Dear Members, Thank you for your vote of confidence in myself and your new Board at the 2007 AGM on 9th May. It was great to have 63 of you there for the meeting, a great talk by Chris Syer and for the lunch in the Ballroom at the Royal Selangor Club. We will endeavour to keep the MCG a vibrant and wonderful group to be a member of. Please continue to support MCG by attending the wonderful events they organise on your behalf. This is an extremely loyal and hard working group of volunteers who give generously of their time to make the MCG what we all enjoy today – I have certainly enjoyed working with them all over the last few months and am now very honoured to have been asked to lead them into the future. For those of you, who do not know me; let me indulge in sharing a little background about me. I arrived in KL from New Zealand in Jan 2006 to accompany my husband Steve on a 3 year posting as the Defence Adviser at the NZ High Commission. I joined the MCG in August and instantly found it to be an interesting group to be a part of. I took over from Lynne Clark the role of Membership Secretary on Nov 1. It gave me the opportunity to keep those "administration manager" skills finely tuned – not that I was missing working full time at all!! The group has had a very busy schedule of events over the last few weeks and there is more in store for you all during June and July although traditionally these are quieter months as many people head away on summer holidays. This newsletter will be the June/July. If you go away on holiday, have a safe and happy time and we look forward to catching up with you again when you return. Mark these dates in your diary and make your on-line bookings as soon as you receive the relevant MCG Events e-mail notice. Wednesday 6 June – Monthly Lecture – Editorial Independence and Media Freedom in Malaysia – Sonia Randhawa Tuesday 12 June – Malaysian Politics – Bridget Welch Thursday 21 June – Tibetan Travel Tips – Nisha Dobberstein Tuesday 3 July – Afternoon Tea at Carcosa Thursday 5 July—Sarawak's last frontiers—Bob Teoh - Lin Streefkerk PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
REPORTS FROM PREVIOUS EVENTS Explorers' trip to Sharifah Zuriah Alijeffri's
studio 24 Explorers members met at the home and studio of Chinese Brush artist, Sharifah Zuriah Alijeffri on Monday March 12. Zuriah is the first Malay artist to paint in the Chinese brush style and is considered to have, "made a cultural bridge in Malaysian society."
Upon our arrival, Zuriah greeted us with a beautiful table of snacks and coffee. After introductions were made by Kate Reddington, Zuriah told us about her beginnings with Chinese brush art. In 1976, when looking for something new to do, Zuriah signed up for a class in brush painting from Malaysian artist Anthony Sum. She studied with him for 3 years. While studying with Anthony Sum, Zuriah had her first gallery show. Since that time she has participated in 13 major group exhibitions and 8 solo exhibitions.
In 1992 Zuriah began to use Arabic calligraphy with her Chinese brush technique. She is quick to tell you that she is not a calligrapher; she is a painter who paints calligraphy. Zuriah never studied calligraphy. She says, "I look at words and interpret them."
Zuriah's most recent exhibit was in 2003. Titled: Compassion – Peace- Justice. The paintings were inspired by the letters in Chapter 14 of the Qura'n Ha Mim- They represent the duality of life; good/evil, truth/lies, faith/unfaithful. Zuriah says that she "paints the Attributes of God. Ar-Rahim (the Compassionate), As-Salam (the Source of Peace) and Al-Adl (the Just) to convey the need for Compassion in our hearts, Peace in our relationship and Justice in our action in order to have a harmonious co-existence."
After telling us about her history as an artist and her personal journey, Zuriah brought us up to her studio area to see her work and to give us a short demonstration of the Chinese brush technique. A few of our more brave Explorers gave a try after her demonstration.
Through her art, Zuriah has traveled throughout the world. She has been to the US on a Fulbright grant, been to Croatia with a group of woman from all religions, participated in a Human Rights conference in Vietnam in 1993. At home in Malaysia she is a founding member of Sisters In Islam, is a Juvenile Court advisor and has served on multiple boards for various Art Societies.
