.12
Crown Relocations
Inside Front Cover
Eastern Carpets
Inside Back Cover
EvaAir
p.26
Malacca Woodwork
p.12
The Expat
p.23
RSDHC
p.30
S.A.T. Tutor
p.12
Tropicana Medical Centre
p.22
7
11
6 7
Membership
Community Service
8 9
Christmas Bazaar
Weekly Activities / Monthly Activities
10
September Activities
12
18
October Activities
13 16
Kopi Luwak
Knowing The Malays
17
Air Travel Safety
18 23 25
23 Cover Photo by Anne Frazier
Editorial
27 28
Siem Reap Memories
Asian Cinema
AAM Messages
AAM Community Bulletin Board
29 30
Practical Malay
AAM Calendar / September
KL American September 2015
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President’s Message September already! September? Where has the time gone? I know summer now seems like a distant memory and the kids are back in school as we all try to get our groove back now that we have returned to Kuala Lumpur. I hope you had a restful break and a safe journey back to your adopted country. We have lots and lots of great events planned for our members this fall – some new and some old standbys like our ANNUAL “Welcome Back” SHRIMP/CRAWFISH BOIL and our 29th ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CHARITY BAZAAR. The pages that follow are packed with exciting events and activities for all of our members and we hope to see you out at many of the upcoming dates. I know a lot of us are experiencing changes with people moving out of KL and moving on to other opportunities. We don’t like it when our friends move away but if we look at it in a positive direction we would see that now we have old friends in new places and it gives us the opportunity to welcome new friends in our old neighborhood. The AAM welcomed several new members over the summer, and I hope that each of us has been here a while will help to make our new members feel welcomed and connected. Speaking of staying connected, we still have several openings on our current 2015/2016 Board of Directors and it’s not too late to get involved. Each of us has been given different gifts and I just know some of you have the gift of volunteering and helping others. Please consider a position on our Board. I look forward to the fall season and seeing many of you at one of the many upcoming events.
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 Donna Sawyer Treasurer.aam@gmail.com Publications Director VACANT Editor.KLAmerican@gmail.com Major Events Director Leslie Sjurseth Majoreventsdir.aam@gmail.com Membership Director VACANT Membershipdirector.aam@gmail.com Community Service Director VACANT Communityservice.aam@gmail.com
President
Corporate Relations Director VACANT Corprelations.aam@gmail.com
Corporate Partners For 2015 Presidential
Event Sponsors 2015
Bazaar Directors Lovie Alptunaer and Mary Mantei Bazaardirector.aam@gmail.com
Liaison Directors American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce Stephanie Chua ISKL Hilda Alposilva US Embassy Jessica Schnepple Samantha Elfmont Publications Volunteer James Pearson
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KL American September 2015
Editorial
KL
American
Magazine Team
Editor VACANT Photo Editors Judy Pescio Randee Duncan Contributors Anne Frazier A . Samad Hussan Helen Mastache Debz Rafferty Malcolm Tang KY Tan
Help Wanted…
The AAM is currently looking for a new Publications Director to take on the exciting task of working closely with our Graphic Designer in doing the magazine layout. Kim Starr, our previous Editor, has done a fantastic job of building the relationship between the AAM and our Graphic Designer, and we are looking for someone to fill her shoes and continue this great work. If you are interested in knowing more about what is required, or if you just want to jump in with both feet, please do not hesitate to contact Peggy Uptigrove at president.aam@gmail.com.
Proofreaders Randee Duncan James Pearson Peggy Uptigrove
GST and The AAM
Since the introduction of the Government imposed 6% GST we have had a few questions as to what we collect GST on and what we don’t. I want to first assure you that we have checked with the appropriate Government authorities to confirm we are required to collect and pay GST fees and we must do that regardless of our ROS/Non-Profit status. We have contracted with a GST Reporting Expert who has recently completed and submitted our first quarterly report. It will be our intention to continue to use his services every quarter so we ensure we are within the GST guidelines outlined.
Editorial Support James Pearson 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.
As for the question “What do we charge GST on” – the simple answer is whatever is a benefit to our members is subject to GST. Not only does this rule apply to our members but it also applies to our Sponsors, both Corporate and Event, as well as our advertisers. Of course, as an organization that contracts services we are subject to paying the GST charged by those that have registered for a GST number. We are required to charge GST on our scheduled events and classes, major events, fund-raising efforts, membership applications, merchandise, practically everything. When paying for anything at the office, a receipt will be issued showing you the GST you have paid. If anyone has any other questions or comments about GST in relation to AAM business, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at President.aam@gmail.com Thank you for your support
Peggy Uptigrove 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
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Membership The AAM is currently looking for a new Membership Director to be the ‘Face of the American Association’ in the capacity of meeting and greeting new people when they arrive in Kuala Lumpur and making them feel welcome in their new city. By hosting our First Fridays, you get to meet new people, make new friends, and introduce those new friends to other new friends. Making people feel welcomed and connected to our Association is what we are all about. Moving to a new city across the globe from what one was familiar with “back home” can be a scary prospect – especially for first-time expats. You have the opportunity to connect them to others that have been there before and can help ease them into this new way of life.
interesting speakers, offer topics of current issues to our members, schedule a fun workshop, or take us on the road and host a coffee morning at another venue. The city is the limit for how creative you can be in this capacity. As an Association, our goal is to not only increase our membership but to make those that are members feel valued and connected to a group that provides support, encouragement, and some fun along the way. If you are interested or want more information about this position, please contact Peggy Uptigrove at president.aam@gmail.com.
Our Membership Director also takes charge of organizing our monthly Coffee Mornings, sponsored by Asian Tigers. Here, you can bring in
“Selamat Datang ke AAM!” to our new members for July: Amy & Ryan Blair Sandra & Steven Williams
September Coffee Morning You don’t want to miss this month’s Welcome Back Sip ‘n’ Shop Coffee Morning, brought to you by Asian Tigers. We will have vendors for shopping as well as for passing on information about living and playing in KL. See page 10 for all the details and register now!
AAM Limited Edition
Wine Glasses
Selamat Datang 12th edition price per set (2 volumes):
RM53 Get your very own set of AAM Limited Edition Wine Glasses. Beautifully etched, long stem wine glasses are perfect for entertaining as well as showing your support for your American Association of Malaysia. The etched line across the glass is a “pour” indicator when serving your guests. Glasses can be purchased individually for RM25 or in a set of four for RM85 (includes GST). Get yours today directly from the AAM Office @ The Troika. Email: klamerican.info@gmail.com for more information.
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KL American September 2015
Now on sale at the AAM
Tel: (03) 2161-9008 / 2161-9009
Community Service
American Association of Malaysia 29th Annual Christmas Charity Bazaar Tuesday, 3 November 2015 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Renaissance Hotel / Grand Ballroom Corner of Jalan Sultan Ismail and Julan Ampang Fantastic door prizes! Over 100 vendors! Charity Tables! Mouth-watering Baked Goods! White Elephant Treasures! Raffle!
