They are…

1. Astaka Daya (Belisa Row)
2. Astaka Daya Sdn Bhd
3. Astaka Daya Sdn Bhd
4. Astaka Daya Sdn Bhd
5. Astaka Daya Sdn Bhd
6. Astaka Daya Sdn Bhd (Secret Recipe)
7. Catalyst Venture Sdn Bhd
8. Eclat Inspiration Sdn Bhd (Old Town White Coffee)
9. Foong Wei Heong Restaurant Sdn Bhd
10. Golden Recipe Sdn Bhd
11. Kopitiam Junction Sdn Bhd
12. Mandarin Fortune Sdn Bhd
13. Ocean Green Restaurant & Seafood Sdn Bhd
14. Octo Jet Sdn Bhd (Seoul Garden Restaurant)
15. Octo Jet Sdn Bhd (Breek Café Restaurant)
16. Old Town Kopitiam Bw Sdn Bhd
17. Pelita Samudra Pertama Sdn Bhd
18. Restoran Shelaiton
19. Secret Recipe (East Yik Sdn Bhd)
20. Swensens Café & Restaurant (Nationgate F&B Sdn Bhd)

If anyone came across any restaurants that are still charging their customer the 5% service tax, they can submit their complaints to the Customs Department via these e-mail addresses: cd@customs.gov.my or kastam@customs.gov.my or to the Head of the Internal Revenue Division at the respective states’ Customs offices.

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MPPP public relations assistant director Riduan Merican said it took the council workers two days to clean up the benches and prune tree branches at the spot to prevent birds from roosting on the trees.

“The council will monitor the place on a daily basis.

“Our landscape unit will immediately trim the tree branches once they grow back,” he said.

He said the public could call the council at 04-2592020 to lodge complaints.

This article is courtesy from The Star Metro

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BASE jumping is a sport which uses a parachute to jump from fixed objects. ‘BASE’ is an acronym that stands from the four categories of the objects – building, antenna, span and Earth.

One of the BASE jumpers leaping off Penang’s 65-storey Komtar tower.

The event was part of the KL Tower International Jump 2008 with its tagline ‘The Ultimate Test of Courage.’ Nine local and 11 foreign jumpers from as far as United States, Japan, France, Brazil, Norway and Australia took part.

From Penang, Mohd Idrus Mohd Yusop, 41, said he enjoyed the jump because the height was very ideal although the landing area was limited.

Another BASE jumper descending down from Komtar tower.

“Jumping off towers is safer than the antics of Mat Rempit because it is a form of sports which requires discipline to ensure a safe jump,” he said on Saturday after his feat.

When asked about its dangers, the full-time BASE jump co-ordinator said he had a brush with death in 2006 when his parachute broke as he was coming down from KL Tower but he managed to land on a tree branch.

“I don’t blame anyone, only myself. I was careless. The good thing about this sport is how it puts discipline above everything else. Thus, it’s good for youths,” he said.

He also said he had done 280 BASE jumps and 1,850 sky dives, adding that one needed to do at least 150 sky dives before being able to take up BASE jumping.

Australian Gary Cunningham, one of the world’s top BASE jumpers, said he liked the view of the inner city as he was gliding down from Komtar.

When asked what his thoughts were at that time, his automatic reply was “opening the parachute at the right time.”

The 36-year-old, whose first jump was at age 16, had performed similar feats in at least 10 countries including France, Switzerland, China, United States and Norway.

He said the lowest building he had jumped from was the 87m Menara Pelita in Kuching.

Also present were KL Tower chief executive officer Datuk Zulkifli Mohamad and Penang Development Corporation general manager Datuk Rosli Jaafar.

Besides the thrilling jumps, local artistes at a mini-concert also entertained the crowd throughout the day.

The event’s finale will be at Menara Kuala Lumpur (Aug 29-31) and Menara TM (Aug 31).

This article is courtesy from The Star Metro

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Penang Tourism Development, Culture, Arts and Heritage Com-mittee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang said the state would invite Asian countries to promote their culture to Penang.

Law (right) checking out the stalls at the fair at New World Park.

Law was speaking at a press conference after launching the Thai Culture and Cuisine 2008 fair at New World Park recently.

“Apart from the myriad of Chi-nese, Indian and Malay celebrations, we also observe Thai festivals such as the Songkran Festival and the Loy Krathong in Penang.

“This year, the Loy Krathong festival will be held in a bigger scale in November at Esplanade for the first time.”

“This is a form of culture exchange which will enhance bilateral ties between Penang and Thailand,” he said.

Law said an Irish cultural festival would be held at Padang Brown from Oct 10 to Oct 12.