I could write 5000 words about our morning with Zuriah. There is serenity in Zuriah that translates through her to her home and her art. She has stated that, "Her art and her life merge as ONE." Each of us took a bit of that serenity with us that morning.
Annette Hallowell
Monthly Lecture: Professor Datuk Khoo kay . on
the Malay Sultanates Professor Khoo started his talk with the definition of a Malay ruler. The Malay title for the most supreme leader was "Raja", of Hindu origin. The term Sultan only came into use later with the introduction of Islam. In Malay, Raja is still the most widely used term to refer to a ruler, even if they have the title of Sultan. Another common way of addressing the ruler is "Yang di Pertuan" which literally means "He who is made Lord". This highlights the most interesting feature of Malay Sultanates and monarchy: the sultan is an elected ruler. The position is not transmitted from father to son.
This is very different from the European tradition. Raffles used the European hereditary system to install the elder brother of the Sultan of Johor, ignoring Malays custom, to obtain British rule over Singapore. The British argued that the Sultan of Johor, Tengku Rahman, could not be the legitimate ruler as he was not the eldest son. The British then enthroned his elder brother, Tengku Hussein, as the legitimate Sultan of Johor and made him sign a treaty that gave Singapore to the British crown in 1819.The Malays never recognized Tengku Hussein as Sultan of Johor: he had not been elected and hence could not be the ruler. So for the Malays he was known the Sultan of Singapore. Another specificity of the Malay system is the notion of Kingdom in itself. In Malay it is called a Kerajaan, which translates into "the situation of having a raja". The notion of territory is not emphasized. This comes from the Austronesian traditions and the early kingdoms of the region which were centered around the ruler and not the geographic capital or the land.
independent kingdoms (wrongly translated as "state" by the British), which were known collectively under the term Malaya. The British formalized their presence in Malaya in 1867 when the British settlements of Penang, Dinding (around actual Pangkor), Malacca and Singapore became colonies of the British crown and known as the Strait Settlements. For the rest of Malaya, treaties were signed with the ruling Sultan or Raja. These treaties allowed the British to come in and run the administration but sovereignty was always with the Malay rulers. The British only completely colonized Malaysia for 2 years after WWII, but that lead to rebellion and insurrection amongst the local people and finally the creation of Malaysia on 31 st August 1957. This is actually when sovereignty was transferred from the Sultans and Rajas to the people and when Malaysia became a democracy.
However, the ruler has always had, and still has, a tremendous power over his people. Although today he only has a constitutional power, his aura is still very strong: one cannot expect to challenge a sultan and win!
It is interesting to note that the British never tried to dismantle the kingdoms as they did in India. On the contrary they did try to maintain the kingdoms and used them in their administration of the country. So much so, that they established a school to train the Rajas and the royal families. That school, Kuala Kangsar College (MCKK) was considered the Eton of Malaysia, and inculcated the British traditions and value to its students. In 1919, the Malays were admitted in the Malayan Civil Service (MCS) and later in the Malayan Administrative Service (MAS). During the Japanese occupation, the administration was entirely run by the Malays. The founders of UMNO (United Malays National Organization) mostly came from the MCKK and the civil service, in a sense recreating a ruling class with the new democratic system.
Malaysia today consists of 13 states and 3 Federal Territories as follows:
The 9 original kingdoms headed by a Sultan or Raja who take turns to act as the King of Malaysia every 5 years.
Kedah : the oldest kingdom, dating from the 7 th century and of Indian Origin Pahang : the dynasty of Raja Muhammad, son of Sultan Mansur Shah of Malacca started in 1470 Johor: founded in 1528 by another son of Mansur Shah, Sultan Alaudin Riayat Shah Perak: founded by yet another son of Mansur Shah, Sultan Muzaffa Shah also in 1528 Terangganu : in 1699 by Zainal Abidin I Selangor : created in 1766 by Sultan Lumu Negeri Sembilan : founded in 1773 by Raja Melawar Kelantan : founded in 1775 by Long Yunus Perlis was the last kingdom established under the rule of Raja Syed Sapee in 1841
Malacca is not counted as one of the 9 original kingdoms, as it does not have a Sultan today. The date of its establishment is not certain, but is thought to be Around 1400. Penang Sabah Sarawak The Federal Territories : - Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Labuan
Professor Khoo shared with us a lot more, adding many anecdotes to his talk. We were very fortunate that he came to share his experience and knowledge with members of the MCG.
