MCG IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE A RECIPROCAL "EVENTS ATTENDANCE" INVITATION : Bangkok, Jakarta, Hong Kong
If you are planning to be in any of these cities take your MCG membership card and participate in an event sponsored by one of our sister organizations at their "member" rates! We will be adding other organizations to this list shortly.

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NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS

You can submit articles to the editor at mcgevents@yahoo.com with 'newsletter' in the subject line. Deadline for the June newsletter is May 9.

Stories are edited for reasons of clarity, space or accuracy of expression. The opinions expressed in the MCG newsletter are those of the writers concerned and not necessarily those of the MCG.
- Lorna Wilkinson

REPORTS   FROM   PREVIOUS   EVENTS

EXPLORERS JANUARY 2005: The Twin Towers with a View

If you want to learn about the facts of large scale projects it always helps to know someone in the industry and luckily Mr Krishnasamy, the Project Manager of construction of the Petronas Twin Towers agreed to be our speaker today. Who better to speak of the building of these massive towers than he? We met downstairs near the MPO office, and were led by security to the 83rd floor, where you can view the whole of the city from Tower Two. After seeking our respective homes across the horizon, we moved to the video room, to listen to Krish and watch the video of the construction of the twin towers, before asking questions.

The Petronas Twin Towers were designed by Argentinian architect Cesar Pelli. A large group of American engineers and designers spent five years in Malaysia working with the construction companies and Malaysian architects, creating the towers, from May 1992 to May 1997. The two towers were constructed by two different companies - one from Korea and one from Japan, so the competition was fierce, even down to the last few days of final erection. The foundation under each tower is a 4.5 metre thick raft which containing 13,200 cubic metres of grade 60 reinforced concrete weighing around 32,550 tonnes and supported by 104 barette piles varying from 60 to 115 metres in length.

The floor plate design was based on geometric patterns common in architecture of Islamic heritage. There are: 65,000 square metres of stainless steel cladding in 33,000 panels; 77,000 square metres of vision glass in 32,000 windows; 160,000 cubic metres of concrete in the super structures; and 36,910 tonnes of steel in the beams, trusses and reinforcement.

There were over 7,000 men at work during the peak of the construction and over 1,000 on each tower.

The towers stand at 451.9 metres high, with 88 storeys in each tower, and 3.7 million square feet of office space. The pinnacles on each tower are 73.5 metres tall. There is a 58.4 metre double-decker skybridge linking the twin towers at the 41st and 42nd floor (170 metres above the ground level), weighing 750 tonnes. There are 29 double-decker high speed lifts in each tower, six heavy duty service lifts and four executive lifts. There are also ten escalators in each tower.

It cost 1.8 billion to build, and was officially opened on August 31, 1999. Tower One is occupied by Petronas (Petroleum Nasional Berhad), while Tower Two is occupied by Petronas' associate companies with any excess space leased out to multi nationals. There are many floors left not leased for future Petronas use, and in Tower Two, there are four floors near the skybridge, for the Petronas Club, housing four separate restaurants. The Petronas Twin Tower also houses an 864-seat acoustic distinction concert hall - the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas.

Next to the Twin tower is the premier shopping mall of Kuala Lumpur City Centre - Suria KLCC. The design of the mall utilizes maximum skylight from the spacious centre court for natural lighting, to befit the name Suria KLCC - "Suria" meaning sunshine. At the ground floor there are several cafes facing the beautiful KLCC Park. Outside Suria KLCC is the 20-hectare KLCC Park, part of the KLCC project designed by the late Brazilian landscapist Roberto Burle Marx. The park includes a Symphony Lake with two playful musical fountains at the esplanade just outside Suria KLCC, a two-acre kiddie playground with colourful child-safe play equipment, a public wading pool, patterned footpaths and a soft jogging track. Close to 2000 indigenous trees from 74 species are planted in the park with about 40 trees preserved and replanted from the former Selangor Turf Club.

Following the movie presentation we moved back down to the 42nd floor and were taken across the skybridge to view the landscape and gardens. We then enjoyed a lovely lunch at the Dualang Suite in the Petronas Club.
- Jenny Savage

THE MALAYSIAN PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, AN ORCHESTRA TO IMPRESS THE WORLD - 2nd February

Dr Marc Rochester, resident organist at the MPO and author of all programme books since the MPO's inception in 1997, gave the MCG a very candid and lively talk on February 2nd. His views on the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra are all the more interesting and valuable as Dr Rochester was a protagonist to the orchestra's gestation and birth.

To give you a bit of background, Dr Rochester started his musical career very young as a choir boy in Salisbury Cathedral, and as such would sing nearly every day. He learnt to play several musical instruments, including the organ, and went on to study in Cardiff, where he used to drive a bus (an accomplishment he prides himself on), and give music reviews on the radio.

His career as a music reviewer became more established, both in magazines and on the BBC. He first came to Malaysia as a piano examiner (as an interesting a parte, Dr Rochester shared with us that Malaysia had one of the world's highest proportions of students taking piano exams, a fact all the more bizarre as there is no classical music to be heard here on the radio, and very few classical concerts until the MPO started).

