Dear MCG Members, Selamat Hari, The amazing aspect about being a member of the Malaysian Culture Group is that one has the opportunity to learn, enjoy and participate in a diverse range of events, and this month is no exception. Our monthly lecture, on the 9th of November, is being given by Major Jaganathan, on Malaysia's Role in UN Peacekeeping Forces. This will be a fascinating opportunity to hear about important international events from someone who has been in the thick of it (so much so that he was kidnapped and held for 21 days whilst on assignment for the UN in Sierre Leone!). This month we are holding an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to pass a revised Constitution. MCG is a registered Society by law in Malaysia and by virtue of this classification we are obligated to have a Constitution. This document sets out the rules, duties and functions of the MCG. A copy of the new version will be sent to you by the 25th of October. On the 9th of November, prior to the Monthly Lecture by Major Jaganathan, we will hold the EGM at which we will seek your endorsement for the changes. It is important that we have as many members as possible, to not only help form a quorum required for the EGM, but also for you to have an opportunity to be involved in shaping your organization, the MCG. On the 21st of November, Joanne Mahendran, a member of MCG (and Book Club Convener), will give the November Travel Tips and Experiences talk on "Minority Tribes of Guizhou Province". Many of you know what an intrepid traveler Joanne is and her talk will give great insight into an aspect of China that is not well known. I would like you to know that the money raised from the Pre-Deepavali event in October was donated to the Temple of Fine Arts, which is a group of wonderful people who promote Indian art, dance, music, culture and food. Our donation will be used to provide a dance scholarship to children. Finally, it I would like to share some information which you may not already have heard on the grapevine. Cindy Zeier, our warm-hearted and enthusiastic Events Planning (EP) Convener, is stepping down from her role, but fortunately for us not off the EP team. Cindy was the previous President and has held almost every other position on the Board at some time during the eight years she has been a member. Also, I would like to wish farewell to a special friend of the MCG. Lorna Wilkinson has been our Newsletter Ed. for over 12 months as she is moving back to Australia. I would like to thank both women for their contribution and enthusiasm -Selamat Jalan, Lorna and Selamat Tinggal, Cindy. Once again, I look forward to seeing you at our events in November, and in particular at the EGM on the 17th.
- Sunita Varlamos PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
REPORTS FROM PREVIOUS EVENTS LECTURE: Talk by Josef Roy, Executive Director of Amnesty International Malaysia
- 7th September
We were treated to an impassioned and energetic presentation on the work of Amnesty International around the world and in Malaysia. Our speaker has been with AI for 5 years. He told us that he is energized by the commitment and hard work of the members, the affect on him when he comes face to face with violations and, finally, the belief that he can help to change things. Indeed, AI has seen important successes around the world, and even here in Malaysia. The talk was important because it emphasized that grassroots active participation is the key to AI's achieving its goals and to helping others. Those interested in helping AI can contact Mary Wong, who convenes the Kuala Lumpur letter writing group, or even Josef himself. (Details are below.) AI's foundation lies in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, which was a declaration, (not legally binding), of 30 articles covering civil, political, religious, legal, social and economic rights. The rights are firstly inherent, (we are born with them); secondly, universal, (for all people all over the world); and thirdly, indivisible, (all articles apply to everyone, not just some of the articles). AI was formed in 1961 by a British lawyer Peter Beneson, to fight the imprisonment of two Portuguese students. Within 6 months of the start of a letter writing campaign for the students' release, there was a permanent movement and within 12 months four delegations were sent overseas. It began with four aspects to its mandate: Torture is still a prevalent form of interrogation in over 100 countries; but on the positive side, the death penalty has now being abolished in over 100 countries. There are over 1.8 M members of AI worldwide, which makes it the largest human rights organization. Importantly, it is democratic and independent of any government or political ideology. It has a policy of engagement to lead to change. (AI negotiates with the Burmese Government, which differentiates it from other NGO's.) AI's vision is that everyone enjoys the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They first focus on research. They are careful that their information is accurate and complete, and therefore trustworthy. Organisations such as the UN rely on AI for information, especially in countries such as Myanmar. They interview victims, observe trials and monitor the media. There