Author Archives: wcw

Revolting reverence

Setting things right: A Malaysia Madani billboard along the MRR2 highway. However, the Prime Minister has learned that there are many unnecessary billboards featuring him – erected using public money – all over the country, and has called for a stop to the wasteful splurge. – IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

THE Prime Minister has certainly set things right by calling for a stop to billboards with his face on them.

Surely all of us know what Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim looks like, so there’s no need to splurge taxpayers’ money to compete with cosmetic ad models and tuition teachers along the highway.

Last week, he complained that while on his way to Alor Setar for a Hari Raya open house, he learned about the billboards featuring him all over the country.

The billboards, he said, had been erected by government departments using allocations from the previous government.

Well, it doesn’t matter if the money is from the budget of the past government. The bottom line is, there’s absolutely no reason to use the money to serve our political leaders’ narcissistic needs.

It’s good that Anwar pointed out the money allocated for these billboards should be put to better use.

These government bodies must have presumed that they were doing the PM a favour and wanted recognition for their contributions by buying space on these billboards.

But it isn’t just the PM who’s glorified. There are billboards of other leaders including Cabinet Ministers, Chief Ministers, state executive councillors and elected representatives all over the place, too, sometimes, even on bus stands.

It’s perfectly understandable if such billboards were part of an election campaign because voters need to be reminded of politicians’ presence.

Then there are the banners put up during festivals to greet their constituents. They are certainly acceptable, but please direct the contractors to remove them after the celebrations are over.

These banners invariably become eyesores, yet no one seems to take them down, not even the local authorities whose tasks include tearing down illegal advertisements.

But the heart of the problem about using public funds for billboards lies in the long standing bodek culture afflicting Malaysia.

It’s unfair to just blame the civil service for wanting to gain favours from their superiors, including political leaders.

Pathetic as it may sound, some would have thought that putting up billboards would be a way to gain brownie points.

One writer aptly described this currying favour practice as “the greatest single organisational dysfunction within Malaysia’s civil service, compromising the quality and integrity of management along with protection against corruption.”

Strong words. Perhaps even out of line, but a new political culture is surely needed.

Our federal ministers, for a start, should direct government officials under their respective ministries to dismiss the practice of grand receptions when they attend meetings.

It’s inexplicable why so many officials should stop work just to greet and smile at a minister, or their deputies for that matter.

Malaysians would also like to see ceremonies become short and precise.

It’s criminal for civil servants and invited guests to be spending half the day attending unproductive events, which mostly entails listening to a VIP.

Ministers and their deputies are merely performing their duties and while we respect our leaders, nothing comes out of unnecessarily elevating the status of politicians.

For a start, some politicians can discard the need for travelling with an entourage, which often includes political hangers-on. It’s nothing more than a grandiose display of self-importance.

The old politicians, or commonly known as party warlords, are the worst of the lot. They enjoy travelling in a convoy of Alphard and Vellfire vehicles, or their equivalents.

And certainly, the entitlement of police outriders and even council outriders, must stop. These ingratiating, servile culture and pompous, egotistical practices must cease.

Then, there are those who insist that their titles must be properly addressed or else they’d be offended.

I’ve said enough of our rituals of addressing every Tan Sri, Puan Sri, Datuk Seri, Datin Seri, Datuk Datuk and Datin Datin. That’s practically everyone in the room.

Our obsession with titles and honorifics to earn respect and public standing has really gone overboard. Too many people are flaunting titles they don’t deserve.

No wonder there are Malaysians who are freely parading titles even if it’s an offence.

The PM started his political career in the 1970s, insisting that he should be addressed as just Saudara Anwar Ibrahim.

We need a fresh political culture where YBs are elected to do their work and not expected to be revered.

A new political culture is surely needed.

The new Cold War heats up

Insightful views: Kishore giving his assessment on the US-China rivalry during his lecture in Kuala Lumpur.

International relations expert Kishore Mahbubani has interesting views on US-China rivalry and the role Asean could play.

IT’S not every day that one gets to hear directly from Prof Kishore Mahbubani, one of the best thinkers on international relations.

In fact, it had taken the organiser, the Malaysian Institute of Management, over two years to invite the Singaporean diplomat, academician and best-selling author to Kuala Lumpur.

Those of us who turned up for his lecture on Tuesday evening wanted to hear his assessment of the United States-China rivalry, which is certain to get worse in the coming years.

Kishore is a Distinguished Fellow at the Asian Research Institute, National University of Singapore, and has had two notable careers – 33 years in diplomacy and 15 years in academia.

He was the founding dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and spent over 10 years as Singapore’s ambassador to the United Nations.