“There would be cultural performances and Irish football during the three-day celebration,” he said, adding that the state was also looking at organising an Indian cultural festival and a Bangladesh cultural festival. At the 10-day Thai Culture and Cuisine 2008 fair organised by the Thai Consulate in Penang, a total of 50 stalls have been set up, showcasing Thai products and delicacies from Songkhla, Satun Pattani, Hadyai and Yala provinces.

Thai consul-general Manopchai Vongphakdi said the fair was aimed at enhancing bilateral ties between Thailand and Malaysia.

“Many Thai students come to study in Penang and there are also Thai food and drinks available in the state.

“We hope to foster further understanding and cultural promo between the two countries,” he said.

This article is courtesy from The Star Metro

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Besides being taken on a sightseeing tour, the visitors were also hosted to dinner by the Penang Turf Club.

The delegation, led by Minister of Emergency Services Neil Roberts, had earlier visited Kuala Lumpur.

The visiting MPs were Vicky Darling (MP for Queensland), Timothy Nicholls (Clayfield) Carryn Sullivan (Pumicestone), Wayne Wendt (Ipswich West), Philip Gray (Gaven), Rosemary Menkens (Burdekin) and Russ Mackie, who is business manager, SEA, Trade Queensland and delegation manager Malaysia and Singapore.

Cheers:Penang Turf Club senior committee member Datuk Seri Teh Choon Beng(left)proposing a toast to Roberts(centre)during a dinner at Batu Gantong recently. Looking on is the club president Datuk Ong Eng Khuan.

Darling said she had heard many good things about Penang from friends, adding that her maiden visit here proved they were correct.

“We were also pampered with good food and showered with so much care. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Penang Turf Club for their kind hospitality.

“In Australia, I must admit that we sort of lack this kind of mentality where the host personally serves you food, one after another,” quipped Darling.

The visitors were treated to a splendid buffet spread including satay, fish curry and noodle.

“When we were in Kuala Lumpur, we also sampled a wide range of local delicacies but the food in Penang is much better.

“The satay and fish curry top my list. I’m sure to put on a few kilos before I leave for home, believe me,” said Darling.

Nicholls was impressed with the heritage legacy Penang had to offer.

“I certainly think that Penang being listed as an Unesco World Heritage Site is justified.

“The cultural and natural heritage of any country are irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration,” he said.

Before they left for home, both Darling and Nicholls promised that they would be back for another visit, and the idea was to stay longer and it must be strictly a family affair, they said.

This article is courtesy from The Star Metro

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They are restricted from using the bridge between 6.30am and 8.30am as well as between 5pm and 7pm.

Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd (PBSB) said the heavy vehicles comprised Class 4 lorries with two axles as well as those with five or six wheels, Class 5 and Class 6 lorries, trailers and trucks with three axles and four axles respectively, and Class 7 vehicles with five axles and more.

Heavy vehicles that need to transport their goods during peak hours can apply for an exemption.

PPSB said Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamad had delegated power to the northern region director of the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) to allow the exemption. Companies or agencies wishing to get the exemption are required to write to MHA’s northern region office.

PPSB also said slow-moving vehicles were prohibited from using the bridge from 6am to midnight. These vehicles are motorcycles with attached sidecars, three-wheeled vans, road rollers, forklifts, excavators, road pavers, tractors, bulldozers and graders. For further details of the type of vehicles, log onto www.penangbridge.com.my.

For traffic enquiries and to contact the Bridge Response Team for assistance during emergencies, call the PBSB’s 24-hour hotline at 1300-1300-03.

This article is courtesy from The Star Metro

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Park, a teacher, made the remark while accompanying about 20 South Korean students from the Cheon Song Middle School to the Great Durian Festival 2008 in Bukit Gantang, Perak, last Saturday.

Park’s remark however contradicted with that of his charges.

Chae Jin Hyeok, 14, and most of his fellow students kept a safe distance from a cluster of durians laid out near their tables.

“It smells so bad and I can’t eat it,” said Chae.

But Chae gave the thumbs up for the rambutans and mangosteens which he described as “very sweet, cooling and nice to eat”.

Park, Chae and the rest of the delegation were later led to a wooden house nearby which had been refurbished into a homestay facility under a special programme funded by the Tourism Ministry.

Park said they had just arrived a day earlier and were eager to visit fruit farms in the vicinity as well as experience the villagers’ way of life as it was their first visit to Malaysia.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, who opened the festival, suggested that other tropical fruits be showcased rather than concentrating mainly on durians.

The festival, initiated by former Changkat Jering assemblyman Datuk Md Isa Ismail two years ago, who is now Perak Tourism Action Council chairman, was a let down in terms of attendance.

