Happy Ox New Year 2009

Happy new year 2009 and wishing everyone enjoy it (Recession year).

2008 is like a roller coaster, up & down. We went through the hell of fuel price increased and then dropped to the bottom in last 3 months. We had our CPO increased to nearly RM4300 per mt to almost RM1600 per mt now. We saw the arrogant BN land slide victory in 2004 of controlling 92% MP seats to a total disaster of loosing 5 states (Kelantan, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor) and lost 2/3 majority in Parliament. We also saw how our ex-minister of health left the political arena in January 08 and came back to main stage in 4th Q of 2008. We saw how Anwar came back to Parliament and 2nd version of Sodomy charge. We also learned something on ISA that can be used to "protect" rakyat. We have many more things happened in 2008 in this Boleh-Land. Too tired to write all......

But the most touching moment for me is participating and watching the took-over of power of Penang government in 308 general election by DAP-lead-PR.

So 2009, a challenging year ahead, must work with extra sweat & effort. And i got extra mouth to feed later this OX year as well. You know what i mean?

Freedom in Malaysia?

Just to tell you a secret. My Middle-East neighbourhood has found their "freedom" in Malaysia. I was never believe it when people told me about the "freedom" they are enjoying when out of their home coutries. To be honest, i never know which country they come from, but for sure Middle East.

One find day, myself and HH was sweeping the floor near the staircase. I noticed a full naked man standing at the balcony hanging his cloths. A day before this, his wife (should be) also hanging the cloths at the balcony but of course not naked, yet only with bra and panty!!!

Are they so "open", huh? Just can't believe it! Even Malaysian can't "perform" till that level, can you?

PFS stamps still popular

I felt the same thing, PFS should be one of the school in the latest First Day Covers and Stamps issued in this month, even though i am not a pure Free. As the oldest school in the country that produced so many talented personnel, i feel proud to be part of the "family" during my study days from 1995 - 96.


News from The Star:

GEORGE TOWN: Stamps and first-day covers featuring the 192-year-old Penang Free School (PFS), the oldest school in the country, continues to be popular with collectors.

In 1966, the 20 sen and 50 sen stamps and first-day covers featuring the school were issued to commemorate the school’s 150th anniversary and according to stamp dealer Lee Soon Seng people are still asking for them today.

The stamp features the school’s majestic white building against a clear blue sky and green surroundings.

“A few years ago, I sold off my collection of 100 sets of the school stamps but customers are still looking for them now.

“I had to source them (for my customers) from the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Australia because many foreigners from Commonwealth countries studied at the school and they had bought the stamps and first-day covers as their personal collection,” he said.

He added that Pos Malaysia Bhd should honour the school with new stamps as it had been over 40 years since the school appeared on a stamp.

“I have no doubt it will be popular if Pos Malaysia comes up with a new design featuring the country’s oldest school,” he said.

Pos Malaysia Bhd’s choice of four premier schools for its first-day covers and stamps recently had drawn flak from former PFS students when the school was not selected.

Some of them said that the school had great historical bearing and significance and had produced great leaders, sportsmen and academicians.

The four schools featured were SMK Victoria and SMK Convent Bukit Nanas in Kuala Lumpur, SMK St Thomas in Kuching, and SM All Saints in Kota Kinabalu and the stamps and first-day covers went on sale from Dec 16.

Stamp dealer Mohamed Abdullah, who agreed that the stamps on the school would be popular, said the covers which were sold at 80 sen per set in 1966 now cost between RM30 and RM50 each.

Fourteen-year-old Penang Free School student Josh Chen said he was disappointed that the school was left out, adding that it would have inspired more of his friends to start collecting.