He has authored several books, including best-sellers such as Can Asians Think? and Has The West Lost It?. His insightful views on the US-China geopolitical rivalry have grabbed the attention of many.

Gloomy as it may be, it is certain and unavoidable — in Kishore’s own words — that the rivalry will worsen as the Chinese push to challenge the United States for dominance.

For us living in the Asean region, especially Malaysians, it is more troubling as the power play is taking place in our backyard, the South China Sea, while Taiwan is merely about four hours away by flight.

Kishore predicts the contest, if not already a feud, will accelerate in the next 10 years and he doesn’t see it quietening down.

The scenario is unprecedented as for the first time in human history, these two superpowers are colliding.

Driven by what he describes as structural forces, he sees China as the “No. 2 that is about to take over as No. 1 and the US will push down China” at all costs as the latter does not see itself losing its pole position.

“They should learn from the Malaysian monarchy (where the reigning King) steps down every five years,’’ he joked.

He said in his highly provocative titled book Has China Won? that it hasn’t helped that the many US policymakers who will drive this geopolitical contest are “possessed by a psychology that sees all competition among great powers as a zero-sum game”.

“Hence, if China steps up its naval deployments in the South China Sea, the US Navy will see it as a loss and step up its presence in the region,” he said.

There is much insecurity on the part of the United States as “it is far from certain that America will win the contest as China has as good a chance as America of emerging as the dominant influence in the world”.

“In fact, many thoughtful leaders and observers in strategically sensitive countries around the world have begun making preparations for a world where China may become number one,” said Kishore.

He said it was an error of perception for America to view the CCP as a Chinese Communist Party embedded in communist roots, when in the eyes of Asian observers, the CCP actually functions as the “Chinese Civilisation Party” with its soul rooted in Chinese civilisation.

But Kishore has some advice for China – never underestimate the United States.

It’s a giant that has woken up and it has won the narrative, with the support of a powerful international media, that it is a contest between a democracy and an authoritarian government.

“It has been a strategic mistake for American thinkers to take success for granted, it would be an equally colossal strategic mistake for China to assume the same,” he said.

Painting the Chinese as demonic has been an easy selling point to the American public, most of whom have never travelled out of their country, added Kishore, saying in his book that it will be easier “for Americans to persist in the belief that they would eventually triumph against China, no matter the odds”.

Both the Republicans and Democrats have adopted the same tone and strategy of containing China.

So, it doesn’t matter who the next US President is although it got worse under President Donald Trump. It has simply become a bipartisan policy.

The rest of the world, especially Asean, will be affected by this great power play. No one will be spared as pressure will be applied to countries to take sides.

Even a simple acquisition of technology, such as using Huawei’s applications, has turned complicated.

Kishore shared an anecdote of how a British top official had told him that it would use Huawei as security clearance, and with a stiff upper lip, said there was no reason for it to submit to US pressure.

But just months later, the United Kingdom “crumbled” to US pressure and abandoned Huawei.

He feared that Taiwan would be a more sensitive issue than the South China Sea as it benefits the United States and China to keep the international waterways safe for freedom of navigation.

But Taiwan is a more potential flash point. It is the red line that no one should cross, and most Asians know it and “they shut up”, he said, advising Asian countries to continue with this approach.

The Chinese see Taiwan as a renegade province that belongs to China and do not tolerate any moves to push for independence. Most countries adopt a One China policy and have no diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Kishore said for a long time, the United States stayed away from the Taiwan issue, but now it has been broached and “it is not rational, it’s dangerous and emotional”.

But he said Asean could play an influential role to speak up for moderate measures to initiate dialogues between the United States and China and to help reduce tensions that could contribute to possibilities of a war.

He acknowledged that Asean may be “weak and chaotic”, but paradoxically, no one sees the grouping as a threat and its meetings were all attended by the powerful nations.

“Everyone loves Asean. It has convening abilities,” he said, adding that both China and the United States had invested huge amounts there compared to other regions of the world.

China has been the largest market for Asean exports for the past 12 years and Malaysia’s number one trading partner for the past 15 consecutive years, while Asean countries collectively are the United States’ fourth largest trading partner.

Together, they represent a market with a gross domestic product (GDP) of more than US$3 trillion (RM13.38 trillion). US goods and services traded with Asean totalled an estimated US$362.2bil (RM1.62 trillion) in 2020.

Kishore said while the US-China contest may be a gloomy topic, there is also a positive aspect as both sides will woo support and attention, adding that it was good to be courted but reaffirmed that Asean members must stay out of the feud.