Fewer than 3,000 people were present unlike previous years where the crowd was three or four times bigger, forcing traffic flow along the Changkat Jering-Kuala Kangsar road to a snail’s pace.

Kampung Jelutong resident Yusri Zan Mohd Yusof, 23, who is also a fruit seller, said the public was probably misled by a radio deejay’s announcement that it was three-day festival commencing on Friday.

He said the durians only reached the festival venue on Saturday and not on Friday as announced on radio.

“Moreover many villagers here are aware that most of the durians exhibited came from elsewhere such as Batu Kurau and Pahang because the durian season in Bukit Gantang is nearly over,” he added.

He suggested that the organisers plan the timing of the festival to coincide with the durian season in Bukit Gantang in future and not flood the festival venue with one or two-day old durians harvested from other locations.

However, a Taiping resident who wished to be identified only as Miss Ng, 45, said she did not mind as she could eat as much as she could for free.

Ng reasoned that the smaller crowd could be due to another durian-eating festival organised by PLUS at the nearby Bukit Gantang lay-by of the North South Expressway on the same day where for a payment of RM6.90, durian lovers could eat as many durians and other local fruits as they want.

Tourists enjoying the durians at the launch of the festival.

This article is courtesy from The Star Metro

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The former IT trainer and consultant who has been teaching the dialect for more than three years, said what was important was a “keen interest”.

“I have developed a proper syllabus content for my basic and level 1 to 5 students who are taught comprehension, conversational skills and composition.

“My foreign students can pick up the vocabulary easily. It is only their pronunciation and intonation that may be slightly difficult – they still speak with a slang,” she laughed, adding that her Dutch student had a wider vocabulary than some of the locals.

“They are surprised when he corrects them. Penang Hokkien uses many Malay words like batu (stone) and mata (police) because of the Baba Nyonya influence but there are Hokkien words to describe them. For instance, not many people know that the Hokkien word for police is keng chat,” she explained.

Ironically, the 56-year-old said although she taught working adults, college students and professionals the dialect, her nieces and nephews could not speak it well.

“My students are Indians, Malays and expatriates who want to learn Hokkien to be accepted by the local community, yet local Chinese are reluctant to speak it with their children.

“I constantly have to persuade my nieces and nephews to speak to me in Hokkien. When they do speak in Hokkien, it is not very choon (Hok-kien for accurate).

“I do not know if it is still happening now but back when I was in school, the prefects used to ‘fine’ us 10 sen each time we spoke in a local dialect because they were trying to promote the use of English and Bahasa Malaysia. I think this is not good because it will cause local dialects to die off,” she said.

Learn to Speak PHD — Penang Hokkien Dialect author Tan Choon Hoe said most of the expatriates who studied with him were either married to Penangites or are long-stay visitors.

“My students Albert Kordesch and Steve Melemma said their wives refused to teach them because they would always end up arguing.

“I remember Steve saying how happy he was when he could understand a man saying sam gor khor (RM35) to his wife when they were buying groceries at the market,” he said.

Tapestry of Baba Poetry author Johny Chee advised those keen on learning “pure” Penang Hokkien to approach native speakers of the older generation.

“To master the dialect, one must not only learn the words and phonetics well — it is also important to embrace the culture which includes traditional songs and poetry.

“Start composing your own ditties. My book and CD is a creative attempt to get people interested in Penang Hokkien. My purpose was also record our culture for future generations. That is why I included many words that are no longer in use,” he said.

Embrace culture: Chee and Annie Lim putting on a Baba Nyonnya show at the George Town heritage site listing celebration recently.

This article is courtesy from The Star Metro

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Gemstone dealer Ronni Pinsler, 58, considers himself a local, having been “in and out” of Penang since 1971.

“I am able to communicate but not to the extent of discussing Jungian theories,” Pinsler who is married to a Malaysian, said.

“I took classes to better communicate with my wife’s family.

“Penang Hokkien is an exotic hybrid. My main reason for learning it is to facilitate my ongoing research into Taoist and folk religion practices,” he said, adding that the most difficult aspect of picking up the dialect was the intonation.

“For example, buy and sell both have similar pronunciations but the tone used is different. Also, I tend to confuse it with Singapore Hokkien.

Asked about his favourite phrase, Pinsler said there were many.

Learning Hokkien: Pinsler (left) and Gijzel at the Hokkien class.

“Recently I learnt chiak bay pa, goh bay si (eat not full, starve won’t die). I often use mm chye si (not scared to die) when I come across inconsiderate drivers. They always look astonished,” he said, adding that he also liked the onomatopoeia “you so neoow one” (you are very stingy).

