Datuk Punch Gunalan dies at 68

Badminton legend Datuk Punch Gunalan passed away peacefully at 6am Wednesday. He was 68.

Gunalan had been battling with liver cancer for some time.

He had put Malaysia on the world's map in the 1970s with his immaculate performances in the singles and doubles events - representing the country in the Thomas Cup, All-England and Asian Games.

He had also served with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and Badminton World Federation (BWF), earning the respect of the world for his excellent administrative and communication skills and also for his warmth, kindness and passion for the sport.

Born in 1944 in Sepang, Selangor, Gunalan was inducted into the Olympic Council of Malaysia Hall of Fame in 2004.

While Malaysians were overwhelmed in 1970 for losing the Thomas Cup, Gunalan defeated Indonesian legends Injartno and Mirjati in his doubles title game with partner Ng Boon Bee to regain Malaysia back in the world of badminton. Despite losing 2-7 to Indonesia at the championship, Gunalan's victory is something that we can still be proud of.

Gunalan had made a successful career in his life. A talented right-hander, he was indeed among the finest combination doubles Malaysia has ever produced. In 1971, Gunalan and Boon Bee again became the top men's doubles team in the world, winning the prestigious All England title, as well as the Canadian, Danish and U.S Open titles. His gifted right-hand amazed people with his exiting smash.

After his retirement, Gunalan continued his career by coaching the Malaysian team (Badminton Association of Malaysia) and later being appointed as the Deputy President of the International Badminton Federation. Under his reign, he vowed to make badminton as the best racquet sport in the world.

His continuous contributions and tremendous achievements in the badminton arena shall always be an inspiration for our young shuttlers.

Achievements
1969 - Champion, U.S. Open for Men's Double title
1970 - His first contribution in Thomas Cup
1970 - 1972 - Champion, Danish Open for Men's Double title
1971 - Champion, U.S. Open for Men's Double title
1971 - Champion, All England for Men's Double title
1971 - Champion, Canadian Open for Men's double title
2005 - Became Deputy President of the International Badminton Federation

Ferry Corsten KL 2012

The Dutch harbor city Rotterdam was Ferry Corsten’s (28) playground when growing up and the city still is his current base of operations. Being a full-time producer since 1991 Ferry has developed into a true prodigy of the international dance scene.

Made Event has just added Dutch house hotshot Hardwell to the lineup and is pleased to announce that Ferry Corsten will be playing at Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

Ferry Corsten

Wednesday 11 July 2012

Venue : KL Live

KL Live @ 1st Floor, Life Centre 20 

Jalan Sultan Ismail,50250 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel : 603-2162 2570

E-mail : info@kl-live.com.my

Jalan Sultan Declared as Heritage Site ...

Najib says ready to declare Jalan Sultan shoplots as heritage sites

PETALING JAYA, March 22 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today the government is prepared to declare buildings in Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur as heritage sites, assuring owners that their shophouses will not be affected by the planned Mass Rapid Transit (MRT).

He said as prime minister he was aware of the need to have a balance between urban development and heritage, and that Malaysians needed both.

“For us to have development in Kuala Lumpur, efficient public transport necessary; it’s not a choice… the only way forward is MRT.

“We are prepared to declare as heritage buildings... (It is) important for us to preserve history, legacy but (it) should not impede progress… then you are not moving with the times,” Najib told Chinese-language radio station 988FM in an interview this morning.

“Jalan Sultan (landowners) not against MRT but they want assurance that their shophouses not affected. (We have) given assurance,” he added.

The dispute over the tunnelling along Jalan Sultan erupted after landowners were informed by the government that their properties would be acquired for the MRT project.

MRT Corp subsequently made an offer for Jalan Sultan property owners to vacate their premises for six months, and guaranteeing there would be no land acquisition, that any damage will be repaired and loss of income compensated.

Nineteen of the 23 owners along Jalan Sultan have so far said that they will pursue the offer, with another two willing to have their lots bought out by MRT Corp. A further two are still holding out.

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Jalan Sultan landowners getting paid leave, says MOF

KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 — Putrajaya said today its offer to guarantee the income of Chinatown landowners while they vacated their premises for Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) tunnelling work is like giving them a paid holiday.