“It is said that when elephants fight, the grass gets trampled, but let’s not forget that when elephants make love, it tramples too,’’ he said in jest.

Talk is better than war and for a start, the rhetoric can be lowered down. A deeper rationality is needed and surely, there is a need to accept that the world has changed.

A painful and unnecessary clash needs to be avoided. The journey for both sides to work together has to start soon.

The perennial problem of p-hailing and potholes

Daily risk: A pothole near the entrance of Persiaran Surian from the Damansara-Puchong Highway heading towards Kota Damansara has consistently reappeared over the past few years, posing a threat to passing motorists. — LOW BOON TAT/The Star

THERE are two things drivers in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor have to put up with when they are on the road – reckless food delivery riders, many of whom have no respect for traffic rules, and the countless unsightly potholes.

Almost all of us have accepted the fact that we are the ones who have to watch out for these delivery riders known to beat traffic lights, speed past the line of cars, or emerge out of nowhere right in front of us.

We fully understand that delivery riders are paid according to the number of deliveries they can take each day.

They have become an integral part of our lives and the gig economy has provided jobs to thousands of Malaysians, especially school leavers.

A 2021 news report said there were an estimated 70,000 food delivery riders in Malaysia.

More than 70% of some 500 respondents in a survey admitted to having been involved or injured in accidents, but less than half of them were covered by personal insurance.

Worse, 86.4% of them said they received no help from p-hailing companies if they were involved and got injured in any kind of accident.

In the case of accidents involving these riders, there were a total of 1,242 accidents until May last year.

According to Transport Minister Anthony Loke, out of the total number of accidents, 112 of them were fatal, 82 had severe injuries and 1,048 sustained light injuries.

It’s serious.

Yes, the cumulative trips help to boost their income, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of their personal safety and lives – as well as that of other road users.

There is no reason why they should have to behave recklessly on the road in the name of saving time.

It is heartbreaking to see delivery riders losing lives or limbs on the road. After all, they are merely trying to eke out a living, given that the cost of living in the Klang Valley is surely the highest in the country.

But nobody is listening. Not the delivery riders and certainly there is little enforcement of traffic laws.

The police who set up roadblocks or wave you down are seemingly more interested in checking if you have a valid road tax sticker.

Now, we come to my main grouse. I had to spend a huge sum of money to fix my car after it hit a massive pothole along Persiaran Surian in the upmarket Petaling Jaya area.

I don’t know if I am one of those unlucky ones who have to face an unusually large number of potholes along the routes I take or if other motorists travelling in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor are also at their wits’ end dealing with the same problem!

In my case, I have lost count of the disgraceful sight of such cavities around the Tropicana-Kota Damansara area.

It’s worse along Jalan Tanjung Bandar Utama, where there has been a long dispute over the “ownership” of the road.

Driving towards Brickfields, near Muzium Negara, my tyres inadvertently went into a large pothole. Even in parts of the glitzy Jalan Bukit Bintang area, we face this problem. Why is this so?

To avoid going into these mini craters, we are forced to swerve to the side instantly, but it may mean hitting a nearby vehicle. It is, of course, dangerous.

I am sure most of us remember the bravado remark in October 2021 by then Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, who foolishly provided his telephone numbers in the Dewan Rakyat so that people could alert him of potholes in Kuala Lumpur.

He was subsequently quoted as saying that he was so inundated by phone calls that he was unable to answer all of them.

We can only assume what happened to those phone numbers.

Likewise, this applies to all local authorities; the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) which has a hotline, email, and other complaints app.

It’s the same with the Petaling Jaya City Hall.

I have made complaints before about a neighbourhood problem. The complaints were duly registered, but the outcome of the case has never been filtered down.

Those of us in the Klang Valley have become accustomed to making complaints or inquiries that mostly get no responses in the end.

A response in this case is just a record of having received your complaint.

The Works Department also has to shoulder some blame as federal roads come under its jurisdiction.

But the last thing we need is for these agencies to pass the buck to each other while road users suffer.

It is frustrating, but the lack of follow-up or action gives us an indication of how poor our system is.

Let’s not even talk about our elected representatives. They surely know how to locate us during the elections but try looking for them after they have become Yang Berhormat.

MPs and maybe even state assemblymen may tell you they are not councillors and it’s not their job to worry about such menial matters, but these problems make our lives miserable each day!

Here’s another mystery – don’t our politicians and their assistants experience this same problem of potholes and what do they do since they have access to the City Hall and municipal council officers?

