Latest news with #WangsaMaju
The Star
3 days ago
- General
- The Star
Communities clean up KL river
A total of 334kg of rubbish were collected during the clean-up. They learn to protect, restore Sungai Gombak Over 220 participants convened along the banks of Sungai Gombak to celebrate 'Hari Sungai Gombak' (Gombak River Day), held in conjunction with World Environment Day. Themed 'Rivers We Share, Together We Care', the event transformed the historical Kampung Padang Balang ― one of Kuala Lumpur's oldest Malay settlements – into a vibrant hub of action, education and unity. The day began with a fun run through the village, followed by the opening ceremony. It was attended by Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan, Environment Department (Federal Territories Kuala Lumpur) (DOE-WPKL) director Zuraini Ahmad Tajudin, Haleon Kuala Lumpur site director Alastair Reed, non-governmental organisation Pewaris chairman Rosden Mohd Yassin and Setapak police station chief Insp Hasbuhullah Muda. The event was symbolically launched with a collective mud ball toss, underscoring the shared responsibility of environmental care. Inspired by the proactive spirit of the village community, individuals were encouraged to become River Rangers – citizens who take ownership of their environment, educate others and advocate against harmful practices such as littering and chemical dumping. The initiative was led by Haleon, a healthcare solutions company, with active participation from both its manufacturing and commercial teams. One of the activities at the event is making mud balls. In partnership with DOE-WPKL and Kampung Padang Balang Pewaris as well as with support from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and students from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), the event brought together diverse stakeholders to protect and restore one of the city's vital waterways. 'As a global leader in consumer health, Haleon is committed to delivering better everyday health with humanity. 'Our purpose extends beyond our products – it's about making a meaningful impact on the communities we serve and the environment we all share. 'This event reflects our commitment to water stewardship and our dedication to preserving Sungai Gombak, a river that plays a crucial role in our local ecosystem. 'Through this initiative, we aim to spark awareness, dialogue and action that will protect this vital resource for generations to come,' said Reed. Throughout the day, participants engaged in a wide range of hands-on activities, including riverbank cleanups, recycling drives and educational workshops. A total of 334kg of rubbish was collected and sorted, while DOE-WPKL's e-waste and used cooking oil drive gathered 150kg of electronic waste and 100kg of oil, promoting responsible disposal practices. There were hands-on activities, including riverbank cleanups, recycling drives and educational workshops. Children and adults took part in activities such as the Water Amazing Race, water-filter workshops, colouring contests and logo design challenges. Students from SK La Salle led a mud ball-making demonstration, showcasing eco-friendly techniques to naturally improve river water quality and inspire sustainable habits.
New Straits Times
18-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Judicial independence must continue under Wan Ahmad Farid, say PKR MPs
KUALA LUMPUR: Nine PKR members of parliament have expressed hope that the judiciary, under newly appointed Chief Justice Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, will continue efforts to strengthen judicial independence. In a statement, they outlined five key issues that the judiciary must address following the appointment of its new leadership. This includes finalising the appointments of judges to fill 31 vacancies as soon as possible to prevent disruptions to the administration of justice, and ensuring that judicial appointments are truly based on merit and seniority, in fairness to long-serving judges who have upheld the integrity and reputation of the judiciary. "(They must also) ensure that judicial appointments follow the proper process under the Federal Constitution and the Judicial Appointments Commission Act (JAC), so that appointments are made based on merit and seniority; "(This also includes) ensuring that there is no interference in the selection, control, or influence of judicial appointments that contradict the principles of judicial independence, the Federal Constitution, the JAC Act, or procedural rules that must be followed to ensure that the process is merit-based and fair to judges. "(They must also) resolve the issues raised in previous JAC meetings, including follow-up actions to investigate allegations of attempts to influence judicial decisions made against a Federal Court judge," they said. The nine MPs are Pandan MP Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Puchong MP Wong Chen, Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail, Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan, Balik Pulau MP Datuk Bakhtiar Wan Chik, Ledang MP Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, Sungai Siput MP S Kesavan and Batu Pahat MP Onn Abu Bakar. They had