尘封52年后槟再次迎接 “乔治市城市日”

二零零八年十二月二十一日 晚上七时三十分

（槟城21日讯）阔别52年之久，槟州政府决定再度庆祝1月1日“乔治市城市日”！

据了解，槟州市政局在槟州民联政府的指示下，将在下周四（2009年1月1日），首开先河举办“乔治市城市日”，以纪念英女皇依丽莎白二世于1957年1月1日，颁布城市地位给乔治市。

这项荣誉对于当时逾23万4000名乔治市居民而言，这是件非常引以为傲的事。但是，自此之后，槟城就再也没有举办过任何庆祝仪式了。

原因之一是自从70年代政府废除地方议会的民选制度后，乔治市被纳入槟岛市政局的管理区之一，自此，其城市的地位即开始变得模糊。

但为了配合乔治市连同马六甲以“马六甲海峡的历史城市”，成功列入世界文化遗产名录后，槟州政府打算把握这“最佳时刻”，重新庆祝属于乔治市的大日子。

换言之，即将于明年1月1日举办的“乔治市城市日”，可谓是自1957年大马独立以来，首个举办庆祝乔治市被颁布“城市地位”（city status）的活动。

据本报了解，此次的纪念庆祝会，虽然仅以非正式形式进行，但筹划单位也费尽心思地，决定回到52年前的“老地方”庆祝，以纪念独立后最别具意义的第一次。

而这个“老地方”正是早在1885年英殖民时代兴建的－－依恩奥酒店。

回到半世纪前 回到依恩奥酒店

身为“乔治市城市日”筹委会主席的拿督再纳拉欣，接受《光华日报》访问时披露，当年（1957年）乔治市获得英女皇依丽莎白二世颁布“城市”地位时，正是在拥有超过百年历史的依恩奥酒店内，作出这项宣布。

“半世纪以前，在古色古香的依恩奥酒店庆祝乔治市获颁布城市地位；半世纪以后，再度回到同一间酒店，重温升格为“市”的光辉事迹，应该还不错吧！”

再纳拉欣说，此次，市政局希望回到“老地方”，除了藉此回顾当年获颁城市地位时候的情景、缅怀当年槟城人的骄傲时刻之余，其实节省开销也是主要原因之一。

“州政府已在12月31日举办的大型跨年倒数派对中，花费了不少钱，如今在金钱上的考量下，市局不打算耗费巨额举办庆祝会，毕竟在户外举办活动的开销是相当庞大惊人的；再者，筹备时间略嫌仓促，为此，我们决定只举办小型庆典。”

届时，槟州元首阁下敦阿都拉曼阿巴斯伉俪，也会莅临主持这项简单又不失隆重的盛会。

再纳拉欣补充道，“该局已计划在2010年筹划一场大型的庆祝会，届时料在12月31日倒数活动中，与民一起庆祝迎接乔治市城市日。”

城市地位不变

槟岛市政局主席拿督再纳拉欣受询确定地说道，自从1957年乔治市获颁布城市地位以来，从来就未有被人“褫夺”其地位。

“为此诚如掌管地方政府的曹观友行政议员日前所说的，根本无需再向房屋及地方部提出申请。乔治市的‘城市’地位始终不变！”

市局秘书兼筹委会副主席陈清水接受《光华日报》访问时，也再三强调乔治市“城市”的地位由始至终都未受动摇的事实。他说，早前关于乔治市的城市被“降级”之说法，其实是不存在的。

他举例道，就如同目前的槟城，它不再由国阵执政，但由民联执政的槟州难道就不属于大马的州属之一了吗？“当中的道理，就跟乔治市‘城市’地位的事实是一样的。无论由哪个单位管辖，它依然保留原本的地位。”

他指出，此次的庆祝活动，对槟城而言算是一个新的开始，同时希望藉此可让世界更认识乔治市。

市不市的尴尬

乔治市早在1957年1月1日升格为市（City），马来西亚第一个升格为市的城市。

但是，1976年新的地方政府法令生效后，乔治市市议会与槟岛乡镇议会合并，成了槟岛市政局（Penang Island Municipal Council）。

自此，乔治市的地位就开始模糊，甚至被误以为其“City status”已不复存在，一度陷入“市”不“市”的尴尬。

但自从今年7月7日，乔治市连同马六甲以“马六甲海峡的历史城市”，成功列入世界文化遗产名录后，乔治市再度成为世人的聚焦点。

民联政府曾在执政3个月后，表示将成立工作委员会，处理乔治市申请升格为市的事务，当时，槟州地方政府委员会主席曹观友指出，有关委员会会在成立的3个月后，提呈申请升格为市的计划书。

但在11月中旬，曹观友向媒体指出，州政府已放弃申请乔治市升格为市的申请，原因是乔治市早在1957年就已是城市，为此无需重新提出申请。

NS ruler Tuanku Ja'afar dies

News from The Star:

SEREMBAN: Negri Sembilan Yang diPertuan Besar Tuanku Ja’afar Tuanku Abdul Rahman, who was the nation’s 10th Yang diPertuan Agong from 1994 to 1999, died at about 11.45am Saturday. He was 86 years old.