Required door donation RM20 in advance RM30 at the door All proceeds will go to AAM local supported charities.
Sponsors:
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Christmas Bazaar CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS
Your BAZAAR committee is in need of volunteers just like you to make this year’s event a success. We are currently seeking committee co-chairs to head up all of the additional functions needed to pull off a successful charity fundraising event.
Bake-sale Table:
Get together with other ladies that like to bake and make a batch of your favorite baked goods. Items donated by you will be sold at the Bazaar and 100% of the proceeds will go to our supported charities.... sweet deal!
White Elephant Team:
This group of ambitious workers head up our very popular White Elephant Sales Tables the day of the event. We have quite a collection started of items to be “brought to the table” and again 100% of the proceeds from these tables will go to our charities.
Raffle Team:
This group of lucky winner volunteers get the honor of drawing raffle prizes throughout the event. Each year, vendors are asked to donate an item to the AAM for our raffle so we have quite the collection to give away. How fun to be able to make someone else’s day by calling their lucky number!
Charity Coordinator:
This person will work closely with our Community Services liaison person in looking after the charity tables. This involves getting them signed up to attend, assigning them tables, checking them in the day of the event and helping them in any way you can. This is a great way to meet some of the charity groups that the AAM supports.
As you can see there are many positions open and many more to be filled. We are holding a volunteer sign up rally at the AAM Villa on Monday, 21st September, 10:00am on Level 3 A (Breezeway) at The Troika. Please make plans to come out and be a part of this fantastic cause. A light breakfast and refreshments will be served.
Your junk...is someone else’s treasure!!! Please drop off your once-loved items and put a smile on someone’s face. Take your pre-loved items to the AAM office any time between now and 20 October to join our “White Elephant” table. All proceeds go to charity.
SKYLIGHTS! At the end of May, several ladies in the Stitching Friends group gathered in my home to make this year’s charity quilt, Skylights. We brought our talents, sewing machines, and food to have all day sewing sessions until the quilt was completed. Sharon, from Bernina Malaysia, kindly quilted the quilt for us and now it is ready to go home to the lucky winner. The proceeds from this raffle will go to AAM charities in need of our assistance. Raffle tickets 1 for RM5 and 3 for RM10. A book of 10 tickets - RM35. Be sure to stop by the AAM Villa to pick up your tickets and see the quilt, which will be on display at the AAM Villa.
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KL American September 2015
Used Books Dust off those bookshelves! Clean out those closets! Donate your old books to the AAM. All proceeds go to charity.
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. 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.) 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, Sherri Moore at sherrimquilts@gmail.com for details. Please be sure to put “Stitching Friends” in the subject line.
Monthly Activities Tuesday, 1 September 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 Friday, 4 September WELCOME BACK/NEWCOMERS’ EVENT Friday, 4 September 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Level 3A @ The Troika/Tower B Cost: Individual; all proceeds go to charity. Parking is available at The Troika or nearby shopping malls, or take the LRT to Ampang Park station. Tuesday, 15 September In Colonial Restaurant G13 The Intermark 348 Jalan Tun Razak Cost: Individual
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.
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 level 3A @ The Troika and help us welcome newcomers. Coffee, tea, and a light breakfast will be available for a small donation. Please join us and pass on the invitation to new neighbors and friends. RSVP: Appreciated, but not necessary. Email: klamerican.info@gmail.com.
AAM Book Club
Still Alice is a compelling debut novel about a 50-year-old woman’s sudden descent into early onset Alzheimer’s disease, written by first time author Lisa Genova, who holds a Ph. D in neuroscience from Harvard University. Alice Howland, happily married with three grown children and a house on the Cape, is a celebrated Harvard professor at the height of her career, when she notices a forgetfulness creeping into her life. As confusion starts to cloud her thinking and her memory begins to fail her, she receives a devastating diagnosis: early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Fiercely independent, Alice struggles to maintain her lifestyle and live in the moment, even as her sense of self is being stripped away. “Heartbreaking, inspiring, and terrifying, Still Alice captures in remarkable detail what it’s like to literally lose your mind...” Reads like a gripping memoir of a woman in her prime watching the life she once knew fade away....A poignant portrait of Alzheimer’s, Still Alice is not a book you will forget. RSVP: klamerican.info@gmail.com - appreciated, but not necessary. KL American September 2015
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September Activities Where: Taps Beer Bar, One Residency, 1 Jalan Nagasari, 50200 KL When: 6pm onwards, First Wednesday of each month Registration: None required, just show up bringing cash and conviviality
Ready2Cook? Thursday, 10 September 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. AAM Villa at The Troika Cost: Member RM25 / Non Members RM55
Gentlemen’s Night Out Calling all Gentlemen! 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! See you there! Stan. RSVP: Useful but not needed. Email: drstanbrook@hotmail.com
GEMOLOGY 101 Tuesday, 8 September 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. AAM Villa @ The Troika Cost: Member RM78 / NonMembers RM109 Minimum: 15 participants Don’t buy any colored GEMS before you attend our Gemology 101 class! Join us as we welcome Gemology expert, Mat Ruzlin Bin Maulud to our Villa to discuss with us the vital knowledge needed if they are considering purchasing gems from this region of the world. Throughout this 2 hour event, participants will go through “Basic Training” on Gemology; like how to hold a loupe (hand-lens), light source and working on the fingers to develop some skill in evaluating gems. Mat will provide an understanding of colored gems, which will include mainly Sapphires, Rubies, Emeralds (simulant & synthetic); and will touch a bit on diamonds. Gems, cut & uncut specimens (treated and untreated) from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Australia, Kashmir, Madagascar, Kenya, Montana, Colombia and Malaysia will be available to be assessed and evaluated together. We will review the 4 C’s, inclusions, and other factors which give or add value to the gemstone The lecture will be open to Q & A throughout. This workshop aims to be an eye opener and educational. Hopefully after the workshop, participants will develop some skill on gem evaluation and an educated eye on colored gems. After the talk / workshop we will have an exciting announcement to make so be sure you do not miss this class. RSVP: klamerican.info@gmail.com by Tuesday, September 1st. 10
KL American September 2015
You don’t want to miss this cooking class. This will not be our “usual” cooking demonstration and you will go home after this class armed with everything you need to make an awesome dinner for your family. “Ready2Cook” is a Malaysian based company that is selling pre-packaged spice combinations complete with simple 3 step instructions on how to prepare dishes such as Chicken Rendang, Seafood Curry, Lemongrass Chicken, and many more. This class will be the first of two demos that we have lined up. The second demo has been scheduled for Thursday, October1st and is included in the onetime fee shown above. “Ready2Cook” products will be available for sale at both classes and approximately 20% of sales will be given back to the AAM to go directly to our supported charities. Sign up now! RSVP: klamerican.info@gmail.com by Thursday, 3 September