Project owners MRT Corp has made an offer to Jalan Sultan property owners to vacate their premises here for six months, guaranteeing there would be no land acquisition and that any damage will be repaired and loss of income compensated.

The Finance Ministry confirmed today that two landowners are still holding out, with the rest saying they will either accept the offer or sell their land to MRT Corp.

“The compensation will guarantee income during the six months. This is like giving them a paid holiday. They don’t have to work but get paid,” Deputy Minister Datuk Awang Adek told Parliament.

The dispute over land acquisition began soon after landowners in Chinatown, Imbi and Bukit Bintang were informed in mid-2011 that the government would acquire lots above the MRT tunnel as owners’ rights extend to the centre of the earth under the law.

Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chief executive Mohd Nur Kamal has said landowners could then apply for stratum titles but added there was no guarantee Putrajaya would re-alienate the surface land back to them.

Critics have questioned the need for compulsory acquisition of both surface and underground land as the National Land Code 1965 was amended in 1990 to allow underground land to be acquired without affecting surface rights.

Unhappy landowners had mounted a high-profile campaign marked by many protests, signature drives and claims that Putrajaya was conducting a “land grab” in order to defray project costs.

But MRT Corp’s latest offer has been agreed to by the majority of landowners, likely clearing one of several hurdles the RM50 billion megaproject has faced since being announced in June 2010.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak also said two weeks ago the government was prepared to declare buildings in Jalan Sultan as heritage sites, assuring owners that their shophouses will not be affected by the planned infrastructure project.

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KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 — Any compensation given to Jalan Sultan landowners while they vacate their premises for Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) tunnelling work is "totally irrelevant" and will result in a "chaotic situation", its preservation committee said today.

The Committee to Preserve Jalan Sultan and Jalan Bukit Bintang, or PJSJBB, said that the six-month compensation offered by project owners MRT Corp did not address the loss and suffering of the community while business was suspended.

"It will be difficult for us to resume operations and revitalise our business after being put on hold for six months. It is hard to change our mode of operations," said Stanley Yong, the chairman of PJSJBB, at the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall here today.

"Smallholders will never survive."

He said that the compensation did not cover tenants and subtenants, who would suffer the most from leaving their businesses, adding that some 3000 families and 30000 people in the area depended on it.

Yong also highlighted the situation in Jalan Petaling, which he said had turned into a haven for drug users, adding that he feared such damage would occur to Jalan Sultan, thus making it more difficult for tenants to resume business afterwards.

He added that if the government were truly sincere about addressing the people’s grievances, they should hold public dialogues regarding the project and extend it for a reasonable amount of time.

Yong further suggested that MRT Corp realign the tunnel to Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, as it is twice the width of Jalan Sultan and would result in less damage to buildings.

Putrajaya said today its offer to guarantee the income of Chinatown landowners while they vacated their premises for Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) tunnelling work is like giving them a paid holiday.

Project owners MRT Corp has made an offer to Jalan Sultan property owners to vacate their premises here for six months, guaranteeing there would be no land acquisition and that any damage will be repaired and loss of income compensated.

“The compensation will guarantee income during the six months. This is like giving them a paid holiday. They don’t have to work but get paid,” Deputy Minister Datuk Awang Adek told Parliament.

The dispute over land acquisition began soon after landowners in Chinatown, Imbi and Bukit Bintang were informed in mid-2011 that the government would acquire lots above the MRT tunnel as owners’ rights extend to the centre of the earth under the law.

Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chief executive Mohd Nur Kamal has said landowners could then apply for stratum titles but added there was no guarantee Putrajaya would re-alienate the surface land back to them.

Critics have questioned the need for compulsory acquisition of both surface and underground land as the National Land Code 1965 was amended in 1990 to allow underground land to be acquired without affecting surface rights.

Unhappy landowners had mounted a high-profile campaign marked by many protests, signature drives and claims that Putrajaya was conducting a “land grab” in order to defray project costs.

But MRT Corp’s latest offer has been agreed to by the majority of landowners, likely clearing one of several hurdles the RM50 billion megaproject has faced since being announced in June 2010.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak also said two weeks ago the government was prepared to declare buildings in Jalan Sultan as heritage sites, assuring owners that their shophouses will not be affected by the planned infrastructure project.

