Tuesday, February 23, 2010

NIKON - Image Sensor Cleaning

25 January 2010

Dear Valued Customers,

We wish to inform you that Nikon (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. will be charging image sensor cleaning services for all its Digital SLR camera range, with effect from 1st of February 2010. If the Digital cameras are still within its warranty duration and presented with the warranty card issued by Nikon (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, a fee of RM20 will be charged for this service.

Whereas for Digital cameras beyond the warranty duration; the charges are list as below:

*1). Pro-series – Price of service is RM80.00 per set.

Models includes :-
D1, D1x, D1H, D2x, D2xs, D2H, D2Hs, D3, D3x, D700.

*2). Medium series – Price of service is RM60.00 per set.

Models includes :-
D40, D40x, D50, D60, D70, D70s, D80, D90, D100, D200, D300, D5000, D3000.

NOTE:
a) The above said list is not exhaustive.
b) Nikon (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. reserves the right to amend anytime the prices and camera models without any notification.

Thank you for your earnest support.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Anna, KH jr and KQ

Went to Ai Wah house during CNY day 2. See her cute girl...

Penang Hill’s funicular trains into history

Bye bye old Penang Hill’s funicular trains.... a new trains will be installed and operated in 10 mth time. I am gonna miss it as i actually plan to bring my family up the hill on Day 2 or Day 3 of CNY, but due to fact that too crowded and bringing 2 children was really tough. So we are going to take the train when it the upgrading works is completed later.

(槟城21日讯)在大年初八晚上9时15分,升旗山第二代单轨缆车提供“尾班车”服务后,将关闭10个月进行缆车系统提升工程。

为了让公众、游客、当地居民及商家能提早享用第3代缆车服务,槟州首长林冠英在见证“尾班车”服务仪式时,不忘要求公共建筑物工程分行第二局长拿汀阿兹赞,将工程竣工期间提早1个月,即8月28日竣工。

林冠英表示828是吉日,华人喜欢“8”(谐音“发”)的发音,希望可获得好意头。林冠英说,为期6个月升旗山缆车系统提升工程,将从周日起至9月28日,而工程于去年10月28日获批,这是州政府和中央政府合作的工程。

“在工程竣工后,每趟缆车可载送的乘客从60人提升至100人,而每趟缆车载送时间也从原本30分钟减少至15分钟或最快5分钟。”

他说,以往原本需4辆缆车提供服务,不过在缆车系统提升工程结束后,只需2辆缆车即可直接乘搭至山顶,不需在半途更换缆车。他提及,新缆车每小时预料可载送1000名游客,若在佳节期间,缆车预料将提供服务18小时,即从早上6时至午夜12时。

“若以每小时1000名游客计算,每天预料将有1万8000名游客到升旗山观光。虽然提升工程进行时,小贩及居民会受影响,不过工程结束后,游客数量料将为小贩带来生机。”

至于多层停车场工程,他也预料将于今年结束,在这计划中,旅游巴士将与观光车辆分别停放。此外,槟州行政议员林峰成说,州政府将提供5辆吉普车与当地居民以方便上下山,同时当地居协也提供20辆吉普车为载送游客作用。

针对收费详情,他说这一切将会依情况调整,目前暂定1辆车收费为60-70令吉,也不排除以人头计算收费。

工程料在9月28竣工

针对林冠英要求工程能提早一个月竣工,阿兹赞指是不可能的事,因为缆车系统提升工程原定在2011年结束,而现在已经将工程提前至今年9月28日竣工,因此无法将工程提前一个月完成。

同时,针对林冠英希望将原本2辆缆车增加至3辆的要求,工程顾问陈瑞欣接受媒体访问时表示,这是不可能的事情,因为缆车轨道是一上一下,而目前的计划也足以应付游客数量。若要增加缆车数量,那么就必须更改缆车系统,那或许是多年以后的事。

此外,升旗山上26个小贩摊格业者也移交备忘录予林冠英,希望州政府能在未来的7-10个月内给予金钱上的援助,以及豁免摊格执照费用。

Lim pays tribute to Federal Govt for the RM63mil rail service upgrade

GEORGE TOWN: Penangites pass-ed on catching a last glimpse of Penang Hill’s funicular trains as the four iconic red coaches made their last runs to the hilltop.