Beginners, Bahasa Malaysia – Level 1 DAYTIME: Mondays, starting 14 September through to 30 November (12 sessions/extended if necessary for any holidays that may fall) 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. EVENINGS: Monday & Wednesday evenings, starting 14 September through 21 October (6 weeks x 2 sessions per week / will be extended if necessary for any holidays that may fall) 8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. AAM Villa @ The Troika Cost: Members RM560 / Non-Members RM660 + Materials RM60 DAY CLASS MIM/MAX: 10 participants / 15 participants EVENING CLASS MIN/MAX: 6 participants / 15 participants Now is the time for you to learn the language of your adopted country. We are offering two separate class schedules for AAM members and Non-Members alike. Daytime classes will be offered every Monday and NEW THIS YEAR WE HAVE EVENING CLASSES that will cover the content of the daytime classes – just in a shorter amount of time. These classes run both Monday and Wednesday. Great for all the working fellows out there. This series of classes is led by Puan Mas from Applied Language Systems who will not only teach you the language but will also share knowledge that will make your time in Kuala Lumpur richer. RSVP: klamerican.info@gmail.com by 7 September
September Activities
Sip ‘N Shop Thursday, 17 September 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Level 3A at The Troika Cost: None
Sponsored by:
It’s time for our Annual “Welcome Back” Sip ‘N Shop Coffee Morning sponsored by Asian Tigers. Get answers to questions you didn’t even know you had and mingle with like-minded expats at this not to be missed coffee morning. We have invited a few of our popular vendors for you to shop with as well as other vendors where you can gather valuable information about living in KL. This information fair can be a godsend for new expats as well as for those that have been here a while. You just might discover something new. We will also be having lucky draws and raffles throughout the morning, so be sure to sign up early and don’t miss this event. A light lunch and refreshments will be served thanks to our sponsor, Asian Tigers. RSVP: klamerican.info@gmail.com by Thursday, 10 September
Café de Paris Patisserie & Bar Tuesday, 22nd September 11:45 a.m. Cost: Individual Street Connection (3rd floor ‘breezeway’) Outside perimeter of Pavilion KL, south end Pavilion KL Jalan Bukit Bintang Although there has been an unprecedented exodus of members and friends recently, an AAM tradition of offering opportunities to connect over lunch continues! September’s Lunch Bunch will be in a setting typical of a busy streetside café in France. The impressive menu choices vary from waffles and crepes to salad and steaks. There is a good hot and cold drinks selection, too. A reservation will be made in the name of the American Association of Malaysia for 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday, September 22nd. Your registration with the office at least one day before will help our Lunch Bunch Coordinator to try to arrange for all of us to be seated together. Dropins are welcome, but please know that space in the Café may be restricted.
MALACCA ALL DAY TOUR – BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND Tuesday, 29 September 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (approx.time) Pick Up/Drop off at Starbucks/Avenue K Cost: Members RM207 / Non – Members RM234 Price includes local lunch, entrance fee to Malacca Museum, van with English Speaking tour guide, and mineral water. Min: 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, 22 September (Please inform the office at time of registration if you have any food allergies so our tour guide can be notified.)
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Looking Ahead… Be sure to mark these dates for activities in October and beyond: 01 October - Ready to Cook #2 02 October – Pink October Fund Raising Lunch 13 October – Japanese Healing Arts 20 October – 9th God Festival 22 October – DimSum Walking Tour 23 October – Fall Rug Auction
it's all about handcrafted woodworks ʺCommitted to Qualityʺ
MALACCA WOODWORK
Manufacturer of Quality Antique Style Furniture 312-C, Klebang Besar, 75200 Malacca, Malaysia. Tel. No: 02-06-315 4468 (Call from Singapore) Tel. No: +( 6 ) 06-315 4468 Fax. No: +( 6 ) 06-315 2989 Email: info@malaccawoodwork.com Website: www.malaccawoodwork.com
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KL American September 2015
My Encounter With Kopi Luwak In Indonesia It was around 3pm in the afternoon when we arrived at the Ijen National Park, East Java, Indonesia. We were passing through a coffee plantation when Wahid, the driver of our tour, suddenly broke the silence.
“A cup of this coffee can make you wide awake at night,” he said, Image: catpoopcoffeeinc.com
“But that’s not because of its caffeine, but it’s because of its hefty price!” Kopi Luwak, also known as civet-poop coffee, or civet coffee, is widely considered to be the ultimate luxury coffee, and the most expensive coffee in the world. The coffee is brewed from coffee beans that have passed through the digestive system of the Asian palm civet, a type of mammal that resembles an anorexic raccoon. “So where are the luwaks? Is there any luwak farm around here?” I asked. I have long heard about the beverage and the horrible treatment endured by the animal via documentaries I watched when I was little, so I was eager to see for myself the true extent of the claim. “No there is no luwak farm here, only coffee farm...” he replied. He then murmured something which I couldn’t catch properly, presumably reluctant to shed more light on that question. His reticence was understandable, though, given the widespread criticism made by animaladvocate groups, especially on the inhumane treatment of the civets. Indeed, the famous civet-poop coffee could cost up to 150,000 rupiah (US$12.40) per cup. In neighboring Malaysia, a local-sourced kopi luwak could cost up to RM 90 per cup (US$ 26). The exorbitant price tag has prompted locals to start trapping wild civets and keeping them in small, congested cages to get involved in this lucrative business. Over the past two decades, the civet poop coffee has evolved from a relatively unknown, exotic coffee into the ultimate bling beverage. It appears on every coffee lover’s bucket list, the CNN news, and even the Oprah Winfrey show. In the early 18th century the Dutch established the cash-crop coffee plantations in their colony in the Dutch East Indies islands of Java and Sumatra, including Arabica coffee introduced from Yemen. During that time, the Dutch prohibited the native farmers and plantation workers from picking coffee fruits for their own use. Still, the native farmers wanted to have a taste of the famed cof-
Malcolm Tang fee beverage. The natives eventually learned that certain species of musang or luwak (Asian Palm Civet) consumed the coffee fruits, yet they left the coffee seeds undigested in their droppings. The natives collected these luwaks’ coffee seed droppings, then cleaned, roasted and ground them to make their own coffee beverage.--wikipedia Originally, the coffee beans were picked from wild civet excrement found around coffee plantations. The rarity of the event contributed to its exorbitant price tag. Coffee beans that have passed through the digestive tract of this cat-sized creature native to Southeast Asia will be denatured by their digestive enzymes and thus altering the final taste, and make a remarkably smooth brew, producers and aficionados say. According to a paper published in the journal Food Research International, the proteins in coffee beans serve as the precursor of certain bitter compounds on roasting. When passing through the digestive system of the civets, however, these proteins were not only partially broken down, but also leached out of the beans, thereby reducing the overall bitterness of the coffee. Palm civet, known as musang in Malaysia and luwak in Indonesia, can be found in forests throughout South and Southeast Asia. The animal is omnivorous, its diet consisting mainly of small vertebrates, insects, berries and fruits. Apart from being kept for the production of kopi luwak, the civets are also hunted for bush meat and the pet trade. Over the past decade, as the kopi luwak became more popular, growing numbers of civet farms have been established across Southeast Asia. Wild civets are trapped and kept in small cages and fed with nothing but a nutritionally deficient diet of coffee berries. A 2013 investigation by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia found wildcaught civets on farms in Indonesia and the Philippines. The animals were deprived of exercise, a proper diet, and space. Video footage from the investigation shows abnormal behaviours such as repeated pacing, circling, or biting the bars of their cages. Tony Wild, the coffee executive responsible for bringing kopi luwak to the Western world
