Latest news with #Durai
Straits Times
14-07-2025
- Straits Times
‘Let's just see what Ah Wong does; when he moves, we move'
Mr Wong Kwai Chow believes photography will always have a central place in media, as people are 'naturally visual' and drawn to images that convey emotion and lived experience. Wong Kwai Chow, 72 Portrait Mr Wong Kwai Chow joined The Straits Times in 1976, following in the footsteps of his father, who worked as a darkroom attendant with the paper. A year into making photo prints, he discovered a deeper passion for photography and applied to become a photographer, a role he kept until his retirement in 2021. He made his mark as a court photographer. Mr Wong, now 72, enjoyed the continual learning that came with the job, particularly during overseas assignments that exposed him to diverse cultures and fellow photographers. He adapted readily to changes in technology, welcoming the shift from film to digital photography for its immediacy and ease. 'We could check our camera to see the quality of photos immediately,' he recalls. He believes photography will always have a central place in media, as people are 'naturally visual' and drawn to images that convey emotion and lived experience. Recollections 'My most challenging assignment was about the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). On Jan 25, 2006, I went to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) in the morning to cover some cases; not NKF. But when I gave my name to the CPIB security for registration, I saw the names of then NKF chief executive T.T. Durai and NKF chairman Richard Yong in the visitors' book. I got excited because the controversy over how the NKF was using funds was in the news. I quickly called the office to inform my supervisor. It seemed possible that Durai and Yong had been called up for questioning over the governance of the NKF. I was told to stay and see if I could get pictures, and they would send a colleague to help me. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore HSA intensifies crackdown on vapes; young suspected Kpod peddlers nabbed in Bishan, Yishun Singapore Man charged over distributing nearly 3 tonnes of vapes in one day in Bishan, Ubi Avenue 3 Singapore Public healthcare institutions to record all Kpod cases, confiscate vapes: MOH, HSA Singapore Man allegedly attacks woman with knife at Kallang Wave Mall, to be charged with attempted murder Singapore Singapore boosts support for Timor-Leste as it prepares to join Asean Singapore UN aviation and maritime agencies pledge to collaborate to boost safety, tackle challenges Singapore High Court dismisses appeal of drink driver who killed one after treating Tampines road like racetrack Singapore 18 years' jail for woman who hacked adoptive father to death after tussle over Sengkang flat I waited until about 9pm. Richard came out first, and I was sure that he saw us media at the guardhouse. I was also quite sure that he would tip off Durai. After waiting for some time, I saw a car driven by a woman entering CPIB. It was an unusual hour, and I guessed that the car could be there to pick up Durai. When the same car came back out, I did not see anyone in the front passenger seat. But I saw a figure lying down in the back seat, trying to duck the cameras. The car was dark inside, and the back-seat windows had some windscreen shade. I did not have much time to react and immediately pressed my lens against the window to take a few shots. I was not even confident if the photos would turn out well since I did not have much time to adjust my camera settings. The subject in the photo was blurred, but then deputy picture editor Stephanie Yeow helped to confirm that it was Durai from his ring, which he had worn in other photos. Court photography is not easy. The most meaningful tribute I received was from a photographer named Daniel Ding. He said: 'Let's just see what Ah Wong does; when he moves, we move.' You need to be constantly alert, as some accused will change attire to avoid detection by the media. Sometimes I would hide my camera when I sat inside the courtroom. I would follow the accused to the toilet to see what they changed into, and then wait for them outside the courtroom. We needed to know the layout of the court well and familiarise ourselves with the exit points. We also needed to recognise the family members of the accused, as they would normally leave the court together. Some accused are friendly and understanding, but others would scold us and say there will be karma when we take their photos. My advice to young photographers is to be patient and persevere. It is a hardship job – there is a lot of waiting time under the sun, and still, you won't know if you managed to capture a good shot.'
