Latest news with #Hokkien
The Star
14 hours ago
- General
- The Star
Dearer durians due to unfavourable weather, smaller harvest
Wong (third from right) checking out the varieties of durian supplied by a Balik Pulau vendor at the event. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star WITH strong demand and unfavourable weather resulting in more costly durians this year, indulging in the thorny fruit can burn a hole in the pocket. This makes community durian parties – like the one organised by Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Wong Yuee Harng – a great opportunity to feast to the heart's content. A Balik Pulau farm supplied roughly 450kg of the 'King of Fruits' for the event that was held at the Penang Youth Centre hall in Acheh Street, George Town. Around 150 guests attended, including community leaders, government agency officials, city councillors and local media. Among them were the constituency's women and family development committee members Yun Chiew Eng, 58, Rose Gooi, 57, and Lim Hooi Chin, 48. Yun said durian parties were something she enjoyed attending every year, not just to sample the pungent treats but also for the atmosphere and camaraderie. 'It's very lau juak (merriment) as they say in Hokkien. 'As the farms collaborate directly with the service centre, the durians supplied are always of good quality,' she said. 'One can eat a lot and try many different varieties without having to worry about the price,' Yun added. Gooi expressed similar thoughts and said every piece she had on the day was tasty. 'I enjoyed the occasion. 'It's nice tucking in with good friends,' she added in between taking selfies with the durians. This is the second year that Wong's service centre hosted a durian party as a gesture of thanks to all those serving the local community. 'Penangites love their durians. So, what better way to show our appreciation? 'Many growers have said harvests would be smaller this season. 'We wanted to make sure everyone got the chance to sample the best fruits before the season was over,' said Wong. He said a secondary aim was to promote Penang durians from local growers to the wider public and foreign tourists. To address the issue of durians from other states and neighbouring countries like Thailand being misrepresented as Penang durians by unscrupulous vendors, the state agrotechnology, food security and cooperative development committee launched a Track and Trace system for durians at the start of June. 'This will ensure our local growers are not sidelined and consumers can have confidence in Penang durians,' Wong said of the initiative.
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Ministers no longer have 'kang tao' to commit graft, says Anthony Loke
Transport Minister Anthony Loke. – YAP CHEE HONG/The Star KUALA LUMPUR: Ministers no longer have "kang tao" (Hokkien slang for money-making opportunity) as they are not allowed to personally endorse any proposed government project, says Anthony Loke. "Gone are the days when ministers can just write down "setuju" (agree) or "jalan" (go ahead) on application letters," said the Transport Minister. He said that when he first took office in 2018, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission briefed all ministers that they cannot write anything that implies that the project should be awarded to any particular company, and this includes support letters. "All projects now go through an open tender process. I can only suggest that the department consider or deliberate. "There is no need to lobby ministers as they can no longer give you a project. "Ministers have no 'kang tao' right now, as there is a process for project approval," said Loke at the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) Power Chat 6.0 here on Thursday (June 26). Also present were ACCCIM president Datuk Ng Yih Pyng, logistic industry stakeholders and ACCCIM constituent members, who put forward pertinent questions to the minister during the Q&A session. On the topic of women-only coaches in public transport, Loke said these were broadly welcomed by female commuters who make up a larger portion of those who use public transport." He said statistics show that 65% of public transport users are women and these carriages provide a comfortable and safe travel experience. "We are not suggesting that all male passengers have ill intentions but incidents of harassment have occurred, so preventive measures are necessary," he said. Loke noted that women-only carriages is not related to religion and that "women of all faiths need protection." Addressing broader economic concerns, Loke assured that the unity government would not allow Malaysia's economy to collapse. "Despite recent dissatisfaction over tax policies, we are willing to listen to public opinion and make necessary adjustments. "I can assure you that the government is monitoring everything. We are not perfect, but we are listening," he said. Quoting the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from a recent cabinet meeting, Loke said; "usually, once the Finance Ministry makes a decision, it doesn't change its mind. But why are some things changing now? It's because we listen to public opinion. "As a Cabinet member, I can tell you we want to propel the nation forward. We want Malaysia's economy to soar and we certainly don't want people to lose their jobs. If some policies are truly unworkable, we are willing to make changes," he said.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
Hokkien and Cantonese classes for domestic helpers to be held from July