also previously called for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to investigate what they claimed were alleged irregularities in the appointment of senior judges, including the Chief Justice. They had also expressed intentions to formally request that proceedings and an inquiry be conducted by the Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Human Rights, Elections and Institutional Reform, including top government officials to testify. They said the announcement that Wan Ahmad Farid has been appointed as the new Chief Justice has somewhat eased public concerns about issues related to judicial independence. Together with the appointment of Datuk Abu Bakar Jais as President of the Court of Appeal and Datuk Azizah Nawawi as the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, they said, it completes the current leadership of the judiciary. "The initial reaction to Wan Ahmad Farid's appointment has been mixed, given his background as a former Umno leader and his perception as being junior compared to some other judges. "We hope that, as the new Chief Justice, Wan Ahmad Farid will accept these diverse views openly. "These should serve as a guide and motivation to prove that his leadership will better uphold the independence of the judiciary, surpassing the outstanding record of Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who previously held the position," they said. They added that the recent turmoil over judicial leadership appointments highlights the need for reforms to further strengthen the judicial appointment process to prevent such issues from recurring. Meanwhile, they also expressed hope that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would not consider the matter fully resolved as long as improvements to the judicial appointment process are not presented to the public and implemented. They outlined several proposals for the government to take into account. This includes the proposal to improve the Prime Minister's power to reject nominations from the JAC, ensuring this power is limited and that the Prime Minister provides official reasons (either to the JAC or Parliament) for rejecting a candidate already screened by the JAC. This also includes a proposal to automatically appoint representatives from the legal bodies of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak to the JAC, thus reducing the Prime Minister's power to appoint the majority of JAC members as is currently the case. "(This includes) a proposal for Parliament to be involved in confirming JAC nominations before they are brought to the Prime Minister, either in the form of confirmation hearings as in other countries, or through a parliamentary vote, with a voting mechanism to be determined later. They said they would continue to monitor these matters.
The Star
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Two-thirds of Umno division leaders call for Najib to be put under house arrest
KUALA LUMPUR: Over two-thirds of Umno division leaders across the nation are calling for the immediate enforcement of the royal addendum concerning the house arrest of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. In a late-night media conference, Wangsa Maju Umno division chief Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Shafei Abdullah announced that 160 out of 191 Umno divisions are urging Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to facilitate Najib's transition from Kajang Prison to house arrest without further delay. Najib, a former Umno President, is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for misusing RM42mil of SRC International Sdn Bhd funds. Mohd Shafei highlighted that the Pahang palace confirmed the addendum's existence in a letter dated Jan 4, alongside the Court of Appeal's verdict on Jan 6. "There is no more excuse to delay the execution of the addendum," he asserted, urging the Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar to support the government by withdrawing the appeal against the Jan 6 judgement. He called for all Umno divisions that have yet to hold their general meetings to pass a special resolution on this royal addendum, emphasizing the importance of party solidarity in supporting the institution of the Malay Rulers and upholding justice. He stressed that the addendum is a matter of legal sanctity, involving the Malay Rulers and justice for all, not an individual concern. "Our meeting was initiated by ourselves and is in no way an affront against the Umno President or the deputy president," he stated. Furthermore, the division leaders are demanding a Royal Commission of Inquiry into former Attorney General Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh for allegedly concealing the royal addendum, now serving as a Federal Court judge. "The act of hiding the addendum by the former AG is against a constitutional monarchy, violating principles of transparency and accountability," Mohd Shafei added, stressing that this has denied justice for Najib. On Jan 6, Najib's counsel had presented the Pahang palace's letter to the Court of Appeal, confirming Sultan Abdullah's order for house arrest. On Jan 11, Anwar acknowledged that the addendum had been received by the then AG.
