To editor@thestar.co.my

It is sad to learn that the recent fracas in Taman Mahkota resulted in many people injured. Grand Saga stated they played no part in this ugly incident which involved about 30 "thugs".

I would like to appeal to the Government, until now remained silent, take a serious view at the many incidents involving the people of Bandar Mahkota and the Grand Saga.

It is getting uglier. On one hand, we saw many residents protesting the continue closure of the road. On the other hand, we saw the Grand Saga company taking a more confrontational action towards the people. Apparently, besides the Police on their side, we saw a group of 30 thugs joined in to protect Grand Saga's interest.

Can a people's Government continue to remain at the sideline? Is the Government listening to the cry of the people?

This was the letter I sent to The Star on 28th June 2008 after reading the news of another fracas at Taman Mahkota, Cheras. A few policemen was standing nearby watching the incident

shui shen huo re 水深火热

I spent the morning busy preparing new quotation to my customers. The materials cost has gone up again! Since the crude oil shooting upward from US$38.00 three years ago, I am practically swimming in the storming seas of crude oil prices. The prices like the wave of the seas, moving up and down..... So you can imagine at today US $130 per barrel level. I am swimming in nightmare!

My business is dealing in hydrocarbon (solvent). It is the by-product of crude oil. Three years ago when the sudden surge of crude oil prices occurred, I was almost drown... I needed more money to buy. Luckily I have some reserve energy (money) to pull through.

Three years ago, a litre of solvent named *Toluene is priced at RM1.30 per litre. Today, I am buying at RM 3.60 per litre. I purchased it in 20,000-litre tanker. Usually I ordered about 6 to 8 tankers a month. Methanol, the material used for bio-diesel, was RM 0.30 many years ago at its lowest level, today it is selling at RM 1.80 per litre. There are more than twenty items I am buying every month but in a smaller volume.

In business, selling is the easy part, collection is the difficult other part. I am feeling the financial strain constantly. I am scaling down my business to reduce risk exposure.

The economy outlook of the world and our country does not make one cheerful. In Malaysia, prices of essential items, especially rice and flour, are moving up. People are feeling the pinch especially the lower income group. A Chinese proverb aptly describe the present situation:" shui shen huo re 水深火热 means submerged in deep water (dire straits), surrounded by hot fire "

Due to the speculative trading, the oil price is rocketing higher which will bring destructive effect to the world.

*Toluene is one of the related components in the formulation of petrol. If Government revokes subsidy, the price of petrol should be at RM 4.00 per litre level.












今早我忙着准备新的价钱表给顾客。产品价格又上涨了。打从三年前，原油价格从每桶美金38元上升开始，我就好像是在颠簸原油价格的海中游着。原油的价格就如大海浪潮般，上上下下。今天的原油价格已经到了每桶130 美元的水准，你可以想象我是在游在恶梦中。

我的生意是售卖化学产品（溶剂），这是原油的副产品。三年前，当原油从美金38元开始上涨的时候，我几乎被溺死。。。因为我需要更多的钱去购买产品。幸亏有后劲（资金），才度过了难关。

三年前，一个很通销的名为 *Toluen 的产品， 只需RM1.30 一公升，现在却需要RM3.60 一公升。通常我每个月会购买 6 至 8 油罐车该产品。一油罐车装载大约二万公升。另一个产品，Methanol 是一种酒精，现在可用来生产生物柴油。数年前最低的价格是每公升三角钱，现在已上升到每公升一元八角了。

在生意上，销售是容易的部分，收账则是较艰难的另一部分。我常常面对资金周转的压力。我也正在把生意缩小中，以减低风险。

我国及世界的经济目前的前景不乐观。 在我国，各种必须品价格日益膨胀，特别是百米及面粉，对一些低收入者，是非常大的压力。在这百物腾涨，风声鹤唳的时期，用水深火热来形容目前的状况，该是很恰当吧。

因为投机的炒作，原油价格继续上涨，已经到了一个毁灭性的水平。

*Toluene 是制造汽油的相关成分之一。假如我国政府取消津贴，应该会在每公升 RM4.00 的水平。

shui shen huo re 水深火热

I spent the morning busy preparing new quotation to my customers. The materials cost has gone up again! Since the crude oil shooting upward from US$38.00 three years ago, I am practically swimming in the storming seas of crude oil prices. The prices like the wave of the seas, moving up and down..... So you can imagine at today US $130 per barrel level. I am swimming in nightmare!

