http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/Traditionalmedicinefolk__8217_sherbalconcoctiontogoodhealth_vitality/Article/

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Traditional medicine folk’s herbal concoction to good health, vitality

2010/08/02
By Sim Bak Heng
streets@nst.com.my

PARIT Raja, a midway town between Batu Pahat and Air Hitam, is abuzz with its cottage industry, especially in the making of traditional snacks and crackers.
Most visitors to this small town seldom leave without buying any of its traditional food items, which are considerably cheap, delicious and easily available. 

However, very few know that in the town are a trove of traditional herbal medicine makers. 

They are not full-timers, but merely farmers or housewives who take pride in making the traditional preparations. Some of the recipes were inherited from their ancestors.
Unlike capsuled herbal medicines from factories, these traditional herbal medicine makers only produce small quantities of products, depending on what and how much customers order. Basically, most of them are senior citizens who believe in the effectiveness of their recipes and are willing to dispense them to others, basically villagers who subscribe to alternative medicines for a host of ailments. 

It is not easy to spot these traditional herbal medicine makers as they do not have signboards in front of their wooden houses. They also have nobody to market their products as they are mainly operating on their own. Their products are sold by word of mouth. 

To find them, it helps to get to know some old villagers who might be able to tell where these makers of traditional herbal medicine live. 

Fatimah Sanusi, 62, of Kampung Lapis Kadir, is one of them. This retired mak bidan inherited the jamu formula from her late mother, Siti Munirah Musa, and has been making the herbal medicine since young. 

She uses more than 50 herbs and spices, mostly from Indonesia, to make her jamu, specially for women in confinement. 

“I make the medicines in bulk three times a year and bottle them for sale.” 

Among the ingredients used in her preparations are kayu angin, kedaung, ketumba, ginger and tumeric, which she sources from a retailer in Rengit. 

Fatimah washes, dries and fries the raw herbs and spices before sending them for grinding into powdered form. Despite a high demand for her jamu from villagers, Fatimah has no intention of expanding her business. 

“Cukuplah! (It is enough for me),” she says. 

As her jamu is basically to dispel wind, those with this kind of complaints, including men, may consume her medicine. 

Several hundred metres away lives Marman Parlan, 67, of Kampung Lapis Sempadan. 

The estate worker’s specialty is making capsules from bakawali, a creeper plant which is claimed to have medicinal properties against diabetes, high blood pressure and skin irritation. 

Marman collects the plants from his neighbourhood and nearby jungles. He has also started planting the creeper on tree trunks. 

“I started making this herbal medicine after hearing that many people who took it were cured of their health problems.” 

Marman uses a meat grinder to grind the creeper into powder form. 

“I have no plans to make it big. After all, my raw material is limited and I am doing all of this on my own.” 

Spotted in his compound was pegaga, which is popularly used for ulam (salad) and boiled to make herbal drinks.

http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/8tumi/Article/

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ALL it takes is creativity and a bit of time and energy to transform an otherwise normal village into a lovely one, with attractive landscaping.

If you visit my village at Kampung Parit Daun in Batu Pahat, you will know what I mean.

The villagers have put in a lot of effort to beautify the village and make it appealing to their families and to visitors, too.
There is a sheltered bus stop with interesting designs and colours to the right of the main entrance to our village. On the left is a signboard which gives road directions and information about the village.

Once you pass the entrance, you will see a concrete bridge across a drain.

There are two “welcoming” arches there, which will be lit with oil lamps during Ramadan.
Flowers line both sides of the main road leading to the village. This is another welcome gesture for visitors. The yellow flowers bloom throughout the year.

It pays to put in this effort as our village was ranked second at the Batu Pahat-level Excellent Village Competition in 2007.

We have the Village Development and Security Committee and the villagers to thank for this achievement.
Kampung Parit Daun has about 300 residents. Sixty per cent of them are farmers. The others are either working in factories or government departments.

The name of our village, Parit Daun, is derived from nipah trees.

According to the old folks, nipah trees were abundant many years ago as our village is in a low-lying area.

In those days, the leaves of the nipah tree were used for smoking.

However, this was in the old days. There are no more nipah trees these days because the area has been developed.

Our village may be small but our bonding is strong. Whenever there is a wedding or gotong-royong event, most of the villagers will be actively involved.

Our youths are active in sports such as futsal, sepak takraw and badminton. Every evening, you will see them playing at our community hall or at any open space nearby.

Kampung Parit Daun has two surau, a community hall and a kindergarten.

