Volume 1 Issue 6

Speed Bumps

Dear Tiarans,

Since the King’s-Gate-in, Queen’s-Gate-out system was implemented in Tiara Damansara, it has been noticed that some vehicles have been speeding, especially at the last straight stretch on Queen’s Promenade, after the crest, until the turn near the Queen’s Gate exit.

The Management is concerned because the steps leading to the playground is within the area, which means there is a lot of pedestrian traffic, especially that of children. The Management has taken the necessary steps to remind drivers to slow down within Tiara Damansara by rearranging the speed bumps and put up warning and “Slow Down” signs.

The strategy of bump relocations is as follows:

1. To install bumps in the middle of straight stretches.

2. To install a bump just before junctions (Princess Lane and Regent’s Close).

3. To install a bump before the steps leading to the playground.

Currently, the changes / relocations are:

Existing bumps retained (3)

1. At King’s Gate

2. In the middle of the first straight stretch of King’s Crescent.

3. In the middle of the second straight stretch of King’s Crescent.

Existing bumps relocated (3)

1. On Queen’s Promenade between Princess Lane and Regent’s Close, (moved to just before Princess Lane).

2. In the middle of the straight stretch of Queen’s Promenade.

3. After the turn near Queen’s Gate, (moved to before the turn).

New bumps (2)

1. On Queen’s Promenade just before Regent’s Close.

2. On Queen’s Promenade just before the steps leading to the playground.

Existing bumps removed (3)

1. On King’s Crescent, just after the first turn.

2. On Queen’s Promenade, just after the turn from King’s Crescent.

The total number of bumps remain the same.

We would like to remind drivers to drive slowly and carefully through the premises. Please also keep in mind that though you can only enter through the King’s Gate and exit only through the Queen’s Gate, the traffic in Tiara Damansara is still two-way. Thus drivers should be aware of oncoming vehicles and keep to the left side of the road, especially around the corners.

We would like to thank everyone for their cooperation to make Tiara Damansara a friendly and safe place for all.

Clean Water Project

lang Valley White is not a colour selection provided by ICI. That is the colour of your once pristine white shirts and other clothes after 6 months of washing in the water provided by the authority.

The good news is that the “Clean Water Project”, mooted in May 2005, has finally kicked off – after a year of deliberation and negotiations with the Management Committee of Astana.

For the uninitiated, our water supply is routed through the water storage facilities sited on the land adjoining Astana. Similarly, the sewage from Astana is routed through “our” system sited next to King’s Gate. Astana and Tiara are like Siamese Twins – we share the “incomings” and the “outgoings.”

The Project has been planned to be carried out in 3 major phases.

The first and second phase of the project will be shared with Astana Condominiums while the third phase is internal to Tiara Damansara.

The first phase, which has been completed lately, is the installation of the water filter at Astana.

The second phase is the cleaning of the sump and the large storage tank in Astana—the one with the red Great Eastern Logo. This is expected to be completed by mid-July of this year. This is the costliest part of the project.

Once the main facilities are “cleaned up”, clean(er) water will be coming through the pipes into our Tiara property. This is where the third phase comes in: each and every water storage tank in each building block—all 41 tanks—will be cleaned. The Management plans to start the cleaning of the tanks from 1^st August, 2006 with the blocks nearest to Queens Gate down toward Kings Gate. The schedule has yet to be fixed.

One wonders what we will get for all the cost and trouble. What we should not expect to get is “clean water” as espoused by the trades people pushing RO filters and Mineral Pots. The Clean Water Project is expected to filter up to between 7 to 10 microns of sedimentation. This should remove most of the sedimentation, rust, asbestos and other larger nasty stuff that has been traditionally supplied by the authorities along with our water.

If you desire to have really clean water, you should consider installing a separate filter system to remove the sedimentation down to 1 micron or invest in a system that will take out “Total Dissolved Solids” (TDS). This will require filters with capacities of less than .001 microns.

We expect clean(er) water to be available to all residents of Tiara by the end of September, 2006.