Don’t they even report to the respective local authorities as dedicated and concerned politicians who care about our safety and well-being? Or am I just naïve?The rest of us must only rely on the e-aduan apps which seem to ask so many particulars of users before coming to the most important point – the complaint itself.Enough said of the dilapidated conditions of our roads. And please don’t let us delve into other problems such as dirty pavements and the filthy back lanes of Petaling Jaya and other places.

The pothole problem, unfortunately, is not just a Klang Valley issue. Last month, His Majesty, the Sultan of Johor, complained that the pothole-riddled highway in Johor caused the rims of his car to be dented.

Please don’t brag about our having world-class facilities if we cannot even maintain them right.

Festive fervour

IT’S surely no coincidence that the federal government is hosting its Hari Raya open houses in the six states holding the state elections in the coming months.

As much as it wants to deny the political agenda, it’s glaringly obvious. Come on, Malaysians aren’t fools.

But there are many reasons why Perikatan Nasional leaders should be concerned because this is going to entail a charm offensive by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

And we know the Pakatan Harapan president is very good at it. He is walking into the lion’s den, so to speak, and there would be no more effective way than to personally meet and greet voters.

He won’t even need to make any political speeches. His readiness for a selfie, sense of humour, wit and banter, will be the winning combination to get voters to flock by the droves to the gatherings.

If he’s asked to sing a Hari Raya song, he’d likely belt out more than one. Perikatan leaders, especially those from PAS, will look excruciatingly boring.

This is surely the strategy to penetrate the Malay heartland, which PKR has been struggling to gain support from. Meanwhile, Umno has also found its popularity waning in these constituencies.

Anwar is now going directly to these voters who will surely want to meet him, even if they disagree with his politics and have voted PAS.

It doesn’t matter if these up-close-and-personal approaches translate into votes. After all, he has already put Perikatan leaders in Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan in a bind.

They can’t boycott these federal government open houses and yet, they’d feel uncomfortable being with him and other Cabinet members.

Perikatan has already accused the government of hijacking what they deem a religious celebration for political reasons and failing to adhere to its own austerity drive.

But PAS is not convincing because the open house celebration is a unique cultural practice of Malaysia and not a religious one as claimed by PAS.

The loudest critic has been PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, who has described it as “an act of crossing the boundaries of respect and etiquette between the federal and state governments.”

The MP for Kota Baru, who is a lawyer, said it “challenges the dignity of the states.”

But PAS leaders have already taken contrasting stands on these open houses. Kelantan PAS chief Datuk Ahmad Yakob and Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar have welcomed the organising of the open houses.

Besides Takiyuddin, outspoken Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has also said he doesn’t support these open house events.

Last week, Petaling Jaya DAP MP Lee Chean Chung issued a statement claiming there were internal differences within PAS and said the open houses shouldn’t be politicised because it’s celebrated by everyone in the country.

It’s incredible how politicians can issue statements without batting an eyelid. Of course, these open houses are political, and Malaysians aren’t simpletons.

If no state elections were coming up, one wonders whether the federal government would hold these open houses in the six states, which include Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan, too.

Since the federal government will be hosting and paying for the food, drinks, and other arrangements, we can expect a hefty bill – which will be borne by taxpayers, of course.

It doesn’t look like it’s a free lunch. Visitors may think that as taxpayers, they have already paid for these open house festivities so they may as well bring their entire families for the food.

It’s also preposterous to hear PAS leaders criticising the federal government for these open houses being political when they have notoriously used religion for political reasons as well.

They have justified their politics by even defending corruption, with religious exculpation.

Barely seven months after last year’s general election, Malaysians in these six states must come out to vote again.

Well, there’s no conventional entertainment in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, so political rallies could provide comic relief from certain politicians’ antics, but for voters in Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan, it’s looking like a chore.

The challenge for Pakatan, especially, is to convince urbanites to come out and vote because a poor turn-out due to political fatigue will be detrimental for the party in the state elections.

The non-Malay voters, who are loyal Pakatan backers, are known to be disinterested in by-elections and possibly state elections too, because they believe the status quo would remain.

But in predominantly Malay areas, if there’s a close clash between Pakatan and Perikatan or Barisan Nasional and Perikatan, the non-Malay votes would be costly. Here’s the irony, for the first time, we’ll see Pakatan campaigning for Barisan and vice versa.

Everything is political and the last thing we want is to hear our politicians saying their actions are not political or telling their opponents to stop politicking. Hypocrisy is surplus to requirements.

Earning her stripes as a filmmaker

Pole position: Eu is the first female Malaysian movie director to be invited to the Cannes Film Festival.

MALAYSIAN filmmaker Amanda Nell Eu may not be a familiar name to most Malaysians, but she has set a record by becoming the first female Malaysian director to head to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in France.