are over 300 people in London working on this. Interestingly, the research on Malaysia is not done by Josef and his team here. It is done largely in London by an independent team. On the ISA in Malaysia, whilst there is a campaign against the ISA, AI prefers to focus on issues that it can succeed with now. Josef and his team have never been hassled under the ISA since establishing AI five years ago. Whilst AI is aware of the clash between religious and human rights issues, as shown by the Ayah Pin case, AI is currently focusing on comparing aspects of Syariah law with international human rights standards. Secondly, AI alerts the world to abuses through publication of detailed reports and by informing members and its staff around the world. Thirdly, AI mobilizes it members into action. AI global goals for 2004-10 are: AI tried to set up an office in Malaysia for many years and was finally given permission in 1999. It had three staff. There are now 6 local groups, (with 2 more being formed), and over 200 members. There are currently three local campaigns Most of us were surprised to learn that AI Malaysia will never work on individual cases in Malaysia. These are handled by the AI team in another country. Likewise, AI Malaysia is responsible for individual cases in Myanmar and Indonesia. This is long standing AI worldwide policy. AI tactics are on several fronts: Thousands of prisoners have been released thanks to the work of AI, in conjunction with other pressures on the captors. The campaigns led to prisoners receiving better treatment, having torture stopped, and later to being released. The quotes from prisoners showed that the moral strength given to them by AI support gave them the will to survive their ordeal and the hope that they would receive justice. Malaysia's own Irene Fernandez reportedly said that AI's support and letters kept her going and gave her solidarity. If you want to help AI to achieve its vision, you can Amnesty International Malaysia
TRAVEL TIPS AND EXPERIENCES: In the Footsteps of the Buddha,
- 12th Sept 2005
Amidst the green and tranquil surroundings of Leni's home, we began the morning by listening to a recording paying homage to the greatness of the Buddha, the Dharma - his teachings, and the Sangha - the monks and nuns who live their lives in devotion to the Buddha. Leni then proceeded to show us slides of the places she saw and share her experiences with us. Leni's group was one of many other groups from all over the world, which travelled to what is now an area spanning the Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. These are among the poorest states in India and consist of a population that is approximately 70% Hindu and 20% Muslim. Throughout, two monks, Ajahn Cattamalo and Venerable Khemavaro, accompanied the group. They shared with the devotees the significance of the places they visited with teachings from the Buddha, as well as led them in meditation sessions at each site. The journey involved many hours of travel on narrow and unpaved roads, through towns, villages, sugar cane plantations and mustard fields. They often made do without toilet facilities or running water so bottled water and antiseptic wipes were a must. They saw poverty but also the history, vibrancy and beauty of the people and the land. At some of the places they stopped at, Leni and her fellow travellers donated gifts to the children in the area. The pilgrimage began with a flight from Kathmandu, Nepal to Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, formerly Prince Siddharta, before proceeding by road to Kapilavatthu, where the young prince grew up. The stupa at Kapilavatthu was built around the 5th century BC. Excavations conducted in 1971 uncovered a Buddha relic. These relics, which are now to be found in Buddhist temples and shrines across India and some other countries, are crystallised parts of the remains of the Buddha after he was cremated which were distributed across the Middle Land to devotees. The group then proceeded to Savatthi, once a wealthy and vibrant city, where the Buddha, then aged 56 and in the 20th year of his Enlightenment, choose as a base because of the generous support given to him by the city's wealthiest merchants. It was in Jeta's Grove, a park donated to him, that the Buddha built his first permanent residence. Because of the continuous offerings of flowers, sandalwood and perfume to the Buddha, it was given the name Gandhakuti. Here the group spent some time meditating, making offerings at a Bodhi tree, which, as suggested by the Buddha himself then to his devotees, is a symbol of paying their respects to him in his absence. A Sri Lankan monastery situated outside the park is home to some of the best paintings depicting the life of the Buddha as well as a Buddha relic. The casket containing the relic was placed on the heads of each devotee as a blessing and reminder of the greatness of the Buddha. The next stop was Kusinara, where the Buddha achieved final Nirvana and was cremated. A stupa commemorates the spot and seals dating back to between 400-500 AD were uncovered nearby. The temple houses a reclining Buddha, on which the devotees placed gold leaf. They also circumambulated the statue 3 times in prayer. Here, a nearby Thai temple runs a