We hope to see a lot more white shirts by Christmas.

On Grandparenting

Recently, my friend from overseas, stayed with me at Queen's and observed how heartwarming it was seeing grandmothers walking their grandchildren, some in push prams, after the strong rays of the afternoon sun has lost its sting.

Betty Kingsley my house-guest, mentioned an article her father, nonagenarian Lau Kheng Yong, wrote in his book which contained the speeches, talks and articles he had compiled over the years. It was titled: How Grandparents Can Help Bring Up Their Grandchildren.

In his book, Uncle Lau commented that the need for grandparental help is greater now than in the past. This was due to both parents working these days, unlike in the past, hence leaving their young children in the care of maids. Without parental guidance, children sometimes fell into bad company, maybe ending up as delinquents.

Because parents have to leave home to work, Uncle Lau suggested that grandparents step in to fill the void. For grandparents to take on this responsibility, the correct attitude is important. They should not regard this duty as work forced on them, complaining and grumbling to others. This would add to the stress and strain parents already bear through the pressures of working life.

An atmosphere where harsh words, arguments, quarrels, beatings and wailing prevail is detrimental to the upbringing of children.

Uncle Lau is of the belief that there are two qualities that parents and grandparents should have, if they hope to bring their offspring up successfully.

The first is wisdom. One should never be so strict as to stifle initiatives, nor so indulgent as to spoil the child. If an elder was too strict, children with strong characters would rebel, break away and follow their own inclinations, whilst the mild and passive would lose confidence in themselves and dare not do anything on their own.

The second quality grandparents should possess is self sacrifice. They should be willing to sacrifice their time, convenience and even money, for the good of their grandchildren. If they spot a talent in their young, they should take the trouble to arrange classes for them to develop that talent, even ferrying them to and fro. Uncle Lau believes that it does not matter that the talent is unrelated to working life, for possessing another talent may makelives more fulfilling and complete in the later years.

An example would be taking music lessons. This is never wasted, since the child would appreciate classical music later on, and experience great joy attending world-class performances.

The influence of parents and grandparents is greatest when the children are young, diminishing when they grow older. This is the time when the foundation of their moral character is laid. Uncle Lau stated that some philosophers even advocated that the heart should be educated first, and the head later. This is sound advice, since knowledge can always be acquired later but the wrong attitude towards life, once ingrained, is hard, if not impossible, to correct.

It is a fact that children tend to mimic their elders. The only way to teach them good morals and right attitude towards life is by example. Parents and grandparents should be good role models. They must be on guard where their thoughts, words and actions are concerned. Examples of unselfishness, patience, kindness, concern for others, honesty and right speech should be shown at all times.

But bringing children up just by giving them a good moral and academic foundation is not sufficient. As the saying goes – “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Hence, parents and grandparents should encourage their young to be an all-rounder. They should be driven to participate in all kinds of recreational and social activities so that mixing with others comes easy.

Grandchildren should be given the time of day by their parents and grandparents, bonding in work and play. It is another well known saying that the family that works and plays together stays together, tied strongly by emotional bonds, common interests and experiences.

And as they grow older, children will naturally have their own friends and prefer greater independence. This is a natural development. But if they have been well guided during their earlier years, they will be able to take good care of themselves.

As a wise saying goes: Unless the sapling is taken out of the pot and planted into the ground, it can never grow up into a big tree.

The success of grandchildren should be the most satisfying reward of any grandparent

Thank you so much, Uncle Lau Kheng Yong, for your words of wisdom and for your book, from which much of this article was taken from.

Tiaran Profile – Harveen K. Kaulsey

Going places is nothing new to Malaysia's famous Operafest Children's Choir. The Choir was recently invited to participate in the Bambanani Goodwill and Friendship Festival in Pretoria, South Africa, from May 25th - June 8th. It was the only international choir invited to perform alongside various choirs in Pretoria.