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Malaysian GOV the land thief

Desecration of Orang Asli graves is another blow to the ancestral land rights of the Orang Laut of Seletar

Indigenous peoples all over the world have their way of life threatened by rapid development.

The Orang Asli laut of Johor's southern coastline are particularly under threat because the state is pushing for direct foreign investments to spur its economic growth. Property development is an important ingredient of the economic cocktail.

But economic development doesn't come without costs, and the Orang Asli laut and their livelihood are paying a heavy price for development they do not want.

Desecration of two Orang Laut of Seletar burial sites, in Kampung Bakar Batu and Kampung Sungai Tenom, near Johor Bahru. These sites are located within the Iskandar Malaysia development area, which is under the purview of the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (“IRDA”), a Malaysian Government statutory body. This is yet another blow to the ancestral land rights of, and respect for, the Orang Asli.


As a traditional fishing community, the Orang Laut of Seletar have historically occupied the coastal mangrove areas of Johore as their ancestral lands. This area is the subject of continuing encroachment by the Johore state government and occupation by entities, including IRDA, as it is now prime land amidst rapid development. Through the years, the Orang Laut have consistently maintained that the areas they occupy and forage (both on land and sea) are customary ancestral areas. The authorities have paid scant regard to their claims. As such, these Orang Laut have lost much of their land and their livelihood has been seriously diminished, if not completely wiped out, through decimation of the mangrove swamps and pollution of the coastal seas. Many of these Orang Laut live in abject poverty amidst thriving development on their lands, from which they do not benefit. Government agencies like the Jabatan Kemajuan Orang Asli have failed the Orang Laut of Seletar.


In the days leading up to Chinese New Year, a sizeable area of burial grounds shared by the Orang Laut of Seletar communities of Kampung Bakar Batu and Kampung Sungai Temon, were reported to have been desecrated and destroyed by contractors purportedly under the purview of IRDA. Police reports were quickly lodged, appeals were sent to the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (“SUHAKAM”), and work has been temporarily halted.


The Orang Asli, like any other community in Malaysia, are important members of our society. Their numbers may not be large, but they represent a heritage-rich link with the early peoples of Peninsular Malaysia which, once destroyed, would be lost forever. It is incumbent upon the Malaysian Government to protect and safeguard their way of life. Development goals for Iskandar Malaysia must be carried out in a socially-sustainable and caring manner, and with the utmost respect for the rights of the Orang Asli. These are principles that the Malaysian Government agreed to when it voted in favour of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (“UNDRIP”) in 2007. The Malaysian Government also voted in favour of the concept of “free, prior and informed consent” of the indigenous peoples on any policies or projects that may affect their livelihood.


For the Orang Laut of Seletar who live within Iskandar Malaysia, there was every reason for them to expect a new model of governance in respect of Orang Asli rights over customary areas. The Prime Minister himself said, in his capacity as Co-Chairperson of IRDA, “The development in Iskandar Malaysia is geared towards being inclusive and sustainable, providing a multitude of prospects for growth and prosperity to be enjoyed by all stakeholders.”1 The Malaysian Bar urges the Prime Minister and the Malaysian Government to do the honourable thing and give effect to the UNDRIP principles and the words in this quote, in a real and meaningful way.

Indeed, the incidents involving Kampung Bakar Batu and Kampung Sungai Temon are by no means isolated affairs. There appears to be a systemic pattern of rampant encroachment of Orang Asli-occupied areas throughout Malaysia, both in the peninsula as well as in Sabah and Sarawak. The continuous violation of the land rights of the Orang Asli is a breach of their fundamental liberties. It has to stop.

The Malaysian Bar calls upon the federal and state governments to immediately observe a moratorium on proposed development on lands and other areas claimed by indigenous peoples, pending the completion of the National Inquiry into the Land Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Malaysia currently being undertaken by SUHAKAM. Once its report is ready by September 2012, the full scale of the issue can be properly understood and appropriately addressed, in an inclusive, and environmentally- and socially-sustainable, manner.

