NST Online: StreetsJohor
NST Online: StreetsJohor |
| Posted: 19 Jul 2011 10:00 AM PDT LOYALTY PARTY2011/07/20 Tokio Marine Insurance honours its long-standing clients at annual dinner TOKIO Marine Insurance (M) Berhad recently held its annual dinner at the Zon Hotel to reward its loyal business partners. The dinner, which saw more than 400 guests, was full of activities that kept all on their toes.
"I would like to thank those who made it happen for their support and patience," she said. Tokio Marine Group CEO Dr Michael Heng emphasised on the need to contribute to society and to the environment.
He said the project is part of his company's corporate social responsibility, a relatively new and laudable concept in the country. The company, which was formed in 1952, had been planting mangrove trees all over Southeast Asia.
Tokio Marine Insurance has been handing out household supplies to the less fortunate and computers to schoolchildren in recent years. Sometimes, we receive petitions for financial aid, like the case of a man in Malacca who had to quit his job to look after his mentally challenged son. To make matters worse, his wife is unemployed," he said. "I had the company's sports club to visit the man and his family. "The man eventually got the help he needed after his appeal went through our screening process," said Heng. Meanwhile, the recent tsunami in Fukushima, Japan, had the company passing the hat around. "I told my agents that for every ringgit raised by them for the tsunami victims, the company will match it with a ringgit. We raised RM170,000 and handed it to the Red Crescent Society," he said. The dinner was themed "Colours Nite" and saw guests donned in various colours performing in various games, dances andpopular songs. A two-piece band belted out modern songs and local dancers staged contemporary dances as guests from every race mingled freely and merrily. Guest Glenton Francis, 45, said he was glad to be around his long-time friends. "I am also glad to meet my previous mentor. Without her I would not be where I am today," said the company's Johor Baru branch loss adjusting branch manager. The night also saw business partners receiving awards of appreciation from the Heng. One of the most interesting activities of the night was having teams from different colour groups trying to fit into a piece of cloth in a "fit and squeeze" game that drew much laughter from the audience. A modelling competition also saw couples of different colours walking hand in hand down the stage. It was a colourful 1Malaysia scene indeed. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| Playing the role of a Teochew 'kangchu' Posted: 19 Jul 2011 09:37 AM PDT Playing the role of a Teochew 'kangchu'2011/07/20 I was born in Kampung Perigi, Yan, Kedah. I moved to Johor Baru 11 years ago. I have a younger sister and a younger brother. Since I was a child, I have been aware that my father, a teacher, was artistically gifted.
On Merdeka Day and other special celebrations, my father, who is now a pensioner, is still being invited to recite poetry. I guess I inherited some of these gifts from him because I also enjoy reciting poetry and acting.
Acting comes naturally to me. Over the years, I was involved in local productions and had the honour of being named best actor several times. In the 7th Johor Baru Arts Festival, the Johor Society for the Performing Arts worked with Alpha Consult and Lee Wushu Arts Theatre to present a musical drama called Bumi Berlantai Permata (Bejewelled Land). It told the story of the beginning of modern Johor in music, dance and drama.
It was very challenging but I think I gave a credible portrayal of a Chinese immigrant. In the revised version, Bumi Berlantai Permata II, staged at the 8th Johor Baru Arts Festival, I was initially cast in the role of Fredrick Weld. I knew the director, Dean Manas, wanted to give me the experience of playing a new role. But, when we started reading the script, I ended up speaking with a Chinese accent, instead of an English one. After several attempts, he decided that I should revert to the role of the lead Chinese character. Rehearsals were tough because the cast were mostly amateurs who had day jobs. We could only get together at night. Through sheer passion and commitment to the art, we rehearsed our parts, first separately and then together, usually into the early hours of the morning. I suffered from the sleep deprivation but my love for acting drove me on, especially as we would be presenting a gala performance for the Sultan of Johor. The play, written by Rahimah Muda and directed by Dean Manas with co-direction from Lee Swee Seng and Fairuz Embun, had some interesting revisions. They included a change in the lead Chinese character to Tan Hiok Nee, a Teochew leader. I accepted the role happily. I thought it was going to be easy since I had already experienced playing the part of a Chinese immigrant. In fact, I thought it, probably, wouldn't be much of a challenge because I had nothing new to learn. Incidentally, this year's arts fest was organised in collaboration with the Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk Committee and a series of supporting events will be held in Tan Hiok Nee Cultural Street. When I realised that my character's name was the same as this road, I was curious and started to research my role. It was an emotional journey for me as I went on a guided tour of the Johor Baru Chinese Heritage Museum and discovered who my character was. Finally, I understood that part of Johor's history where prominent kangchu developed the state's economy by planting pepper and gambier. In 1844, Tan Kee Soon, leader of the Ngee Heng kongsi established the Tan Chu Kang in Kangkar Tebrau with a large group of workers. He was succeeded by Tan Hiok Nee circa 1864. The society played a major role in settling the unrest in Muar, which helped Temenggong Ibrahim to become the ruler of Johor. I was filled with awe for Hiok Nee who was probably the only Chinese to be appointed to the office of Major China in Malaya and was a State Council member with a role in government. When the director told me that my character should speak and sing in Teochew, I was plagued by the worse fears but I also felt challenged to learn something new. In three days, I picked up this dialect with its strange inflections under the patient tutelage of Tan Chai Puan, director of the Teochew Eight Districts Association and perfected the art of singing in Teochew with the help of my colleague, Lim Kee Yee, senior assistant superintendent of Customs based at Johor Customs Tower. I didn't think I would be able to do it but the audience applauded at my performance. I attributed my achievement to friends who include Lee Swee Seng, wushu instructor and artistic director of Lee Wushu, who taught me the right posture and Chow Pei Foon, stage manager of Lee Wushu , who helped me hone my Chinese theatrical skills. I am humbled by the fact that I had the privilege to portray such a great man. I am glad that I have helped the younger generation to be more aware of their proud heritage. Shamsul Akmal Md Ilias, better known as Suratman, 37, is an award-wining artiste with a passion for the arts. He is an officer in the passenger section of the Customs and Excise Department in Johor Baru. Interview by Peggy Loh Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
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