A group of l9 Malaysian students (four boys and eleven girls) took part in the festival, led by their conductor Kam Sun Yoke. Among them was our own Tiaran, Harveen K. Kaulsey. The fourteen year old Sri Chempaka Form 3 student said that the other singers ranged between 7 - 19 years of age. They came from schools in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam. Some were accompanied by their parents.

Though it was her first oversea trip without her parents, Harveen found the outing delightful. On a scale of 10, she said she put her South African experience at 11. It was that enjoyable, being in the company of friends, seeing interesting places and experiencing fascinating cultures.

At the visit to the Lesedi Cultural Village, described as "The Cradle of Humankind," where the first traces of Man were found, she was told that, many centuries ago, when a woman got married, many at the tender age of 14, the teenaged brides were an unhappy lot. They had to work very hard. One of their tasks was to spread cow dung with their hands, on the earthern floor of their huts. Mothers-in-law, fearing the young brides would escape and run away, often put chains around their ankles, with some even placing heavy metal neckbraces around their necks.

Harveen and her friends also partook of the traditional African dish, which comprised mashed maize with a sweetish-sourish sauce.

The highlight of Harveen's trip, after discounting the choiral performances before American, British, Japanese, Spanish and South African audiences in Pretoria, Soweto (once the home of South Africa's first black President, Nelson Mandela) and Johannesburg, was her visit to the Wild Cave.

"I found this so interesting and exciting," she said. "We had to abseil down a very steep slope by rope. It was really very deep. There were tons of bats swarming above us. At times it was so dark in the cave, but we had headlights attached to our forehead so managed to make our way about. The experience lasted nearly three hours.”

Harveen's interest in music began in 2003, when she attended courses at the Singshop in Sri Hartamas with younger sister Manveen,12, and their aunt, Dr. Roopi. She underwent vocal classes for 2 years, stopping in 2005. She auditioned for Operafest in Januay 2006 and was selected. Barely 5 months after joining, she went on tour with the Operafest Choir to South Africa.

Practice sessions are from 2pm - 6pm during weekends, where she is driven to and fro by her devoted mother, Baljeet. Younger sister Manveen has opted out—she is more into reading. An avid reader, she can never be seen without a book in hand, and also reads when being driven around!

Harveen has also visited New Delhi and Amritsar in India, Los Angeles and Las Vegas in the US, (taking in Disneyland and Universal Studios), London, Amsterdam, New Zealand, Bali, Langkawi and Singapore.

"But I enjoyed this trip to South Africa best of all," she enthused. "Maybe it is because of the sense of adventure and the exotic cultural experiences we went through on this trip," she added.

The Operafest Children's Choir has performed in concert halls in New York, Barcelona, Argentina, India, Australia, Macedonia, Greece, Wales, Holland and Singapore. Conductor Kam Sun Yoke added, "in New York ,the choir was given citations by the Mayor ,as well as the United Nations."

This recent trip, where the choir acted as ambassadors for Malaysia, was partly sponsored by the our Ministry Of Culture and Arts, and Malaysia Airlines System.

In July 2006, the Choir will be holding several performances in Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh.

The Issmay Choir from San Francisco, an 80-strong choir comprising children aged 12-16, will also be participating. To get a feel of the country, these children will be housed with Malaysian hosts.

Concluded Harveen, "I am very honoured to have been selected as one of the performers."

Those wishing to catch the Operafest Children’s Choir in action ca do so at the Plenary Hall KLCC on July 17^th (6pm); Dewan Filharmonik KLCC on July 18^th (8:30pm); Wisma Kebudayaan SGM on July 20^th (8:30pm); SGM Selangor Cultural Centre on July 21 (8pm); Lake Club on July 23^rd (8:30pm).

