A truly Asean culinary experience
Recommended: DOME Cafe's general manager Clive Howarth (second left), together with (from left) Melium Group's senior PR and advertising executive Denise Chin, Ferhat and marketing officer Sheryn Chin posing with some of the cafe's signature dishes.
WITH countless restaurants and eateries serving up cuisines from all corners of the world, Penang is undoubtedly a food haven.
But paradoxically enough, apart from coffeeshops or roadside stalls, there aren’t many alternatives if one seeks a more stylish and refined setting in which to indulge in local and regional fare.
The opening of Aseana CafeBar at Straits Quay changes all that.
With an elegant, chic indoor and alfresco setting complemented by a variety of scrumptious offerings close to home, the lifestyle cafe fills a niche in the market.
Melium Group’s PR, advertising and events manager Ferhat Nazri-Aziz said the picturesque, waterfront setting of Straits Quay couldn’t be more ideal for the brand’s second outlet, after the first at Suria KLCC.
“We wanted to bring back the local heritage and offer patrons a nice place with a truly Asean feel, where they can relax and take time to appreciate regional delicacies,” he said during a media food tasting session recently.
Earlier, pressmen also got to sample signature items from Melium’s other outlet at Straits Quay, DOME Cafe, located just across Aseana at the Main Lobby.
Done up in the familiar old-world European coffeehouse ambience, it was opened late last year.
It is the brand’s fifth outlet in Penang and 16th in the country.
~News courtesy of The Star~
‘Errant’ goat farm sealed
A goat farm in Air Itam, where some livestock have been confirmed to be carrying the infectious and dangerous ‘brucella melitensis’ bacteria, has been sealed.
State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said the farm was sealed on Sunday in an operation involving the state Health Department, state Veterinary Services Department and the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP).
The farm owner had apparently not adhered to a quarantine instruction issued on April 18 to restrict the movements of livestock and to not sell its goats’ milk for four months, Phee said.
“The order to seal the farm is to prevent transmission of the contagious brucellosis disease,” said Phee.
The farm first came under the public health authorities’ radar two weeks ago after four persons became ill and checks by the health officers later revealed that the bacteria originated from the farm in Air Itam.
Phee said a notice had been put up at the farm to inform the public that it has been sealed.
He added that the infected goats would only be culled as a last resort.
“As of now, we believe that quarantine may yet solve the problem. The farm owner has also been instructed to clean up the farm and treat the goats with medication,” he said,
The three locals who contracted brucellosis after consuming contaminated goat’s milk are listed in stable condition, said Phee.
“Two are warded at the Penang Hospital while another is being treated at a private hospital where they will remain under observation until further notice,” he said.
A Singaporean who also contracted the disease, is receiving treatment back in his country.
According to the official web portal of the US-based Centre for Disease Control, humans become infected by coming in contact with animals or its products which are contaminated with the bacteria.
~News courtesy of The Star~
Guan Yin Ting （观音亭）- Georgetown heritage Chinese temple
Tourist: I feel unsafe on the ferry
AN Australian tourist has claimed that the ferry that departs from Penang to Langkawi is unsafe as there are no proper evacuation exits if accidents are to occur in the high seas.
Retired fisheries enforcement officer Peter Sullivan, 63, who took a trip from Penang to Langkawi, noticed that there was no briefing given to the passengers on how to wear life jackets and how to evacuate themselves in the event of an accident.
He said the passengers’ luggage were piled up beside the main entrance of the ferry.
“Another exit was blocked by a hawker who sold drinks and snacks at the ferry,” claimed Sullivan who is also a licensed lifesaving instructor in Melbourne.
“If an accident were to happen, passengers would (usually) panic and rush to take their luggage, money and passports.
“In their haste, they may block the exits or entrance,” he said.
“The crew members were also difficult to identify as they were not in uniform.
“They were only wearing T-shirts like any other passengers,” he added.
“Who are we going to ask for help if anything happened?” Sullivan asked.
He said his first time to Langkawi by ferry was three years ago and the condition was not as bad as now.
“This time, I somehow felt uncomfortable and unsafe in the ferry, even though I am a good swimmer,” he said.
He added that the ferries in Australia would not be allowed to depart without any briefing session to passengers.
When contacted, a ferry operator who declined to be named, said there was no standard practice for the crew to give briefing to passengers, as what cabin crew did in air-craft.
He said the ferry that Sullivan took on April 16, had seven television sets in total to play videos on how to wear life jackets, as per required by the Marine Department.
“All the six crew members in the ferry have lifesaving licences approved by the Marine Department.
“And there are posters and notices for passengers to read,” he said.
A Marine Department (northern region) spokesman said all ferries in the port would be inspected by one officer before departure.
“We would ensure that the operators show the videos as well as place posters of the evacuation plan in the ferries,” he said.
