‘Attractive’ rubbish

by Kumarathevan Balakrishnan

Instead of attracting tourists to Cameron Highlands, the rubbish pile found at the Simpang Pulai road bend leading to the hilltop will only attract flies and diseases.

Published in The Star Thumbnails: Friday, 10-December-2010

Learning English with Arts & Crafts

Draw, cut, paste, pencil, colours, stick, glue, scissors, underline, paper, object, look, erase and much more were among the vocabularies used to help participants to bring out their hidden talents and creativity.

About thirty participants were enthusiastically drawing, colouring and were learning the ways and means to create some beautiful arts and crafts.

“Though it looks like an art class but it is actually an English programme with a difference.They were given the opportunity to learn and express their desires, emotions and creativity as they become so engrossed in the special programme.

“Simple instructions in English were used as part of language learning process,’’ said Josephine Kumar, Principal and assistant Manager of KJ Generation Resources (KJGR). 

The event was a two days school holiday programme themed: “Learning English with Arts and Crafts” organized by KJGR at its premises in Gua Musang, Kelantan. 

The participants age from three to 28 years old consist of nursery kids, school students and young adults. 

According to Josephine, the participants from various background and culture including Malay, Chinese, Indian and Orang Asli took part in portrait and cartoon drawing including different facial expressions, colouring and creating crafts using old magazines, books and cut outs.  

The participants also learned many vocabularies during the sessions conducted by a group of twelve professional trainers from USA, Australia, Finland and South Korea.

English was used continuosly as a form of communication to teach arts and crafts which made the langguage programme active and alive within the classroom.

Team leader, James Alen who is an artist said, this programme is another creative way to stimulate the imagination and the creativity of the individuals which subsequently helps them to learn English easily and effortlessly. 

"In this way, it can also help them to develop communication ability through teamwork. Whilst receiving compliments and praises in English for their artwork, the participants will also learn to respond by saying some basic greetings," he said. 

Josephine believes, using profesional trainers, mostly from English speaking countries occasionally will help improve the linguistic competence of the participants because they are forced to listen attentively, receive instructions from those trainers and respond to them intelligently. 

"This is our continues effort since we began our English training centre one year ago,'' she said adding, besides their normal English class, KJGR have successfully organized few programmes such as, "Towards Destiny", "Fun English Lessons with Native Americans" and "Using Music to Learn English".

She explained, KJGR wants to impart and achieve three most important elements in these students through all their programmes, one is to improve the students communicative skills, next is to build confidence in each one of them and finally to shape their character to be better citizens.

She said that the event is also to promote understanding and building relationship with one another from various background, cultures and traditions inline with the 1 Malaysia aspiration.

A participant, Rokimin Uda Din, 28, who desires to travel abroad said that the event has help boost his confidence and self esteem. "I want to improve my English in order  to be able to communicate boldly and fluently with English native speakers".

Another participant, Chong Tao Ying, 14, who loves to draw said, it is impressive to know that he could learn English through arts and crafts. 

For more information or update on other events, email KJGR at kjgenerationres@gmail.com or contact 016-4734313 or 016-4687414.

ends.

Kids learn English while drawing and colouring.

Anis Aqilah (student): "I know..this is the forehead. Am I right?"

One of the trainers, Aaron (middle), a doctor of chiropractic become the human anatomy for the children to learn about body parts.

Foreign trainers are observing and giving instructions in English to participants as they are working on their artwork.

 Professional trainers from overseas are having discussion in English with Orang Asli participants.

Kids and trainers enjoying "parachute ball game". It's an outdoor activity to learn English.

        Yes we did it! Kids showing thumbs up after finishing their drawing.

  

Todd (second from left) and Dave (right) helping the participants to draw sea animals.

        

      James teaching participants the method of how to draw human face.

Participants showing their drawing - human face.

Kids enjoy drawing on the floor at KJGR entrance.

Some of the participants and foreign trainers posing for the album at KJ Generation Resources, Gua Musang, Kelantan.

end.

Photos & Story by: B.Kumarathevan 

Gua Musang, Kelantan, Malaysia.

016-4734313 or 016-4687414

KJ Generation Resources Newsletter

 Using Music to Learn English

It was an exciting moment and the whole place was filled with such joy and celebration.

Most of the participants, age between eight to fifty years old, who was timid and shy to speak in English started singing, dancing and even took part in sketch presentations.