Her movie, Tiger Stripes, is in competition for the coveted award for best first feature film at the event and is set to showcase her talent as a rising filmmaker in Malaysia.

At the 62nd edition of the Cannes Critics’ Week next month, the film will have its world premiere at the festival alongside 11 titles selected from 1,000 films screened.

Certainly, it’s a feat, regardless of the outcome of the event. It is also the first Malaysian film to be featured in Cannes since 2010.

Over the Hari Raya holiday, I had a chance to speak to Eu, who has already received international coverage, including from the media in the United Kingdom, France, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and even the Middle East.

Tiger Stripes tells the story of 12-year-old Zaffan, who struggles with puberty and discovers her body morphing in a terrifying way, with her friends turning against her, and soon, dropping dead one by one.

I think this should suffice without giving away any more spoilers.

It’s no surprise that Eu has always been interested in watching horror movies since she was a teenager.

“I was especially into horror, and I would watch everything from black-and-white silent films to obscure cult classics.

“Even in art school I was making weird small films and music videos for the bands that I was in. This was when I lived in the UK.”

Eu studied graphic design in Central Saint Martins, one of the world’s leading centres for art and design education.

“But most of my projects were always films and animations. I was still adamant to get my graphic design degree, and a year after graduation, I enrolled myself into film school, so I ended up doing a Master’s at the London Film School in filmmaking.”

While Eu has been making short films since her return to Malaysia, she described Tiger Stripes as really a continuation of that obsession.

“It’s my dark sense of humour maybe, where I like to play with the idea of monstrosity and beauty, and who gets to dictate those definitions.”

She isn’t sure if her Bahasa Malaysia film would be regarded as commercial or independent, but notes that Tiger Stripes is not associated with any studios, so can be regarded as independent in that sense.

If in the past, filmmakers had to rely entirely on the decision of cinema owners to screen their movies, that has changed too. The monopoly has ended. For the first time, Malaysians can watch foreign movies and TV series because of platforms like Netflix, Amazon and Viu, and even on Astro.

These platforms, known as streamers, have provided a great opportunity to reach out to a wider audience and is a big help to filmmakers.

No doubt, going to the cinemas is an experience. The big screen with the best sound and colour makes the difference.

But there are also many who like to take their time to watch shows, especially after midnight, and not to forget the luxury of stopping a movie and resume watching at our time. Any film buff would agree that both platforms – the cinemas and streamers – have their own merits.

We hope Eu will create history for Malaysia at Cannes, the resort town on the French Riviera, which is also regarded as the Capital of Cinema.

For now, she has already earned her stripes as a young filmmaker.

Planning a sakura holiday in Japan? It’s all about timing

This year, cherry blossom season in Japan started earlier than expected. — Photos: FLORENCE TEH

It has become progressively difficult predicting the cherry blossom season in Japan each year. Since it’s regarded peak period, travellers should make their airline and hotel bookings at least six months in advance to get a good deal.

Some may have even placed their reservations a year ahead. In my case, I bought three air tickets to Osaka before Covid-19 hit.After two years, Japan finally fully opened its borders a few months ago. Unfortunately, my mum-in-law didn’t make the trip because she passed away last year.

It was her wish to see the sakura, but we couldn’t realise her dream. Besides, she knew her days on Earth were numbered.

Finally, my wife Florence and I made the trip on March 30. Malaysia Airlines kindly reimbursed my mum-in-law’s fare.

But we still had to take our chances on our timing to be in Osaka – which was our gateway to Kyoto and Kanazawa, our true destinations.

The cherry blossoms only have a short blooming season. Just about two weeks before the petals fall off and it’s over. It’s certainly a reminder of how fleeting life can be.But we arrived in Kyoto during the peak of the season. This year’s cherry blossom has bloomed earlier than usual, with reports that the season moved on to other areas like Sendai and Yamagata just a few days before our arrival – which was two weeks earlier than usual!

My former colleague, PK Katharason, who now resides in Kyoto, texted me before our arrival saying the rain had started, and he was worried that the petals would be completely gone before we arrived.

The writer and his wife, Florence, at Kyoto’s Keage Incline or Sakyo-ku, with three cute youngsters dressed in traditional garb.

But the cherry blossoms waited for us. Not only in Osaka but in Kyoto, Kanazawa and Nara as well, which my sakura trail took me to subsequently.

PK took us to Kyoto’s Keage Incline (Sakyo-ku), a former railway track known for clusters of picturesque cherry blossoms lining a 582m-long space, which offers the best setting in spring.