My business is dealing in hydrocarbon (solvent). It is the by-product of crude oil. Three years ago when the sudden surge of crude oil prices occurred, I was almost drown... I needed more money to buy. Luckily I have some reserve energy (money) to pull through.

Three years ago, a litre of solvent named *Toluene is priced at RM1.30 per litre. Today, I am buying at RM 3.60 per litre. I purchased it in 20,000-litre tanker. Usually I ordered about 6 to 8 tankers a month. Methanol, the material used for bio-diesel, was RM 0.30 many years ago at its lowest level, today it is selling at RM 1.80 per litre. There are more than twenty items I am buying every month but in a smaller volume.

In business, selling is the easy part, collection is the difficult other part. I am feeling the financial strain constantly. I am scaling down my business to reduce risk exposure.

The economy outlook of the world and our country does not make one cheerful. In Malaysia, prices of essential items, especially rice and flour, are moving up. People are feeling the pinch especially the lower income group. A Chinese proverb aptly describe the present situation:" shui shen huo re 水深火热 means submerged in deep water (dire straits), surrounded by hot fire "

Due to the speculative trading, the oil price is rocketing higher which will bring destructive effect to the world.

*Toluene is one of the related components in the formulation of petrol. If Government revokes subsidy, the price of petrol should be at RM 4.00 per litre level.












今早我忙着准备新的价钱表给顾客。产品价格又上涨了。打从三年前，原油价格从每桶美金38元上升开始，我就好像是在颠簸原油价格的海中游着。原油的价格就如大海浪潮般，上上下下。今天的原油价格已经到了每桶130 美元的水准，你可以想象我是在游在恶梦中。

我的生意是售卖化学产品（溶剂），这是原油的副产品。三年前，当原油从美金38元开始上涨的时候，我几乎被溺死。。。因为我需要更多的钱去购买产品。幸亏有后劲（资金），才度过了难关。

三年前，一个很通销的名为 *Toluen 的产品， 只需RM1.30 一公升，现在却需要RM3.60 一公升。通常我每个月会购买 6 至 8 油罐车该产品。一油罐车装载大约二万公升。另一个产品，Methanol 是一种酒精，现在可用来生产生物柴油。数年前最低的价格是每公升三角钱，现在已上升到每公升一元八角了。

在生意上，销售是容易的部分，收账则是较艰难的另一部分。我常常面对资金周转的压力。我也正在把生意缩小中，以减低风险。

我国及世界的经济目前的前景不乐观。 在我国，各种必须品价格日益膨胀，特别是百米及面粉，对一些低收入者，是非常大的压力。在这百物腾涨，风声鹤唳的时期，用水深火热来形容目前的状况，该是很恰当吧。

因为投机的炒作，原油价格继续上涨，已经到了一个毁灭性的水平。

*Toluene 是制造汽油的相关成分之一。假如我国政府取消津贴，应该会在每公升 RM4.00 的水平。

Legion Fellowship 交流会 （2）

In conjunction with the soon to be declared St. Paul Year (June 2008 to June 2009), the theme of the Annual Fellowship was : Be Christ's ambassador. (2 Cor 5:20). The Organiser has invited three distinguish speakers to provide spiritual input on the subject.
普世教会即将宣布从今年的六月至明年的六月，为保禄年，所以今年的交流会主题是：做基督的大使 （格後 5：20）。主办当局特地邀请了三位著名的讲师，给参加者讲解这主题。

1) Rev. Fr. Paul Tung - He talked on the life, apostolic spirit and teaching of St. Paul, the Apostle.
第一位是董立神父。他讲述保禄的生平， 他的精神及他的教导。董神父老当益壮，讲的风趣，深入浅出，每个人都听得明白。


























