Marjoni Shafflan Marjohan and Nor Fariha Nur working to fill their Hari Raya orders in time.

KOTA BARU: Newly-weds Marjoni Shafflan Marjohan and Nor Fariha Nur are learning an early lesson in mutual support.

For the past week, the couple have been working flat out together to get their orders for Hari Raya cakes and cookies ready in time.

 Marjoni, 29, had left  his family's sawmill business to help his 23-year-old wife in the venture they set up about a month ago in Jalan Padang Tembak. They employ 11 workers in 8-hour shifts to help them.

"Demand has been very good. My wife and I  often have to stay up  till midnight to make sure the orders are ready. It's only a few days till Hari Raya." 

He said he is new to the baking business, but his wife of three months has been been helping an aunt with her Raya cookie business since her school days.

The husband and wife team are baking more than 10 types of cookies, including Mama Almond, London Almond, Hazelnut Balls, Fancy Cream and Star Q-rose. They cost between RM13 and RM20 for a pack of 50.

Marjoni said they had  produced more than 50,000 cookies. They have appointed more than 30 agents in government departments and agencies and in the private sector to sell their products.  

"We would have had more orders but some of  Fariha's old customers didn't realise we were operating here. We've also had some last minute cancellations.  But all in all, it's been quite good."         

Since Thursday, the enterprising couple has stopped producing cookies to concentrate on making cakes at RM30 to RM38 per kg.

Marjoni, a double degree holder, said he and his wife hoped to open a bakery and cafe by November. 

Fariha, a  Politeknik Shah Alam graduate, will receive a RM40,000 loan from Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd.

"We think the area is suitable for  a cafe as there is a big housing area and many  student hostels around."

KUALA LUMPUR: The inimitable characters of Lat's cartoons are helping to dole out road safety advice to those joining the balik kampung exodus.

Lat or Datuk Mohd Nor Khalid, who has made the ritual Balik Kampung  rush the subject of some of his jokes, is mobilising his retinue to help PLUS Expressways Bhd reach out to road users this year.

  PLUS' corporate communications general manager, Khalilah Datuk Mohd Talha said Lat's cartoons would spice up the company's "Road Safety Balik Kampung Campaign" advertisements in the New Straits Times  and Berita Harian.

  "We hope Lat's cartoon characters, who are familiar to   Malaysians, will attract the attention of travellers.

  "In this way PLUS' travel time advisory will be followed by road users and  avert  traffic congestion and ensure a smooth ride  home."

  Khalilah was speaking after handing out  500 copies each of  NST and BH to motorists leaving the city through the Sungai Besi toll plaza here yesterday.

  Another 500 copies  of the  newspapers were also distributed at the Jalan Duta toll plaza.

  She said the cartoons would be published in  for eight days, starting yesterday.

  Khalilah said PLUS estimated that 1.3 million vehicles would use the expressway during the Hari Raya period.

  The balik kampung exodus began  yesterday afternoon  with traffic jams on the city's roads leading to the expressways and major federal roads.    

  Many offices were closed earlier yesterday to allow Muslim staff to beat the  traffic crawl back home. Road congestion  is expected to  continue until Sunday night.

  Large  crowds were seen at bus terminals and pick-up points for additional buses in the city.   Schools also reported low attendances.

 

Danisch Aizzan Fajru Fauzi receiving his ‘duit raya’ from RTM broadcasting director-general Datuk Abdul Rahman Hamid while his mother, Noor Suzanah Samsudin, looks on.

PETALING JAYA: It will be a happier Hari Raya this year for 4-year-old  Danisch Aizzan Fajru Fauzi who spent last Hari Raya in hospital after he was diagnosed with leukaemia. 

His mother, Noor Suzanah Samsudin, 34, said doctors at University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) had allowed Danisch to celebrate at home with his family.

    "We plan to bring him to our hometown in Johor. He will get  to spend time with his brothers and cousins," said the mother of three.

     Although her son would still have to undergo chemotherapy at UMMC, Suzanah said, his health had improved.

   Danisch was among 60 paediatric patients at UMMC  who received hampers and duit raya from RTM recently.

   RTM broadcasting director-general Datuk Abdul Rahman Hamid said the duit raya and hampers  were  to bring festive cheer to the less fortunate.

 "Besides the  television and radio programmes that are scheduled for Hari Raya, this is the way for us to share the joyous festival with the people," he said.

  The children were also entertained by clowns  and children of RTM hosts. 

SEREMBAN: Motorists, especially motorcyclists, are advised not to travel in big convoys during the festive season in order to avoid accidents.

 Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said big convoys  not only disrupt other road users but were also dangerous.

  "We do not encourage motorists to travel in a convoy during festive seasons as traffic is usually very heavy and may cause accidents.

  "I would like to remind those travelling in convoys to be  mindful of other road users," he said after  a dinner organised by the  state MCA at the Seremban Council hall here on Friday.

  Ong said the ministry would pay extra attention to motorists and pillion riders during Ops Sikap XVII as  statistics in previous operations showed this group recorded the highest number of  accidents.