It was such a delight to see many locals and foreigners dressed in kimono and posing with the gorgeous cherry blossom trees, numbering about 100.

In fact, just down the road is the popular Philosopher’s Path, a cherry-tree-lined canal, with over 400 trees!

Linking the disused railway line is Lake Biwa Canal leading to Kyoto’s Kamo River, which was used to transport water, merchandise and passengers.

After two nights in Kyoto, we embarked on a two-hour train ride to Kanazawa, which is known for its well-preserved Edo-era districts, geisha houses, samurai districts, art museums and the iconic Kenrokuen Garden, which opened in the 17th century.

Kanazawa is not on the radar of most Malaysian tourists, but it’s worth visiting because of its well-preserved historical sites, and it has successfully retained its traditional atmosphere.

At the Kenrokuen Gardens in Kanazawa, locals (and foreigners) were seen enjoying themselves in beautiful kimonos.

Kenrokuen is certainly the number one spot for cherry blossoms. So, it was no surprise when we spotted a couple from Hong Kong spending hours, with an entourage of photographers and make-up artists, posing for their wedding pictures.

There were families, all in their traditional Japanese costumes, taking pictures and just milling about.

The third stop was Nara, with its world-famous deer park. Set up in 1880, it’s one of the oldest parks in Japan, with about 1,300 deer roaming in the sprawling park and temple grounds.

What could be better than having your Instagram pictures taken with the deer and the cherry blossom trees? Indeed, that was something my wife and I did.

A gorgeous sakura tree in one of the gardens in Kanazawa.

But all good things must come to an end. We wrapped up our adventure at Osaka Castle, waiting for the sunset.

We joined the younger crowd of Japanese around the castle garden, where they were drinking sake, beer, and eating beef on skewers and takoyaki, the ball-shaped Japanese snack filled with diced octopus.

Here’s a tip to keep your budget reasonable – book your hotels early, choose one that’s near a train station, so you don’t have to resort to the expensive taxis. Travel light and exclude breakfast as part of your hotel stay.

Better still, check if the onsen or public baths are part of the hotel facilities. Japanese hotel rooms are tiny, so having a good scrub down at the spacious thermal baths is recommended.

There are many good Japanese meals anywhere and anytime on every street corner. If you’re lost and your app can’t help you, just ask for directions because the average Japanese person is most helpful and courteous, even if they might struggle a little with English.

Kampung boy leads space stem cell research at top varsity

Prof Dr Kee Keh Hooi from the School of Medicine, Tsinghua University in Beijing.

KUALA LUMPUR: It may seem like a galaxy far, far away when human beings from earth can stay for a long period of time in a spacecraft or even on the moon or Mars, but Malaysian scientist Prof Dr Kee Keh Kooi is already doing research on its effects on human bodies.

The Tsinghua University lecturer is heading a team to study how gravity and even radiation affect the development of human embryonic stem cells in space.

In short, understanding how human reproduction will affect human beings who will spend a long time in space.

The research is also to find answers as to how the human embryonic stem can differentiate in space.

“It is already happening as Chinese astronauts could stay for a period of time in a station on the moon, astronauts could orbit around the earth, and even ordinary people could travel to space,’’ he said.

The Sitiawan-born renowned academician was interviewed online from Beijing by Star Media Group adviser Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai on his webcast programme @realchunwai on Thursday.

His accomplishment was highlighted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when he spoke at Tsinghua University during an official visit to China last month.

China recently announced its readiness to start its lunar base on the moon within five years, ahead of landing astronauts there in subsequent years.

Dr Kee has also conducted his research via China’s first cargo spacecraft, Tianzhou-1, which was launched in 2017.

Its main task was to deliver fuel and supplies to the orbiting Tiangong 2 space lab, but it also played host to ground-breaking scientific experiments conducted remotely by earth-based scientists in China.

Dr Kee specialises in stem cell research and how it can be cultured for medical technologies to help patients suffering from Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases and even spinal cord injuries.

Besides devoting his time in laboratories, he also lectures undergraduate and post-graduate students at Tsinghua, which is regarded as China’s top university.

He spent decades in the United States, where he obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Iowa State University. This was followed by a PhD at Weill Cornell University.

Later, he worked at the University of California, San Francisco, before taking up a three-year stint as a research associate at Stanford University.

The opportunity for him to take a leading role as a principal researcher came when he applied for a post at Tsinghua University after seeing a vacancy advertised in an academic journal in 2009.

“There was an opening for stem cell research at the university, and it caught my interest immediately,’’ he said.