He added that it was not compulsory for ferry crew to be in uniform, as it was up to the operators to decide.
Commenting on the hawker, he said there were no rules and regulations prohibiting food from being sold inside the ferries, as long as they were kept clean.
He urged passengers to go to the Marine Department office at 1-A, Lebuh Light Street or call 04-6578494 to give feed- back or to lodge complaints about the service.
~News courtesy of The Star~
Ferries and terminals need makeover
THE Penang ferry terminals and the ferries need a facelift.
The trouble is those who can do something about this probably cross the channel in their cars and don’t see the ugly side of it. Those on the receiving end of the unpleasant sights and poor service are the foot passengers.
The Weld Quay overhead bridge, the taxi area, the ugly stalls and the walkways on both sides need a major makeover.
Perhaps, there is a need to install escalators on both sides of the ferry terminal.
The only escalator on the Butterworth side is always breaking down. The waiting areas at both sides also need better seats and fans.
The ferries also need to be clean. At times, the windows are smeared with bird droppings. I’ve noticed that the ferry sides, ceilings and seat areas are also dirty.
The Penang Hill railway and the ferry service are unique to Penang. They need to be properly maintained at all times. Please start now.
Sohan Singh
Tanjong Tokong
~News courtesy of The Star~
Homage to Sea Goddess Mazu
Street procession: Devotees carrying Mazu's statue on a sedan chair.
HUNDREDS of devotees gathered at the Sun and Moon Temple in Weld Quay, Penang, for a colourful and lively celebration to mark the 1,051st birthday of the Sea Goddess Mazu.
The beating of drums and echoes of chanting filled the air as the devotees burned joss sticks and offered flowers and fruits to the deity.
Over at a jetty in Butterworth, a group of 120 devotees carried the statue of Mazu to cross the channel to Penang island in 21 speedboats and two fishing boats.
They stopped briefly at the base of the Penang Bridge for the deity to bless the island’s landmark structure.
The entourage then arrived at the Lim jetty temple where waiting devotees proceeded to pay homage to the patron goddess of seafarers, whose statue was recently brought here from a temple in Rawang, Selangor.
Some devotees were seen crawling under the table where Mazu’s statue was placed, in the belief that they would be showered with good luck and blessings.
Tourists and shutterbugs had a field day snapping photographs of the celebration that was replete with dragon dances, puppet shows and firecrackers.
Bigger than life: A character from the Goddess' heavenly retinue walking tall among other devotees during the celebration.
Irmela Bendt, 66, a doctor from Germany, expressed her admiration for the young people who were seen religiously taking part in the ceremony.
She had visited the temple the night before to witness the birthday preparation and found herself captivated by a man in a trance.
“I was impressed with how intense they were and how young people here are so religious,” she said, adding that she was there with her photographer husband.
After the festivities on the island, the statue made its journey back via the ferry to Butterworth on the same day.
Troupe members performing with colourful dragon heads.
It was placed at a makeshift shelter at the jetty and would return to Rawang in a few days’ time.
State executive councillor Lim Hock Seng, who was present at the event yesterday, said the boat procession was the second held since 2004.
He said the goddess’ birthday falls on the 23rd day of the third month according to the Chinese lunar calendar.
“This is a big occasion in Hong Kong and Taiwan but it is not so popular in Malaysia.
“Here, the Lim clan would only offer prayers on her birthday,” he said.
~News courtesy of The Star~
Hill hawker centre ready soon
THE Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) is calling for an open tender to manage the new hawker complex on Penang Hill.
Public Health Standing Committee alternate chairman Ong Ah Teong said those interested must come personally to attend a briefing at the site on May 3 at 10am.
“No representatives please. If you do not make it for the joint-briefing by the MPPP licensing and building departments and Penang Hill Corporation, you cannot purchase the tender forms for the project,” he said, adding that the closing date for the open tender was May 9.
It was earlier reported that the site was to have been handed over to the contractor by Nov 8 but commencement of work was delayed to January due to relocation problems.
Ong said the complex is scheduled for completion in one to two months’ time.
On a separate matter, Ong invited interested parties to attend an open interview for spots at its complexes, markets and temporary hawker sites on the island.
“We have 497 empty lots at eight MPPP complexes, 11 markets and five temporary hawker sites.
“Just bring your MyKad and relevant qualification certificates, if any.
“Our priority is to legalise illegal hawkers in the state,” Ong told a press conference in George Town yesterday.
The open interview will be held on Friday from 9am to 5pm at City Hall on Padang Kota Lama. Registration is from 8am to 11am.
~News courtesy of The Star~
Recommended: DOME Cafe's general manager Clive Howarth (second left), together with (from left) Melium Group's senior PR and advertising executive Denise Chin, Ferhat and marketing officer Sheryn Chin posing with some of the cafe's signature dishes.