has stated he no longer supports using kopi luwak due to animal cruelty and launched a campaign called “Cut the Crap” to halt the use of kopi luwak. Apart from that, a group of food scientists have recently recreated the fermentation process that mimics some of the changes that occur in coffee beans as they wend through a civet’s digestive tract. They have since started a company called Afineur, and they hope to start selling the artificial kopi luwak soon. Nevertheless, one doesn’t have to travel to Indonesia to savour the taste of the kopi luwak; these coffee beans can be found right in our own backyard, in the southern part of Malaysia especially in the state of Johore, where civets are kept in much better condition than their peers across the Malacca straits. One coffee joint in Kuala Lumpur even claimed to have sourced the much prized coffee beans from wild, free-ranging civets. After checking in my luggage at the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, I browsed around the airport’s massive hall. I soon found myself wandering around the departure hall and there, right next to the chocolate kiosk, stood a kopi luwak kiosk. “$45 for 100g of coffee powder.” I said to myself. I hesitated for a moment whether to get a box for my coffee-loving mother. The Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University, Peter Singer, states in his book Animal Liberation that the basic principle of equality does not require equal or identical treatment; it requires equal consideration. Can animals suffer? Judging by the videos of the civets whirling, circling, and biting at the bars of their battery cages, I think the answer is a solid yes. There are many other types of coffee out there to choose from, including herbal coffee (kopi jantan), energy coffee (kopi tenaga) and the conventional 3in1 coffee. I am not supporting this heinous act of animal cruelty.
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Events Sponsors:
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October Activities
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KNOWING THE MALAYS
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eople often have the perceptions that Asia is only made up of China and India and tend to overlook the diverse culture and ethnicity of Southeast Asia. It was no surprise that when the Dutch came to the region, they misidentified Malays us as Indians though we are ofa completely different race. We, the Malays, form the major ethnic group in Malaysia and are primarily identified based on our religion, language, and way of life (“agama, bahasa dan adat”). In Malaysian context, “Malay” is strictly defined as those who are born to a Malaysian citizen that professes Islam, habitually speaks the Malay language, and adheres to Malay customs. Theoretically, according to the Federal Constitution, a Malay could be anyone who is Muslim, converses in Malay, and practices Malay customs. For example, if an American guy converted to Islam, married a Malay lady, speaks Malay, and adopts the Malay way of life, he is, from the viewpoint of the law, a Malay. This situation is termed as “masuk Melayu” (to enter Malayness), an unintended consequence of that definition of “Malay” in the Malaysian legal system (and which is despised by many). Culturally speaking, the concept of Malay people transcendsthe borders of modern day Malaysia. The Malays are Austronesian people living in Malaysia, Southern Thailand, the southern coast of Burma, Indonesia, Singapore, Borneo, and the Philippines. This area is collectively known as Alam Melayu (“Malay realm”) or Noesantara. For some, it comes as a surprise to discover that the people in Mergui Archipelago, Burma, although it is separated from Malaysia by Thailand, are conversing in Kedahan Malay, a dialect similar to that of the northern states of modern day Malaysia. The Malay influence is prevalent in thesouthern coast of Burma and can be seen from the names ofsome of their settlements such as:Kampong, Ulu, Telok, Tengah, and Palau (village, remote, bay, and island). In fact, if you listen carefully to Tagalog, the native language of the Philippines, you may realize that the language actually sounds like a combination between old Malay and creole Spanish words. To understand this resemblance, one must look deep into our history. Prior to the arrival of colo-
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by Hafizi Radzi nization, Southeast Asia was made up of fluid kingdoms without any clearly marked boundaries. People would move from one place to another and trade with each other freely. The Malacca straits, for instance, were not seen as a dividing line between Indonesia and Malaysia but rather as a bridge between the two lands, which explains the interconnected history between them. During the golden epoch, the Malay language was the lingua franca for the region and was actively being used for trading and diplomacy purposes. Back then, there was no such thing as Bahasa Indonesia or Bahasa Malaysia (Indonesian language or Malaysian language). Instead, when approaching a stranger,it was more common to ask whether he/she could speak the “Bahasa”, which literally means “the language”. The concept of nation states merely surfaced later in our history when the West came and separated us into different stocks of people. The word “Malay” was accepted into English through the Dutch word “Malayo” that derives from the Malay word “Melayu”. While there are many stories and theories speculating on the origin of the word Melayu, one of the most predominantly accepted theories is from the Malay Annals (“Sejarah Melayu”), which accord “Melayu” to Sungai Melayu (“Melayu river”) in Sumatera, Indonesia. The term is also said to have originated from the Javanese word mlaju which means “to run or to move fast”, attributed to the fluid movement and high mobility of the Malay people across Noesantara prior to colonization. In fact, for Minangkabau people, one of the ethnic groups within the Malay community, such movement is highly encouraged for seeking more knowledge and experience. This tradition is known as “rantau”. However, we are always reminded not to forget our roots and culture. As a Minang proverb goes: ‘Even if it rains gold in the rantau(foreign land) and stones in our village, my love would still go to the village’. Being soft spoken and peaceful people, the Malays are often perceived and misunderstood as the lazy natives. This idea was initially coined in 19th century Malaya by British Resident Frank Swettenham, who said, “The leading characteristic of the Malay of every class is a disinclination
to work.” I find this rather untrue. During colonial times, the Malays were not unwilling to work, but tended to avoid any form of colonial capitalist ventures, which were against their morale. Given proper incentive and motivations, the Malays, too, would be keen to work and be successful in their life like any other people. The Malay people are rich with tradition and heritage. Prior to the coming of Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism were the main religions of the Malays, aside from animism. Although the Malays are now predominantly Muslims, some of the Buddhism and Hinduism traits are still practiced today. For example, the Wayang Kulit (shadow puppet) plays come from romantic tales in the classic Indian epics: the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.Other existing Hindu-Buddha traits can also be seen in Malay wedding customs, such as the “malam berinai” (henna night) and the “bersanding” ceremony. During our festive seasons such as Hari Raya, we would normally host open houses. If you have a chance, do attend at least one, to experience the beauty of Malay culture and taste the different flavors of Malay foods. Hafizi Radzi is an independent journalist and analyst based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. His areas of interest include Southeast Asian affairs, arts, and history.