Marie Tseng
Explorers - An Activity Morning spent with Malaysian
Artist - Yusof Gajah Our tour this month took us to a location in the centre of KL. We met Yusof Gajah in his studio in the annex of Central Market. Yusolf was born in Negeri Sembilan. His chosen artistic style is "naive art". This is a form of art where the artist is not bound by formalities such as following the rules of shapes and form - hence it often results in artistic impressions of what the author feels about the object rather than depicting the object as it is.
He gave us a brief talk on his interest and passion for art and on how he became an artist. He went to art school in Indonesia. He explained to us how he became interested in painting his famous elephants. One of his earliest childhood memories was of taking a ride on an elephant whilst visiting a zoo with his parents. As he says " After 40 years of painting elephants, I have not run out of ideas on how to depict this wonderful creature" He also paints colourful landscapes - "his spirit runs free".
Following Yusof's interesting talk we got down to "work"! We were sat at a long table with drawing paper, pencils and rubbers to hand. We then set to - practising our drawing skills. We were to draw and then paint an animal picture on to linen bags which he had provided. It was no surprise that the elephant was the most popular animal chosen and many were drawn in the style of Yusolf's elephants. Paint brushes and paints of every colour were produced and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves - mixing colours and painting away. I wonder if this "paint in" may prove to have unleashed any budding new artists? After a couple of hours - and a very happy morning, we left "parading" our new bags over our shoulders!
Yusof Gajah runs workshops from his studios (he also has one in City Square) and helps people get started as artists. He is happy to teach individually or in groups - children and adults. He is also happy to do children's parties. Accompanying him everywhere he goes is his wife Zakiah Md Isa - she assists him in many ways and is his "pillar of strength" She can usually be found at one or other of his studios to help and answer any questions. Following our artistic morning we went to the "Precious Old China Cafe" on the first floor in Central Market for lunch. We all had the Set Menu - Lime juice, Kari Kapton Chicken followed by Burbur Cha Cha - all for the price of RM12. 80! It was a good conclusion to a happy morning. Gill Read
MONTHLY LECTURE In the past decade 360 new species, that is about 3 a month, have been discovered in Borneo. The clouded Leopard, Pygmy Elephant, orangutan and striped Rabbit are only a few of the 20% of these new species that are indigenous only to Borneo. At the same time, the rate of natural forest deforestation is about 1.3 million hectares, or 20 times the size of Singapore, per year. This massive rate of deforestation will, in the next 15-20 years, eliminate the fertile forests of Borneo. Darius Sarshar, of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) presented these sobering facts on April 18, in the Monthly lecture, 'The Forests and Forest people of Borneo'. The WWF, established in 1961, operates in more than 100 countries 'working for a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.' The WWF focuses on six key areas of interest, climate change, forests, freshwater, marine, species and sustainability. Darius works specifically in the Global Forest and Trade Network which concentrates efforts in providing a model for timber companies for responsible management of forests, promoting 'good wood' projects and social and environmental aspects. During the presentation the discussion focused on deforestation, that is, loss of natural forests, which has a lasting impact on climate, animal and plant life and indigenous peoples. Land is cleared for Palm Oil Plantations, Cattle Ranches, shifting cultivation and other money making activities. Logging concessions have already been established in many areas of Borneo and only a small amount of natural forests are left protected. Within Borneo there are 200 languages and or dialects spoken and 4.5 million indigenous people. These people often claim agricultural areas for ritual rites or for hill rice cultivation. Often these areas are not clearly marked and overlap within existing logging concession areas. This has resulted in many conflicts and in some cases blockades which affect the logging of the forests. Fortunately this devastating reality has a positive side. There is an effort by the three nations of Borneo to protect the area called, 'The Heart of Borneo'. This is in the center, highland area of Borneo, which is about 30% of the island and comprises about 22 million hecctares. This is contiguous natural forests with minimal deforestation damage. The WWF has reported that with sustainable logging programs it is possible to make money from the forest while keeping the forest intact and allowing the