charity clinic in accordance with the principles of Buddhism. A statue of the venerable Jhivaka, the Buddha's personal doctor, is located on the grounds. The group went on to Vesali, which the Buddha visited several times, including during the 5th rains retreat after his Enlightenment as well as the last rains retreat before his final Nirvana. It was in Vesali that the great King Asoka, who played a vital role in the spread of Buddhism, removed some of the Buddha's relics from a stupa, broke them into smaller pieces and enshrined them in the many stupas he built throughout his vast empire. Thus the Lion Pillar here is often attributed to him. This town was also where Ambapali, an accomplished and celebrated courtesan of the time was so moved by the Buddha's teachings that she offered her mango grove as a site for a monastery. She then became a nun and one of India's earliest woman poets with her poem on aging and the destruction of youthful beauty. Next was the town of Rajgir, one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in India. The group visited and meditated at a cave on Vulture Peak, the Buddha's favourite retreat there and the site of his discourses. They also visited Indasala Cave, where the Buddha went for solitary retreats and Sattapani Cave, the site of the 1st council after the Buddha achieved Nirvana. Here, in 483 BC, 500 monks gathered to recite the Dharma and the Vinaya so that these teachings could be passed on to future generations. The group then proceeded to Bodh Gaya, where circa 525 BC, Prince Siddharta sat under a Bodhi tree to meditate and achieved Enlightenment. A shrine in the temple marks the location. A cutting of the original tree is now in Sri Lanka. Here, some of the devotees held an overnight meditation session. Then it was onwards to the crowded city of Varanasi, where they went on a boat trip on the River Ganges to see a cremation ghat. Next, was the town of Sarnath, where the Buddha, after his Enlightenment, gave his first teachings - the 'Discourse Setting in Motion the Wheel of the Dhamma', and finally to New Delhi, where they visited the National Museum, which has among its many displays, some of the Buddha relics excavated from the Main Stupa located in Kapilavatthu. At the end of the trip, the group sought forgiveness from the two venerable monks before embarking on their journey home. It was an intensely emotional and spiritually fulfilling journey for Leni. It is also a journey, which she plans to embark upon again in her endeavour to live her life in accordance with the precepts of Buddhism. We were moved by the strength of her devotion and thank her for sharing her thoughts and feelings with us.
New Comers Coffee Morning
- 15th September 2005
Our President, Sunita Varlamos, gave us a brief explanation for her Indian and Greek / Australian name and then thanked everyone for help in the last twelve months, especially those that are stepping down from board positions. Lorna Wilkinson was editor of the magazine for a year, as well as creator of the flyers and brochures. Noma Nainar is Web Master and former Vice President and was the creator of our very user friendly web site and web events booking system. Cindy Zeier has been the embodiment of the MCG for the past eight years, holding most positions on the board, sometimes three at a time! She is stepping down as Events Planning Convener but will remain on the EP team. Michelle Pease will take over from Cindy as EP convener. So, there are three vacancies: The Editor and Web master jobs apparently each take about 5 - 6 hours in total a month. If you are interested you can talk to Sunita or the existing post holders to get an idea of what the role will entail. (The positions of Webmaster and Newsletter Editor have now been filled, but we are always looking for new members for the Events Planning Team). Each Board member gave a quick review of their role within the MCG There are over 600 books, booklets and encyclopedia in the MCG library, which is housed at Joanna's house at 15 Jalan Langkat Golf. It costs RM50 to join, which you can pass to Joanna when you first go there. There is a general plan to have the library open from 2p.m. to 4.30 p.m. every first and third Thursday of the month. But you must call Joanna first to check that she will be in, (012 930 4471.) You sign the books out and there is not fixed loan period, although Joanna does monitor this. If you know the book you want, you can call Joanna first and she will leave it at her guard house for you, likewise, if you are returning books, call to tell Joanna and then leave them with the guards. Personally, I love my monthly book club meetings. The wide cultural diversity of the members ensures that we can get some meaty discussions on books and, of course, often get some personal experiences shared with us. Each group of 12 people meets once a month to discuss a book as per the agreed schedule for each season. The books are fiction and non fiction and are always set in Asian or written by Asian authors. The list of books in the current season is posted on the web site and newsletters. Books are reviewed in the newsletter so you can check out a book before buying it. (There are back copies of the newsletter from 2002 on the website.) The MCG offers