The Star
06-07-2025
- General
- The Star
5,368 participants set new record for largest yoga meet in Serdang
The event saw Malaysia's largest number of participants in a yoga session that was part of the 11th International Yoga Day celebration in Serdang. A NEW Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) achievement was made when 5,368 people took part in a yoga session in Serdang, Selangor, to mark International Yoga Day. Led by Sakthi School of Yoga's co-founder SK Durai, they made up the largest number of participants in a yoga session in the country. The event was part of the 11th International Yoga Day celebration held at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (Maeps). The yoga school, set up in 2016, has 12 local branches in Klang Valley, Penang, Melaka and Johor, and one branch in Tiruvannamalai, India. The Maeps meet drew attendees from across Malaysia as well as Singapore and India. Some 130 committee members comprising teachers and students ensured the event ran smoothly. Celebrations began with a grand urumi melam folk music ensemble performance. Alongside this was a mayilattam (peacock dance) and karagattam (dancers balancing pots on their heads) performance. A silambam martial arts demonstration then followed. The yoga session itself was a multi-generational showcase of talent and enthusiasm. Yoga performances by children set a powerful tone while senior citizens inspired the crowd with their dedication and grace. The session continued with the practice of Surya Namaskaram (sun salutations) and culminated in the powerful Sakthi Kriya where Durai led a yogic technique to harness inner energy. One of the most moving segments was the pregnancy yoga performance that conveyed emotion and strength. This was followed by a power-packed performance with a Ramayana theme that merged storytelling with yogic flow. Many of these performances were the result of months of disciplined preparation. Beyond numbers, what truly defined the event was its spirit of unity. Participants of all backgrounds came together to celebrate yoga as a shared language of wellness, and peace. 'This event offered a platform to showcase skill and dedication as well as a deeper opportunity to connect with the inner self, and with others through the universal path of yoga,' said Durai.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
MDMK must get specific number of tickets in election to receive EC recognition: Durai Vaiko
Durai Vaiko COIMBATORE: MDMK deputy general secretary Durai Vaiko said his party should receive a specific number of tickets in the assembly election to get a minimum recognition from the Election Commission of India (ECI). However, the final decision on the tickets would be made by the leadership of the party, he said. MDMK is part of the DMK alliance in Tamil Nadu. "Since the election is coming, we need to strengthen our structure and have organised meetings of activities in seven zones, including the formation of booth committees," he said while interacting with reporters at the Coimbatore International Airport. He said the state govt arrested police personnel responsible for the death of Ajith Kumar in Sivaganga district. He emphasised that the state govt should ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future. Durai said he had insisted in Parliament that the railways fare hike should be cancelled and the benefits given to senior citizens should be restored. Discussing globalisation, Durai remarked that 'our students are excelling in various places due to their proficiency in English. All the success came because of the bilingual policy. English is the language of global communication.' He accused the BJP of playing politics with language. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
The Sun
23-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
Yoga event gains entry into Malaysia Book of Records
SERDANG: The Sakthi School of Yoga held its 11th International Yoga Day (IDY) event on Saturday, that brought together culture, tradition and wellness at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang. Led by its founder master S.K. Durai, the event attracted 6,098 attendees from Malaysia, India and Singapore – underscoring the growing global resonance of yoga and the expanding international presence of the school. With a total of 5,368 active participants, the group gained entry into the Malaysia Book of Records for achieving the largest yoga session. The activities opened with a cultural showcase featuring urumee melam (a traditional Indian folk drum ensemble), mayilattam (peacock dance), karagattam (a folk balancing dance) and a silambam martial arts demonstration. The yoga session that followed was a multi-generational showcase of spirit and discipline. Children delivered high-energy performances, while senior citizens inspired the crowd with grace and determination. A key highlight was the Sakthi Kriya session, a spiritual practice led by Durai designed to awaken and channel inner energy. Among the segments at the event was a pregnancy yoga performance, showcasing strength and emotional resilience. This was followed by a Ramayana themed presentation, blending classical Indian storytelling with yoga choreography. Behind the scenes, a 130-member team of teachers and students ensured the event ran smoothly, from registration to stage management, demonstrating unity, coordination and commitment. 'This event has offered not just a platform to showcase skill and dedication but a deeper opportunity to connect with the inner self and with others through the universal path of yoga,' said Durai. IDY is observed globally on June 21, following a 2014 resolution by the United Nations recognising the role of yoga in promoting physical and mental health. More than 1,200 participants gathered at Batu Caves for a parallel IDY event the same day. According to Bernama, it was jointly organised by the High Commission of India and the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Indian Cultural Centre, in collaboration with several Malaysian partner organisations. It was held under the global theme 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health'. 'There is growing popularity of yoga in Malaysia across the age groups and its wider integration into wellness, physical as well as mental health programmes,' said High Commissioner of India to Malaysia B.N. Reddy in a statement. The event was also attended by Youth and Sports Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr K. Nagulendran. Trained instructors led a 40-minute yoga session based on the Common Yoga Protocol, that included a demonstration of yoga asanas (postures).