About 35 people who attended a special programme called ‘Using Music to Learn English’ benefited much from the programme and was seen exited throughout the session.   

The three days programme which was organized by KJ Generation Resources at its premises in Gua Musang, Kelantan recently was attended by participants of all races including Malay, Chinese, Indians, Orang Asli and a Pakistani.

This programme was conducted by eight trainers from Serdang, Selangor to help participants fall in love with English. They comprise of a teacher, IT engineer, graduates and students from various colleges and universities.

Team leader, Jacqueline Hoe said, the programme was designed in such a way to give the participants the understanding that this language is easy to learn if  unique methods and attractive approaches are used to teach.

“We use musical instruments such as acoustic guitar and bongo to teach modern Western and folk songs besides introducing ‘dikir barat’ style song plus 'Rasa Sayang' in English.

“Our team also taught the participants some dancing steps for an English pop song ‘Hoe Down’ to get them exited as well as to promote the easy way to learn spoken English,” she added.   

The trainers comprise of Malaysians from different cultures and a Botswanian also took part in group performance by acting together with the participants in three different sketches in English.  

“It is truly a great experience and a memorable English class I have ever attended. I desire to learn to speak this language quickly,” said a 50 year old participant who just wants to be known as Madam Loo.

Another participant, a Pakistani, Musa Basheer, 17, said that the special programme has helped him to get rid of the fear to learn this language and gave him the confidence to pursue his communication skills in English.

Ends. 

 

Dance, sing and learn English: The participants enjoy learning some simple dance steps as they sing along the pop song in English.

Music is a language: The trainers are using an acoustic guitar and bongo to teach English via Western and folk songs.

Acting makes it perfect: A group of participants together with the trainers are presenting a sketch in English. 

  

By: B.Kumarathevan

Gua Musang, Kelantan, Malaysia.

016-4734313 or 016-4687414

Street Lights from Gua Musang to Cameron Highlands

Gua Musang (GM), Kelantan to Cameron Highlands (CH) in Pahang is only about 1 ½ hours drive. The journey which is about 100 kilometers on that moderate road is truly enjoying if we are traveling in day time.

 Eventhough there are few landslides along the way, the cool breeze and greeneries plus the Orang Asli settlement on both sides of the road gives you a pleasant feeling and an experience of what local eco-tourism is all about.

 Nowadays, more local and foreign tourists are using this road to travel to and fro GM and CH for this is the shortest way and it’s also easy to get to the North South Highway through Simpang Pulai road.

 Unfortunately, traveling on the same road at night is totally a different story. For travelers, night driving along that stretch could be dangerous and probably a nightmare. Around 8pm, the whole road becomes so dark and traveling on that way can be quite risky.

 Few days ago my family and I were traveling back to GM from CH on that road. It was about 7.30pm. After about 40 minutes drive suddenly right in front of us we saw an oncoming motorbike skidded and fell on the middle of the road.

 I quickly got down from the car and managed to pull aside an elderly motorist who was badly injured. He lamented in pain that he hit a stone that was on the road and fell. I tried to stop two other cars that pass by to come to his aid but they didn’t do so.

 It was pitch dark and by the time I could pull aside the man’s motorcycle, a speeding truck ran over it and sped off in the darkness. Thank God, nothing happen to us. A little while latter, two motorists stop to help and took care of the injured man.

 Though it was very dangerous to stop our car in that dark road, we couldn’t leave the helpless man on the road unattended. Moreover, I couldn’t take him into my car either as it was full.

 You can imagine, what could have happened to the elderly injured motorist if he was unnoticed in the middle of the road in that dark night. This is not the first time we encounter such incidents. There were many accidents occurred in that road.

 I strongly urge the government to take immediate action to solve this problem by installing street lights along GM and CH road and also the road leading to Kuala Lipis, Pahang which is equally dark, for the safety of road users.

 The respective authorities should create emergency lanes and also install SOS telephone booths for the benefit of the public.

 I believe this will be the best time for the people of GM to demand for government’s quick action since it is Galas state by election on the 4^th November.

Henceforth, I hope the government will build good roads with public safety in mind to avoid more road accidents or any unwanted incidents.

Ends.

Pix: 

Pictures of accidents and land slide that occurred along Gua Musang and Cameron Highland roads.