The funicular runway that was completed in 1923 will cease operations today for at least seven months to make way for a RM63mil upgraded system.

A check by The Star at the ticket counter in the lower station showed that no more than the normal number of visitors had decided to ride the funicular trains yesterday, with the counter clocking in about 1,000 visitors at 2pm.

Even though there was no last- minute rush to the hill, a large number of visitors were still seen at the state’s most popular attraction throughout the day, the majority of them being foreigners or other local tourists.

“We just arrived in Penang 24 hours ago and we had seen on the Internet that this would be the last day to experience the funicular train,” said communications consultant Judith Sullivan, 64, an American.

Husband Steve Staton, also 64, said they had done their research before arriving in the country and were looking forward to seeing the monkeys, hiking trails and other attractions on the hill.

Retired rubber tapper Lim Poh Lai, 73, was seen making her second trip up the hill after 55 years.

“My first trip was when I was 18 years old. I came with three friends on a visit to the state,” said Lim, who hails from Johor.

She said being back in Penang at the time the funicular train was making its last run was purely a lucky coincidence.

“I just happened to be in the state for a holiday. I feel very lucky to be able to make one last trip on the train before it ceases operation,” she said.

Meanwhile, a check at the middle station revealed that work has already begun to clear a wider space for the new track.

Funicular train officers on the scene said the work, which has so far been done manually, started about three months ago.

In the upgrading project undertaken by the Tourism Ministry, visitors will no longer need to get off at the middle station as the new, spacious and air-conditioned coaches will take passengers non-stop to the hilltop.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who boarded the last train ride at 8.30pm last night together with state executive councillors, oversaw a closing ceremony of the present train which ran for 87 consecutive years.

He paid tribute to the Federal Government for allocating RM63mil to upgrade the Penang Hill rail service, saying this injection of funds would spark a revival of the hill as the state’s premier tourist attraction.

The new train system’s commuting time is only between five and 10 minutes, compared to the 30 minutes via the old service.

Lim also said that the contractor would preserve historic elements of the present track such as the tunnel and bridge, while the train could carry up to 18,000 passengers daily.

He added that the state would embark on a major cleanliness campaign atop the landmark before the new train service commences.

Lim also spoke on the need to conserve as many heritage buildings as possible on the hill, considering that Penang is enjoying an international heritage status as proclaimed by Unesco

Thursday, February 18, 2010

TIGER CNY 2010 - PENANG

I think this is the hottest CNY i ever had in Penang. Not a single cloud spotted in the sky for 6 days. Only the blue blue sky and hot air blowing from the sea. The infra red was burning my skin, my hair and everything on the Penang soil.

Going back to Penang of 28th day of last lunar month of OX. No jam, very good. Surprisingly no jam as well in Penang Island. Very good!!! A lot of foreigners in Bt Ferringhi, a lot of outstation tourists as well especially malays (i think from KL lah). So, my mom as usual, business-as-usual on 1st day of lunar month, busy like heck lah, worked till midnight still got tourists asking for food. FYI, my mom char koay teow & fried oyster price remain the same......

This year also we celebrated my HH birthday in PG, his chinese birthday. But the cake forgot to take candles, so only cut the cake without blowing the candles. He asked his mom, why this cake no candles one? can meh like that? Anyway, he was happy to blow 3rd cakes in 2 weeks.

Here you can find some of pictures taken in PG.....




Tuesday, February 09, 2010

2PERAK - NIZAR lost 0 - 5

Federal Court, as expected, ruled Zambry is the rightful MB for Perak, no big surprise. Zambry take 5 - 0 against Nizar.

The balck day continue and we shall come back with greater margin to win back Perak and Malaysia in GE13. Let's wait and see, coward!!!!

Time To Change!!!

