Month: May 2009
Tengku Imran Menang Lagi
Persaingan untuk merebut kerusi Presiden MOM sesi 2009-2011 kini menjadi sejarah apabila Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim menarik diri dari bertandingan. Dengan penarikan diri itu memanjangkan lagi tempoh khidmat Tan Sri Tengku Imran Tuanku Jaafar yang telah memegang jawatan tersebut sejak 1999. Langkah Datuk Seri Shahidan itu bagi saya satu tindakan yang bersemangat kesukanan kerana kata beliau semasa PC “after considering that his chances were fifty-fifty, which could cause a split in the sports bodies.”
Kini persaingan yang akan menjadi tumpuan ialah untuk kerusi Timbalan Presiden antara penyandang Datuk M. Jegathesan dan Datuk Seri Ibrahim Saad.
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Bolasepak Malam Ini
Malam ini (lebih tepat pagi nanti) satu perlawanan bolasepak yang penting akan diadakan- Champions League . Kelab bolasepak ternama, Manchester United and menentang Barcelona F.C. Aku tak tahu sama ada akan berjaga atau tidak. Dua-dua pasukan bukannya pasukan pilihan aku. Bila orang tanya mana pasukan aku, jawabnya Kedah Darul Aman. Inilah falsafah aku “Di mana bumi dipijak, negeri sendri tetap menjadi pilihan.
Pesta pasti akan dianjurkan dan inilah salah satu sebab mengapa sukan kita kurang berjaya. Kita lebih mengagung-agungkan sukan luar negara.
Semasa memberi ceramah tentang Dasar Sukan Negara kepada jurulatih-jurulatih sukan salah satu aspek perbincangan ialah Objektif Dasar Sukan Negara itu sendiri. Objektif kedua DSN ialah
Membangun dan meningkatkan pembangunan dan amalan sukan bagi kepentingan sosial seseorang individu dan keseronokan orang ramai.
Sewaktu tiba ulasan untuk ogjektif ini saya akan berikan contoh perlawanan bolasepak yang disiarkan di TV pada masa yang sama. Satu saluran TV menyiarkan perlawanan bolasepak Liga Super antara Kedah melawan Selangor misalnya sementara satu saluran lagi Chelsea melawan Arsenal misalnya. Perlawanan mana yang akan menjadi pilihan. Majoriti akan menjawab Chelsea dan Arsenal. Jawapan mereka sudah semestinya kerana memenuhi objektif DSN itu sendiri iaitu keseronokan orang ramai. Pastinya lebih seronok menyaksikan perlawanan antara Chelsea dan Arsenal berbanding Kedah lawan Selangor itu.
Atas dasar itulah jurulatih sukan di negara ini seharusnya melatih atletnya untuk memperolehi kemahiran yang paling tinggi dan dapat memberikan persembahan yang menyeronokkan orang ramai. Baharulah penonton akan kembali ke grandstand dan kehadiran penonton ini memberikan kesan sampingan kepada atlet iaitu motivasi ekstrinsik.
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MSSM Ke 51 Sudah Berlalu
Tirai Kejohanan Olahraga MSSM sudah pun dilabuhkan dan dengan hari terakhir pada 24hb Mei lalu, dianggap sebagai penutup buku aktiviti sukan prestasi tinggi di peringkat sekolah. Setiap tahun Kejohanan Olahraga MSSM adalah merupakan kejohanan paling berprestij dalam kalendar Majlis Sukan Sekolah-sekolah Malaysia.
Kejohanan yang diadakan di Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil selama empat hari telah menyaksikan Terengganu muncul sebagai Juara keseluruhan dengan memungut 13 Emas, 6 Perak dan 13 Gangsa. Kelantan di tempat kedua dengan 11 Emas, 7 Perak dan 1 Gangsa. Kedah di tempat ketiga dengan 11 Emas, 5 Perak dan 8 Gangsa. Apa yang agak mengejutkan ialah kegagalan Sarawak untuk menjuarai buat kali ke 8 tahun ini apabila hanya menduduki tempat ke Empat dengan10 Emas, 15 Perak dan 8 Gangsa.
Kejayaan Terengganu ini adalah paling manis kerana Edisi ke 52 pada tahun hadapan akan berkunjung ke negeri Penyu itu. Ramai menganggap kejayaan Terengganu kali ini adalah kesan limpahan SUKMA yang diadakan di negeri itu tahun lepas. Sudah pasti kejohanan pada tahun hadapan akan dinanti-nantikan oleh penduduk Terengganu kerana dua tahun berturut-turut mengibarkan megah bendera hitam putih di puncak tertinggi sukan negara. Atlet Terengganu juga telah memecahkan dua dari sembilan rekod dalam kejohanan tersebut. Kejayaan Terengganu ini adalah hasil perancangan jangka panjang yang dilaksanakan.
KEDUDUKAN PUNGUTAN PINGAT
Terengganu 13 6 13
Kelantan 11 7 1
Kedah 11 5 8
Sarawak 10 15 8
Sabah 9 15 13
Johor 9 9 15
Selangor 7 6 7
Kuala Lumpur 6 9 4
Negeri Sembilan 4 2 3
Pahang 3 5 2
Pulau Pinang 3 1 6
Perak 2 8 8
Melaka 1 1 2
Labuan 1 1 0
Perlis 0 0 1
Putrajaya 0 0 0
Petikan dari BERNAMA.