AIR TRAVEL SAFETY by Debz Rafferty
I
am one of those people who does not sleep when I am on a “long haul” flight.
I find that when everyone is snoozing the air miles away, it is a good time to hit the galley (the kitchen area to those non-military peeps among you) and find out what is new in flight security. I find cabin crew are generally easy company, and the coffee keeps flowing. On my latest trip the topic of conversation was the increased cases of theft from overhead storage units. When the lights dim, the eye shades come out and ear plugs go in, it seems there are light-fingered passengers who decide to check your luggage. I got to thinking about what is typically packed in carry-on luggage. A change of clothes, a camera, jewellery, cash from the originating country, cash for the country of destination, and 100 US dollars, not including gifts for family and friends. Not a bad bounty for someone! The thing is, if you saw someone get out of their seat, take down a bag, then put it back a few moments later, would you question it? Up until now I don’t think I would. If you were a victim of in-flight theft, when would you notice your valuables were missing? Needless to say the criminal would be long gone. So what can we do to stop this latest crime trend? 1. Be aware of who puts bags in the same overhead store as you. 2. Put a visible lock on your hand luggage. 3. Lock your purse/ handbag in your wheeled hand luggage. 4. Quietly alert cabin crew if you see any suspicious behaviour. I have just invested in a bright yellow Pelican case. It is not pretty, but it will stand out from miles away if anyone takes a fancy to it, and it has a very effective locking system. Target hardening means the would-be robber should go somewhere else. As a Caribbean friend of mine once said,“Take care of your valuables before someone else relieves you of the burden!” On the subject of air travel, last month a friend had planned to send her son to South Africa on a safari trip with his grandparents. Unfortunately, he was refused a seat on the final South Africa flight (after flying to London) because he did not have written consent from both parents. This resulted in a three day stay in London, not to mention stress and worry. The parents had to have the letter of consent witnessed by a Minister of Oaths/solicitor and stamped accordingly. The letter then had to be couriered to the grandparents in London, so it could be presented at the rescheduled flight check-in. So if you are thinking of sending the kids off with grandparents/aunts and uncles or even on a school trip, check what paperwork they need. Laws are changing, as countries become more pro-active in protecting children from trafficking or preventing children being taken across borders by non-custodial parents. Thirty minutes of research followed by a couple of hours of careful planning could save you days of hassle, hundreds of dollars in unexpected hotel costs, and hours of stress. Travel safe, travel savvy, and don’t be an easy target.
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Siem Reap, Cambodia
S
iem Reap Cambodia is not where I would have chosen to spend my family vacation with the kids. My husband was keen to visit because of his Buddhist roots and his desire to see the country that has the most temples in the world. I thought we would need to be historical and cultural buffs in order to enjoy the attractions and tours. Man was I mistaken. From the time we first entered Siem Reap my family and I fell in love. I’m not sure if it was the people or the atmosphere, perhaps both, but we were enthralled and actually fantasized about moving and living there. The small but beautifully decorated airport displayed Hindu and Buddhist statues and a 3D picture history of how travel evolved in Cambodia. The visa process was straight forward and organized with logistical transportation close by for easy convenience. It also sported a money changer for currency exchange as surprisingly, Siem Reap uses the US dollar as the local currency. The city or town of Siem Reap is reminiscent of small towns in the 18
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deep Southern States in America. It has an abundance of red clay and red dirt everywhere, and it even acts as local roads on occasion. The humidity is suffocating and the midday rain brings a much needed cool break to the stifling heat. This place is exactly what one would expect a small town in Southeast Asia to look like. Tuk tuks and mopeds/ scooters dominate the roadways with tourist roaming around on foot. Lush vegetation surrounds the roadside and outskirts creating natural shade while traveling around. The local people are friendly and welcoming while the owners of various businesses consistently market their goods and services for the tourist, and take pride in their businesses and culture. Each native Cambodian is well versed in their history and culture and share their knowledge with anyone willing to listen. While traveling in Siem Reap, we were lucky enough to discover an elaborately designed and traditionally decorated hotel. The Model Hotel is a beautifully, amazing traditional Cambodian hotel. It is ap-
The Model Hotel has a designer Olympic size pool with luxurious pool side loungers created for spa treatments and total relaxation. It has poolside dining that offers a free breakfast buffet and is open for lunch and dinner as well. The onsite restaurant offers an extensive array of dishes from local cuisine to western favorites. The onsite restaurant served the most exquisite meals and ended up being our favorite in Siem Reap. There is a wealth various restaurants touting specialized cuisines. The main ones being the Cambodian BBQ that offers a variety of meats from crocodiles to kangaroos. I was skeptical at first, but my son who is a fan of any kind of meat was excited to taste the 14 different meats. I’m glad that we decided to try the BBQ because it is one of my favorite experiences in Siem Reap besides the Night Market. Everyone told me to experience the Night Market of Siem Reap. I thought that it was a huge flea market type event at night. Again, no such luck. Did I mention that I am a devout shopper? The Night Market had bars, restaurants and tent spaces where locals sold souvenirs, silver and native clothes. It was crowded with tourist from every country having a great time, but there was no serious business shopping experience to my disappointment. I did buy a lot of silver, some jewels, camera equipment and souvenirs, don’t get me wrong as I’m a shopper through and through, but there were no huge flea market or inexpensive clothing outlets. The extensive silver collections were absolutely amazing. Pure silver tea sets, jewelry, and various other designs. It was right up my alley as I’m allergic to gold. But the gems were the real pleasers. There were collections of rubies, sapphires and other precious gems took my breath away, and were very inexpensive. Siem Reap is the place to go for jewelry, gems and stones.
by Anne Frazier proximately 7.5 km from the airport via taxi. At the airport, you have a choice of taking a tuk tuk or taxi as the majority of hotels are close. Upon arrival, we were met by the on duty receptionist and he had cool towels, cold water and a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon at check-in. I was stunned by the intricate wood carved picture of the infamous battle between the Monkey King and Demon God hanging behind the receptionist desk. It spanned the entire back wall in panoramic suspense. The desk was a beautiful solid wood carving of traditional Cambodian carpentry. Every entrance consisted of a heavily carved door with detailed framing; this includes the gated outside door to the lot. We rented two family deluxe rooms that were 45m2 and offered two queen sized beds in each room that displayed more intricately and traditionally carved art within the bed frames. Each room had a deep, black rounded soak tub and separate standing rain shower that is as large as a walk in closet. The rooms are traditional in that they have beautifully carved wooden doors, door frames, and bed frames, yet they remain extremely modern in the décor and use of color with the designs. The rooms were excessively clean and comfortable.
