MURALI – MALAYSIA WORLD HERITAGE TRAVEL SITE

Saturday June 9, 2012

Cabbie returns woman’s purse
By R.S.N. MURALI
murali@thestar.com.my

MALACCA: When Camela Tan left her purse containing about RM2,500 and valuables in a taxi after being dropped off at St Francis Church here, the Singaporean thought she would never see them again.

But thanks to the honest driver, she was reunited with her belongings.

K. Nathan, 35, found the purse while he was cleaning his taxi before ferrying his next passenger.

Model citizens : Nathan (left) and Roslan congratulating each other after receiving their certificates at the hotel Friday.
Nathan went to Equatorial Melaka Hotel which was his pick-up point and handed over the purse to tour desk assistant Roslan Abdul Ghani.

Nathan said it was wrong to keep someone else’s property.

“It doesn’t belong to me and should be returned to its rightful owner,” he said.

The father of three, who lives in Taman Desa Duyung here, said it was against his Hindu faith to keep the purse.

“I believe taking someone else’s property is like eating someone else’s flesh. I can’t do it,” he said.

Roslan, 48, then contacted Tan who was a hotel guest and returned her belongings on May 27, the day of the incident.

Nathan and Roslan were awarded by the hotel with a certificate for their honesty on Wednesday.

Roslan said he appreciated his employer’s gesture.

“I never expected to be rewarded by my bosses. I was just doing my duty to take care of the hotel guests.

“When the purse was handed to me, I promptly contacted Tan to relay the good news as I knew she must be anxious,” he said, adding that he would frame the certificate and hang it in his home.

“The award would inspire me to serve the hotel guests with full integrity,” he said.

Tan, 60, made a special trip back to Malacca to be present at the ceremony.

“It was indeed a memorable holiday in Malacca. I was touched by the courtesy and honesty of the taxi driver and the hotel staff.

“I will return to Malacca soon to meet Nathan and Roslan as an encouragement for others to emulate their honesty,” she wrote in her e-mail upon returning to Singapore after the incident.

She said having her purse returned was like a “mystical” experience.

Thursday April 14, 2011 CM blows his top over hill trysts By R.S.N. MURALI murali@thestar.com.my
MALACCA: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam is hopping mad over reports that young couples have been having sexual trysts on the historical hilltops of St John’s Hill and St Paul’s Hill. He immediately directed the local council to thwart the undesirable activities after he was briefed on the recent discovery of used condoms at the unlit St John’s hilltop and also the sighting of lovers having their rendezvous at St Paul’s Hill.

“These historical sites have been turned into havens for unsavoury acts. I want all those responsible for the maintenance of the sites to meet me. “I will not hesitate to issue show-cause letters to council workers who have been tasked to supervise the sites,” he said yesterday. Lovers’ spot: St John’s Hill in Malacca has been turned into a haven for unsavoury acts. Mohd Ali will make suggestions for both St John’s Hill and St Paul’s Hill to be lit extensively.

Mohd Ali said he will make suggestions for the sites to be lit extensively using solar-powered lamp posts. “I will work on the costs and expedite the upgrading work of the lamps. A gotong-royong programme will be carried out very soon to clean up the surrounding areas, especially St John’s Hill,” he added. He also said enforcement agencies will be asked to intensify patrols at the areas.

“I don’t want the sites to be known for the wrong reasons and I am surprised that the authorities are unaware of this,” he added. A check by The Star yesterday showed some spots at St John’s Hill had been turned into a meeting point for people who were believed to have been involved in sexual trysts.

Joggers going up the hill also reported sighting dozens of used condom packs strewn all round the historical site, including the fort where the 18th century Dutch cannons are. Locals had also observed lovers gathering at the hill during late nights.

Founded in 1571 by Portuguese conquerors, the hilltop has been recognised as a Unesco world heritage site. The site once housed the remains of Roman Catholic missionary St Francis Xavier, who was buried there in 1553 before his body was moved to Goa, India.

Tourists throng the sites daily, which are famous for their unique ruins and the breathtaking view of Malacca town.