Sad Sight At Air Panas Market

In blissful slumber, well-sheltered from the harsh reality of life, even for a moment!

This is one sight which will make you wonder if you are of the same human race and are living in the same planet.

This trio was spotted blissfully in slumberland, with nary a care in the world, and totally shut off from the cacophony of the Air Panas market at 7:45am on a Sunday morning.

The central adult figure must be the father - or guardian - and the two youngsters were probably his charges, sons perhaps. One of them has a bandaged upper palm, not unlike that left by the intrusion of a needle (perhaps an intravenous drip or a diagnostic probe) made recently. A sick kid just recovering? Who knows?

Who are they is as good your guess as it is mine. What are they doing sleeping on the sidewalk of the busy market is a million dollar question that begs answering aloud although you and I know it already.

That they are begging for sympathy (perhaps having found none where they came from) at the open market is a possibility - this assumption awaiting confirmation by the presence of the pink red bin by their side.



Life must have been hard, especially so for the deprived and the handicapped. This picture does not need a thousand-word intro to tell a sad tale. And who is to question why the parents choose to bring their children (not one but two!) into this world, this way?

Perhaps procreation is one of the means this stranger (and his mate?) has hoped for to bring him out of the quagmire he has fallen into or even born with. It is not far-fetched, you know. Afterall how many of us place our dreams and pin our hopes on our children to take us out of our own little ghettoes?

Luckily for the trio (although they seem oblivious to it yet but will soon realise when they wake up from their slumber), they have been successful in their quest for sympathy.

Many kind hearts among morning shoppers at the market have been dropping ringgit upon ringgit into the plastic bin since early morning so much so that one is amazed by the outpouring of human generosity. Whether or not a parted dollar is to make up for not having done enough good previously or purely an automatic response to human suffering, only the giver know.

But certainly this is one sight one would not expect to see staring back at one's face on a busy Sunday in a nation as prosperous as Malaysia.

I will certainly hope - nay, pray - that our politicians will take a walk in the streets of their constituencies one of these Sundays and look at the reality of life for what they are. Maybe then they will stop bickering and start working together for a nation where sights like this will be but a page from a forgotten past...



Bless this man for he has a kind heart and for sharing what little he has.

Gombak Road Widening - Updates

Tarring of the trunk road leading from Setapak to the upper reaches of Jalan Gombak has begun downstream from Gombak Fifth Mile (Pasaraya Ong Tai Kim). The road shoulders have been tarred sporadically, and this presents an even more dangerous situation for bikers. Loose gravel and uneven road shoulders are a fatal combination should the biker hits the dirt at high speed. Let's hope the contractors will complete the road fast before Chinese New Year!

Wangsa-Maju.Com Wishes Indian Readers Happy Deepavali

Happy Deepavali!
May You All Be Happy And Healthy!

Now You Know Why Some People Become Mat Rempit Later On

This youngster is spotted along Jalan Gombak recently, exuding a sense of infantile confidence, perched in front of her dad's bike. She was standing on her tiny feet, gripping instinctively onto the bike's handlebar, as her very irresponsible parents sped towards town. They were inches away from construction debris in the middle of the road and riding on the outer lane, oblivious to bigger vehicles.

The mother and father were engaged in their own world while the little toddler feels the breeze rushing through her face - with no other protection. I dont need to tell you how fast the bike is going - just look at the toddler's hair and you will have an idea.

It beats logic how parents could have exposed their offsprings to this obvious danger. Isn't a bus more convenient and safer? Is this the way to live it up in the city?

If there is a sociologist, I hope he/she would study if the exposure to this mode of transport has encouraged children to become Mat Rempits in their later life. It would really make an interesting read!

Steven Must Be Laughing All The Way To The Bank

If you knew your Steven, you will know that it first started in Old Klang Road area. I frequented that original place many years ago and it was only a packed stall with 10 tables or so by the road.

Today, this high rise with Steven's Corner emblazoned across its facade must be the owner's proud trademark. In those days, where mamak stalls were unheard of, Steven's Corner is the place to grab your nightly supper. The fried crab and fish are fabulous and they are served here too. This is one of the most striking eating places in the Prima Setapak area by the Genting Kelang thoroughfare.

Baker's Cottage - Desa Setapak

This is one outlet you should visit if you love bread. In fact, it is one of the branches of the Baker's Cottage chain of bakery. What I like about it is the 99sen deals you find at certain times of the day.

The proprietor must have been a smart fella with good business acumen. After certain hours, you know for sure certain things can sell and certain things cannot, and will probably end up in the next morning's trash can if you insist on the price tag. But if you were to go cheap, even marginally, at the end of the day, not only will you garner goodwill from those who can ill afford your tagged price but earn their gratitude as well, especially during tough times when everyone is looking to stretch the ringgit.

This cheap-cheap concept is neither new nor novel - it has been practiced by some socially responsible corporate bodies already. It's about giving back to society when you reap from them.

Air Panas Goddess of Mercy Temple

There is a quaint temple dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy, Kuan Yin, just beside the Air Panas field. According to residents there, the origins of this temple was that of a wooden hut. It was set up when the Air Panas village was formed in the 70s. Sometime in the late 90s, there was a fire which gutted the main temple.

According to the story, when the fire enveloped the temple, which was sandwiched between several timber houses, the owners of the houses prayed hard that the fire would not spread.

Indeed, their prayers were answered and the fire which began at the temple imploded - burnt and collapsed inwards - and did not even singe the nearest house.

It was a tale of miracle so commonly heard of the Goddess of Mercy. The main statue of the Goddess, so said temple caretakers, survived the fire with just a singe on the side - when all the enclosure was reduced to ashes.

The temple pays homage to the Goddess of Mercy three times a year on the 19th day of the second , sixth and ninth lunar month - the latter which falls this Friday.