More Pics & Video - Malaysians ushered in Lunar Rat Year - 07-02-08 – PM Abdullah Appealing for racial understanding for country's peace & prosperity

= == = =UPDATE: Feb 9 2008- RM2.00 for a Rat - dead or Alive

No reprieve for Malaysia's rodents in Year of the Rat
Kuala Lumpur (AP): The Year of the Rat has barely begun, but the rodents' reign of torment in a Malaysian suburb may already be doomed. Fed up with increasingly bold rats, officials will offer USD 0.62 (RM2)as reward to residents starting next month for each of the captured pests, dead or alive, in Wangsa Maju, an urban district near Kuala Lumpur, a news report said on Saturday.

"There's no incentive like money," Yew Teong Look, the area's member of Parliament, told the New Straits Times newspaper. "All residents have to do is place the vermin at drop-off points where City Hall officers will collect them for disposal." The suburb of 30,000 residents has long been notorious for a rat infestation, with the creatures sometimes coming out in daylight and chewing on electrical cables in homes and cars.
The residents include many ethnic Chinese, who ushered in the Year of the Rat on Thursday. The rat is one of 12 animals, or mythical animals in the case of the dragon, on the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac, each representing a lunar year. Representatives of Yew's office and the Wangsa Maju council could not immediately be reached.

= == = == =UPDATE: MCA No Confidence & Timing of Election is Not Right

ABOVE: Datu Seri On Ka Ting, MCA President: "When the Chinese community is still unhappy and dissatisfied, we face a bigger challenge; we have to explain to let the community to understand that the points raised by the opposition are wrong not good for the community"

= == = = =and PM Abdullah Response, "who says so, anytime is good time decided by me"
Go H E R E next Post More details On

GE 2008 - MCA No Confidence, Timing inappropriate; Playing Safe in ALL seats; PM Abdullah: Anytime is Appropriate when I decide; Zam: Opposition Instigators

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MORE PICS Coming - in and around KL for the Chinese New Year

ABOVE & BELOW: Decorations at Sungai Wang Plaza, concourse for CNY 2008
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ABOVE & BELOW: The lanterns from the ceilings

= = == = = =Sungai Wang Chinese Cultural Theme in CNY 2008
ABOVE: Chines Silk Cross Stiching And BELOW: Oil Painting
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ABOVE: Who would want to buy some Chinese knotting? and BELOW: the expensive stuff - Jade Crystals
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ABOVE: Fancy the Art of Paper cuttings? BELOW: Snuff Bottle Inner Painting
= = === == = == =At the HOT Market within Sungai Wang Plaza
ABOVE & BELOW: The China made, CNY decors are Buy 1-1 Free

BELOW: The local peoduced, 3 for RM10

= = == == = == = == == = == = == = == = ==and Over in Jalan Petaling, at the Chinatown
ABOVE & BELOW: The streets and shops were decorated for the festive season



= == = == = = and for the Kiddies CNY wear
ABOVE & BELOW: The bargain "red" or "ong" stuff

= == == == = == =and the CNY Cookies price differences
ABOVE: At the entrance to the wet market along Jln Petaling, the home made ones are reasonably priced and quality traditionally maintained. RM15 for the "kueh Kapek" and RM13 for the "Frided Nga Ku" and "Jam tart"
BELOW: the famous "Loong Kee" for its dried meat stuff and cookies are heavenly prices.
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ABOVE & BELOW: The traditional flowers for CNY and especially the long stalks "Pussy Willows"

= == == = =and this is the meaning of "Fa Hoi Fu Kwai" - literally, "When Flowers Bloom, Prosperity Arrives"
ABOVE & BELOW: The rare actual blooming of the pussy willows spotted in a house

= == = == = == = = == = == = == == MORE PICS Coming
February 07, 2008 16:11 PM

Open Houses Enhances Inter-racial Ties, Says Abdullah

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 (Bernama) -- The air of festivity in ushering in the Chinese New Year bash through the tradition of hosting open houses to greet and to fete Malaysians of other races strengthens goodwill and inter-racial relations, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Thursday.

ABOVE & BELOW: at the Gerakan Open House in PGRM Building Cheras

"Hopefully, this year's Chinese New Year will be showered with more blessings not only to the Chinese but also to other races," the Prime Minister told reporters after attending the Chinese New Year open house hosted by Gerakan at Menara PGRM today. Earlier, the Prime Minister attended MCA's Chinese New Year open at Wisma MCA in Jalan Ampang. Abdullah said it was important for all races to value and appreciate the cordial ties and unity in diversity in this country. Asked on SMSes being sent around that there was no racial harmony in the country, the Prime Minister said: "Let them with their SMSes".