Asked about the differences in the manner in which research is conducted in China and the United States, Dr Kee said that in the United States, individual research was common, while in China, a team of between 50 and 100 people could be involved in a big project.

Despite having spent over 12 years in Beijing, Dr Kee, who grew up in Johor Baru, makes it a point to visit Malaysia annually, especially during Chinese New Year.

His parents, who moved to Johor Baru from Sitiawan to run a coffee shop, are still operating at the premises in Gelang Patah.

Dr Kee is a former student of Foon Yew High School, one of the elite independent schools in Johor.

“Balik kampung is always on my mind. The minute China reopened its border, I took my family home to Malaysia for three weeks,” he said.

Dr Kee, who was born in Kampung Remis, a small fishing village, described himself as a kampung boy. His family, he said, is “a simple Teochew family”.

Dr Kee said he would be happy to conduct talks on his work at Malaysian universities if there are opportunities.

His advice to Malaysians who wish to study at Tsinghua or Peking University is simply to study hard, get good grades and be focused.

However, he added that there are many other universities in China besides these top two.

He said Tsinghua also offers other disciplines, especially at the post-graduate level in economics, architecture, and law, which are conducted in English for international students.

To watch the full interview with Dr Kee, follow @realchuwai on Facebook and YouTube.

Malaysian Scientist in Tsinghua

Corruption crunch

Graft craft: Too many of us seem to think that politicians greasing their hands is a given, and bribery is tolerated if the amount isn’t of global industrial scale. – 123rf.com

EVEN the most cynical among us is beginning to believe that the fight against corruption is finally real.

It’s becoming arduous for politicians to convince savvy Malaysians because we’ve been let down too often.

Haven’t we heard enough of the empty promises and pledges from politicians to fight graft, only to see them arrested for crimes they vowed to combat?

Then, there’s the proverbial compromise in seeking political arrangements and alliances.

Will we see ongoing corruption cases be dropped for political expediency?

How will Malaysia be judged and its campaign against graft be taken seriously?

Most of us no longer expect to see clean politicians. But this viewpoint isn’t endemic to Malaysia – the world’s population feels the same way, too.

Whether we live in a democratic or authoritarian state, the perception is that the rich and powerful elites live by a different set of rules, what with their strong connections.

No comprehensive survey is needed to determine the sentiments of most Malaysians on corruption and politicians because we have lowered our expectations.

Too many of us seem to think that politicians greasing their hands is a given.

But bribery is tolerated if the amount isn’t of global industrial scale like the 1MDB scandal. In fact, it’s even sanctioned if these lawmakers do a decent job.

We have become indifferent. As the South China Morning Post put it aptly, “from warships costing billions of ringgits that have yet to materialise and feared kickbacks in massive contracts for flood and 5G projects, a stinging corruption index rating suggests that Malaysia’s politicians have failed to get a handle on dishonest and fraudulent conduct – with many of the accused on rotation through different governments.

“Transparency International’s 2022 Corruption Perception Index, released at the end of January, gave Malaysia a rating of 47, on a scale of one to 100, where one equals the most corrupt.”

As horrible as it sounds, and I may be wrong, many people have fatalistic attitudes.

What more, there are even politicians who like to project themselves as religious yet are willing to be apologists for corruption.

Their stand against graft in Parliament or from their statements has barely been audible, but their strict restrictions for concerts, dress codes, and last week, their suspicion that Chinese new villagers could possibly have links to the communist party, have rung loud and clear.

PAS lawmakers may have a 100% attendance in the Dewan Rakyat, but we hope their participation is meaningful and intelligent on important subjects.

We hope they can expose government leakages, poor standards of governance and corruption, as is expected of the opposition.

By now, the series of actions against high-profile politicians, both present and former, along with their family members and aides, should have struck fear.

Hardly a day passes without an influential figure being arrested for questioning by the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) or charged in court.

While Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said that the MACC will focus its efforts on curbing large-scale corruption cases, it’s necessary to send a message to enforcement officers, too, be it the police, immigration, or municipal councils, that they are being watched.

Ordinary Malaysians may not be part of those giving out wads of cash to politicians, but they must still deal with law enforcers, who are perceived to be on the take.

The approach has to be multi-pronged. Yes, the MACC has been criticised previously for not handling enough big cases, with the “sharks” being let off while the “ikan bilis” (anchovies) get caught in the net.

No doubt, the big names will get the page one treatment, but the fear factor must trickle down to the lower end too, just like Hong Kong’s Independent Anti-Corruption Agency (ICAC), when it launched its massive crackdown in the 1970s against institutionalised corruption that penetrated every stratum of society.