several set events each month: All events are reviewed for the newsletter and web site so you can catch up on events missed and have an idea of where to visit on your own. The EP team is always looking for new members. Ardy introduced us to the Explorers Group, which was a good idea since even I had an idea of them undertaking long and arduous expeditions into far flung, off the beaten track places! The team of ten do indeed go to places off the usual tourist track, but most are half day events with an optional lunch. Each team member is responsible for organizing, (with the help of a back up), one event in the season. They normally go on the second Monday of each month and meet once a month for an informal lunch, the next trip being the 14th November. With so much on offer, it is hardly surprising that the MCG now has almost 250 members, local and expatriate. I joined the MCG for the book group, only to discover much, much more to MCG. So I asked a few members why they joined MCG! Of course, most were persuaded to come along on Thursday by a current member. Many have been to an MCG event as a guest and were so impressed that they wanted more. New members are looking for a systematic and focused way to explore Malaysia, to expand their horizons, to meet new people and to learn new and interesting things about Malaysia and Asia in general. I think the new members got the MCG summed up pretty well there!
EXPLORERS: Visit to Ayur Centre and Raju's Banana Leaf Restaurant
- 19th September
Origins of Ayurveda: Ayurveda is considered to be anaadi, i.e. without a beginning and not a man's creation. It has a mythological origin, from the ancient vedic texts in India. The basic principles of Ayurveda trace their roots to the core of Indian philosophy, which is, "that man is the microcosm of the macrocosm that is the universe". Ayurveda is more than a medical system. It is a way of life. It explains what are the good and bad things in life, and explains the pleasant and unpleasant states of life. It trains one to accept what is 'good' and thus embrace a pleasant state of life. An Ayurvedic principle is that every individual is a unique phenomenon. As such, every individual is a manifestation of cosmic consciousness that is the Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth. Further, that these five basic elements are manifested in three biological organizations known as Vata, Pitha and Kapha. These three inner principles have acquired a specific character from the element that rules them. Aim of Ayurveda: It is a medical system which is concerned with the healthy as well as with the diseased. In fact the first objective of Ayurveda is to maintain the health of the healthy and only after this, cure of the diseased. Thus the preventative and promotive aspect of health care are given great importance in Ayurveda. Daily routine recommended by Ayurveda includes: Three Pillars of Life:
Taking his advice, we moved onto my favorite banana leaf restaurant in PJ, called Raju's. We sat under the branches of some lovely large trees and enjoyed the breeze. A selection of Indian dishes, other than the ubiquitous roti canai was served. We all enjoyed the meal and the opportunity to catch up together after not having met since July.
Warp Ikats of Indonesia: Talk by Michelle Pease
- 22nd September 2005
Michelle Pease gave us a very well presented introduction to the Warp Ikats of Indonesia, a fascinating look at this ancient weaving tradition, woven mostly on a very simple back strap loom and dyed with limited natural dyes. With some fine examples of Ikat pieces to see and touch and wonderful photographs taken in the remote villages, the process of spinning the cotton thread, tying and then dying the threads, then retying and dying and finally weaving on the loom, we were able to get a good understanding of this amazingly complicated art form. Most of us were quite astounded at the intricate tying process, which is the basis of the pattern. The design can be painted on to the threads before tying or even done from memory in some cases, passed on through family tradition, teaching the young girls of the village as soon as they are old enough. The cultural link between the many islands of the Indonesian archipelago became apparent, yet each retains their own style and unique qualities. From the western highlands of Sumatra, the Batak tribe call their Ikats Ulos. Using muted colours of blues, blacks and maroons the important ritual cloth Ulos Ragidup is used at the wedding ceremony, the birth of a child and is buried with the deceased. The Iban of Kalimantan and Borneo weave large ceremonial cloths used for purposes such as receiving heads when the warring party returned to the village. The Toraja people of central Suluwesi use their Ikats for funeral shrouds. The men of Sumba wear an Ikat around their waist and a matching one over the shoulder called a hinggi. It takes 2 to 4 years to complete a set of hinggi. Throughout all the islands from Bali to Flores and Lembata, Savu and Timor these beautiful textiles with their symbolic patterns and colours , show much of the person, their tribe, their village and their status in the community. The Warp Ikats of Indonesia are a fascinating window into the amazing culture of this region.