The nearest town, Parit Raja, is five kilometres away. It is where we go for our grocery and banking needs.

As village head, my plan is to further beautify our village and improve the annual Village Family Day celebrations, started two years ago.

Tumirun Apandi is a contractor and oil palm fruit dealer. He has eight children and nine grandchildren. He has been the village head of Kampung Parit Daun since 1997.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/11/nation/6643172&sec=nation

The youngest Deputy Minister, our BP Boy. Well done.

But one thing about the birds nest industry though. Should people rear swifts so near where people are living? Especially in the middle of the town? Walk around and BP town and you can spot which building is rearing the birds. “macam bird park”.

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Sunday July 11, 2010

Agriculture a fruitful venture

By FOONG PEK YEE pekyee@thestar.com.my

Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Chua Tee Yong normally prefers to stay out of the media spotlight. But he is keen to talk about the potential of the agricultural sector, targeting his message to the youth.

HIS boyish looks belie the determination in him to make his mark in politics.

Chua Tee Yong, the second son of MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, says he will not be distracted by talk that described his recent appointment as Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister as nepotism.

Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, he says. “What matters most is whether the criticisms can add value, or if they can make everyone’s lives better.”

At 33, Tee Yong’s rise in MCA over the last two years, described as a “helicopter ride”, has drawn diverse reactions – from admiration to envy and jealousy – but this is part and parcel of politics.

And the first-term Labis MP who is also the youngest deputy minister in the current line-up is taking it in his stride.

“I want to focus on the larger picture – to carry out my duties and responsibilities expected of me,” he stresses.

When asked how he would respond if someone just said point blank to him “You are a deputy minister because of your father”, Tee Yong says he would reply: “I respect your opinion. Thank you.”

There is certainly no reason for him to allow himself to be drawn into the topic, especially when the other party has made up his or her mind, he explains.

In fact, he says, he has been very busy of late, attending one briefing after another with the departments and agencies under his ministry.

Young and determined: Tee Yong sees vast potential in modern agriculture.

One aspect about agriculture that has struck him is the fact that youngsters are not drawn towards this sector.

“Agriculture is not something that is seen as hip, cool or sexy,” he says, but expresses confidence that the youth will be interested in the sector once they see the potential.

“Do you know that you can take a soil sample from your garden and ask the Agriculture Department what can be planted on it?” he quips.

On a more serious note, Tee Yong, a chartered accountant with a Masters in Business Administration, points out that agriculture is a promising sector, and figures speak volumes of its potential.

Business ideas

Malaysia’s birds nest industry, for instance, was worth RM1bil in 2007, and this was only 8% of the world’s production. Another 70% was from Indonesia.

He notes that there is a booming market in China for the product, which is said to be good for health and beauty.

Ornamental fish rearing is also another business worth exploring, says Tee Yong, pointing out that Malaysia only accounts for RM700mil of the world’s RM27bil worth of ornamental fish exports a year.

Other businesses worth exploring include organic vegetable farming, contract farming for fruits like papaya and bananas, and aquaculture, he says, adding that the ministry will also come up with more user-friendly information, especially on the grants available, for those who are interested in venturing into the agriculture business.

On how he is coping with the sudden switch to agriculture, Tee Yong says his past experience as an auditor is helping him in a way.

“I always approach things with an open mind. I do not just focus on the issues. I also do a lot of reading and have dialogues with others at all levels to get a better picture of things.”

On the political front, Tee Yong says the MCA’s approach now is going to the ground to reach out to and interact with the people, especially the young. “We need the people’s feedback to help us serve them better. Our performance will be gauged by the people eventually.”

With three children aged between one and five years old, Tee Yong says he is grateful to his wife for all her support, especially in taking care of their children.

Bonding with the children is very important to him, and he tries to have dinner at home before going for night functions, and has breakfast with them during the weekends before proceeding to his Labis constituency.

Bonding is something he learnt from young, and he probably got himself drawn into politics in the process as he used to follow his father, a doctor-turned-politician from Batu Pahat, Johor, around.

“I remember people coming to our house to discuss politics with my father. As a teenager, I also used to go with my father when he visited his constituency,” recalls Tee Yong, who is the only one among Dr Chua Soi Lek’s three children to follow their father into politics.

His older brother, Tee Joo, 35, did follow in his father’s footsteps in another way, as he became a doctor.

