NST Online: StreetsJohor

Posted: 14 Sep 2011 05:24 PM PDT

2011/09/14
By Chuah Bee Kim

Students from Indonesia, Laos, Brunei, South Korea and the Philippines
meet at a symposium to empower youths to bring about change

A TOTAL of 430 participants, comprising local and international students, came together recently for the Fully Residential Schools' (FRS) International Symposium hosted by Sekolah Tun Fatimah (STF) in Johor Baru.

The inaugural event, jointly organised by the Ministry of Education through the Fully Residential and Excellence Schools Management Division and STF students, saw the participation of youths, between 17 and 18 years old, from Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Brunei, South Korea and the Philippines.

The six-day event themed "Students: A Catalyst of Change for a Better Tomorrow" started last Friday and was declared open on Monday by Deputy Education Minister Dr Puad Zarkashi.

The opening ceremony kicked off with a choir performance, followed by a medley of dances comprising a Sabah and Sarawak traditional dance, the zapin dance, and Indian and Chinese classical dances.

Puad said the symposium was a stepping stone for young leaders as it allowed students to share knowledge with their foreign peers.

Most of the participants found the event, which required them to come up with working papers, empowering as it helped them to build up their self-esteem and confidence and also changed their mindset.

STF student Syafiqah Syakria Saiful Yazan, 17, said she now believes in the power of youth.

"Before attending the symposium, I didn't quite believe that youth can do much to bring about a change. But the experience I have over the past few days had opened up my mind and it has made me more humble.

"This is because I have met others who are much wiser and more knowledgeable. There is so much for one to learn," said Syafiqah Syakria, who also believed that to make a big change one must start by making small changes.

Muhammad Aiman Shuhaimi, 17, of Malay College Kuala Kangsar who was selected by his school principal to attend the event, echoed Syafiqah Syakria's sentiment.

"The young should be encouraged to think out of the box and I strongly believe small changes will lead to big transformations," Muhammad Aiman said.

Phonmany Fongsouyanh, 17, from Laos said her first visit to Malaysia was in May when she followed a school delegation to Penang.

Phonmany said she loves the friendly and caring attitude of the people. On the side, she said she enjoyed the local dish of chicken curry but disliked the taste of durian.

"I hope to visit Malaysia again on my own so that I can have more time to explore the different cultures, food and attractions of the country," she said.

Handy Trihusodo, 18, of Central Jawa, Indonesia, who had visited the United States on a student exchange programme, said he initially was apprehensive about making the trip to Malaysia.

"I have heard some negative stories concerning the country but after coming here, I found the people here are so friendly and there are similarities in our culture and food.

"I am going home to share my experience here and I am going to tell them, especially those who have negative perceptions of Malaysia, how wrong they are," Handy said.

Meanwhile, South Korean, Lee Inbok, said she has learnt from the symposium that knowledge can be acquired outside the classroom.

"Before I came here, I didn't realise that not everything can be learnt within the confines of a classroom. I have made so many new friends at the symposium," Lee said, adding that this was her first trip to Malaysia.

STF, helmed by principal Junaidi Santano, is a premier boarding all-girls school.

There are 60 FRS, a school system established in the 1970s, throughout the country. The schools produce excellent results in both academic and sports, as well as leadership.

The vision of FRS is to develop exceptional world-class leaders.

Pottery paradise off the main highway

Posted: 14 Sep 2011 06:37 AM PDT

ISTARTED visiting Aw Pottery in Machap almost 40 years ago, usually enroute to spending the weekend with Uncle Steven and Auntie Polly who lived on a farm located between Air Hitam and Kluang at that time.

The journey was a leisurely drive along the scenic route from Johor Baru to Air Hitam, often with a stop in Machap to see what was new in the pottery showroom. It was easy to spot the entrance to the showroom because it was marked by two giant figures that resembled a couple performing a Malay cultural dance, designed with a glossy mosaic covering of ceramic chips.

The distinct rough and rustic beauty of handcrafted Aw pottery has a special appeal to fans of ceramic ware. The founder and sculptor, Aw Eng Kwang, an immigrant from southeastern China, even expanded overseas to the US market, and products from their pottery plants in Ru Yang, Chao'an and Guandong in China were exported for distribution there.

The small plant and showroom in Johor was once a popular tourist attraction, and I often brought visitors there not only to see Aw's artistic creations displayed in the Aw Museum but also to check out the unusual restrooms, colourfully decorated inside and out with ceramic mosaic pieces. I was so fascinated and enthralled by the restrooms that I could not resist photographing them from all angles.

Ceramic ware in the Machap plant was first produced using a traditional wood-fire kiln that was nicknamed the "Dragon" because of its structure. Sprawled across a wide atrium in the rear, this brick-walled kiln measured 50 metres long, 4 metres wide and 2 metres high, and had two side entrances.

When it was fired up, Aw and his team of workers worked 24-hour shifts in a carefully-timed week-long cycle to prepare the "green" products, stack them inside the kiln, smoke them and maintain the fire before allowing the kiln to cool down. After more than 30 years of spewing smoke and fire, the "Dragon" retired in 1982 and its dormant frame became a museum showpiece.

In 2004, I had the privilege of going into the cavernous "Dragon" kiln for a glimpse of the interior that was still stacked with dusty disused "saggars" or containers made of high temperature refractory materials, used to protect the "green" products from direct flames. It felt cool then, but I could imagine the intense heat inside when it was fired up.

Having been dormant for more than 20 years, this derelict space inside the old "Dragon" had become an abode for spiders and other creepy-crawlies, so I beat a hasty retreat.

Aw Pottery remained popular for creative landscaping designs, and garden deco and die-hard fans still found their way to Macap for their regular ceramic fix. However, when the PLUS Highway opened, fewer motorists used the scenic route to Johor Baru. The north-south traffic gradually bypassed Air Hitam and Machap, and Aw Pottery ceased to be a popular stopover on the tourist map.

Recently, when a friend asked me about Johor ceramic ware, my first thought was Aw Pottery! I gave him the contact telephone numbers to call but was later told that no one was picking up his calls. Since it was just about an hour's drive from Johor Baru to Machap, it didn't take long for us to decide to go there to check them out.

After the exit to Machap from the PLUS Highway, I noticed that the old road looked different because new buildings seemed to overshadow the older structures along that way. Although they were now covered in moss, I recognised the two figures that marked the entrance to Aw Pottery.

As I drew closer, my elation turned to disappointment, because the front gate was shut and fastened by a huge padlock. I was sad that my search seemed to have ended in failure, and there had been no replies to email I sent to their American sales offices, enquiring about the factory in Machap.

Last Sunday, I was overjoyed when I finally received an email from Aw Pottery's Atlanta outlet saying that the Machap factory is still in operation and is open from Saturday to Wednesday, 8am to 5pm. It is closed on Thursdays (the day I went) and Fridays. If you like to visit the factory, call 07-754 1476.

Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Khamis, 15 September 2011

NST Online: StreetsJohor

NST Online: StreetsJohor

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