ABOVE: PM Abdullah arriving at MCA Open House and BELOW: Participated in the "low sang" to revive MCA low sagging spirits and confidence in the Coming GE

"But in reality as you can see today the Chinese New year is being celebrated more joyously than in previous years," he said. Meanwhile, acting Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the party's open house this year was merrier and was well attended with more 10,000 visitors and well-wishers as compared to only 6,000 last year. "I believe with this kind of goodwill and comradeship we can overcome whatever challenges ahead of us," he said. MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said the tradition of all the races celebrating Chinese New Year together must be nurtured and preserved.

ABOVE: Other Minister present - Azalina, Mustapha & Radzi; BELOW: SIL Khairy Jamaluddin, potential MP candidate for Rembau? in "Chinaman" attire

The Housing and Local Government Minister thanked Malaysians of all races for coming to the party's Chinese New Year open house. He said the Chinese New Year was the time for the Chinese community to reflect on what had happened and to rectify weaknesses, if there are any, and to plan for the future. The MCA open house was also attended by the Prime Minister's wife, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, and former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamed Ali

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February 06, 2008 15:06 PM

Consensus Key To National Peace, Says Abdullah

ABOVE: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 6 (Bernama)-- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Wednesday called on Malaysians to uphold the spirit of consensus, tolerance, solidarity and mutual respect among the various races as they were key to the country's peace and prosperity. In his Chinese New Year Message, the Prime Minister said Malaysians were fortunate and should be thankful that they could celebrate various festivals observed by the various ethnic groups and faiths in a harmonious environment. "If we look around, there are not many countries with multi-racial communities like us which are able to enjoy what we have achieved.

"However, we must acknowledge that the stability we have achieved in the country was not attained easily, it was not without efforts and sacrifice. We must appreciate that it was achieved through solidarity and unity which we have forged all this while," he said. Abdullah said Malaysia did not belong to any particular individual or community but belonged to all Malaysians. He said 2008 was a most meaningful year as it was the first year after Malaysia celebrated its 50th year of independence.

He said the government took great pride that it had moved far ahead and achieved much success within only 50 years. However, he said Malaysians should not be complacent with the country's excellent achievements and success all this while but should continue to redouble efforts to face challenges and stiff global competition.

"In order to progress further, we must have all the prerequisites so that we will continue to be competitive and resilient. "We must continue to equip ourselves with all the necessary elements so that can face all the challenges and obstacles with confidence and success," he said.

Abdullah said the government had provided various foundations needed to face the challenges in the long term. He said the regional economic corridors together with the development projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan would bring more rapid and balanced development which would benefit more people whether in the urban or rural areas. Abdullah said that as the Prime Minister, he was committed towards creating a Malaysian community that was dynamic, progressive and lived in peace and harmony and strongly upheld the Malaysian cultural traditions.
"I will continue to redouble efforts so that we can continue to move forward and gain the respect of the international community in all aspects," he added.

He ended his message by wishing all Malaysians a Happy Chinese New Year

= == = == = == =MCA ONG echoes Abdulah's message

February 06, 2008 23:34 PM
People Must Be Of One Heart And Think Positively To Preserve Unity, Says Ong

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 6 (Bernama) -- All Malaysians must be of one heart and think positively to preserve national unity, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said in his Chinese New Year message today. Ong, who is also Housing and Local Government Minister, said the people, including the Chinese community who had played an important role in the development of the nation since independence, must strive to preserve solidarity among the races to assure a bright future for everyone in the country.

"In a plural society like ours, the strength of the Chinese must be combined in tandem with mainstream development and through close collaboration with the other races, will lead to comprehensive overall development," he said in a statement in conjunction with the lunar new year, which will be celebrated by the Chinese community tomorrow. Ong said the government placed a lot of importance on the celebration as evidenced by the widespread decorations in public places for it apart from having open houses for all the communities. "I also urge all races to visit each other and celebrate this auspicious occasion together," he added.

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= == = =Watch Video Clip (2.31 mins) - Lion Dance ushering in the New Year Theme at Sungai Wang Plaza - the once upon a time - leading Shopping Complex

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= == = == == = =and& Video Clip (in Cantonese) Ushering the CNY in HK (recorded Live , 3mins 07 Feb 2008)

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= == == = Continue H E R E ON

GE 2008 - MCA No Confidence, Timing inappropriate; Playing Safe ALL seats; PM Abdullah: Anytime is good time - I decide; Zam: Opposition Instigatorsand

= == = =Watch the Video Clip (2 min 15 s) ONG K T : Not the Right Time (40 sec in Mandarin); Abdulah: Right Time, I decide; Mohd Toyo: Anytime is good time