Born and bred in Batu Pahat, Tee Yong, who received his tertiary education in Melbourne, says he does follow his father’s style in politics: having dialogues with the people to get to know them, looking at things from different perspectives, and meeting and interacting with people on the ground.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/6/29/nation/6560321&sec=nation

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Tuesday June 29, 2010
By DESIREE TRESA GASPER and BRENDAN VIVE

JOHOR BARU: With maths, science and general knowledge at their fingertips, fear of public speaking was the only hurdle that the team from SMK Tinggi Batu Pahat had to face during the RHB-The Star Mighty Minds state finals here yesterday.

Lower secondary team leader Ang Chun Hou, 15, said that his team, which was victorious, was confident when answering difficult questions, but dreaded the oral challenge.

“We were scared to stand on stage and speak to hundreds of people.

“But, we overcame that fear today,” said the team leader, who was shocked when his team made it to the finals.

Ang added that he and his teammates Mohd Haziq Saaddin and R. Arjun spent hours talking in front of friends and family to overcome their fear of speaking in public.

Meanwhile, the upper secondary champs from Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar Johor Baru said that the secret to their team’s success was to relax and have fun during the competition.

Team leader Azam Arifin, 16, said he was especially worried about the Buzzer Challenge as they had to think fast, hit the buzzer and answer complicated questions while under extreme pressure.

Azam added that his teammates, R. Keshan and Mohd Hairul, both 16, were already aiming to win the national finals.

Prizes were awarded to the top five teams in each category.

The two champion teams took home RM3,000 and computers for their schools.

The competition is jointly organised by Star Publications (M) Bhd and RHB Banking Group.

The food and beverage sponsor is McDonald’s Malaysia.

Divided into two categories, lower secondary (Forms One to Three) and upper secondary (Forms Four and Five), the competition, which heads to The Spring in Kuching for the Sarawak leg this weekend, will be held in 14 states before culminating in the national finals in October.

Registration forms are available at www.thestar.com.my/mightyminds and at all RHB Bank and RHB Islamic Bank branches nationwide.

http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/8di/Article/

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Your Johor: Love of reading has brought rewards

2010/06/27
KAMDI KAMIL

Kamdi Kamil (left) with Professor Abu Bakar Hamid, a well-known academician from Universiti Malaya.

MY love of literature has been deep in my soul since my childhood years in Rengit, Batu Pahat.

With the support of my parents and mentors then, I could easily read two simplified novels and tales in a day.

To enhance their contents, I wrote a brief reflection on the story and would then present it to my teacher.
For my efforts, I was awarded with more novels and was encouraged to dissect more literary works.

My love of writing intensified during my school days at Dato Bentara Luar secondary school in Batu Pahat and Kolej Islam Malaya in Petaling Jaya.

Surprisingly, I was in the science stream during my pre-university years at Kolej Islam.
However, I was editor of the institution’s annual magazine and wrote many articles on the school’s programmes.

My two-year stint as a trainee teacher at Mohd Khalid Teachers’ College in 1971 was also memorable as I got to know many prolific lecturers and novelists.

One was the late Shahrom Hussein who, apart from being my language lecturer, shared his knowledge of script-writing, drama presentation, dialogues and poetry with me and others.
My teaching career at various schools in my hometown, Batu Pahat, ended in 1979 after I decided to pursue an arts degree at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

After that, I became a lecturer at Maktab Perguruan Temenggong Ibrahim Johor Baru (now Institut Pendidikan Guru, Kampus Temenggong Ibrahim or IPG KTI). I held the post for the next 21 years.

I had a wonderful time at IPG KTI, particularly as the head of the college’s resource centre.

Apart from managing a well-organised resource and reference centre at the central library, I also oversaw the monthly bulletin, magazine, journals and other publications.

I produced some 70 essays and short stories during my tenure there. I edited my students’ works, from articles to short stories and other assignments.

I also helped to draft welcoming speeches for the college’s director and other senior officers, especially during formal functions such as convocation, Teachers Day and other special occasions like working visits from top officials from the Education Ministry and other state government officials.

My circle of friends became much much wider after I became more active in social activities like parent-teacher associations (PTAs), Rukun Tetangga committee, residents’ committee and more.

Today, I’m involved in almost 20 non-governmental organisations.

Looking back, my stint as chairman of the MSAB (English College) PTA was the most distinguished.

Steering the association for five years (1999-2004), I gained the fullest cooperation from both principal Abdullah Edros and his successor, Zakaria Shukor.

One of our successful projects was the “PTA in a classroom” programme. In each classroom, the parents were members alongside the class teacher. The committee comprised a chairman, secretary, treasurer and 10 committee members. All office-bearers, except secretary, are parents.