More news from Malaysiakini.

Merry X'mas

Merry X'mas to all people......Enjoy the holiday, stop working for one day.

BURSA Down Again

It happen again now that BURSA is "interrupted" status. Meaning can't perform any trading of stocks.

What a double let down! Happen twice in this week!

Bangkok City (1)

Recently went to Bangkok for some presentation cum auditing programme at Maha Sarakham province. It is winter time in the north Thailand, that is why the temperature is around 20C in the morning and drop below 20C at night. Never experience such a cool weather at lower ground. One thing i discovered in Thailand is that the height of the door for toilet is very short. I think 5' 6" maybe. Pelik......

More story soon, on transportation and travelling system in Thailand.

Here are some of the photos taken in Bangkok.

Siam Paragon Shopping Complex
Sim in Love

X'mas mood in Bangkok

Bangkok city view 1

Bangkok city view 2

PC Bottles

More and more research done on this plastic material (Polycarbonate) and it seem like more bad news appear. It's also means that my son feeding bottle also not "healthy" as well his drinking bottle.

Must ask him to use cup to drink milk instead of feeding bottle. But about the young small baby? This is why we practice changing the feeding bottle after 3 months as we always "sterilise" the bottle daily. OK, use back old generation's way - Glass feeding bottle. But please ready it 10 pieces, the baby might break it anytime after they finish it!

PC bottle tend to release some chemical bisphenol A (BPA). BPA has been linked with health problems such as impairment of reproductive organs and tumour formation. It is also "environmental hormone" which disrupts the endocrine system of humans and animals. Sound scary right!!

How to know it PC bottles? Look for the label of "triangle with a 7 in it" at the bottom of the bottles. Good luck!

BURSA Trading Forbidden

Update:

Back to trading on ~3.05 pm.

Some what ever technical problem, BURSA Malaysia is not able to trade starting from 2.30pm till now....... What a let down again by BURSA, i think the 3rd time in this year.

Need a better software maybe?

Jakarta Indonesia

That was my first trip to Jakarta as i am having some CDM projects in Sumatra, Lampung Province. The city is very jam even though there are so many lanes, 3 on each side with additional 3 on each side in the process of construction. A total of 12 lanes in the near future.

But in this trip i didn't have time to walk around in the city. Anyway, i will make sure will do it in 5th of Jan 09.

Some photo to share.

Anchor in Indonesia

Internationl Airport of Jakarta

City of Jakarta

DOE, myself & colleague, Client

Planet Hollywood

Original Padang Food in Sumatra

Monday, December 15, 2008

Petrol Price Drops

Tomorrow will become RM1.80 / liter. Way to go to Rm1.50 / liter.

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Nikon D3X

New camera D3X from Nikon for Pro! Comparing this monster with other dSLR of Nikon. I think the price might be more than 25k i guess.

Key features:

-Nikon FX-format CMOS sensor with 24.5 megapixels
-Wide sensitivity range starting at ISO 100
-New EXPEED-based image processing
-High-speed performance meets the most rigorous professional demands
-Realizing reliable auto control: Scene Recognition System
-AF system employing high-density 51-point AF
-Superior durability
-High-resolution 3-inch LCD monitor with approx. 920k¬-dots (VGA), 170° wide-viewing angle and reinforced glass
-Two Live View modes available
-Picture Control System
-Active D-Lighting — reproducing brightness as you see it
-Electronic virtual horizon
-UDMA-compatible memory card double slot
-GPS Unit GP-1 (optional)

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Drop 10c Fuel Price

When the world crude oil below USD 50, Malaysia petrol price still only drop 10c only. Seem like our government is really broke now, trying very hard to earn back by what ever mean they can to save Malaysia economic.