indigenous people to live happily. By logging 1-2 trees or 1.6% from of a 'block' of the forest and then allowing that 'block' to grow for 30-40 years before logging another 1-2 trees from that same 'block', sustainable logging will be successful. Currently about 10% of the world's timber is traded through GFTN. By focusing on certified forest Products, that is, using wood that is traceable back to its origin, the Global Forest and Trade Network, will be successful. In fact, the next and last Harry Potter novel, due out this July, will be printed on FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) paper! Here are a few hints to help with the GFTN effort: 1) Buy wood products that carry the WWF Panda logo, 2) Buy FSC products, ex: ECO wood flooring, 3) Buy from responsible vendors, such as IKEA, Carrefour etc. 4) Continue to read the news for updates on WWF activities. For more information please consult the following: http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/forests/index.cfm ;
Introduction to the Sikh Religion The MCG was most fortunate to have the very unique opportunity to visit Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya this month, for a fascinating look at the world's youngest, barely 500 years old and fifth largest religion, the Sikh Religion. Mr Hari Singh, kindly donated his time and captivated our audience with a very informative talk about Sikhism, which started with one man in the 15 th century. Guru Nanak Dev Ji , who spread the simple message of "Ek Ong Kar" we are all one created by the one creator of all Creation. This was at a time when India was being torn apart by castes, sectarianism, religious factions and fanaticism. Founded on the principals of tolerance and equality, Guru Nanak expressed "Sat Nam" God is the Truth that sits within the soul of every being and that with daily action, words and worship, God can be experienced in this lifetime. Guru Nanak inspired his followers, who began to be called Sikhs (learners) by his beautiful poetry and by singing the divine songs to teach his message. He travelled all over India and other parts of Asia bare foot, to study the ideology of all religions. He was succeeded by a line of 9 Gurus (teachers) over a 230year period who carried on his work. Finally after the principals were added to, tried and tested, they were compiled in 1708 in the "Sri Guru Granth Sahib" the Holy Book of sacred writings 1,430 pages of spiritual messages. All ten Gurus reside spiritually within the "Guru Granth Sahib" the scriptures are the living embodiment of the Gurus and are regarded with the utmost reverence and respect. It was translated into English in the early 1800's. Often said it was a religion before its time, the Sikh ideal opposes superstition, rituals, social injustice, and social inequality. The status of women is one of respect and equality they can become priests and leaders. Created by the 10 th and last Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, the Sikh form known as the "Khalsa" is a sisterhood and brotherhood devoted to purity of thought and action. It reminds the Sikhs of their commitment and helps maintain an elevated state of consciousness. Every Sikh baptised Khalsa vows to wear the 5K's. Kesh- uncut hair and beard as given by God, to sustain him or her in higher consciousness and a turban, the crown of spirituality Khanga - the wooden comb to properly groom the hair as a symbol of cleanliness Katchera -specially made cotton underwear as a reminder of the commitment to purity Kara- a steel bangle worn on the wrist signifying bondage to truth and freedom from entanglements Kirpan- the sword with which the Khalsa is committed to defend the fine line of the truth The cornerstone of the Sikh way of life is: *to get up each day before sunrise for prayers and meditation *to work and earn an honest living and to live a family life *to share with the poor and needy ,being an inspiration to the community As an example, the famous Golden Temple in Amritsar in northern India staffed by volunteers, serves some 75,000 meals per day through its free kitchen to anyone from any race religion or background. This is a truly inspiring religion and an enormous and fascinating subject. There are 115 Gurwaras (Sikh Temples) in Malaysia. The MCG was most honoured to tour the Temple and receive a blessing from the priests. We were able to see the enormous kitchen which produces hundreds of meals at a time ,and later enjoyed a delicious vegetarian lunch of curries ,dhal with chapattis ,fruits, sweets and chai. We are most thankful to our MCG member Amarat Gill and her dear friends for looking after us so well. Much thanks again to Mr Hari Singh for his enlightening talk and valuable time. Deborah Salyer