A MORNING IN INDIA: A Pre-Deepavali Celebration
- 5th October 2005
The Temple of Fine Arts was the brainchild of the much loved and respected Swami Shantanand Saraswathy, who sadly passed away earlier this year. He envisioned a place where dance and music, as a form of worship, could be taught to young people from every background. The first Temple of Fine Arts concert was staged in April of 1981 and since then it has gone from strength to strength with amazing classical Indian and cross-cultural performances. Apart from theatre and stage productions, several other projects have been established under the auspices of the Temple of Fine Arts. Among them are the Annalakshmi restaurants, the culinary division of the TFA, where one can enjoy delicious traditional vegetarian Indian cuisine prepared just as mother and grandmother would. In Sanskrit the word "anna" means food referring to the nutritious grains that spring from the earth while "lakshmi" means the divine energy that nourishes and sustains. At Annalakshmi they run on a unique concept of "eat to your hearts content, give as you feel". The transaction is not of money but of "bhavana" feelings and attitudes towards things. Annalakshmi is at Midvalley Megamall and is a must do dining experience. You may even find yourself sitting next to a famous Indian artist or Malaysian dignitary. Lavanya Arts is another of the TFA's sister organizations selling handicrafts, garments, jewellery and artifacts. The clothes, decorative items, paintings, bags, cushion covers, sarees, kurtas and shawls are mainly brought from Shakthi Creations - a wing of the Shivanjali in Coimbatore, India. Shakthi Creations is a manufacturing unit where less fortunate and single mothers are given a chance to earn a living and are trained in the art of embroidery and tailoring. Some of the jewellery is from Sri Lanka and the artifacts are from many parts of India - Orissa, Rajastan, Punjab and Pondicherry. Lavanya is run by a small army of very happy, chatty volunteers and their aim is to achieve the goals of promoting beauty through service. After spending a short while browsing around Lavanya and making a few purchases we were introduced to our speaker Amita Shah who is originally from New Delhi but has lived in Malaysia since 1977 and has been an active member of the MCG for about 10 years. She is a science graduate and Hindu by birth. Amita had the daunting task of introducing us to this fascinating and complex religion. She began her talk with "Hinduism! From where do I begin? It is like trying to chart space BUT I will try". From there she went on to outline the origins of Hinduism and then to elaborate on terms associated with it and concepts linked to it. Hinduism apart from being philosophical has a strong scientific base, so, to understand it one must keep an open mind. I would not be doing Amitas talk justice by even attempting to summarise it here but I would urge anyone interested in Hinduism to attend any talks she may give in the future. The morning did not end there, the Assistant Director of the Temple of Fine Arts, Shankar Kandasamy, treated us to a performance of Indian Dance. Shankar is no stranger to the MCG and on previous occasions has presented a talk in Hinduism and conducted a tour of Batu Caves. Shankar performed a piece produced by himself called "On Sri Rama" which was based on "Bhayain" a devotional hymn written in Hindi by Sant Tulsidas. The dance praised Lord Rama, describing his beauty comparing him to Cupid, the birth of Sita then the romance between Sita and Rama. The dance was made even more enjoyable because of Shankars earlier explanation of the exaggerated facial, hand and body movements used in the dance. The morning was then brought to a conclusion by enjoying a delicious Indian vegetarian meal prepared by the volunteers in the TFA's cafeteria. Many of the ladies attending had entered into the spirit of the festival and had dressed in bright colorful saris and salwar khameez - all looked beautiful. Special thanks must be given to Amita for her fascinating talk, to Shankar for his dance and to everyone at the TFA who gave us such a wonderful, warm welcome.
