News article 3

Published: Sunday September 30, 2012

Younger generation in tune with Mid-Autumn fest tradition

GEORGE TOWN: More of the younger generation are joining in the Mid-Autumn Festival tradition, with many making last-minute preparations to spend quality time with their families.

For student Celine Fong, the Mid-Autumn Festival which falls today is just like another Chinese New Year a time to be spent with family.

“It's the time for my family members to gather for a reunion,” said the 18-year-old.

“After the dinner, we will go outdoors to enjoy the scenery while feasting on mooncakes and lighting up lanterns together.”

Sweet delights: Saw (left) and Fong admiring the mooncakes at Tai Tong Restaurant in Lebuh Cintra, George Town.

Fong and her friends, Saw Phaik Yean, 23, and Lee Zi Qi, 21, were spotted purchasing lanterns and mooncakes at the Tai Tong Restaurant in Lebuh Cintra yesterday and were spoilt for choice with the various designs and colours.

The restaurant's manager James Lee said lanterns had become very popular this year.

“We've sold more than 5,000 lanterns already, with the dragon and Angry Birds ones proving to be a hit among customers.

“I have tourists coming from as far as China, Hong Kong, Canada, the United States, Australia and Britain to buy my lanterns in bulk,” he said, adding that he had also sold some 8,000 mooncakes over the past month.

The festival also known as the Mooncake or Lantern Festival marks the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar.

Since the Shang Dynasty over 3,500 years ago, the eighth lunar month in autumn was deemed the most auspicious day for celebrating the harvest and families would venture out to admire the moon.

During the Yuan Dynasty when China was ruled by Mongolians, legend has it that rebels would pass messages hidden in mooncakes.

There will be a Mid-Autumn FestoRama in Beach Street today from 10am to 10pm, featuring various events such as Creative Lantern Competition, Creative Mooncake Competition, a parade, games and contests.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/30/nation/12105147&sec=nation

Summary
The younger generation are taking part in the Mid-Autumn Festival tradition, many making last-minute preparations to spend quality time with their families. Mid-Autumn Festival is also known as the Mooncake or Lantern Festival. It marks the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. Since the Shang Dynasty, the eighth lunar month in autumn was the most auspicious day for celebrating the harvest. Families would go out to admire the moon. During the Yuan Dynasty, when China was ruled by Mongolians, legend said that rebels would pass messages by hiding them in mooncakes.

Opinion
It is good to see that the younger generation is taking part in traditional festivals. Since the younger ones lives a more 'modern' life, it is quite difficult to have them participate in traditional festivals like this. By taking part in festivals like this, younger ones can leanr more about the culture and tradition. Besides, it is a good time for family to bond. This can also make families grow closer to each other.

News article 2

Published: Sunday September 30, 2012
Mother appeals to daughter to return after going missing for second time

KUALA TERENGGANU: A distraught mother in Chendering here appealed to her 17-year-old daughter who has gone missing for the second time this year to return home.

Zakiah Abdul Majid, 49, said her daughter, Noor Farah Hieza Mokhtar first went missing in May.

She has then gone missing again since Aug 20 and had left the house dressed in a t-shirt and pants about 2pm.

The girl was found in Johor Baru, 17 days after she disappeared the first time, she added.

"I believe she left with only her identity card as her purse and mobile phone are here," said Zakiah, here Sunday.

"We don't know if she has a boyfriend as she spent most of her time with us since dropping out of school after Form Three and helped with our small business," she said.

Meanwhile, the girl's father Mokhtar Harun, appealed to anyone with information on his daughter's whereabouts to contact him at 014-8324040. - Bernama

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/30/nation/20120930185852&sec=nation

Summary
After 17-year-old Noor Farah Hieza Mokhtar went missing for the second time this year, her mother, Zakiah Abdul Majid, 49, appealed for her to return home. The girl was believed to have ran away with her identity card. The girl's father Mokhtar Harun, appealed the public to contact him on his daughter's whereabouts.