The Hindu
03-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Madras High Court judge, wife visit litigant's bed-ridden father at home to ascertain his mental condition
In an unusual gesture, Justice G.R. Swaminathan of the Madras High Court and his wife Kamakshi, a special educator, visited a litigant's 83-year-old bed-ridden father at his residence to find out if the octogenarian was suffering from any mental ailment as claimed by his elder son. The judge decided to go to the man's house at Kodambakkam in Chennai after taking into account that his production before the court would cause immense physical inconvenience to him since he had suffered a stroke in 2021, lost his ability to speak, and was being tube- fed since then. Plea for appointment Justice Swaminathan took his wife along with him since she was experienced in dealing with mentally ill persons. The decision was taken at the hearing of a case filed by Sivakumar Chellathurai in 2023 for appointing him as the manager of his father P.K.M. Durai's properties and permit him to dispose them of. The petition had been filed under Clause 17 of the Letters Patent which confers parens patriae jurisdiction on the High Court in respect of 'minors, lunatics and idiots'. The judge said that though such expressions could not be employed any longer, they continue to find a place in the statute. Leaving that aside, the judge found that the litigant had also filed a sub- application for a direction to his mother Kousalya Devi and younger brother C. Sabari Kumar to take his father to a hospital for follow-up and review. The applicant had asserted his father was mentally ill. Two words To ascertain if the assertion was true, the judge's wife wrote the words 'hospital' and 'home' one below the other on a piece of paper and requested Mr. Durai to point out his preference. Due to the difficulty in motor coordination, the aged man initially touched the word 'hospital'. However, when the judge asked if he wished to be shifted to a hospital, the litigant's father began weeping. Immediately, Ms. Kamakshi wrote the words 'home' and 'hospital' on two sides of the paper and this time, Mr. Durai touched the word 'home' and indicated by gestures that he was comfortable at home. 'Due to his physical condition, he was drooling. Whenever he drooled, he took his handkerchief with the help of his left hand and wiped the saliva. Whenever he cried, he also used handkerchief to wipe his tears. From all this, I could come to a clear and categorical conclusion that Thiru. P.K.M. Durai was suffering only from serious physical debilities. But his mental condition was rather good. By no stretch of imagination can Thiru. P.K.M. Durai be called as a lunatic-cum-idiot,' Justice Swaminathan concluded. After holding a detailed interaction with the mother and the younger brother of the applicant, the judge found that they both had no objection to the applicant visiting their home to see his father. 'No merit in the application' 'I am of the clear view that what Thiru. P.K.M. Durai requires now is loving care. If he is shifted to hospital, he would definitely suffer from loneliness. He may be confined in ICU. If he is at home, he will be surrounded by his immediate family members. He will have the company of his grandchildren. The interests of Thiru. P.K.M. Durai are paramount and I am more satisfied that there is no merit in the application,' the judge wrote. Despite observing that the main case filed by the elder son was itself not maintainable, the judge refrained from dismissing it, since a senior counsel engaged by the litigants was not present before him.