The Malaysian Bar will continue to support Orang Asli communities by holding various programmes geared towards legal empowerment. We have called for lawyers to provide pro bono services to the Orang Asli, and are actively advocating for their voices to be heard. We have also launched a defence fund to assist in defraying the costs of litigation, where necessary.

Sudirman Hj. Arshad

On July 17, 1991, Sudirman Hj. Arshad was taken to Medical Center Tawakal Kuala Lumpur for four days after falling unconscious when performed in Butterworth, Penang. He breathed his last on February 22, 1992, at 4 pm when he was 37 years old at his sister's house, she Rudiah seven months after suffering from pneumonia.

His remains were buried in the Muslim cemetery Chengal, Temerloh near the graves of the parents.
20 years since his departure, I would like a list of ten things that make her human late is worth to remember.

1. Sudirman Hj. Arshad was born on May 25, 1954 in Items For Sale as the youngest of seven siblings. After deducting medical school scholarships, he took a degree from the University in the field of law. He is already in practice as a lawyer before deciding to become an entertainer.

2. He is the first in many things. Sudirman is the first Malaysian singer to perform at The Paddock, Hilton Hotel, Kuala Lumpur in 1983. He is an ambassador for the first song of Proton, Malaysia Airlines and Honda Cup. He became an honorary member of Hong Leong Bank card pioneer and he was also the first Malaysian artist to the front page of the magazine "Malaysian Business" and "Asian Business".

3. Besides singing, Sudirman also starred in a film titled only "Us" in 1982. Sudirman also produced sound tracks for film revolves around the two orphans on the streets of Kuala Lumpur and the title "Rainbow Day". The track was picked up as a music icon in the music industry of Malaysia.

4. Sudirman would do anything for those he loves. He has produced albums for his favorite nephew, Razman Azrai (Atai) under the Sudirman Productions in 1985. In April 1983, Sudirman also sang a song entitled "Mama" for the late Puan Sri Saloma.Before his departure, Saloma terharunya expressed the willingness Sudirman created songs for him.

5. On 15 April 1986, Sudirman was the first artist to hold open-air concerts in Jalan Chow Kit and attracted over 100,000 fans. The concert was causing traffic jams along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Raja Muda to Jalan Raja Alang. Some fans faint, have shortness of breath and had to digegaskan to the hospital. But it is the most historic concert in Malaysia.

6. Sudirman won the title of 'Best Entertainer' at the 1989 Asian Music Awards held at the Royal Albert Hall, London. He has a great beat competitors such as Leslie Cheung (Hong Kong), Anita Sarawak (Singapore), EPO (Japan), Kuh Ledesma (Philippines) and many others.

7. Besides singing and acting, Sudirman also has the talent to write and paint. He wrote his autobiography, "From the Sudir" other than drawing a few cartoons and writing columns in various magazines and newspapers such as Karangkraf. He is also a great journalist and columnist and the politicians who had his interview was Tun Ghaffar Baba.

8. Sudirman is the first Malaysian singer who managed to promote water carbonate EMU popular with business magazines and television programs from Australia to Hong Kong. Within six months, EMU carbonate water markets have up to five percent.Later he opened a clothing store and restaurant franchise Shoppe EMU EMU.

9. London record company EMI had her working with a trio of British producers, Stock, Aitken & Waterman who has worked with Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Rick Astley for the international market with a song titled "Love Will Find A Way". He was taken to the Abbey Road Studios recording studio once used by The Beatles to record the album, but died not long after.

10. Sudirman was named the "Ambassador Song of Malaysia 'by Ministry of Tourism Malaysia (MTDC). He was also the voice behind the song MTDC, "To Know Malaysia Is To Love Malaysia", designed by singer, songwriter and Grammy Award candidate, Emmy and Oscar, Carol Connors. He also labeled as "Dynamite Song 'by journalists in Singapore. This house also received loud applause and accolades in Australia, Japan, Kuwait and the United States. Manager to the singer George Michael, Wham!, Simon Napier-Bell was one once said that 'the institution of the Malaysian music industry. He was also known as "The Singing Lawyer ',' People's Artist 'and the' Elvis of Malaysia '.