 He said his ministry had   started a road safety programme, which included motorcycle inspection and  replacing  old helmets with new ones for free at  public universities because  students formed the bulk of motorcycle users.

   Ong also advised motorists  not to overload their vehicles during long journeys.

KUANTAN: More than 150 orphans were feted to a buka puasa organised by the Maran Puteri Umno and Maran Sports Club at the Vistana Hotel last  Saturday.

   For most of them it was their first time dining at a  hotel.

  Each of the children later received  a new pair of shoes and duit raya from state Agriculture and Felda Committee chairman Datuk Tan Mohd Aminuddin Ishak.

   Also present were state Puteri Umno information chief Datuk Shahaniza Shamsuddin and Puteri members.

 

KUALA LUMPUR: As the balik kampung exodus begins in earnest today, bus operators have this advice for those yet to get tickets — don’t panic.

And KTM Berhad said many return-trip train tickets were   available for its outstation destinations.

  Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Association president Datuk Ashfar Ali said there should be no question of bus tickets not being available, now that bus companies have been allowed to run extra buses based on  demand.

 “When there is  demand   for a particular route and time, operators can immediately mobilise their additional buses. The government has approved some 1,400 extra buses, with more to be added, based on increased demand.”

 Ashfar expected the situation to be tense at the 26 bus terminals in the country from today till Sunday, after which things are expected to cool down.

 He was glad that this year, the management of privatised bus terminals had come forward to solve the problem of ticket touts.

As a result, the touts problem at the Puduraya bus terminal, for example, was now manageable.  

 Ashfar said the problem of touts could be taken care of once and for all if the government amends Rule 36 of the Motor Vehicles (Commercial Transport) Rules 1959.

 He said touts were taking away about 30 per cent of the business from bus operators by luring commuters to illegally-run buses.

 Ashfar also called on bus passengers to become the eyes and ears of the authorities by reporting  bus drivers who speed, as well as other errant vehicles on the highways.

   “Travellers can call  the toll free line at 1-800-88-9600 for the Commercial Vehicle  Licensing Board or   SMS to 39900 or call Rakan Cop.”

 The board’s chairman, Datuk Markiman Kobiran,  said there had been no complaints from the public over the bus service for the festive season.

 KTM Berhad  said many return-trip tickets to the north, east coast and south were   available.   It said most outward-bound tickets had been sold.

It had provided   54,442   tickets for the period between yesterday and Tuesday, with 41,810 sold.

ALOR STAR: There will be no shortage of controlled food items during the Hari Raya celebrations in Kedah.

This was the assurance given by state Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Department director Mohd Salleh Ma’amor.

  He said the department would also beef up its enforcement team to ensure traders did not sell the 17 items above their ceiling prices.

  Among the food items are chicken, local beef, imported buffalo meat, mutton, chicken eggs   and grated coconut.

  “Wholesalers, food importers and traders have agreed to adhere to the scheme. Officers would also be sent to monitor the situation at all wet markets and supermarkets in the state,” Salleh said after attending the launch of a  pasar tani  by Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority  chairman Datuk Bada-ruddin Amiruldin.

Kubang Kerian Umno deputy chief Datuk Muhammad Ghani presenting ‘duit raya’ to Awang Deris, 90, yesterday. On the left is Hamid Kadir, 83.

KOTA BARU: They may be old and wrinkled, but best friends Awang Deris, 90, and Hamid Kadir, 83, still get excited when Hari Raya approaches.

The two are always grateful to be alive and well to celebrate yet another Hari Raya.

 This year, Awang and Hamid, and some 200 others received duit raya of RM100 each from Kubang Kerian  Umno deputy chief Datuk Muhammad Ghani recently.

 Awang and Hamid plan to use the money to buy new clothes, songkok and sarong, something they had not done in a long while.

  Awang, who has been living alone for the last eight years after his wife died, said he had always used his money for his children and grandchildren.  

  “I may be old but I still remember how I felt as a child when I got new clothes for Hari Raya. My children are  all grown-up and married with families. So now I can spend the money on myself.

  “I want to look good when my grandchildren come to see  me this Hari Raya,” he said.

 Likewise, Hamid can’t wait to go shopping with his grandson to buy the new clothes.

  “People may think we are being frivolous spending the money on new clothes, but old people also want to look their best on Hari Raya,”  said Hamid.

“And this year, I can look my best with my new clothes.”

Some of the 2,000 underprivileged people receiving their Hari Raya contributions at Al-Ghufran mosque. The contributions were donated by businessman Datuk Paduka Rahmat Abu Bakar as part of his personal and business tithes for the year.

ALOR STAR: Some 2,000 underprivileged people received early Hari Raya cheer in the form of RM100 duit Raya each from a local businessman here on Monday.

The contribution was made by Datuk Paduka Rahmat Abu Bakar and was distributed at Al-Ghufran mosque in Akar Peluru here.

  Rahmat declined to be interviewed, but it is learnt that the contribution was part of his personal and business tithes for the year.

  Over the next few days, Rahmat will also hold similar functions for about 700 poor and needy people in Sik and Kuala Kedah.

He also plans to make  contributions to  Muslim converts in Sungai Petani soon.