2) Zheng Quan Fei, a laity and Bible scholar, talked on the variety of spiritual gifts and the Body of Christ. He quoted Bible freely on the importance of relationship with Christ. One must not be in name only as the Ambassador of Christ, but must also " .... with truth buckled round your waist, and integrity for a breastplate, wearing for shoes on your feet the eagerness to spread the gospel of peace....."(Ep 6:14)
第二位是郑权辉兄弟。他是一位平信徒，对圣经有心得。他讲的是【各尽其职，为建树基督的身体】。主要内容是我们应学习保禄宗徒爱主爱人，全心奉献的精神，做基督的大使，宣扬主的福音。我们身为基督的大使，不只是个名分，必须具有使命感。“。。用真理做带，束起你们的腰，穿上正义之甲，以和平的福音做准备走路的鞋，穿在脚上。。。”









3) Rev. Sr. Xie talked on the legionary and St. Paul. She encouraged legionaries to emulate St. Paul's courageous spirit of spreading the good news of Salvation. Live a Gospel life, every moment, every where, every space...in every relationship, be the representative of Christ... (This talk was held in Church of the Risen Christ, Toa Payoh)

第三位是谢宝仪修女。她讲的题目是【团员与保禄]。她邀请圣母军友跟随保禄的典范，勇敢的传播基督救赎的福音。“ 活出基督，在每一时刻，每一空间，每一份关系，每一次的体验和感受，成为基督临在的典范”。 （这讲座在大巴窑的复活耶稣堂举行）

Legion Fellowship 交流会 （2）

In conjunction with the soon to be declared St. Paul Year (June 2008 to June 2009), the theme of the Annual Fellowship was : Be Christ's ambassador. (2 Cor 5:20). The Organiser has invited three distinguish speakers to provide spiritual input on the subject.
普世教会即将宣布从今年的六月至明年的六月，为保禄年，所以今年的交流会主题是：做基督的大使 （格後 5：20）。主办当局特地邀请了三位著名的讲师，给参加者讲解这主题。

1) Rev. Fr. Paul Tung - He talked on the life, apostolic spirit and teaching of St. Paul, the Apostle.
第一位是董立神父。他讲述保禄的生平， 他的精神及他的教导。董神父老当益壮，讲的风趣，深入浅出，每个人都听得明白。


























2) Zheng Quan Fei, a laity and Bible scholar, talked on the variety of spiritual gifts and the Body of Christ. He quoted Bible freely on the importance of relationship with Christ. One must not be in name only as the Ambassador of Christ, but must also " .... with truth buckled round your waist, and integrity for a breastplate, wearing for shoes on your feet the eagerness to spread the gospel of peace....."(Ep 6:14)
第二位是郑权辉兄弟。他是一位平信徒，对圣经有心得。他讲的是【各尽其职，为建树基督的身体】。主要内容是我们应学习保禄宗徒爱主爱人，全心奉献的精神，做基督的大使，宣扬主的福音。我们身为基督的大使，不只是个名分，必须具有使命感。“。。用真理做带，束起你们的腰，穿上正义之甲，以和平的福音做准备走路的鞋，穿在脚上。。。”









3) Rev. Sr. Xie talked on the legionary and St. Paul. She encouraged legionaries to emulate St. Paul's courageous spirit of spreading the good news of Salvation. Live a Gospel life, every moment, every where, every space...in every relationship, be the representative of Christ... (This talk was held in Church of the Risen Christ, Toa Payoh)

第三位是谢宝仪修女。她讲的题目是【团员与保禄]。她邀请圣母军友跟随保禄的典范，勇敢的传播基督救赎的福音。“ 活出基督，在每一时刻，每一空间，每一份关系，每一次的体验和感受，成为基督临在的典范”。 （这讲座在大巴窑的复活耶稣堂举行）

Legion Fellowship 交流会 （1）

On 28th May, a group of 20 legionaries (members of the Legion of Mary) left Sibu, Sarawak, by plane bound for Kuching, then to Johor Baru. They were expected to reach their destination the following day. Another group of 21 would leave a day later.