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ANGOR WAT TEMPLES Made famous by the hit movie Laura Croft: Tomb Raider and the leading actress Angelina Jolie, Angor Wat Temples in Siem Reap are a wealth of history and remains the cultural center that seduces tourist from every country. The various international charities have donated funds to renovate the temples for safety and aesthetics reasons, and help maintain them so native and foreign Hindu and Buddhist can continue to practice their religious +freedoms.Observing first-hand, Buddhist Monks trekking to the main temple to offer prayers is truly humbling, and one that should be experienced if possible. Touring Angor Wat is a task in itself, so attempting to do it without the assistance of one of the many self-proclaimed cultural and historical experts (tour guides) would mean time wasted in getting lost and not learning the historical significance of each part of the temple. There are a great number of tour guides willing to spend the day with you explaining each artifact and statue for a nominal price. Don’t forget to negotiate! I learned the hard way about haggling…. After I gave away every dollar in my wallet; never accept the initial prices offered. The locals are some serious negotiators. It is impossible for one to tour Siem Reap without hearing about the civil war for freedom and the fight between the Monkey and the Demon for the beautiful Princess. The majority of the plays as well as souvenirs and statues all reflect the battle to save the beautiful Princess from the Demon god. There is also a dinner show hostedby local dancers for tourist depicting the entire event from how the Demon god fell in love up to the monkey king saving her. The Cambodian people are proud of their history and celebrate it and their culture in all aspects of their lives. The Cambodian Civil War changed the face of the country. Angor Wat temple was no longer a Hindu temple where the King of Cambodia resided, but was changed into a Buddhist temple where locals or commoners could go to pray. The many rituals that were required in order to enter the King’s property were lost along with the religious transformation. The country’s leaders were either pro-American or pro-Communist, and this of course caused major conflict. During the 1960’s-1970’s Cambodia underwent regime changes and coups. The citizens faced mass genocide and mass paranoia against the Vietnamese. All of this history is evident in the Angor Wat Temples, and the tour guides/historians are a wealth of knowledge if history is what excites you. Overall, the town of Siem Reap was a wonderful experience, and again, was reminiscent of the deep South in America. The red dirt and the beautiful vegetation is reminiscent of Lower Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. The people were very friendly, convivial and laid back in welcoming the tourist, but were aggressive and persistent when it came to their businesses. They have an inherent love for their country and its history as well as a healthy respect for the different religious freedoms. Siem Reap is well worth your time and should be a staple when visiting Southeast Asia. 20
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AAM and Eastern Carpets present
The Fall Rug Auction Friday, 23 October 2015 Safir Room, Hotel Istana 73 Jalan Raja Chulan 6:30 p.m. Viewing of rugs, light dinner and drinks 7:30 p.m. to Midnight Auction Members: RM30 + GST Non-Members: RM45 + GST Lucky draws throughout the night *Eastern Carpets is an AAM preferred carpet seller. RSVP klamerican.info@gmail.com by 16 October.
Photos from the 2015 Spring Rug Auction.
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How to Protect Your Knee to Help Avoid Cartilage Loss and Meniscus Tears The knee joint is one of the more common joint that gets injured during sporting activities. It is also a joint commonly associated with wear and tear, a condition known as osteoarthritis. Ever wondered why this is so? Knee joint is the largest joint in the human body.This joint forms a hinge between two of the longest bones in the human body, the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone). Besides, taking the brunt of our weight during any weight bearing activities, the torque and rotational force between the two long bones put additional strain on an otherwise already complex joint.
By Dr Hisham Kunhimon MBBS (UM), MS Ortho (UKM), CMIA (NIOSH) Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Tropicana Medical Centre
The knee is not a simple hinge joint. The femur rolls and slides on the tibia at varying ratios at different angle of bending. In order to cater for these complex movements the knee is equipped with additional supportive structures. Besides the usual cartilage that lines the joint surface, the knee lined line 2 crescent shaped cartilaginous structures-called the menisci (the plural of meniscus)- to absorb the pressure as well as to give conformity to the joint surfaces. The joint is further held internally by 2 ligaments to prevent excessive front and backward sliding movements called the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments. The menisci can get injured in a few ways; sudden twisting movement may result in sharp well delineated tears. On the other hand repetitive movements will result in tears with tethering of the edges of the menisci. Incidence of tears is made worse when there is preexisting instability in the joint either due to ligament injuries or joint roughness such as ii an arthritic knee. Injuries to the cartilage may present in a few ways. Pain and swelling wound be the initial symptoms. The knee swelling after a meniscus injury is moderate in nature. Locking of the knee is also common where the knee is ‘locked’ when trying to fully bend or extend the joint, as the torn meniscus gets stuck in the joint.
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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By understanding what a meniscus is and how in gets injured, we can take precaution on now to prevent these injuries. These are a few methods and tip to prevent cartilage and meniscus injuries to the knee. 1. Adequate warm-up and cooling down Warm up prepares the body for strenuous activities by improving circulation to the muscles, tendons and joints. Better oxygen availability prevents injury to these structures. Cooling down is as important warming up. It helps the body recover adequately from strenuous activities.
2. Muscle toning, stretching and strengthening The knee is held by static stabilizers such as the ligaments and dynamic stabilizer such as muscles. These muscles play an important role in preventing knee injury. Well balanced and well toned muscles gives additional support to the joints during movements. Muscle tone can be maintained with regular stretching and strengthening exercises for the muscles around the knee joint. These muscles also have proprioception (position sense) which gives live feedback to the brain on the position of the joints and muscles. Training geared to sharpen the proprioception helps to reduce injuries and reduces the body’s response time to avoidable injuries. 3. Proper footwear Proper footweargives support to the leg and helps to prevent unnecessary injuries. Appropriate shoes not only provide support and cushioning, but also give stability to the knee joints 4. Taping and braces When there is preexisting injuries, bracing and taping provides additional support to the knee joints. They help to prevent new injuries to the joint surfaces including the cartilage and meniscus. It also helps to prevent aggravation of the earlier damages 5. Avoid excessive loads- climbing stairs, kneeling and squatting The importance of proper exercise regime cannot be overemphasized. While adequate training is important, excessive strains on the joint can have detrimental effect. Loading the joint beyond their capacity can cause acute injuries in short term and result in permanent wear in the long run. 6. Treat ligament injuries As mentioned earlier, preexisting damage to the ligament and associated instability of the knee can cause further damage to the menisci. Anterior cruciate ligament injuries, a relatively common injury among sportsmen, should be treated and reconstructed early to prevent further cartilaginous injury 7. Weight control Weight gain puts additional strain on the joints. The constant stress due to weight will worsen the impact of injuries to the knee as well as hasten the normal wear and tear process. Most of these protective measures are aimed at maintaining a stable knee joint as times of excessive load such as exercises and sports. Proper protection of the joint while avoiding excessive loading helps avoid preventable injuries
Memories Mother’s Day Coffee Morning photos by Randee Duncan
A group of deserving ladies were treated to a morning of fun and laughs as we learned all about our individual body shapes, our seasonal colors, and how to use our current closet to choose clothes that best suit us. This workshop was led by Jasmine Sudlow and we just had the best time with her.