Sure, the MACC must be lauded for their almost daily arrests. Their hard work has kept the media busy with none of us wanting to lose out on news breaks.

The clean-up process has begun, but there’s no massive crackdown because there may not be enough people left to run the government or the institutions.

It may be far from the truth but that’s perception. And perception is all-important.

BTG – from humble florist to a global player

Today, with his two brothers, Ehiya runs a multi-million-dollar enterprise supplying flowers to the world.

MOHAMMED Ehiya was sitting unassumingly waiting for me at the Original Kayu Nasi Kandar in SS2 in Petaling Jaya for our interview.

Dressed in a simple short-sleeved shirt and without a flashy wristwatch to flaunt, he barely looked like a rich businessman.

A wave from him indicated he was the man I was looking for and had kept waiting.

I had heard that Ehiya, a millionaire recognised as the second largest flower producer and exporter in the world, was in the Klang Valley for a working visit.

“How are you sir, I am very pleased and honoured to meet you,” he said, shaking my hand. The privilege was the other way around though.

Ehiya, 60, who hails from a small village in Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur, began his journey working as a helper at a small florist in Dubai in 1990.

Today, with his two brothers, he runs a multi-million-dollar enterprise supplying flowers to the world.

The Black Tulip Group (BTG) is not only the supplier of flowers, but also grows its own with farms in Ethiopia, India, Kenya and Malaysia.

“We are in the process of expanding our farms in Cameron Highlands,” he revealed.

BTG owns around 3,200ha of farmland across these countries with a workforce of 10,000 employees, and it exports flowers like roses, orchids, gypsophila and lilies. Its annual turnover is about US$250mil (RM1.1bil).

Its main markets include the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Singapore, Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Switzerland, Russia, Ukraine, Japan, Australia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Ehiya, who regards himself as thrifty, said he dropped out of school in 1982 due to family circumstances, left India, and joined his brother Basheer in Dubai. Basheer was working as a sales manager in a small flower shop there.

“Eventually we decided to start our own flower shop in Dubai in 1990, with an initial investment of US$20,000.

“This was our entry into the flower business. We felt that we had learned sufficiently, and we were ready as entrepreneurs,” he shared.

Joined by a third brother, the siblings were dealing directly with customers as employees from the shop previously.

“Luxury hotels were coming up in Dubai. So, we told these hotels to buy from us instead and most agreed to give us a chance. After all, these hoteliers knew us personally,” he added.

They imported roses and lilies from Malaysia, Jordan and Kenya as well, with the preserved variety using cold storage to keep them fresh, but the company’s profits were low because of high overheads and unfavourable exchange rates.

“Eventually, we decided to cut out the middlemen and source directly from farmers to improve our earnings, but the only long-term answer was to grow our own flowers. So, from exporting flowers, we decided to be producers too, starting this year,” he said.

BTG took up a 81ha piece of land on lease for flower farming in Kenya and the following year, it bought 121.4ha in the African nation through a joint venture (JV) with Indian enterprise East African Group, in a US$6mil (RM26.4mil) project. BTG invested US$3mil (RM13.2mil) in this JV and obtained the rest on loan, according to yourstory.com.

“By 2005-2006, the company had scaled up production. It’s easy to do business in Dubai, with simple rules to follow.

“The government has created a friendly environment for entrepreneurs. However, when my friends heard that we were doing business in Africa, they were scared.

“But I didn’t fear anything. The biggest challenge came when the European Union was formed, and the euro gained prominence. This affected Black Tulip’s business due to inflation.

“We realised that it was not profitable to buy flowers from Europe anymore. We also realised that we could generate profits only from African countries,” explained Ehiya to the portal.

It wasn’t smooth sailing though. A fall-out with a partner and incessant rain wreaked havoc, affecting the production of flowers and the company’s income.

It was a tough six months at the start of their operations, which included 800 workers on the payroll, and the brothers even began to have doubts.

“But we didn’t believe in giving up or abandoning our venture. We persevered and made sure we succeeded. Indeed, the end results were worth it,” he said.

Today, Ehiya, who is the chairman of BTG, flies to his regional offices, farms and his customers around the world.

“But I like KL the most. I feel at home here and the food here is wonderful. My office is in Petaling Street, and it is vibrant.

“Malaysia has given me plenty of opportunities and Malaysians make me feel at home.”

His Malaysian company remains known as Weng Hoa – or Bright Flowers – although he bought over the company eight years ago for RM4mil.

“It’s the best florist in KL and everyone knows it, so why change it for no reason?” he offered with a smile, clearly embracing the maxim “If it ain’t broke, why fix it?”