Up North in Ipoh, three little sisters, aged 6, 2 1/2 and five months old baby, with their legionary-parents, grandparents and 15 others, traveling on board an express bus at night, expected to reach the same destination at 4:00 am the following day.

On 29th May, thousand of miles away in Taiwan, another group of 15 legionaries boarded a plane for the same destination.

There were many other groups from Penang, Seremban, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau, Kuching and Brunei as well, were making their way to the same destination.

My wife and I, together with eighteen others, boarded a bus at Puduraya at 10:30 am on the same day and expected to reach our destination seven hours later.

Hundreds of us, taking various transportation and routes, journeying towards the same destination - NTUC Pasir Ris Resort in Singapore, for the 16th Annual Fellowship of the Chinese-speaking Legionaries from 29th May to 1st June 2008.

All in all, 350 legionaries participated in this annual fellowship with activities like spiritual talks, sharing, churches visit and sight seeing.

The Annual Fellowship was opened on 29th May at 5:00pm with a Thanksgiving Mass celebrated by Singapore Curia Spiritual Director, Rev. Fr. Lee.

Archbishop Nicholas Chia, the Archbishop of Singapore was away in Rome to meet our Holy Father together with members of the regional Bishops Conference.

He sent his best wishes in his message : "May your participation in this Gathering draw you closer to our Blessed Mother and through her may you come to a closer union with Our Lord. .....I am sorry that much as I would like to, I will not be able to join in your celebrations as I will be in Rome...."

The first day of the fellowship was very warm and noisy. Every one was greeting one another with a warm smile, saying:"How are you? Thank and praise God, we meet again..."

(click on picture to enlarge)



五月二十八日，东马的詩巫，一群为数二十人的圣母军团员，乘搭飞机， 前往古晋转机，然后飞抵西马的新山。他们将停留一晚，然后在隔天继程前往目的地。另一组约二十一人，将在二十九号直飞目的地。

在西马北部的怡保，三位小妹妹，分别为六岁，两岁半及五个月的婴儿，跟随圣母军的父母，公公及婆婆，连同其他十五人，在晚上乘坐长途巴士南下，预定在早上四、五时，到达目的地。

在二十九日，远在千里外的台北，一群为数约十五人的圣母军团员，乘搭飞机，也是朝向同一个目的地前进。

在其他地区，如沙巴州的亚庇，山打根，斗湖，沙劳越的古晋，芙蓉，马六甲，新山，甚至汶莱等地，圣母军团员都一在同一时候，开始了他们的路程，出发到同一个目的地。

我和太太，还有其他十八位团员，在吉隆坡巴士总站，乘坐早上十时半的长途巴士出发，预算在七个小时之后，也抵达目的地。

这些圣母军团员，利用不同的交通工具及路线，都是朝向一个共同的目的地及目标：就是在新加坡职工总会白沙度假村，从五月二十九号到七月一号举行的，马、新、汶、台，第十六届华文圣母军交流会。

今年总共有350 人出席了这交流会。交流会的活动有灵修讲座，分享，拜访教堂及观光。

交流会在二十九号傍晚六时，感恩弥撒过后，由区团神师李瑞茂神父主持开幕礼。

新加坡总教区的谢总主教，因随同本地主教团，到罗马拜会教宗，而不能出席。他通过贺词，祝贺圣母军在此举行，他说到：“愿你们藉此交流会的参与，拉近你们和圣母的关系，从而透过她，加强和耶稣的共融。。。。。我确是很抱歉，虽然我是极愿意出席你们这个集会，但我因公而身在罗马。。。”

交流会的第一天非常的热烘烘。每个人见了面，都展现了甜蜜的笑容，互相问候：“您好！真感谢天主，我们又见面了。。。”

（点击照片放大）





开幕礼
Opening ceremony





















新加坡团员表演迎宾舞
Welcoming dances by Singaporean members

Legion Fellowship 交流会 （1）

On 28th May, a group of 20 legionaries (members of the Legion of Mary) left Sibu, Sarawak, by plane bound for Kuching, then to Johor Baru. They were expected to reach their destination the following day. Another group of 21 would leave a day later.