He was also asked by the Malaysian government to record the musical traditions of the indigenous people living in the area of the Bakun Dam and who were going to be displaced to leave way for the dam. Maybe the topic of another discussion?

The idea of a big musical project started, he explained, with a conservatory project: Dr Mahathir wanted to initiate a learning institution to develop local musical talent. However, Singapore shortly after declared that a civilized country was one with clean toilets and a world class concert, and Dr Rochester believes it may not be a coincidence that the conservatory project transmuted into an orchestra.

Petronas, with its deep pockets, was considered the right project master. Late Chairman Tan Sri Azizan also had a personal interest in music. Petronas also had its own agenda: in order to compete internationally for investment and interest from oil companies and financiers, it was not a bad thing to have a world class orchestra at home to impress these people. To achieve this, no expenses were spared.

Therein lies the answer to a common question: the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra was first of all created for Petronas' partners, not for the Malaysian public - which explains why sometimes it seems to only reluctantly service the local public.

Another common question is why the MPO doesn't have more Malaysian musicians. The answer is that the quality of the orchestra was not to be compromised, not even to give jobs to Malaysian musicians.

As a result, the MPO is, Dr Rochester believes, one of Asia's best orchestras. Comparing very favourably with UK orchestras such as the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the concert hall, the Dewan Philharmonic Petronas, is the best contemporary concert hall world wide.
- Jenny Daneels

ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE AND ITS SYMBOLIC SIGNIFICANCE - Friday, 4th March

Dr Amir Zekgroo is an Iranian photographer, artist and calligrapher, and is currently Professor of Islamic and Oriental Art at the International Islamic University in KL. He illustrated his talk with slides of buildings in his homeland, particularly in Isfahan and Kashan, and he focussed on their subjective and symbolic aspects.

In the architectural context 'Islamic' can refer to sacred, religious, or secular buildings. Secular buildings, like homes and markets are considered Islamic if they possess an appropriate style and do not conflict with the tenets of the faith. He didn't tell us much about the architectural vocabulary that make a building Islamic. I assume that the term refers to buildings that have certain characteristic features (eg pointed arches, onion domes, circles and squares) that reflect an underlying ethos. I guess you recognise it when you see it.

A mosque is obviously a religious building. What may make it sacred is not its style or purpose, but the calligraphy that decorates and embellishes it. To a Muslim, the stylised, flowing Arabic inscriptions and motifs are nothing less than the words of God. As an example we saw the mehrab from the 16th-17th century Imam's Mosque in Isfahan. A mehrab is a decorated niche found in most mosques. It is covered not with carvings (as would likely be in an equivalent Christian building) but with calligraphy. The lack of the statuary and the other characteristic of churches and Chinese temples make a mosque seem simple and bare. It symbolises the uncluttered mental state that is necessary if one is to be spiritually filled. The mehrab points to Mecca, or more specifically to the Kaaba. Here again, at the Muslim holy epicentre there is a plain block of stone.

The dome of the mosque, which is slightly pointed like a beehive, is decorated with repeating geometric patterns, inside and out, all linked and spiralling upwards towards heaven - another metaphor. The dominant motifs in all Islamic decoration are geometric and floral patterns. In Iran the patterns are characteristically on pieces of tile with a turquoise blue background.

In order to be aligned to Mecca, the Mosque is set at an angle to the huge Imam's Square in Isfahan in which, cheek by jowl with the mosque is the full life of the city. The mosque is not separate. It has its own courtyard with a pool, as is common in mosques. Water cools the summer heat, it is aesthetically pleasing, and gives reflections. But water has a particular symbolism for Muslims who inhabit some of the driest places on earth. The Koran teaches that God made everything in the world from water.

Paradoxically, 'Islamic' architecture may also be used for Christian churches. The ancient Vank church in Isfahan looks just like a mosque, with an onion dome - though without minarets.

An example of a religious, but not necessarily sacred building was the Madrasa in the city of Kashan. Here wind towers directed a cooling draught down through conduits into the building and its courtyards. The air passed through filters of damp straw, forming a primitive, and presumably Islamic, air-conditioning system.

From outside, old houses and secular public buildings in these historic cities are usually deceptively plain and unpretentious. By contrast, the inside is sumptuous. Again this was a metaphor - for outward modesty and inner spiritual riches. Houses are built with courtyards and pools. They have a cool basement into which the residents move in the summer heat.

From above, a market in Kashan looks like nothing more than a collection of sand dunes. Closer to, these are exotically shaped domed roofs that have withstood earthquakes, wind, rain, ice, snow and baking heat for four centuries despite being made only of mud and straw! From inside, the market has a coffered domed roof of great elegance and impressive height, pierced by patterns of lozenge shaped windows - a temple of the retail world.

The seventeenth century Khajoo Bridge in Isfahan, is constructed of two levels of stone arches. At night the arcades, which house cafes and restaurants, are lit, casting their reflected light shimmering out over the water. Although a functional structure, its perfection of design qualifies it to be considered Islamic.