Malay Mail
18-07-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Moonlight ‘hor fun' still shines bright at Setapak's 55-year-old Kedai Kopi Makanan Hong Lai, with spicy ‘yee mee' to match
KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 — Years ago, I used to go to school in Wangsa Maju. It was also around this time that I was gripped by the foolish notion of a budding football career, and would train or play late into the night in the nearby Melawati area. My father often came and watched, likely sighing and shaking his head, after which we'd grab supper nearby. For a kid whose worldview was mostly shaped by suburban PJ, chowing down on late-night grub in neighbourhoods like Wangsa Maju or Taman Melawati, and sometimes Setapak, was an adventure like no other. One such adventure led me to a cramped shop lot, situated right on the busy thoroughfare of Jalan Genting Kelang. It was hot, raging hot. Not a single person inside was spared a sweat stain, and the air was thick with the smell of burning charcoal. The aroma and heat radiated from the front, where a flaming inferno blazed and crackled beneath blackened, well-worn woks frying up plate after plate of noodles. I don't remember much, but I can still smell that night in my hair. The restaurant sits right on the main road. — Picture by Ethan Lau That shop lot was Kedai Kopi Makanan Hong Lai. Since 1970, Hong Lai has been dishing out Hokkien mee and other classic fried noodle staples from that same location. These days, it's run by the second generation of the family, and they've even expanded with a branch in Singapore. Though most would assume the Hokkien mee (RM12) to be the signature dish, those in the know will have heard tales of Hong Lai's moonlight kuey tiao, or yuet gong hor (RM12). All noodles on the menu are at the same price: RM12 for small, RM21 for medium and RM31 for a large portion. Slick and stained a deep, dark brown, the wide, flat strips of kuey teow carry savoury and caramelised flavours, with slightly sweet notes backed by an undercurrent of wok hei. That distinctly charred, smoky sensation is in full force here. The fire rages on in the middle of service at Hong Lai. — Picture by Ethan Lau Some may attribute it to Hong Lai's continued use of charcoal, but I would argue it has more to do with the skill or kung fu of the cook. These days, the woks are manned by young workers, but the bulge and vascularity of their forearms suggest they know their way around a wok, and have done so for quite some time. On its own, the char and caramelisation are not what make a good yuet gong hor. It needs the titular moonlight: a single egg, raw and trembling, the yolk plump and glistening like the moon at night. Stirred into the noodles while they are still steaming, it slowly transforms into a lush, silky glue that binds the dish together, slipping between and clinging onto slices of pork, fish cake and sheets of kuey teow. A good plate of Hokkien 'mee'. — Picture by Ethan Lau The same wok hei can be found in abundance in a plate of their Hokkien mee, which ticks all the boxes and leans slightly on the saucy side, though the sauce is thick enough that it never becomes a problem. It is veritably loaded with lard, so no complaints there. If I do have one, it is for the sambal. It is neither spicy nor salty enough. It is too sweet. The noodles are better off on their own, but the experience feels diminished without that spicy-salty kick to balance all the rich, caramelised flavours. But there is a noodle on the menu that needs no sambal. The spicy yee mee (RM12) is lightly braised, but kept relatively dry, with just enough of the typical egg sauce to coat the noodles. Don't miss out on trying the spicy 'yee mee'. — Picture by Ethan Lau The simple addition of fresh cili padi changes everything. Immediately, the stinging pang of the chilli disperses through the noodles, creating a tongue-tingling sensation that leads to second, third and fourth bites. It is very easy to wolf down without feeling jelak, as we like to say. It is good to see a business like this carry on. Fifty-five years on, Hong Lai is still right where it started, still frying noodles over charcoal, still feeding hungry people late at night, though not as late as it used to be. Times have changed, and Hong Lai has changed with them, as any responsible business does. It may now be run by the second generation, with younger cooks behind the wok and an outpost in Singapore showing our noisy neighbours how we like our Hokkien mee, but it is still very much the way I remembered it. Kedai Kopi Makanan Hong Lai 蓬萊茶餐室 85, Jalan Genting Kelang, Taman Ayer Panas, Kuala Lumpur. Open daily, 5-11.30pm Tel: 012-659 9109 * This is an independent review where the writer paid for the meal. * Follow us on Instagram @eatdrinkmm for more food gems. * Follow Ethan Lau on Instagram @eatenlau for more musings on food and mildly self-deprecating attempts at humour.