Kumarathevan Balakrishnan

Gua Musang

PENDAPAT

Isnin Oktober 11, 2010

Pengalaman Menyaksikan Kemalangan di Jalan Cameron - Gua Musang

Oleh B. KUMARATHEVAN

GUA MUSANG: Jarak di antara Gua Musang (GM), Kelantan ke Cameron Highlands (CH) di Pahang adalah lebih kurang seratus kilometer sahaja. Perjalanan yang akan mengambil masa kira-kira 1 ½ jam di atas jalan itu adalah menyeronokkan terutamanya pada siang hari.

Walaupun terdapat beberapa kejadian tanah runtuh di sana sini, pemandangan di kedua-dua belah jalan berkenaan termasuk kehijauan alam semulajadi, hawa yang agak dingin dan juga penempatan Orang Asliadalah sesuatu yang amat menarik.

Ia juga memberi peluang kepada sesiapa sahaja merasai nilai pelancongan di kawasan pedalaman atau “eco-tourism”.

Pada masa kini, ramai pengguna jalan raya termasuk para pelancong dari dalam dan luar negara kerap menggunakan jalan berkenaan kerana ia adalah jalan singkat yang menghubung GM dan CH serta satu-satunya jalan terdekat untuk ke Lebuhraya Utara Selatan melalui Simpang Pulai.

Malangnya, perjalanan pada waktu malam agak berbahaya, malah ia juga mungkin menjadisatu pengalaman yang mengerikan kepada sesiapa sahaja khususnya kepada mereka yang tidak ada pengalaman menggunakan laluan ini.

Ini kerana sepanjang jalan tersebut agak gelap gelita dan memandu pada waktu malam adalah agak berisiko tinggi.

Beberapa hari yang lalu, kira-kira pukul 7.30 malam, saya dan keluarga saya sedang dalam perjalanan ke GM dari CH. Kira-kira 45 minit kemudian, kami terkejut melihat sebuah motosikal dari arah bertentangan tergelincir lalu terhumban di atas jalan tersebut.

Saya dengan segera bergegas untuk membantupenunggang motosikal tersebut. Lelaki yang berusia dalam lingkungan 40an itu mengeluh dalam kesakitan bahawa dia terlanggar batu di atas jalan itu dan gagal mengawal motosikalnya.

Saya cuba mendapatkan bantuan daripada duakenderaan lain yang lalu ketika itu malangnya mereka enggan berhenti. Kemudian saya dengan segera menarik lelaki berkenaan ke tepi jalan.

Sebelum saya dapat menarik motosikalnya yangberada di tengah jalan, sebuah trak yang laju merempuh motosikal berkenaan dan terus menghilangkan diri dalam kegelapan malam.

Nasib baiklah kami selamat dalan kejadian berkenaan. Beberapa minit kemudian, dua penunggang motosikal turut menghulurkan bantuan.

Walaupun jalan tersebut terlalu gelap untuk berhenti, tetapi kita rasa serba salah untuk membiarkan penunggang yangtercedera teruk itu di atas jalan raya walaupun pada masa itu kereta saya juga penuh dengan seisi keluarga.

Bayangkanlah apa yang mungkin terjadi sekiranya tidak ada orang yang melihat penunggang itu tersungkur dan berada di tengah-tengah jalan yang gelap gelita itu.

Ini bukanlah kali pertama, kami melihat kejadian sebegini di jalan berkenaan. Banyak kemalangan pernah berlaku di atas jalan tersebut selain kejadian tanah runtuh di beberapa tempat sepanjang jalan itu.

Saya menggesa pihak kerajaan untuk mengambil tindakan segera mengatasi masalah tersebut dengan memasang lampu jalan sepanjang GM ke CH serta jalan GM ke Kuala Lipis, Pahang yang turut gelap untuk keselamatan para pengguna jalan berkenaan.

Pihak berkuasa juga harus membina lorong kecemasan serta memasang pondok telefon SOS yang boleh digunakan pada waktu kecemasan di jalan berkenaan bagi kemudahan orang ramai meminta bantuan.

Saya juga rasa ini adalah waktu yang paling baik untuk menggesa kerajaan bertindak cepat lebih-lebih lagi ketika kawasan berkenaan berhadapan dengan pilihan raya kecil Dewan Undangan Negeri Galas pada 4 November akan datang.

Sebagai pengguna jalan raya, saya berharap kerajaan akan mengambil kira akan keselamatan para pengguna dan memberi perhatian kepada kejadian-kejadian seumpama ini.