Origami Class
photos by Peggy Uptigrove We learned how to fold paper into tiny little works of art. Such fun!
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Memories Spice Factory Tour
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A group of AAM members joined forces with others on a bus bound for Klang. Here, they were treated to a tour of the Spice Factory, a healthy Vegetarian lunch and dance performances. They also had the opportunity to purchases spices directly from the factory.
Asian Cinema: Subtext and a Filmmaker’s Opinions A. Samad Hassan What do you look for when you are watching a movie? In every art form, be it in literature, plays, music or sculpture, the author has a surface structure, which is called the text. The text is basically the story, i.e., what is being said. For example, a group of superheroes who hate each other is forced to work together (The Avengers); a girl inadvertently becomes the symbol of the fight against oppression (The Hunger Games series), or a man goes on an epic adventure across earthquake-leveled California to save his daughter (San Andreas). An audience is clear about what they will be getting within the first ten minutes of the film. This is the mainstream approach that is appreciated by the majority of film viewers. Once in a while, however, visitors to the cinema will leave and will continue to discuss the film a bit more seriously as they walk home. This means that they have discerned another level to the story, a deeper layer that cries out to be investigated. This is not just confined to modern-day, complex films. Many films from the classical period of Hollywood also share this attribute. This aspect is the ‘what is not being said’. This is the subtext. It lies hidden in the text and needs to be ruminated upon and analyzed. It is what the filmmaker really wants to say in his film. The most obvious example of a subtext is in Neill Blomkamp’sDistrict 9. In the film, the Multinational United (MNU) corporation treats aliens derogatorily, calling them “prawns”. This racist attitude mirrors the reallife appalling treatment of the black SouthAfricans by MNU and the apartheid government. Racism and discrimination today is a global. Or the discussion on feminism hidden under the sci-fi horror filmAlien by Ridley Scott. An audience who watches these films will certainly not miss the comments. Some other filmmakers are not that obvious with their subtext. Chinese director Zhang Yimou is a master of technique, which he uses to consciously mask his true intentions. This can be seen in his 2003 Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language film, Hero, about an unnamed warrior (Jet Li) who is out to assassinate the first emperor of a unified China. Yimou’s art direction with its ‘overuse’ of various colors and exquisite cinematography misleads the audience; they
concentrate on the vivid colors and try to guess as to what they signify. The real meaning lies in the black garb of the generals who are inhumane, who want war, unlike the emperor who has been enlightened by the warrior’s story as told to him. The multi-colors signify life and living while the generals represent death and destruction. How does one decode a director’s subtext? The language of cinema is in the mise-enscene. Everything within it is a pointer that contributes to the meaning of a scene and how that scene relates to other scenes. It must be visual and every element in the frame must be intentional. In Kobayashi Masaki’s film called Harakiri (1962) is a story of a mysterious, masterless samurai who knocks on the door of a feudal lord and says he wants to cut open his bowel and die an honorable death. Multiple close-ups and low-angle shots of the feudal lord’s armor are repeated throughout the film. These shots create a sense of grandeur as if the armor is alive: the armor dominates the space within the frame and appears to be looking down upon us. Only at the end of the film does the reason for this become clear. Though the samurai is an honorable man, he dies an ignoble death. History is written by the victors. At the end of the film, a voiceover records in the annals of the lord that the samurai was a charlatan and the house of the lord managed to maintain its integrity. In the feudal era, the ordinary people have no rights. The system prevails. A recent use of subtext in a thriller genre is Yoshihiro Nakamura’s The Snow White Murder Case. It isa story of a reckless, low-ranking food reporter, Akahoshi Yuji, who uses the internet to prematurely report the story of the century – a brutal murder of a beautiful cosmetics girl by a jealous, eccentric coworker, Shirono Miki. The story is then taken into cyberspace and spun out of control. Many people come to her defense but they give conflicting viewpoints - from Miki being a psychopath to her being the sweetest woman in all of Japan. The question is thus posed to the audience: who is actually telling the truth? Visually, Yoshihiro makes use of his craft to misdirect the audience. In the first thirty minutes, Miki is seen to be unkempt and
the lighting on her is not as bright as the other characters – a typical way of presenting a villain in cinema. She delivers very little dialogue. Instead, everyone speaks on her behalf. The audience becomes certain that Miki killed the victim and deserves to be punished. In the last sixty minutes, the audience’s perception is turned upside down. Suddenly, other characters appear and give a different point-of-view. Miki is intermittently presented as being of good character. She is now brightly lit and wears clean make-up, in contrast to the previously negative image. The audience is forced to be in the middle of a tug-of-war of perception. What makes this film unique (against the usual formula of a thriller genre), is in Yuji and Miki only coming face-to-face in the last one minute of the film. A wide angle shot shows both of them being small in comparison to the mountains and nature in the background. They are almost indistinct and inferior as compared to being on the internet where one has the power to destroy another person’s life without even meeting him or her. Subtext can easily be missed if one does not pay attention to the clues provided by the director throughout the film. Some film critics do not perceive the ultimate form of the film; instead they bring their own subjective perception and then their opinion into their interpretations, and only succeed in confusing the audience. The key to decoding subtext is, at the beginning, to immerse yourself in the story and leave your subjectivity behind. Upon reflection, and forcing your mind to remember the clues provided by the director, you may arrive at the subtext. Or for the layman, having a tingly feeling could mean that your subconscious has caught on to something more.
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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 September
Please note, the AAM Office will be closed on the following dates: 16 September for Malaysia Day 24 September for Hari Raya Haji
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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Auto Insurance in Malaysia What do YOU know about your coverage? By Helen Mastache
You know those things you should read, right? Like the terms of service contract you “sign” with Facebook when you opened your account, or that 100-plus page will and healthcare directive your attorney handed you to sign, or the hundreds of pages of closing documents the title company puts before you to sign when you buy a house. But of course, we don’t. We trust that all is as it should be and just sign where we are told to do so. But there is something that, as an expat in Malaysia, you should read, and you should read it TODAY – your auto policy. When we received the leased car from our employer, I did ask about auto insurance, and was told it was covered. In the overwhelming task of moving in, figuring out everyday things such as banking, where to get our favorite brand of yogurt or peanut butter, and how to get the air conditioners to work, I let it slide, until a small accident to the car caused me to think, hey, I have no idea what our insurance covers, and so I asked HR for a copy of the policy. I was horrified. The insurance coverage we had was, by American standards, completely inadequate, in that if an accident is due to “negligence” on our part, the insurance doesn’t pay out. Negligence by U.S. standards is “a failure to behave with the level of care that someone of ordinary prudence would have exercised under the same circumstances”. Negligence is not a simple mistake…if the stop sign is covered by a bush, then a person of normal prudence would not have been expected to see it. Here in Malaysia, negligence means if you are at fault. If we do not see that obscured sign, it is a moot point. We ran the stop sign and if there is an accident, we are personally liable for all damages to our own car or injuries to our passengers or to ourselves.