Free Malaysia Today
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Didi's is giving European bakes a local makeover
Didi's Café and Bakery is bringing something fresh to the table. (Andrea Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle) KUALA LUMPUR : Listen up, Wangsa Maju folks – your neighbourhood just got a cool new café that's baking up a storm. At Didi's Café and Bakery, you'll find specialty coffee and freshly baked pastries with a unique twist you won't get anywhere else. Opened in February, the café's name means 'elder sister' in Hindi – a sweet tribute to what owner Nashilla Rafiq is called at home. While it's a family-owned spot, it's Nashilla, a former lawyer and mum, who runs the show. 'All of this started because our entire family loves coffee,' the 35-year-old told FMT Lifestyle. 'We wanted to bring something new and exciting to the neighbourhood.' All the café's goodies are baked in-house by a skilled pastry chef. (Andrea Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle) At Didi's, classic European bakes get a local makeover with creations like rendang croizza and masak lemak-stuffed ciabatta. Nashilla's younger sister, 25, is the creative force behind many of their creations. 'She's really good with flavour profiles – always trying new things, exploring funky combinations,' Nashilla said. 'She came up with the idea for the masak lemak-stuffed ciabatta, and even though customers are hesitant at first, we encourage them to give it a try. Most end up loving it.' The siblings first tested their ideas through pop-ups. Once they realised their unique creations were a hit, they brought on skilled chefs to help execute their vision – and just like that, Didi's Café and Bakery was born. The croizzas come in three flavours and are a must-try. (Andrea Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle) FMT Lifestyle tried some of Didi's signature items, and loved every one of them. The masak lemak stuffed ciabatta was a pleasant surprise. Shredded chicken in a fiery, tangy masak lemak sauce is stuffed into crusty Italian bread, with a bright yellow filling that looks intense but isn't oily. Somehow, they've nailed the richness of masak lemak without the heaviness – keeping it moist, spicy, and seriously flavour-packed. You've seen big pizza chains experiment with local flavours, but on a croizza? That's something else. Generously loaded with tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef, this croizza hits all the right notes. The croizza base is the real game-changer: made with croissant dough, it's flaky, buttery, and still sturdy to hold all the toppings together. The Kefir chicken croizza is also a must-try with its perfect balance of spice and sweetness. The apple turnover too was a quiet winner. Chunky apple pieces and smooth custard are wrapped in a golden puff pastry, with just the right touch of sweetness. You will end up finishing it in a few greedy bites. The pistachio cherry croissant meanwhile, which happens to be Nashilla's personal favourite, is a visual stunner. The croissant is perfectly laminated, topped with a crown of crunchy pistachios, and filled with luscious pistachio cream and sweet-tart cherry compote. On Wednesdays, Didi's offers 10% off all matcha lattes for ladies' night. (Andrea Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle) And if none of this is your cup of tea (or coffee), they've got plenty more – from sourdough and focaccia to cinnamon rolls and beyond. Didi's takes their drinks seriously, too. The butterscotch latte and matcha strawberry are definite must-tries. And if you're a matcha lover, swing by on Wednesdays for ladies' night, where you'll get 10% off all matcha lattes. As it's a family affair, you'll often find Nashilla's mother, Noor Shida Ismail, around the café – coffee in hand, happily chatting with customers. 'What I've realised from running this café is that people who come here end up sharing pieces of their lives with us,' Noor Shida shared. 'On Mother's Day, we had two girls sitting here in tears because their mother no longer remembers them. It's moments like that which are so touching.' So if you're craving a little downtime, drop by this cosy café. With seasonal specials like the Raya-exclusive onde-onde pain suisse, there's always a reason to come back for more. Head over to Wangsa Maju to discover this cosy little café. (Andrea Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle) Follow Didi's Café and Bakery on Instagram. Didi's Café and Bakery 69, Jalan Wangsa Delima 5 Pusat Bandar Wangsa Maju 53300 Kuala Lumpur Operation Hours: 9am-12am: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9am-1am: Friday, Saturday, Sunday (Closed on Mondays)