Explorers visit the UNHCR The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is an international organization with a mandate to protect refugees. Refugees are those persons who are forced to flee their homeland due to persecution and/or violence. The Explorers visited the Office of the UNHCR on Jalan Bukit Petaling, just behind Istana Negara, on April 16. An informative overview of the refugee situation in Malaysia was given by UNHCR External Relations Officer Yante Ismail, followed by questions and discussion and a tour of the refugee center. Ms. Ismail explained that as of March 2007, there were some 43,000 persons of concern registered with the UNHCR in Malaysia. Approximately 75% of this group are ethnic minorities from Myanmar such as Rohingas and Chins who are fleeing persecution and violence in Myanmar. The Office of UNHCR in Malaysia is staffed by 80 people and is responsible for registering and documenting refugees, determining valid refugee status, protecting the safety and welfare of refugees, and finding durable solutions and resettlement of refugees. The status of a refugee living in Malaysia is complicated. Since Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees, it has no specific legal obligation to protect refugees in its country. In fact, Malaysian law does not recognize a refugee and does not grant them official refugee status. They are in principal considered illegal immigrants and are subject to arrest, detention and deportation. They have no access to legal employment and their children have no access to education. There are no refugee camps in Malaysia. Instead they live in various refugee communities scattered throughout Malaysia, often near construction sites where they seek employment and in make-shift camps in the jungle near Selangor. The UNHCR has over the past two years established a constructive working relationship with some Malaysian authorities to address numerous issues relating to refugees. Malaysia has demonstrated a humanitarian commitment, if not legal obligation, towards the protection of refugees in this country. The UNHCR also works with volunteers to help refugees living in Malaysia. Areas where volunteers are needed include teaching (English, Bahasa Malaysia, computer and business skills); coordination of resources (cash and in kind) to UNHCR, NGOs or the communities; special events organized to assist refugees; and areas of special skill including lawyers, doctors and health practitioners, teachers, writers, etc. Contact: UNHCR Volunteer Coordinator, 03-2141-1322 or mlslu@unhcr.org . Annette Long
BOOK CLUB REPORTS Group
I If there is one topic that could elicit so much passion and discussion amongst our Book Group it is the central theme chosen by the first time author on the subject of love and desire. It starts off with the story of an ordinary young couple, the narrator, a budding writer himself and his beautiful wife Fizz who are absolutely besotted and utterly desirous of each other. The author spares no bones in the description of this desire and passion, whilst at times becoming too repetitive, all this saved by incredibly good writing style. The story takes a turn when the narrator is handed an inheritance from his grandmother (who herself led quite an incredible life during the Partition and opposed her grandson's relationship with a Muslim girl). They buy their own place in the hills which as it turns out has a hideous past. Buried in the house were journals written by an American adventuress, Catherine.
This novella within the novel takes on a life of its own and we are transported into another world altogether, where Catherine comes to India because of her love for the country and the Nawab's son. Again the central theme of love and desire is emphasized and repeated, except that this time the past meets the present, and our young narrator is haunted by the spirit of the woman in the past which pulls him away from his wife.
On the whole we loved the lyrical writing style and choice of words that it was actually much like poetry in motion. So as not to keep us bored with his central theme, the author very cleverly managed to weave in many other stories about the history and peoples of India i.e. the Partition, the racial and religious divide, and the city rural differences. The description of characters was compelling and even the very simple rural folks could evoke empathy in us, such was the style of his writing.
An interesting point which we discussed was the observation made by the writer with regard to the English language. He said " …English as a language reflects the character of the English, which is understated, cool, reserved but the Indian reality is exactly the opposite-it is emotional, loud, clamorous, over heated. There is thus a dejunct between the language and the reality that one is portraying. So you have to bend and look for innovative ways of telling the story " We generally shared this sentiment and, having read the stories of India and its people, agreed that Tarun Tejpal successfully used the English language so well to illustrate the multi dimensional nature of India. We recommend this read even if only for readers to reflect on whether love and desire are indeed the central driving impulses in our life!