The class teacher held the secretary’s post.

Discussions were held at the meeting room and the topics included upgrading classroom amenities like ceiling fans, curtains, furnishings, equipment and resource corner.

We even mooted a weekly tuition class by engaging teachers from other schools.

The project resulted in all classrooms being fully equipped with basic facilities, which provided the students with a conducive environment to study.

My long service as a lecturer ended in 2003, upon which I assumed the post of principal at SMK Taman Megah Ria until the end of 2005 when I retired from government service.

Soon after, I was employed by the Johor Heritage Foundation as its historical research officer.

This appointment suited me as within a few months, I have authored more than 15 publications on Johor’s history and heritage.

Kamdi Kamil, 61, lives in Kampung Melayu Majidi with his wife, Rahmah Mohd Mofit. They have four sons and two daughters. A recipient of the Tokoh Guru award in 2007, he is also an authority on the country’s history and past leaders

Interview and pictures by Syed Abdullah Syed Mohamed

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Saturday May 1, 2010

Batu Pahat folk told to store up due to poor water quality in Bekok Dam

JOHOR BARU: Residents in Batu Pahat have been reminded to store water as water rationing will continue in the district until May 29.

Syarikat Air Johor Sdn Bhd (SAJ) corporate communications manager Jamaluddin Jalil said the rationing exercise would continue for another month due to poor water quality and quantity at the Bekok Dam.

“We have been facing this problem since the previous water rationing schedule and we are forced to continue with rationing as the problem has shown no signs of improvement,” he said adding that the Bekok River was also experiencing water quality issues.

Jamaluddin said to resolve the problem, SAJ has released a new schedule to cope with the situation while they took actions to improve water quality.

“If the situation worsens, SAJ will prolong the water rationing activities to cope with the matter.

“However, the water rationing will be halted if water levels at the dam and river increases,” he said.

For enquiries, pls call the SAJ Info Center at 1-800-772-7474, via SMS to 019-7727474, or via email at customer.care@saj.com.my

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(Johor Streets) Bekok dam’s water level back to normal

2010/04/26

THE end of the dry spell is near for the Batu Pahat area, state international trade and Industry, energy, water, communication and environment committee chairman Tan Kok Hong said in Johor Baru, recently.

Continuous rainfall in parts of Johor, especially at night, has caused water level at the Bekok dam near Batu Pahat to return to normal.

“The overall situation is improving as the water levels at the dam and rivers continue to rise.

“The state executive council will decide in its next meeting whether to continue water rationing in Batu Pahat.”

Batu Pahat is the only district with water rationing exercise which will end on April 29.

The dry spell caused a stir in Kluang when several areas, including rural villages, underwent a water rationing exercise beginning on Chinese New Year eve on Feb 13.

Parts of Batu Pahat later underwent a similar rationing exercise on March 29.

However, Kluang’s water rationing schedule was lifted on April 14 following the improved levels at the Sungai Sembrong and Sembrong Barat dams.

Tan said the current rainfall in Johor was due to the south-west monsoon which usually begins by the end of April.

“The rainfall may also be a sign of the La Nina effect,” said Tan.

The La Nina effect, which is associated with wet weather, often follows a period of dry weather due to El Nino.

The Phillipine government had recently announced its preparation for anticipated typhoons due to La Nina. The Manila-based daily, Business World reported on April 14 that the Phillipine government was preparing for excessive rainfall as the country’s dry spell subsided.

Meanwhile, SAJ Holdings Sdn Bhd corporate communications head, Jamaluddin Jamil, said the Bekok dam, which supplies water to Batu Pahat, had recorded an improvement in its water level.

On Monday, water level at the Bekok dam level was 10.6m while the previous day it was 10.53m.

“The levels have been increasing consistently.

“Previously, during the beginning of rationing in Batu Pahat, the water level was 9m, which is below the 10m critical mark.”

Jamaluddin said a weekly meeting to address the dry spell in Johor was held on Monday.

I found this as well:
Dr. Boo Cheng Hau’s blog has also results of the the analysis of the water samples.
You can view it here: http://drboochenghau.blogspot.com/2010/04/water-testing-results.html

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From TheStar Online: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/4/18/nation/6081839&sec=nation

Sunday April 18, 2010

Poor water quality claim in Johor
By DESIREE TRESA GASPER, desiree@thestar.com.my

JOHOR BARU: Quality tests conducted on tap water at several places in Batu Pahat and Yong Peng have shown increased levels of magnesium, said Skudai assemblyman Dr Boo Cheng Hau.