He noted that it made “all the difference” when one was able to speak the dialect here.

“Folks everywhere are delighted when you take the trouble to learn the local dialect and it shows clearly on their faces and in their actions. It definitely helps in getting discounts. Besides, there is nothing better than knowing the local language to break ice when meeting someone for the first time.

“Penang is the last bastion of the patois we refer to as the Penang Hokkien dialect. It’s a blend of local tongues, which makes it so attractive. But speaking it doesn’t mean you are understood in China’s Hokkien province, Fujien.

“As more young folks revert to the more cosmopolitan Mandarin, we will lose our ability to speak it,” he warns.

Manager Luc de Gijzel, 38, has lived in Penang for more than three-and-a-half years and can speak “basic sentences”.

“Whenever I speak to someone in Hokkien, he is surprised but will reply in English. I think this has something to do with local politeness – to speak in a language the other person is most comfortable in,” he said, adding that his favourite phrase was bo boon tay (no problem).

“It can be used on every occasion and never fails to impress people.”

M. Sukirivan, 40, who spent half his life in Penang, rates his proficiency as “5/10 at conversing and 7/10 at understanding”.

“It is actually not difficult to learn because I have friends who help and most people are very encouraging.

“I picked up the dialect so that it would be easier to communicate with my colleagues. It is so much more convenient for daily transactions.

Software engineer Siti Baizura, 24, agrees.

“My office mates are mostly Chinese. Speaking Penang Hokkien will make it easier to communicate,” the beginner said, adding that her favourite phrase was wa chia loo chut looi (I treat, you pay).

“The dialect is very unique because it is mixed with Malay words. This diversity is what attracted me to learn it,” she said.

All four are currently learning the dialect at the YMCA.

Penang Adventist Hospital paediatric cardio surgeon Dr Zildomar Deucher said he took Penang Hok-kien classes to communicate with his patients and the community.

“I find it very hard to get the right tone especially when it does not have a common ground with my mother tongue – Portuguese.

“I don’t mind if people laugh at my pronunciation but I’m more worried that they might not understand what I’m trying to say,” he quipped.

Australian nationals Pat Jones and her husband Alan picked up the dialect from their local friends.

“Once, when I tried to bargain, the locals started talking about me – I know what ang mor means. Even though I could not really understand everything they were talking about, I threw the things back at the seller and said kam sia (thank you).

“She was shocked,” Pat said, adding that she would consider signing up for classes.

Alan said it was not easy for the elderly couple to remember new words although they were trying to learn.

“Most people here speak English so it makes us lazier to learn the dialect,” he laughs.

This article is courtesy from The Star Metro

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Australian tourists Kate Beckett, 30, and her boyfriend Jamie Wallis, 36, said it was important to preserve the cultural sights in Penang.

The heritage buildings in Georgetown.

They had visited the clan jetties, E&0 Hotel, Fort Cornwallis and Goddess of Mercy temple.

Ayders: These are old colonial buildings that should be kept as part of history.

Steve Teper, 59, from the United States said he found George Town a great city, adding that the announcement was just fabulous.

“George Town deserves to be listed and I enjoy visiting the heritage buildings in the city,” he said.

Australian tourist Elizabeth Ayders, 57, hoped for more heritage buildings to be retained.

“It is a pity to see some of the heritage buildings being demolished and blocks going up.

“These are the old colonial buildings that should be kept as part of history,’’ she said.

School teacher Dorothy Ramplin, 65, said some new buildings were ugly.

“I prefer the heritage buildings, especially the Cheong Fatt Tze mansion,” said the Australian tourist.

Leong: I love Penang very much especially the heritage buildings.

IT manager Frederic Misheletti, 35, who came from France with his family and friends said George Town was a great city which deserved to be preserved.

“Congratulations to the people of George Town,” he said.

Artist Alex Leong, 39, who loves to draw heritage buildings, said:

“I love Penang very much especially the heritage buildings, which is why I draw them so that I can still see them some day when they’re gone,” he said.

On Monday evening, Unesco accorded George Town and Malacca World Heritage Sites status when the Paris-based World Heritage Council met in Quebec, Canada.

King Edward’s Place clock tower are among Penang’s famous tourist attractions.

Among the historical sites in George Town are Lebuh Acheh historical enclave, Lebuh Acheh Malay Mosque, Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Kling Mosque, Goddess of Mercy Temple, Khoo Kongsi, St George’s Church, Assumption Church, St Xavier’s Institution, Convent Light Street, Little India, the museum and court building, the commercial area of Beach Street, Fort Cornwallis, Esplanade, City Hall, the clan jetties and the port areas.

This article is courtesy from The Star Metro

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