Azizah Mohd Noor
Group
II City of Djinns is a well written book interweaving a humorous but realistic pen picture of New Delhi in the late 1980s with an investigation into the history of Delhi through the ages by the author. From life of Anglo-Indian generals of the Mughals before the East India company to archeology of the Mahabharata, the 1984 riots, Sufism across India, life of eunuchs in today's Delhi, the writer investigates so many interesting things. For those in our book club who had traveled to India, whether it was recently or 50 years ago, the book brought back many memories as Dalrymple has captured the chaos and charm of India. It is one of those books that open a hundred little peepholes. For those in the book club unfamiliar with India, the book was interestingly less satisfying and instead they noted that the structure was confusing as day-to-day travelogue was interspersed with historical notes on architecture, religion and colonialism in a non-linear fashion. This book is really a history of Delhi, starting with modern times and progressing backwards to the very origins of the city. Dalrymple tells the story through his own visits to various sites and people in the city and interjects modern stories that add color to the city and its history. There is a large emphasis on architecture, which shows up in some of Dalyrmple's other writings, but is especially appropriate for Delhi with its long history of grand architectural projects and civil planning, and its current collection of Mogul, Raj and modern buildings. But in the end, it is Dalyrmple's handling of the characters, his severe Sikh landlady and her eccentric husband with his romantic interest in Dalrymple's wife, the old-maid sisters living in their dusty mansion like antique relics of the Raj; the Anglo-English retired railway engineer, and the secretive eunuchs that make this book really come alive. Sunita Varlamos
LIBRARY REPORT
If you haven't taken a look at this opus yet, you'll find that it covers all aspects of Malaysian history and culture in an introductory way. It's written by scholars and has plenty of illustrations, plus comprehensive bibliographies for those who want to delve more deeply.
Library hours in June will continue to be the first and third Fridays, 12:30-2:30, but in July and August (due to the librarian's running a bed and get your own breakfast for visiting children) by appointment only. Please send an email to minnasch@gmail.com to confirm your visit.
For those of you who borrowed books at the MCG coffee in October, please make arrangements to return them. And think about borrowing some new ones.
Please remember, there is a one-time membership fee of RM50 for use of the library.
In the latest in a series about some of the other library resources in KL, we take a look at the British Council Library. It is a fairly large collection, specializing in books about Great Britain, but also including many of general interest. In addition, there are children's books and materials for learning English. They also lend CDs, DVDs, videos and audio books.
But the British Council Library offers more than books. When you need something more definitive than the Internet for research (or when your Internet search comes up with sites that demand payment,) you can turn to their online databases for searching.
Need author and book review information for a book discussion?—try Infotrac Literature Resource Center; looking for something about an artist or musician?—Grove Art and Grove Music databases should have your answer. Other databases cover magazines, journals and newspapers, as well as the Encyclopedia Britannica, Oxford English Dictionary and Oxford Dictionary of National Biographies.
The British Council is located on Jalan Ampang on the ground floor of Wisma Selangor Dredging (up the street from the Tourist Center) and is open Monday-Friday, 9:00-9:00, Saturday 8:30-6:00.
Membership fees range from RM 50 to RM120, depending services and term. See www.britishcouncil.org.my and click on Library Services for more information.
Minna Schwarz-Seim
NEWSLETTER REPORT This is the June/July issue of the newsletter. The next issue will be in August. The deadline for sending in your articles/photos will be July 8. Please email your write ups to mcgevents@yahoo.com attention Newsletter.
For all those traveling within Malaysia or out of the country have a wonderful holiday.
Jaishree Balasubramanian
BOOKING POLICY FOR EVENTS Reservations Wait List Payments Cancellations Refunds Eligibility Event Participation Eligibility Your co-operation with the Booking Policy would be much appreciated by the Events Planning Team.
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