Kem Pelangi Photos - 11- 14 November 2007

This camp is called El Sanctuary. Located in pristine Melaka in an area that nobody actually knows, it is run by a Caucasion with his family. The best part is the food here is excellent. The eldest son is actually a chef from Marriot KL.
Hooo Hummmm .. are the kids awake? Was on patrol duty and caught some chaps. Ok la, understand the need of youth to disobey...hehe

Yun Ting catching me catching her during the night service. Look at the ambience with the lighting against the rock. This place is extremely cooling indeed.

And of course, kids catching each other's eyes .. this stare really tell how both of them were being 'nice' to each other...This are my group members. A group of initially quiet youth who amazed me with their 'kwai'ness. Excellent bunch of kids, would not asked for others.

We had games...

Learned new things & enjoy the success ( or the lack of it)

And the group won No TWO in the performance. We did a love story with adaptation of korean movie, Malay movie, Bollywood and a sprinkle of learnings!! One great thing that we learn is to go beyond what we think our limitation is and let God help us to go beyond.

At 12 years old, he emerged as one of the leading actors that day. Bright future indeed

Yes, we are extremely happy with the pressies .. look at the loot!

Look how evil the guys are .. Loads of photo sessions..

But as usual, am mostly popular among the girls... ahemmSee, she was even looking at me like... oh .." how handsem...."

Somebody got to do this picture twice as we got the legs at the first go. Look hideus eh, all kangkang and stuff... all in all, a time well spent on my 4 days of annual leave. Hope we keep in touch and one day.. will meet again. Gooooo Mentakab , Temerloh and Muar !!

Port Dickson Arab Malaysian Bank Branch- No heart ( and ear) for customer

I wrote this with anger and disappointment at the treatment that I received from AM Bank officers in Port Dickson. I have lost my wallet 2 days prior and my CMA ATM card and all my money. I do not even have money to pay for the temporary IC ( RM110 ) and so wanted to take money from my account there.( have my passport, other ID & police report though).

The officer gave a blatant "NO" and insisting on the probably rehearshed theme. I have to give them the alternatives (to call up my home AMBANK) solutions because clearly she is not interested in listening to the customer. I even have to raise my voice in front of the counter to get the officer to listen. She then ask a juniour officer to take my case.

Since I have my fixed deposit there, i then decided to withdraw that sum of money. The juniour officer is given the run around and the managers in this branch just passed the message ( the same message of NO ) thru her. She has to endure my frustration & again i sense that the managers could not care less. Clearly, the decision makers were being uncaring in their decision on a customer that is loyal to the bank all the while. ( my account was set up before 1997) I guess i am a small fry to their big salaries. For one ; once I have got my documentation correct, i will close all my accounts in this bank for clearly it has no heart ( or even ears ) for their customers. Even the Port Dickson police is more profesional & friendly to me when they hear me out.

This email will be blogged, and cced to New Straits Times, Malay Mail, The Star. I appreciate an clarification and most certainly not expect any remorse. Certaintly I have to borrow some money for lunch and to do my temporary IC.

Soup Kitchen in Alor Star and Jinjang

This is a Beacon of hope. Was reading the bible today and was reminded to protect the poor and defenseless ( Psalm 87) . And here, the lady is doing what i can only blog about. This is a footnote for myself of the many ways that one can contribute to society. (http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/12/17/nation/19783265&sec=nation ) .



Here is what I got to know about Clarine.

Lim Chee Peng come from the Trinity Baptist Church, Alor Star (famous for the Fungates) and has been serving in the ministry of music since he was 15 years old. He leads worship, plays the piano as well as write worship songs for his church. His Pastor, Clarine Chun is the founder of Fungates, which ministry has impacted children internationally. Belonging to a church so involved in children's ministry, Chee Peng and Clarine Chun released their first album entitled “COOL”. The songs in their first album are certainly “cool” and was well received by children. Chee Peng wrote most of the songs for that album and sang all the lead vocals. In year 2005, they released their second album entitled IN. In this album, Chee Peng and Clarine co-wrote all the songs and shared the lead vocals. The album IN was more for a general audience and not for children only.


Wonderful.

Syed Hamid is at it again

Wei, our FM Syed Hamid is back to his best. He tried to defend Malaysia that we are not discriminatory towards the minority people and their religion. Here is his best defense to the subject that Hindu temples are demolished without caring for the sensitivity of the people. ( NST: Strange for US to judge us)

"I have not seen many temples in other countries but in Malaysia, there are over 70,000 temples. In some places, we even have problems getting approvals to build mosques."

So, does he mean that we have too many temples that they have problem getting approvals for mosques?

And since we learn that the best defense against emotional argument are facts , what is HIS facts?
( and where he got them?)

70K temples!! Who does that belong to?
To HIndus only, or include Buddhist, Taoist, Sikhs .. even Temple of Fine Arts?
And if 8 million Malaysian belong to one of these religions, it just means that an average of 100 people worship in one of these place of worship. I don't think that is an absurb number.

Down the road from my house to office, i know that there are 4 mosques already. What is the figure for mosques and suraus btw?

Anyway, what is clear is that there IS a descrimiation on the basis of religion in Malaysia. It has always been but i guess we just grew tired of it and start talking about it. I believe that all religions should be respected by the state , except if it is a cult.