PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

The 100th Annual International Rotary Convention takes place in Birmingham, England between 21-24 June 2009. When Rotarians meet in Birmingham for Rotary’s annual festival of fellowship and fun, they will celebrate the second convention in that city and the 100th in Rotary history.

The world today might be different from the one encountered by Paul Harris and his first mates more than a century ago, but the original spirit of the organization they founded remains virtually unchanged. And while technological advances enabling instant global contact show that it is indeed a small world after all, millions of Rotarians have acquired a new sort of conventional wisdom: There is no substitute for the handshakes and the hugs, the renewing of old friendships and the forging of new ones.

Over 100 years, RI conventions have drawn some of the world’s most powerful and influential leaders – in government, commerce, science, and culture – and served as forums for historic dialogue about making the world a better, more peaceful place.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu will be the Keynote Speaker at the Rotary World Peace Symposium a pre-Convention event on June 19th. Archbishop Tutu was born in Klerksdorp, Transvaal in 1931. He was educated in Johannesburg and trained first as a teacher and was ordained as a priest in 1960. In 1975 he was appointed Dean of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Johannesburg, the first black to hold that position. From 1976 to 1978 he was Bishop of Lesotho, and in 1978 became the first black Genera Secretary of the South African Council of Churches. Tutu is an honorary doctor of a number of leading universities in the USA, Britain and Germany. He was the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.

Our RCPJ would like to wish the 100th Annual Rotary Convention success!

What I don’t understand is that why do people buy properties below any hill that could be an eventual threat to their lives. Another thing is that why is construction allowed on hills that poses a danger for others. These are common sense questions. Unfortunately, some Malaysians are a pathetic lot. They tempt risks. They leave it to fate.

When there’s no demand, there won’t be any sales. Don’t create the demand by being sensible. When a disaster of this magnitude occurs, the houses become worthless. 

We also need the political will to see to it that no construction is allowed on hills. Why can’t we implement laws to say that hill-side development is no-no. Our masses are also weak. We don’t lobby for our rights. We let people determine their actions on us. We need to take control and resist their schemes of making money.

It’s so depressing to read of lives and properties lost. 

The National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM) is a society formed in 1986 by a group of parents and professionals with the aim of delivering services to the community of persons suffering from autism. Symptoms of autistic children can be seen in the following manner:

1. Why doesn’t he respond when I call him?
2. Why doesn’t he like being carried?
3. Why doesn’t he say something but is able to sing entire songs?
4. Why does he scream?
5. Why doesn’t he look at the eyes of the person who is talking to him?

Teachers who have not been exposed to such children are unable to cope. Instead they resort to physical abuse. One in every 150 children is autistic. It is more common in boys. Men seem to be the cause. Autistic people can live as long as any ordinary people.

Nasom provides a range of activities that include speech therapy, physiotherapy, social skills training, behavior management, etc. The good side is that autism can be cured. The child will grow out of it.

Thank you, Mr Teh for a very informative session.