MCG NEWS BOOK CLUB REPORTSChapter I
Finally we had a very controversial book discussed in Book Club I. ''A Wild Sheep Chase'' by Haruki Murakami was considered as a bold new advance in a category of international fiction in late 1980´s. Youthful, slangy, political and allegorical, Murakami is a writer who seems to be aware of every current American novel and popular song. His style and imagination are closer to that of Kurt Vonnegut, Raymond Carver and John Irving. In fact, the 56-year-old author, one of the most popular novelists in Japan, has translated the works of several American writers, including Irving and Carver. Yet with its urban setting, yuppie characters and subtle feeling of mystery, even menace, this novel is clearly rooted in modern Japan. On the surface, ''A Wild Sheep Chase'' is just a mystery story with a long chase. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes sad with loss, almost always quirky, the story line pulls you in and keeps you hooked with unexpected twists and turns that leave you as desperate as his nameless main character. A photograph of the wild sheep has appeared accidentally in a newsletter, the singular sheep is pursued by clashing interests. Is the sheep a symbol of something beyond the reach of an ordinary man? Does this wild sheep represent heroic morality or a Nietzschean superpower? Or perhaps it's a commentary about economic and emotional gain and loss in our lives, or maybe it's a parable about the existence of free will and how much more difficult it is to exercise than we think? Or possibly, is it a novel about individuality and mediocrity in Japanese society? Then again, it could be a protest against a powerful and homogenizing globalization that threatens to turn us all into nameless sheep. The answer, if any, is left to the reader's perception. Most of our book-club fellows didn't care much for this book. They remained both confused and expecting the novel to be more events-driven, and the characters defined in a better way. However, some of us were of the opinion, that if a reader is of the right mindset, one can discount the plot and events entirely, and cut straight to the jewels of the book: Murakami's ecstatic observations about people, places, and things are normally so mundane in our life that we just over look them. By bringing these banal things under such intense scrutiny he presents a world more fantastic then reality, more concrete than fantasy. My personal perception of this post modern novel is that, in viewing Murakami´s style, thinking and the presentation as an artifact, it needs to be looked at it from a different perspective. I recommend this author to you.
Chapter II
Book Group 2 met in September after a long summer break to discuss "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini. It was a wonderful discussion, where everybody had enjoyed reading the book and our venue was Gwen Smith's beautiful colonial home, built in the 1920's. "The Kite Runner" is Afghani author Khaled Hosseini's debut novel set during a very tumultuous period of Afghanistan. It starts out before the fall of the Afghani monarchy through the communist and Soviet rule to the present day Taliban rule. It is a complex epic tale about Amir the protagonist and his friendship and betrayal of Hassan the servant boy. Amir is a wealthy father's son, who belongs to the privileged class of Pashtuns of Afghanistan and Hassan is a Hazara, which is the minority community of Mongol race and Shiite Muslims. It is also a story about the turbulent relationship of Amir and his Baba during very turbulent times, where they are forced to take asylum in the United States. The second half of the novel is set in Afghanistan during the Taliban rule, when Amir is forced to face his demons after an urgent phone call from his uncle who stayed back in Afghanistan. The author's descriptions and details of the atrocities of the Taliban rule transport the reader to the war zone. It is a very well written, heartfelt saga and keeps the reader wanting more.
LIBRARY REPORT
Please also let me know if there are any books in particular that you would like to see in the library. Sometimes it's hard to guess what other people would like or regard as important. Your suggestions would be very welcome indeed. See you at the library!
NEWSLETTER REPORT
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.
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.
PLEASE NOTE that the information in this website has been gathered informally within the group and reproduced privately for members' enjoyment only. There may be inaccuracies and these publications are not designed for commercial use. Anyone intending to make formal or outside use of MCG material is requested to contact the President
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