The courses will have 200 slots for domestic helpers to pick up Hokkien and Cantonese. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI Hokkien and Cantonese classes for domestic helpers to be held from July SINGAPORE – From July, domestic helpers here will get to improve their communication skills at Hokkien and Cantonese classes organised by the NTUC's Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE) and two institutions. The courses will have 200 slots for domestic helpers to pick up Hokkien at classes run by the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Cultural Academy and Cantonese at classes by The Salvation Army. On June 22, the CDE signed a memorandum of understanding with each of the institutions, with the aim of working together to strengthen the language and communication skills of domestic helpers. The signing took place at the National Trades Union Congress and CDE's annual May Day domestic employees' celebration, where Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower and Finance Shawn Huang was the guest of honour. In a speech at NTUC Centre, Mr Huang said the language courses will complement the CDE's eldercare courses by enabling workers to better understand and respond to their elderly care recipients' needs. The formal introduction of the courses follows earlier pilot runs of classes conducted by the CDE, where 25 participants took part over two runs of Cantonese classes and another 11 attended one Hokkien class. The CDE said feedback it received from the classes was encouraging, with domestic helpers feeling more confident and connected when caring for elderly employers. Ms Enik Suparmi, who attended a pilot Cantonese class , is in her 40s and has worked in Singapore for more than 20 years. She said the class helped to reinforce a basic understanding of Cantonese she had learnt from being a caregiver to an elderly woman who mainly spoke the dialect and Mandarin. Ms Enik, who hails from Indonesia, said she is now more confident with basic Cantonese words such as those that describe 'sleeping' and 'eat porridge', and can better respond to requests made to her in the dialect. Indonesian helper Enik Suparmi was among the participants at pilot runs of a Cantonese class. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI Speaking to about 1,200 attendees, including domestic helpers, employers and union leaders, at the May Day celebration, Mr Huang thanked employers who have been supportive of their helpers receiving training. 'Skills such as caregiving benefit not just households but society at large,' he said. 'In particular, improving workers' language skills is crucial to building better communications, understanding and empathy between migrant domestic workers and household members.' Ms Enik said having supportive employers allowed her to complete a nursing diploma in 2024. 'They tell me that I don't always need to work so hard and always support my learning and development,' she said. Both language classes will run for about a year, with 120 slots in the Cantonese class and 80 slots for the Hokkien class on offer during that period. (From left) NTUC president K. Thanaletchimi, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower Shawn Huang and NTUC deputy secretary-general Cham Hui Fong at the May Day domestic employees' celebration on June 22, 2025. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI The Cantonese classes, which each comprises two 90-minute sessions, will run from July 6, and will cost $10 for CDE volunteers and $20 for others. The Hokkien classes, which each lasts for two hours , will be held from July 13 at the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations in Toa Payoh. Further details are being worked out. Mr Michael Lim, director of NTUC's Migrant Workers Segment, said the programme's effectiveness and demand will be evaluated before determining if it will continue. The CDE is also exploring offering Teochew classes to domestic helpers. Other efforts by the CDE to improve domestic helpers' caregiving skills include the Caregivers' First Response Course by NTUC LearningHub, which covered skills such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, choking response and fall prevention. CDE is looking at organising more runs of the course after 165 domestic helpers completed the course during a pilot from December 2024 to May 2025 . Details on how to register for the Hokkien and Cantonese classes will be posted on CDE's Facebook page. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Independent Singapore
18-06-2025
- General
- Independent Singapore
Alamak! Why Singapore English is so colourful
Singaporeans are the most frequent users of colorful words in English after Americans, Britons, and Australians, according to a study reported by CNN. As native English speakers, Americans, Britons, and Australians naturally use English expletives more often than non-native speakers from places like India or Pakistan. But Singaporeans use such words more frequently than even native English speakers from New Zealand and Canada. 'English in Singapore is increasingly seen not as a second language, but as a native language,' the study notes. Singapore has indeed appropriated the English language as its own. This sense of ownership comes through powerfully in Catherine Lim's book Romancing the Language . 'It's said that even if you speak several languages, there's only one in which you live — your mother tongue,' she wrote. 'The language in which I live, breathe, think and dream is, by that definition, not the Hokkien of my parents and their parents, and their parents' parents, all the way back to the southern Chinese province of Fujian, where we came from, so long ago. It is English. English is my mother tongue in the fullest, most meaningful sense of the word.' She recalled her first encounter with English at age six when she attended a convent school in the town of Kulim in what was then Malaya. 'The sheer excitement of the new language had instantly relegated the Hokkien of my birth and upbringing to secondary position. It seemed that I was walking into a brave new world.' Not every child experiences this dramatic transition from one language to another in Singapore now that English has become the first language for so many people. According to the Department of Statistics, Singapore, almost half the population speaks English most frequently at home. However, people generally mind their language, both in Singapore and abroad. Bad words are rarely used, according to the CNN study. Based on web data (excluding social media and private messaging), the research found 'vulgar words' made up just 0.036% of all words in data from the United States, 0.025% in Britain, 0.022% in Australia, and 0.021% in Singapore. The incidence was even lower in New Zealand (0.020%), Malaysia (0.019%), Ireland (0.019%), Jamaica (0.017%), and Canada (0.016%). Given its clean image, Singapore might have been expected to be more discreet in its language. But the study suggests that 'youthful swearing in Singapore' could be a reaction against the government's 'strict stance against swearing and offensive language in public areas'. New entries in Oxford English Dictionary Alamak! The Malay word just slipped into the Oxford English Dictionary, which calls it an 'interjection' expressing 'surprise, shock, outrage, dismay or outrage.' The local word 'lah' also entered the dictionary, which says it's 'used with various kinds of pitch to convey the mood and attitude of the speaker,' as in 'Come and see lah,' a quote from the former newspaper New Nation . Words used in Singapore and Malaysia have been creeping into the Oxford English Dictionary over the years. The newest entries, added in the March 2025 update, mostly refer to favourite local dishes that have made Singapore a haven for foodies: Kaya: A jam made from coconut milk, eggs, and sugar, usually flavoured with pandan leaf, found in Singaporean, Malaysian, and Indonesian cuisine. Kaya toast: A sandwich consisting of two slices of toasted bread spread with butter and kaya, popular in Singapore and Malaysia. Ketupat: A small rice cake boiled in a pouch of woven palm leaves, originating in Indonesia but also popular in Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore. Otak-otak: A Southeast Asian dish of ground fish or seafood mixed with spices and coconut milk, wrapped in banana or palm leaves, and cooked by steaming or grilling over charcoal, usually served with nasi lemak. Nasi lemak: A Malay dish of rice cooked in coconut milk and flavored with pandan leaf, served with various garnishes like cucumber slices, fried fish, roasted peanuts, cooked egg, and sambal, typically eaten for breakfast. Fish head curry: A dish influenced by Chinese and South Indian cuisine, featuring a large fish head (usually sea bream or snapper) cooked in tangy tamarind-based curry gravy with vegetables like eggplant and okra. Half-boiled egg: An egg cooked briefly in freshly boiled water so the yolk and white remain runny, then cracked open and served in a bowl, seasoned with dark soy sauce and white pepper. Steamboat: A dish of thinly sliced meat and vegetables dipped in boiling stock by diners at the table, or the metal pot used for cooking and serving such dishes. See also Should everyone in Singapore speak English? Tapau: To take food or drink from a restaurant for consumption elsewhere. These new entries join Singapore words already in the dictionary: Shiok: An exclamation expressing admiration or approval. Ang moh: A light-skinned person, especially of Western origin; a Caucasian. Atas: Sophisticated, highbrow, classy—sometimes with negative connotations of arrogance or snobbishness. Blur: Slow in understanding; unaware, ignorant, confused. Chicken rice: Boiled, roasted, or braised chicken served with rice cooked in chicken stock and flavoured with ginger and pandan leaves, originating in Hainan province but particularly popular in Singapore and Malaysia. Chilli crab: Crab cooked in a sweet and spicy gravy containing red chillies and tomato. Hawker centre: A food market where individual vendors sell cooked food from small stalls with shared seating. HDB: Housing and Development Board. Lepak: The practice of loitering aimlessly or idly; loafing, relaxing, hanging out. Killer litter: Objects thrown or falling from high-rise buildings, endangering people below. Singlish: An informal variety of English spoken in Singapore, incorporating elements of Chinese and Malay. One reason so many Singaporean and Malaysian delicacies have entered the Oxford English Dictionary is that its editors seek 'untranslatable words'. 'The names of local dishes tend to be borrowed into English rather than given an Anglicised name,' explains Danica Salazar, OED executive editor, discussing the inclusion of terms like 'kaya toast' and 'nasi lemak'. That's why exclamations like 'alamak' and 'lah' have also made it into the dictionary. They are really untranslatable lah!
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Popular Hokkien mee The Neighbourwok opens new central outlet
If you're a Hokkien mee aficionado, chances are you've heard of The Neighbourwok — a cult-favourite HKM stall tucked away in a nondescript kopitiam in Bukit Batok. It's my absolute fav, so you can imagine my excitement when I found out The Neighbourwok recently opened their second outlet at Owen Road! The Neighbourwok first teased their expansion on Instagram in May, hinting at a new outlet in the 'central area' of SG. After keeping fans in suspense, they finally revealed the big news — their second stall officially opened on 7 Jun at 44 Owen Road. The menu offered at said new outlet is identical to the original in Bukit Batok, minus their satay. The one item on the menu — Fried Hokkien Prawn (duh) — is priced the same at S$5/S$6/S$8. To dabao is an additional S$0.30. If this is your first introduction to the stall, I'm honoured to be the one to let you in on this HKM gem. It ticks all the boxes of a good Hokkien mee — smoky wok hei that doesn't overpower the dish, fresh and crispy pork lard, finished off with a punchy chilli on the side. I must say, The Neighbourwok's HKM is on the wetter side, where the yellow noodles and thick bee hoon combo are submerged in a rich prawn zhup. Naturally, some diners will have their reservations about stalls expanding, fearing that the quality may not hold up at new outlets. A netizen on Facebook had compared both outlets, stating that the Bukit Batok outlet 'doesn't have a strong eggy taste' while the chef at Owen Road 'is more generous with eggs'. Ultimately, Hokkien mee is a very subjective dish, so take others' reviews (including mine) with a grain of salt. I'll continue singing praises about The Neigbourwok, though. Personally, I'd still patronise the OG outlet as it's nearer to me, but you can no longer use the excuse of 'not wanting to travel to the West' to try The Neighbourwok's Hokkien mee! 20 best Hokkien prawn mee stalls in SG for the avid Singaporean foodie [Nov 2024 update] The post Popular Hokkien mee The Neighbourwok opens new central outlet appeared first on