PENULIS merupakan bekas wartawan di sebuah akhbar nasional berbahasa Malaysia

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SPEAK UP! :: Letters Road to Gua Musang needs street lights THE 100km drive from Gua Musang in Kelantan to Cameron Highlands in Pahang takes about 1½hours. Many motorists also use it to get to the North South Highway via the Simpang Pulai road.But at night the pleasant drive becomes a hazard. It becomes pitch dark by 7.30pm. A few days ago my family and I were travelling to Gua Musang from Cameron Highlands at about 7.30pm. After about 40 minutes of driving we saw an oncoming motorcyclist fall. I got down from the car and managed to pull aside the elderly motorist who was badly injured. He lamented in pain that he had lost control of his motorcycle after running into a stone on the road. Two other cars went by without stopping though I was waving frantically. Before I could pull aside the man’s motorcycle, a speeding lorry ran over it and sped off in the darkness. Thank God, nothing happened to us. A little while later, two motorists stopped to help and take care of the injured man. Though it was dangerous to stop our car in that dark road, we couldn’t leave the helpless man. I couldn’t take him into my car because it was full. You can imagine, what could have happened to the injured motorist if he was lying unnoticed in the middle of the road. Many accidents have occurred on that stretch of the road. I appeal to the government to install street lamps along the road and the road leading to Kuala Lipis in Pahang for the safety of road users. The authorities should add emergency lanes and install emergency telephone booths for the benefit of the public. I believe this is the best time for the people of Gua Musang to demand for prompt action since there is a by-election for the Galas state seat on Nov 4. I hope the government will build good roads with public safety in mind to prevent more road accidents or any unwanted incidents. Kumarathevan Balakrishnan Gua Musang

KeranaMu hidup Malaysia

Titik-titik hujan bagai salju membasahi bunga raya 

menyerlahkan keseriannya

detik-detik yang berlalu membuktikan keunggulan

kejayaan negara kita

Terus bangunlah warga Malaysia

curahkan cintamu 

pada nusa dan bangsa

kejayaan milik kita

Syukur dan pujian

kuserahkan padaMu Tuhan Maha Kuasa

tiadaMu hancurlah segala impian

KeranaMu hidup Malaysia.

@kumar.b

Selamat Hari Kebangsaan 
Happy Independence Day!

Children are gift from God

  Children are gift from God. They are not to be considered an accident. They have the rights to live so stop treating them like junks.

  The crimes against these innocent lives are tremendously increasing. From cases of abortion, abuse, molest, rape, abduction and now baby dumping.

  What’s going on? Why are people becoming monsters that are predating on young vulnerable lives? Is there any protection for these kids? If there is, is it enough?

  I consider these monsters including those who are dumping the babies are cold-blooded evildoers and selfish. They are full of lust, greed and no fear of God.

  I can’t imagine how people including mothers daringly throw away their new born or some even fearlessly kill these infants before dumping them or try flushing them through toilet holes. It’s disgusting.

  The famous Ten Commandments’ first commandment is “Do not kill”. The word “kill” in this instance specifically refers to “murder” which is a premeditated and deliberate act of taking someone's life. Most religion and law are against murder. What do we call these unlawful acts against infants?

  As a former journalist, I have witnessed baby dumping cases in the 90’s. It has been a heart breaking moment to see helpless little dead babies with earthworms and insects all over their bodies at dumpsites. Some even lay dead with wound marks and others have become food for animals.

  I remember interviewing relevant government officers, police department, politicians and Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) to compile statistics for my article and ways to curb the problem.

  Most of them want stern action to be taken against the culprits and said that government should take drastic action to overcome the menace.

  For so long we have been voicing out against these inhuman behaviors but the problem goes on. Statistics shows that there are so many baby dumping cases yet the ‘black sheep’ escapes the law. Where is justice?

  Now is the time to act! Stop the blame game and let’s work together to curb these growing problem. Increase crime prevention efforts, bring to book those evildoers, table relevant laws to protect the children, conduct more awareness programmes and at the same time help unwed pregnant mothers by providing temporary shelter plus counseling.

  Promote abstinence from sex before marriage and sex education programmes in schools, colleges, universities and learning centres. Incorporate it into the syllabus and do it immediately to help overcome wedlock pregnancies that lead to abortion, baby dumping and single parenthood. 

  Above all, love one another because true love protects, it does not have any evil intensions and it does not harm. Whatever we do, let us do it in love.

Kumarathevan Balakrishnan