“Kami berharap kejohanan olahraga seumpama ini akan membantu negara menyediakan barisan atlet pelapis yang ramai dan berkualiti untuk membawa cabaran negara dalam bidang olahraga,” kata Ketua Unit MSSM Bahagian Sukan, Seni dan Kokurikulum, Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia, Mohd Zarrawi Ravi Abdullah kepada Bernama.
Pada edisi kali ini, seramai 541 atlet lelaki dan 452 atlet perempuan akan mengambil bahagian dalam tiga kategori umur iaitu bawah 12 tahun, bawah 15 tahun dan bawah 18 tahun.
Kejohanan selama lima hari itu turut melibatkan acara trek 100m untuk pelajar sekolah pendidikan khas iaitu pelajar cacat penglihatan dan pendengaran.
Pembukaan rasmi akan dilakukan oleh Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yang juga Menteri Pelajaran pada Khamis ini.- BERNAMA
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Lawak Penanti
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Kg Sumangkap – Gong Cottage Industry
When I was in Kudat, Sabah, I had the opportunity to visit a village in Pinawantai that is synonym with a traditional musical instrument – Gong. The village, Kampung Sumangkap is situated in Matunggong District, on the way to Kudat and is about 92 kilometres from Kota Kinabalu City.
Top: small gongs that can be bought as souvenirs
I was on my way from Kudat to Kota Marudu with my former student and he made a stop at the village. He knew the village and the people well since he is a teacher at a local primary school, SRK Pinawantai.
As soon upon entering the village, gong producing sheds can be seen on both sides of the road. This village seems to be the cottage industry under the one village one product concept. According to my student, the gong produced are made from zinc sheets and not bronze anymore like in the olden days.
The gong is one of the compulsory musical instrument in all Sabah ethnic celebrations. Gongs comes in many sizes and it is either singlely hanged or arranged on a special rack. Gong is not alien to people of Malaysia either in East Malaysia or Peninsular Malaysia, since some officiating ceremonies need the VIP to hit the gong symbolising the launch of the activity.
For the rest of the story I’ll let the pictures do the talking.
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Bukan Khutub Utara La
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Orang Penanti Kena Nantilah
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Northern Tip Of Borneo
When I knew that I was going back to Kudat, I set up my objective to visit the northernmost tip of Borneo Island, the third largest island in the world. And my objective achieved. I went with a group of friends on one evening and had the opportunity to catch the sunset too.
Aerial view of Tanjung Simpang Mengayau as seen on Google Map showing the distance from Kudat Town.
Tanjung Simpang Mengayau gets its name from Sampang Mangazo in the Rungus dialect. Its a stretch of beach that ends with a rocky headland. Click the photo below to read more about the place that is considered as the best viewpoint of Simpang Mengayau
Read some history from the photo below that has something to do with the area
Thats the northernmost tip of Borneo
This is the tip. The rock at the tip of the Cape. Well, I dare not go to the end because its a bit slippery. 
Just the proof that I have been here.
This is actually the farthest visitors can go. Going beyond this is at the visitors risk. I and my friends defy this notice and go down to the rocks down.
Entrance to Tanjung Simpang Mengayau Homestay
Just relax at one of the shelter sipping cool drinks while enjoying the cool breeze and the view of The Sulu Sea. 
The homestay compound
One of the huts at the homestay near Tanjung Simpang Mengayau. This hut can accomodate three person and is priced at RM 100 per unit. 
Souvenirs can be bought at the cafe and souvenir centre at Simpang Mengayau
Sunset viewed from Simpang Mengayau Beach
There are two good hotels in Kudat that is Hotel Ria (You Tube) situated in the town of Kudat and has internet access in the lobby. There is also a cafe on the ground floor with WiFi facilities. Another hotel is the Kudat Golf and Marina Resort located a bit out of town. There is a marina here and sailors can berth here. There is WiFi facilities at the lobby on the first floor and the coffee house on the groundfloor. For budget travellers on shoestring budget, there are some budget hotels in the town.
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Southern Tip Of Asia
It is a rare opportunity to be able to visit the south tip of peninsular Malaysia on the East coast. Maybe not the southern most (Tanjung Piai is the southern most) but coming to this part of the peninsular is a memorable visit for me. Its the end of the road on the eastern shore with KD Sultan Ismail as the landmark. Tanjung Pengelih is also one of the exit and entry point between Singapore and Batam Island of Indonesia.
Going to Tanjung Pengelih, one has to take the Kulai exit on PLUS highway and turn into Kota Tinggi. However signage is quite a problem because as far as I can remember there is only one signboard showing to where I was going- TLDM Tanjung Pengelih. It was before entering Kota Tinggi. After that there is only direction to Desaru. I missed the way twice. First I drove towards Kluang after missing the junction in Kota Tinggi town. Then again I was heading towards Kuantan for a few kilometres due to poor signages. When I asked the direction, I was told to take the Desaru direction.
After Kota Tinggi the next town is Bandar Penawar but take the route to Panggerang or Sungai Rengit. After that drive straight to the end.
The two pics above and below is of the clock tower on Jalan Tun Sri Lanang in KotaTinggi. You have to drive past this clock tower on the way to Tanjung Pengelih. This clock tower is located at Dataran Kota. On the side of the structure marks the water level (below) during the flood in 2007 that sumberged most of the town.
This is the end of the road. This point was used by the British as one of the defence point during the 2nd WorldWar to check the Japanese advancement to Singapore. There are still remains of the fort built by the British.
Picture above – one of the defence bunkers still that remains.
footsteps........by atok vlog 