Volume 1 Issue 5

Residents’ Survey

Dear Readers,

Recently, Tiara Management conducted a survey of how residents prioritized some proposed projects in Tiara Damansara. These proposed projects were:

· Tiling of common staircase (all 41 blocks)

· Grill at individual blocks (41 blocks)

· Resurfacing of roads

· Repair & repaint car parking sheds

· Repair tennis court. Repair Swimming pool

· CCTV system

· Repair drains

· Upgrade electrical 3‑phase wiring

· Addition parking – lease side land

· Better fencing

· Upgrade landscaping

· Beautify King’s Gate

· Property notice board

· Redo all signage

· Sales board

· Increase mosquito spraying

· Repair squash court

· Improve perimeter fencing lights

· Put up a roof at the auto gate

· Put up a reflector mirror at Queen’s Gate

· Upgrade public toilets

The purpose of the survey was to give the Management an indication of how residents view the priority of the listed projects. However, the response was quite poor as only 33 or about 10 percent of the 351 units responded. Although the Management is not obliged to follow the results of the survey, it will be used it as a guideline for project planning. The inhibitive cost of some of these projects may rule themselves out.

However, it must be stated that for existing facilities such as tennis and squash courts, swimming pool and sauna, gym and playground, the Management is obligated to make repairs and maintenance to an acceptable level, (at least to the level that was given by the original developer). Thus these facilities are in a separate priority list.

The Management would like to share the results of the survey. The top five projects ranked by the survey respondents are:

1. Tiling of common staircase

It should be noted that the highest ranked project is also the costliest. It is doubtful that this project will be implemented, due to its high cost, unless owners chip in from their own pockets. Some owners (mostly of ground units) have already taken the initiative to do their own tiling of the staircase up to their doorstep.

2. Resurface roads.

The roads within Tiara Damansara have not been upgraded nor repaired since its construction. Thus the roads should be resurfaced. When this will take place is yet to be decided.

3. Repair & repaint car parking sheds.

The car parking sheds are currently repaired as and when necessary. The sheds have never been repainted since their construction. This is a project that is long overdue. However, when it will be done is yet to be decided.

4. Additional parking

This project has been highlighted in the Tiara Times – see accompanying article for details

5. CCTV.

The CCTV proposal was brought up at the previous AGM, but it was voted down. Furthermore, the security consultant engaged by Tiara Management to assess the security risk points in Tiara Damansara noted that CCTV would not be cost-effective because it was a low-rise condominium covering a very large area. However, a smaller scale CCTV system for the entry and exit gates may enhance the security of Tiara Damansara. The Management will be looking into this.

Additional Parking

In a previous issue of Tiara Times, it was reported that the Tiara Management continues to look for ways to make more parking available to residents and visitors. One of the alternatives the Management is looking at is the vacant piece of land outside Tiara Damansara along Jalan 17/1.

In the last issue of Tiara Times, a reader, Concerned, wrote a letter expressing his/her concerns regarding this alternative.

The Management would like to elaborate on and clarify this matter.

Firstly, we would like to clarify that currently we are only at the fact-finding stage and looking at the feasibility of converting the vacant piece of land into a parking lot. There are many steps and hurdles that have to be cleared before the project can even commence – locating and getting the owner's agreement, MPPJ approval, financial considerations and lastly, but most importantly, Tiara residents' / proprietors' approval.

The main reason for even bringing up this project is the parking – or lack of parking – problem we have at Tiara Damansara. As mentioned in a previous article, the Management is trying hard to create parking lots within the compound so that residents and their visitors can park their vehicles inside the grounds and feel secure that their vehicles will be safe, as opposed to parking outside where their cars may be issued with a parking summons, broken into, or worse, stolen.

The Management has converted (almost) every viable space within Tiara into parking lots. A total of 474 lots have been allotted, making a ratio of 1.35 parking lots per unit. Yet, this is still insufficient, as evidenced by the line of cars parked outside on Jalan 17/1 near both King's and Queen's gates. Our own survey shows that we need about 50 more lots for a ratio of about 1.5 lots per unit.

Having adequate parking is important for all proprietors of Tiara Damansara, since this raises the desirability, and thus, the price per square foot of the condominium. There have been cases of potential buyers who really like Tiara Damansara, but chose not to close the deal, due to lack of parking.