Up North in Ipoh, three little sisters, aged 6, 2 1/2 and five months old baby, with their legionary-parents, grandparents and 15 others, traveling on board an express bus at night, expected to reach the same destination at 4:00 am the following day.

On 29th May, thousand of miles away in Taiwan, another group of 15 legionaries boarded a plane for the same destination.

There were many other groups from Penang, Seremban, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau, Kuching and Brunei as well, were making their way to the same destination.

My wife and I, together with eighteen others, boarded a bus at Puduraya at 10:30 am on the same day and expected to reach our destination seven hours later.

Hundreds of us, taking various transportation and routes, journeying towards the same destination - NTUC Pasir Ris Resort in Singapore, for the 16th Annual Fellowship of the Chinese-speaking Legionaries from 29th May to 1st June 2008.

All in all, 350 legionaries participated in this annual fellowship with activities like spiritual talks, sharing, churches visit and sight seeing.

The Annual Fellowship was opened on 29th May at 5:00pm with a Thanksgiving Mass celebrated by Singapore Curia Spiritual Director, Rev. Fr. Lee.

Archbishop Nicholas Chia, the Archbishop of Singapore was away in Rome to meet our Holy Father together with members of the regional Bishops Conference.

He sent his best wishes in his message : "May your participation in this Gathering draw you closer to our Blessed Mother and through her may you come to a closer union with Our Lord. .....I am sorry that much as I would like to, I will not be able to join in your celebrations as I will be in Rome...."

The first day of the fellowship was very warm and noisy. Every one was greeting one another with a warm smile, saying:"How are you? Thank and praise God, we meet again..."

(click on picture to enlarge)



五月二十八日，东马的詩巫，一群为数二十人的圣母军团员，乘搭飞机， 前往古晋转机，然后飞抵西马的新山。他们将停留一晚，然后在隔天继程前往目的地。另一组约二十一人，将在二十九号直飞目的地。

在西马北部的怡保，三位小妹妹，分别为六岁，两岁半及五个月的婴儿，跟随圣母军的父母，公公及婆婆，连同其他十五人，在晚上乘坐长途巴士南下，预定在早上四、五时，到达目的地。

在二十九日，远在千里外的台北，一群为数约十五人的圣母军团员，乘搭飞机，也是朝向同一个目的地前进。

在其他地区，如沙巴州的亚庇，山打根，斗湖，沙劳越的古晋，芙蓉，马六甲，新山，甚至汶莱等地，圣母军团员都一在同一时候，开始了他们的路程，出发到同一个目的地。

我和太太，还有其他十八位团员，在吉隆坡巴士总站，乘坐早上十时半的长途巴士出发，预算在七个小时之后，也抵达目的地。

这些圣母军团员，利用不同的交通工具及路线，都是朝向一个共同的目的地及目标：就是在新加坡职工总会白沙度假村，从五月二十九号到七月一号举行的，马、新、汶、台，第十六届华文圣母军交流会。

今年总共有350 人出席了这交流会。交流会的活动有灵修讲座，分享，拜访教堂及观光。

交流会在二十九号傍晚六时，感恩弥撒过后，由区团神师李瑞茂神父主持开幕礼。

新加坡总教区的谢总主教，因随同本地主教团，到罗马拜会教宗，而不能出席。他通过贺词，祝贺圣母军在此举行，他说到：“愿你们藉此交流会的参与，拉近你们和圣母的关系，从而透过她，加强和耶稣的共融。。。。。我确是很抱歉，虽然我是极愿意出席你们这个集会，但我因公而身在罗马。。。”

交流会的第一天非常的热烘烘。每个人见了面，都展现了甜蜜的笑容，互相问候：“您好！真感谢天主，我们又见面了。。。”

（点击照片放大）





开幕礼
Opening ceremony





















新加坡团员表演迎宾舞
Welcoming dances by Singaporean members