Tests on samples taken from Jalan Kurnia in Batu Pahat, Taman Batu Pahat, Jalan Besar Yong Peng and Taman Bukit Perdana showed magnesium levels that were four times the accepted level, he said.

“This could be one of the reasons why we have received complaints that more children were being admitted to hospitals for diarrhoea,” he said.

He added that consumption of high levels of magnesium could also lead to muscle spasms and mental disorders.

Dr Boo said tests conducted on water taken from the Bekok river and Bekok dam also showed a higher level of ammonia and coliform.

He said this would be due to illegal oil palm plantations and animal farms found near water sources.

“Ammonia is usually found in fertiliser used at the plantations while coliform can be found in the faeces of cows that may be reared near the water sources,” he added.

The assemblyman sent water samples in the area for testing following complaints by residents that the water quality was poor since rationing started.

It was earlier reported in The Star that Dr Boo had spent his own money to conduct these tests as many residents from Batu Pahat and Yong Peng had forwarded complaints to him about the matter.

“The people have a right to know if the water they are drinking is contaminated. The Government has to take steps to rectify this problem,” he said.

State International Trade, Industry, Energy, Water, Communication and Environment Committee chairman Tan Kok Hong said he had not received any report of poor water quality from residents in the area.

He stressed that the water standards were in accordance with the conditions set by the World Health Organisation.

“Since the drought occurred, we have noticed that the water had become more acidic, but this is due to environmental reasons.

“When the water level reduces, the peat soil at the bottom of the river is exposed to sunlight, which causes a chemical reaction resulting in the water becoming more acidic,” he said.

However, he stressed that the water would be filtered through treatment plants before it is supplied to consumers.

“The complaints from residents could also be due to other factors such as rusted or leaking pipes,” he added.

Mr Tan Kok Hong says the water meets WHO standards. He should probably visit Batu Pahat and taste the water himself?

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Friday April 16, 2010

Water rationing to end
By NELSON BENJAMIN / nelson@thestar.com.my

JOHOR BARU: The water crisis in the state is expected to be over soon with rising water levels at three major dams affected by the severe drought.

State International Trade, Industry, Energy, Water, Comm unication and Environment Com mittee chairman Tan Kok Hong said that due to the higher water level at the Sembrong Barat, Sembrong Timur and Bekok dams, water rationing in some parts of the state has been suspended.

“We are starting with Kluang and will monitor the situation for about two weeks before lifting the rationing for residents in Batu Pahat,” he said when contacted.

Tan reiterated that while the worst was over, residents should always be prudent when using water.

He said that the government’s effort to induce rain through cloud seeding has been successful. Water levels in Sembrong Barat has now reached 8.47m from the critical figure of 7.4m; Sembrong Timur 0.8m from 0.5m (critical) and Bekok 10.59m from 10m (critical).

Water rationing in Kluang, which affected more than 15,000 residents, has been going on since mid-February, while rationing in Batu Pahat, which involves 500,000 people, started in end-March.

Tan added that cloud seeding activities would be continued until the end of the month.

Asked about Skudai assemblyman Dr Boo Cheng Hau’s move to collect samples of water from the Bekok dam and also tap water around Batu Pahat and Yong Peng after he received public complaints about its poor quality, Tan said that the water was in accordance with standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

He added that besides tests by the water operators, the Health Ministry also did its own testing.

“We do not compromise on public safety and health,” he said, adding that while the water quality in some places had worsened during rationing, it was still within the safety standards.

Syarikat Air Johor Holdings Sdn Bhd (SAJ) chief executive officer Abdul Wahab Abdul Hamid said in a statement that residents in Kluang would receive normal water supply with immediate effect.

To make enquiries, SAJH has urged members of the public to call 1-800 88 7474, SMS 019-772 7474 or email customer.care@saj.com.my.

There are two types of rationing.
I. Water supply for only 12 hours of water daily.
II. 24 hours of water, followed by 24 hours of dry taps, ie alternate days supply.

Our district is divided into zones “A” to “O” by SAJ.
Zones A to H follows the alternate days supply ration.
Zones I to M has 12 hours supply from 10 PM to 10 AM. (night supply)
Zones J to O has 12 hours supply from 10 AM to 10 PM.  (day supply)

The schedule is available at SAJ’s website:
http://www.saj.com.my/Content.php?menu_parent_id=1&content_id=48

For further details, you can call 1800-88-7474 or visit SAJ’s website at: http://www.saj.com.my/