Opinion
I think it is very important for parents to talk to their children and pay attention to them. No matter what it is, parents and their children should be able to talk it out. This practice, of course, must be practiced since the children are young. That would make everything easier. When the parents know what is going on in their children's life, it would be easier to monitor them.

News article 1

Published: Sunday September 30, 2012
Kidnappers nabbed, RM350,000 ransom recovered

ALOR SETAR: Five men who allegedly kidnapped the teenage son of a skin specialist on Tuesday, spent merely RM300 out of RM350,000 ransom as they were promptly arrested by the police.

Following the release of the 13-year-old schoolboy, the police detained two men here on Thursday night, and the rest at a temple in Sungai Petani, the following night.

Kedah police chief Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim said Sunday, RM349,700 of the ransom ransom was seized from the suspects, including a Myanmar national.

"This indicates that quick action by the police to nab the suspects gave them little time to spend more of the ransom money," he said, adding that the kidnap case was solved within 48 hours.

He said the suspects were remanded to facilitate investigations under Section 3 of the Kidnap Act 1961, which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

Ahmad said the victim was kidnapped while returning home from a tuition class about 10pm in Jalan Kampung Pisang on Sept 25.

"An hour later, the teenager's family received a call from a man, demanding for RM500,000 ransom to secure his release. Following negotiations, the ransom was reduced to RM350,000," he told reporters here.

He said the next day, the family lodged a police report and paid the ransom.

The teenager was released after the kidnappers took the money. - Bernama

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/30/nation/20120930194605&sec=nation

Summary
Five men who kidnapped the 13-year-old teenage son of a skin specialist on Tuesday. The victim was kidnapped while returning home from a tuition class about 10pm in Jalan Kampung Pisang. The kidnappers spent about RM300 out of RM350,000 ransom before they were arrested by the police. After the release of the schoolboy, the police detained two men on Thursday night, and the rest at a temple in Sungai Petani, the following night.

Opinion
Recently, there are so many cases of kinapping, murdering and raping. I think that the public - young or old, men or ladies should be very careful of their surroundings. From the news above, we are once reminded to take more precaution especially at night. It is best to walk somewhere with a company or hold something that can be used as a weapon - umbrella/pepper spray. With cases like this increasing, people should consider taking self defense classes to protect themselves.

Journalism!

What is Journalism? First thought of me for journalism is all about writing. Therefore, I felt bored when i knew that I'm taking journalism class in this semester because I hate writing. As a Mass Communication's student, it is the step that I must take through in my college life. I have no other choice to not to take this subject. A journalist need a good basic in English and no grammar error. I hope it can improve my grammar by taking this class. So, I try to make myself to have interest in the class because I come college to study. After knowing that journalism is not only about writing, I got more motivation in the class. Most important for me to taking this class is to have fun and not being so stress as well as get more information from this course.

Who Am I?

A girl from Klang and currently eighteen now. Cherry's here, fruit from a small family with parent, elder brother and sister. My full name is Ong Cherry, which is also the name in the IC. A Buddhist who believes in God but seldom pray. I laugh a lot with friends. My personalities show that I'm talkative and I like to shout or even speak loud. I'm a girl without any talent but I still can speak in different language - Mandarin, English, Malay, Hokkien and Cantonese. I want to learn other languages as well. If there is a chance for me to learn other languages, it will be Korean, Spanish and French.

When it is boring or free time, television will always be my best friend. I startes to watch TV since I was still a children about 5 year old. Hong Kong's dramas are always the best in my life. It attracts me by the good actors and good storylines. Taking photos is fun for me. I like to take photo whenever I free using the smartphone. I listen to music everyday, it can calm me and reduce my tension. I use to listen different songs which are English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Korean songs. I like Bruno Mars and Taylor Swift. All of their songs are awesome and nice. I'm not a K-pop fan but I listen to K-pop because of BIG BANG. I'm a super fan of Big Bang because they have nice songs and nice voices. It's rock!