Thus, the Management's interest in the possibility of converting the vacant land on Jalan 17/1 is in the interests of residents and proprietors.

Understandably, there will be some opposition, especially from residents of units fronting the vacant piece of land. As Concerned writes in his/her letter, "It will ruin the aspect and reduce the value of the units fronting this green bank, and not to mention giving Tiara Damansara an ugly facade." Other reasons include noise and air pollution (from exhaust fumes) as a result from the area being converted into a parking lot.

Currently, although the area can be considered a green bank, it is not very well maintained. There are lalang and bushes, some almost up to a meter high and fallen branches are strewn about.

Security is another issue. In its current state, this area is a security risk, as the trees and bushes provide cover from the road for potential burglars.

The Management would like to assure residents that if the project does proceed, the parking lot will be landscaped with trees and plants. The existing trees need not be cut down. Of course, it won't be as beautiful as a garden park, but then again, the aim is to get extra parking lots.

With the parking lot, the security of the units fronting it will be improved, as there will be guards manning the parking lot and entrance into Tiara.

And as for the noise and air pollution, unfortunately there's nothing much we can do to mitigate that. However, the question of how much more noise and air pollution will there be, cannot be exactly answered.

Furthermore, with the convenience of having parking lots near to their units, and the overall increase in parking lots for residents, who knows, the value of the units fronting the area may even increase.

As mentioned above, this proposed project is only in the fact-finding stage. Owners and residents alike should rest assured that the Management Council will get all the facts, pros and cons, and conduct the necessary study and analysis and, if indeed the project is viable, the proposal will be brought to an EGM or AGM for the final decision.

Meanwhile, as suggested by Concerned, we are also looking into other parking alternatives such as getting MPPJ approval to widen Jalan 17/1 and create legitimate parking bays.

Finally, we hope to get feedback from residents regarding this article.

Letter - Great Job

Dear Editor,

Just thought I'd do my part by letting you know what a great job you're doing with the Tiara Times.
The content, style, language etc. are of the highest standards.

I must say that it makes great reading, especially the write up on the residents. I do hope you will highlight residents who can provide 'special services" - though not the dubious sort.

I've always thought.... how nice it would be to able to get my hair done, get a manicure/pedicure or even a massage without having to leave the compound!

Look forward to seeing it in my mailbox on a monthly basis.

Keep up the good work

Regards
Catherine de Silva-Chua

Letter - Dogs And Cats

Dear Editor,

The problem with dogs kept by Tiarans seems to be over, as I do not hear barking in the middle of the night. It is amazing how the problem has been resolved so quickly.

Unfortunately though, I observed that the number of cats on the loose seems to be on the increase. If residents would like to keep dogs or cats as pets, I would like to ask them to please be considerate to your fellow Tiarans so that they do not become a nuisance. They should be allowed to not urinate or defecate outside their owners' units or on the condo grounds and they should also not deface the property of others.

Thank you.

Dr NgYan-Goh

Editor's Note

Since the first issue of Tiara Times this year, TT has been receiving lots of emails and letters from Tiarans. TT has received many jokes, some wise sayings, advice on how to keep safe, etc.

But TT has also received some emails that are actually complaints and are more relevant if sent to the Tiara Management Office, since the office handles such matters.

Tiara Times was conceived as a general newsletter to keep Tiarans in the know of happenings and goings-on here, what the Management is doing / will be doing to upgrade the condo, and to give wings to a spirit of camaraderie by profiling residents, etc.

Tiara Times is not a Complaints Bureau. Should action need to be taken about some relevant grouse, this should be directed to the Management Office for attention.

The Editorial team of Tiara Times reserves also the right not to print all letters sent in. It also reserves the right to edit for clarity, shorten due to space constraints, omit desultory paragraphs, and disparaging statements.

We welcome and look forward to receiving heartwarming articles, constructive emails and, do, please, send in some write-ups about YOU, yourself. We would love to hear your news. After all, this is YOUR newsletter, and any interesting personal tidbits that you would like to hand out would be happily received.