Also, if we drive while impaired by drugs or alcohol, even legally prescribed prescription drugs, the insurance is null and void, and again we are personally liable to cover all costs and damages associated with any accident. I can’t see that our policy actually covers much of anything! The insurance doesn’t pay out if we incur damage while driving in a construction site or some other place deemed inappropriate to the intended use of the vehicle. Or if the car gets stolen while we had parked it someplace sketchy. Or if we don’t file a police report AND report the accident to the leasing company within 24 hours. A friend found out her policy only covered her husband, the listed driver, in case of an accident, with no medical or loss of life coverage to any passengers, including family members, whom one would reasonably expect to be in their car at some point. After raising a fuss with the HR department, our policy was amended to include Personal Accident Insurance, which is liability coverage for our passengers, but the coverage is insufficient by US standards, paying out only a total of RM45,000 to cover all passengers in the car. Interestingly, there is a special notation that for children from ages 3 to 5, only RM5,000 will be paid, making me wonder why children of this age are considered of less value than children through the age of two, and from six years and older. What I still need to address with HR is the fact that with our current policy we will have to pay for all damages and loss of use to the car in an accident that is our fault. In Malaysia this is called Comprehensive Insurance, and it is not standard. This is the additional coverage that we need to have if we expect our auto insurance to approximate standard US coverage. So what you don’t know can definitely hurt you… Please read your auto policy.
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. 28
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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
MALAY LESSON #2 Learning a new language is something that is difficult for some but comes easily for others. Below is a quick lesson in Bahasa 101 – just some basics to get you started. This lesson focuses on numbers -- ordinal numbers, classifiers, and time basics. Hopefully these will be of use, and good luck! NUMBERS: Cardinal numbers in Malay are straight-forward: “belas” is used to for numbers 11-19, similar to “teen”, and “puluh” for numbers 20-99, as a tens place counter: 2 puluh = 20; 3 puluh = 30, and so forth. Exceptions are 10, 11, 100, 1000, and so forth, as they are contracted forms, with “satu” (the number 1) contracting to “se-”. 0 = kosong 1 = satu 2 = dua 3 = tiga 4 = empat 5 = lima 6 = enam 7 = tujuh 8 = lapan 9 = sembilan 10 = sepuluh 11 = sebelas 12 = dua belas 13 = tiga belas 14 = empat belas 15 = lima belas 16 = enam belas 17 = tujuh belas 18 = lapan belas 19 = sembilan belas 20 = dua puluh 23 = dua puluh tiga 30 = tiga puluh 35 = tiga puluh lima 40 = empat puluh 50 = lima puluh 60 = enam puluh 70 = tujuh puluh 80 = lapan puluh 90 = sembilan puluh 100 = seratus 111 = seratus sebelas 200 = dua ratus 323 = tiga ratus dua puluh tiga 1000 = seribu 2000 = dua ribu 3357 = tiga ribu tiga ratus lima puluh tujuh COUNTERS / CLASSIFIERS: Something unique to the Malay language are counters or classifiers, which, in this case, are an extra word used to distinguish between different classes of things or objects. Counting is normal, the exception being when referring to a single object: “satu” (the number 1) contracts to “se-””. Here are some examples of some common counters: “Orang” is used to count people. Seorang Amerika / Dua orang Amerika One American or an American / Two Americans Lima murid Five students
“Ekor” is used to count animals. Seekor anjing / Tiga ekor kuching One dog / Three cats “Batang” is used to count rod-like objects such as cigarettes, pens, pencils, etc. It applies to things that are long as well. Sebatang pensel / Dua batang rokok One pencil / Two cigarettes “Buah” is used to count large or cubical (in appearance) objects such as countries, buildings, rivers, ships, vehicles, furniture, rooms, islands, computers, books, etc. Sebuah kereta / Empat buah pulau One car / Four islands “Biji” is used to count spherical objects such as cups, fruits, eggs, eyes, etc. Sebiji telur / Lima belas biji oren One egg / Fifteen oranges “Helai” is used to count flat and thin objects such as paper, clothing, leaves, etc. Sehelai kemeja / Lapan helai kemeja One shirt / Eight shirts TIME: Some basic time phrases: Pukul berapa sekarang? / Pukul berapa? What time is it now? / What time is it? Pukul lima. Five o’clock. Pukul dua sembilan belas. Two nineteen. (2:19) For a quarter past, half past, and a quarter till, time is based on fractions: Suku = a quarter Setengah = a half Tiga suku = three quarters Pukul dua suku. It’s 2:15. Pukul lapan setengah. It’s 8:30. Pukul sembilan tiga suku. It’s 9:45. For a.m. and p.m.: 9:00 a.m. = Pukul sembilan pagi. 9:00 p.m. = Pukul sembilan petang. Noon = Tengah hari / tengahari Midnight = Tengah malam
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american association of malaysia KL
September 2015
Sun
Mon
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AAM Villa @ The Troika
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Sat
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10:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Bingo @ Little Stitching Friends Sisters of the Poor Gentlemen’s Night Out Taps Beer Bar 6:00 p.m.
VENUE KEY
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9:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. First Friday Level 3A @ The Troika
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1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Mahjong
9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Beginner Bahasa 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Mahjong
10:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Gemology Workshop
11 a.m. Book Club @ In Colonial Restaurant, Intermark
10:00 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Stitching Friends
OFFICE CLOSED MALAYSIA DAY
11:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Ready To Cook?
10 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Welcome Back Sip ‘N Shop Coffee Morning
8:00 - 9:30 pm Begineer Bahasa
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9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Beginner Bahasa 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Mahjong
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11:45 a.m. 10:00 a.m. LUNCH BUNCH 1:30 p.m. Café De Patisserie/ Stitching Friends Bar 8:00 - 9:30 p.m. Beginner Bahasa
OFFICE CLOSED HARI RAYA HAJI
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7 p.m. Midnight Shrimp Boil @ Suria Stonor
8:00 - 9:30 p.m. Beginner Bahasa
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9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Beginner Bahasa 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Mahjong 8:00 - 9:30 p.m. Beginner Bahasa
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9:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Malacca Day Tour
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10:00 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Stitching Friends 8:00 - 9:30 p.m. Beginner Bahasa
AAM Office Tel: (03) 2161-9008 / 9009 email: klamerican.info@gmail.com
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(60-3) 5565 2200 KL American September 2015
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