Whether this epithet could be applied to the last building shown is unclear. It is a massive cylindrical tower that looked to have a military purpose but was actually a pigeon house! In European monasteries pigeons were a source of protein during long winters. In Iran the pigeons were a source of what for want of a better word I will call guano - used to fertilise the lands.

Iran is not on many tourist itineraries. From what we saw today, perhaps it should be. A trip could have many rewards.
- Phillip Snashall

Chapter I
Cinnamon Gardens by Shyam Selvadurai

On March 24, 2005 MCG Book Club 1 met at Nisha Dobberstein's house to discuss "Cinnamon Gardens" by Shyam Selvadurai. Published in 1999 this is Selvadurai's second novel. A native of Sri Lanka, now living in Canada, he effectively transports the reader back to colonial Ceylon of the 1920's and 1930's. The twists and turns that this story takes keep the reader engaged following the lives of multiple characters through the social, cultural and religious traditions of the era.

The patriarch of the main family depicted in this novel, Madaliyar Navaratnam, rules over his family with an iron fist. Over the course of the novel however his own children as well as his wife, realize what a hypocrite he is and the almost pity him by the end of the novel. The Madaliyar's first son, Arul, falls in love with the family's maid and leaves Ceylon for India to live a life independent of his father's domain.

The Madaliyar's second son, Balendran, assumes the position of what would have traditionally have been that of the first son. He helps his father run the family business. Balendran, who is gay, suppresses his homosexuality because of societal and family pressure. After an affair that Balendran has with a fellow student in England his father forces his return to Ceylon. Balendran ends up married and living a life that seems fairly traditional from the outside but is a charade from within.

The other main characters in "Cinnamon Gardens" are three sisters, Annalukshmi, Kumudini and Manohari. Their mother Louisa tries to hem them in and marry them off to respectable men. This situation is complicated as the eldest daughter, Annalukshmi, is educated and westernized and therefore somewhat of a radical in the eyes of potential suitors and their families. This presents a problem for the two younger daughters as they fear being ostracized by the community. Religious affiliation also complicates this issue.

Annalukshmi's role model, Miss Lawton, is a Christian headmistress who encourages Annalukshmi's educational endeavours. With the passage of time however, Miss. Lawton's racist traits become blaringly obvious to those close to her. She loses the close affection and respect of not only Annalukshmi but her adopted daughter Nancy.

"Cinnamon Gardens", a real neighbourhood in Colombo (thanks to Joanne Mahendran for the map of the city) was a good read. The socio-economic, political, religious and cultural depictions in this novel provided a realistic look at that timeframe in Ceylon.
- Caroline Sar

Chapter II
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry

In March Book Group II met at Betsy Dean's home to discuss A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry.

The book is set in India in the 1970's during the "Emergency" period. There are four main characters, all of which are trying "to maintain a fine balance between hope and despair".

Dina "escaped" from her overbearing brother into a happy (non-arranged) marriage only to find herself tragically widowed after three years. Her tale is one of constant financial survival. She resists going back to her brothers' home after the death of her husband and she sets up a small tailoring business in order to make ends meet. The two tailors she hires, Ish and Om are from an untouchable caste.

Ish and Om, against all odds have been trained as tailors and have left their rural village to search for a better life. They encounter incredible hardship during the story, including living in an unauthorised slum (until it is knocked down one morning with no warning), being rounded up as beggars and sent to a hard-labour camp and constant persecution from the village head who eventually forces them both to be sterilised against their will in order to meet a quota for sterilisation given by the government of the time.

Maneck, the son of an old school friend of Dina's has been sent to the city to study and boards with Dina. He has a more stable family and financial background than the other characters but fights his inner demons and is devastated by the murder of an activist classmate.

These main characters come together at Dina's house where through their hardships they form a bond that begins out of necessity and grows into genuine relationships that give them hope.

The members of our group were all deeply moved by this story and thought it was very good, from the highly realistic descriptions of poverty in India, to the development of the characters and their interaction with each other. However, if you're looking for a light read full of happy thoughts, this is not the book for you.
- Lorna Wilkinson

LIBRARY REPORT

This month you can read more about other libraries around town.

British Council library
This is a real find. Anyone - not just members - may browse the Council's collection of over 14,000 books and over 140 UK magazines and newspapers. Borrowing rights are, however, limited to members. You can join for a year or six months and choose to borrow from the standard collection, make use of the electronic collection, or both. Junior and family memberships are also available. The library (and other British Council services) are open from Monday to Friday (0900 to 2100), and on Saturdays (1000 to 1800).

British Council Kuala Lumpur
Ground Floor, West Block
Wisma Selangor Dredging
142C Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Website:www.britishcouncil.org/malaysia
Email: kualalumpur@britishcouncil.org.my
 

Malaysian Nature Society library
The Nature Society has "a modest collection" of books and periodicals housed at MNS headquarters - a good place to look for further information about Malaysia's natural environment and unique wildlife. Members of the society may borrow books for a period of two weeks, and make copies of periodical articles to take home.

Malaysia Nature Society
JKR 641, Jalan Kelantan
Bukit Persekutuan 50480 Kuala Lumpur.
Website: www.mns.org.my
Email: natsoc@po.jaring.my
- Joanna Adamson

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