If you think you have something to impart but may feel shy, use a pseudonym. Your identity will be kept secret.

So, here's hoping to be inundated by your news!

Tiaran Profile – Shukor Yahya

Artist-philosopher, that is how I would term Abdul Shukor Yahya, a Tiaran at Queen's since 2005. With his shoulder-length hair, glasses and a goatee, he struck me more as a professor than an artist.

Shukor is passionate about doing something that has never been done in the art world before. He liked doing a job well, and did not bother taking into account the popularity of certain genres. As such, he did a Calligraphy Series for his Islamic works, and a Cliché Series, for "the younger generation to understand History", he said.

The first focused on his calligraphy flair. Paintings of his Islamic Series encompassed the many divine names of God and "words that related to ways of remembering God according to Islam", he explained. They were produced with the aim of reintroducing God to the masses. The calligraphy in such works was rendered in a lighter pigment in a three dimensional manner, making the words easy to read and understand, combining beauty, philosophy and meaning to the works.

One of Shukor's works has been featured in a book, “Mightier than Sword", jointly published by the Islamic Art Museum of Malaysia and the British Museum. Co-author Dr Heba Nayel Barakat described the work, which showcased the statement as a "wonderful and serene composition, composed of tiny drops in a plenitude of colours."

Two years ago, the talented artist won three prizes at Malaysia's first Arabic and Chinese Calligraphy Competition, themed, "Treat Others as You would Like to be Treated,”

His normal calligraphic works retail for between RM2, 000 to RM3, 000 apiece.

His other genre, Cliché Art, was a brand new art form he introduced in 2005. He was careful to explain that this was different from Pop Art. Pop art styles were created from mechanical images that hid all evidence of the artist's handwork. For example, Pop painters blew up photographs with screen painting and airbrush techniques to achieve the surface characteristic of anonymous mass-produced imagery for advertising, food packaging and comic strips.

Though people familiar about Art may be quick to point out that Cliché Art is also Pop Art in character, Tiara's prize- winning artist begs to differ. His work differs in form, with satire, political and social subject matter and overtones, he said. His form is different, which is to express his experiences during his time, "exposing the exposed", showcasing the actions done by man during the late twentieth century and the new millennium.

So we have large pictures of Saddam Hussein, and his statement "The real war criminal is George W. Bush", or Tunku Abdul Rahman, "Ta apa.” the British Prime Minister Tony Blair, "I never lie", Osama bin Laden, "I 'm innocent", or former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir, "Apa nama?"

Twenty of Shukor's works, themed "Exposing the Exposed", were exhibited last year at the lobby of the New Straits Times building in Bangsar, KL. It grabbed the attention of numerous media, print and television, attracting the public, art fraternity as well as politicians in the country.

These were later again exhibited, with three additions, at the National Art Gallery of Malaysia in KL, officially launched by Dato' Sri Dr.Rais Yatim, Minister of Art, Culture and Heritage, and received tremendous attention by the public, with television and print media coverage.

Shukor received his training as a graphic designer, not in fine arts. Does he accept that artists are perceived as dreamers, can be flamboyant and often possess that much vaunted artistic temperament often associated with people in this field?

Shukor does not agree. He felt that working in advertising agencies made him practical and business minded. Ad agencies produced artistic work to sell products, collaborating with marketers, and hence were far from being dreamers.

He has held high posts in McCann Erickson and Wings, was Artist in Residence at the Raja Azhar Gallery in Melbourne, lecturer in the Media Study Department of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya, Art Director for Bates Asia as well as Idris Associates, and the Creative Director for Merit Design Consultants, KL.

With numerous awards to his name, Shukor also holds a Bachelor in Graphic Design from the MARA Institute of Technology and a Masters in Art from De Montfort University, Leicester.

He is married to Puan Aziah, who works in the Linguistics Faculty of Universiti Malaya. They have two daughters and a son.

Tiara Times wishes you all the very best, Shukor, and may you win more awards.