Friday, February 05, 2010

Malay in Penang - Discriminated?

Two (2) stories. One from PAS, one from UMNO-related groups.

Let the people make the final judgement. The Good will always Win!!! If the presiden Dewan Perniagaan Melayu Pulau Pinang can't understand statistic, he may ask someone with higher knowledge to help him interpret.


1. The BAD story:

Demonstrasi: Patung Guan Eng dibakar

Aktivis Islam dari pelbagai NGO mengadakan demonstrasi di sebuah masjid di Jalan Macalister, Georgetown sebelum dan selepas solat Jumaat hari ini kerana membantah layanan kerajaan negeri terhadap orang Melayu-Islam Pulau Pinang.


Demonstrasi selama hampir 45 minit di luar masjid yang terletak kira-kira 100 meter dari Komtar itu, adalah anjuran Sedaq - gabungan kira-kira 50 NGO Melayu-Islam.

Ia diadakan sebagai membantah dakwaan berlakunya diskriminasi dan peminggiran orang Melayu-Islam di Pulau Pinang oleh kerajaan negeri pimpinan Ketua Menteri, Lim Guan Eng.

Sambil memakai ikat kepala sambil meluangkan 'Sedaq' dan laungan 'Hidup Melayu', mereka mengecam kerajaan negeri kerana didakwa tidak memperduli dan menghiraukan nasib orang Melayu-Islam Pulau Pinang.

Kain rentang anti-kerajaan negeri turut dibawa oleh mereka yang menyertai demonstrasi tersebut.


Enam pemimpin Sedaq, termasuk presiden Dewan Perniagaan Melayu Pulau Pinang, Rizal Faris Mohideen dan presiden Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semananjung (GPMS), Jais Karim (kanan), menyampai ucapan mengecam pentadbiran Guan Eng, sambil dipantau oleh pihak polis.

Demonstrasi tersebut diadakan selepas mendapat permit polis yang dikeluarkan oleh pemangku ketua polis daerah Timur Laut, Gan Kong Meng.

Bagaimanapun, para pegawai polis mahu menghenti ucapan mereka daripada diteruskan selepas didakwa "melampau hadnya".

Mereka kemudiannya berucap dalam nada yang agak lebih lembut.


Selepas solat Jumaat, kira-kira 300 orang berarak ke Komtar untuk menyerahkan memorandum bantahan kepada Guan Eng.

Mereka juga bertindak membakar patung Guan Eng di luar bangunan Komtar, dan anggota bomba kemudian memadamkannya.

Sebelum itu, kerajaan negeri telah menaikkan kain rentang yang memaparkan data bantuan yang diberi kepada golongan miskin pelbagai bangsa.

Ia menjelaskan bahawa tindakan mengusir penjaja tanpa lesen di negeri itu oleh Majlis Bandaraya Pulau Pinang adalah dibuat secara saksama.


2. The GOOD Story:

PAS pertahan k'jaan Pakatan Pulau Pinang

Peruntukan untuk hal-ehwal Islam yang disediakan oleh kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat Pulau Pinang bagi tahun ini adalah yang tertinggi pernah dinikmati oleh institusi Islam di negeri itu selama ini, kata ketua penerangan PAS, Idris Ahmad.


Menurutnya, pada 2008, peruntukan untuk hal-ehwal Islam oleh Kerajaan BN hanya RM12.5 juta.

“Namun dalam pembentangan belanjawan tahun 2008 kerajaan Pakatan telah menambahnya kepada RM20.5 juta untuk peruntukan 2009.

“Pada pembentangan belanjawan 2009, peruntukan meningkat lagi kepada RM24.3 juta untuk 2010.

“Jumlah ini adalah peruntukan tertinggi yang pernah dinikmati oleh intistusi Islam di Pulau Pinang selama ini,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan hari ini yang bertajuk 'Pulau Pinang Maju, umat Islam dan Melayu terbela di bawah Pakatan'.

Di samping itu, katanya, kerajaan Pakatan juga memberi pengiktirafan kepada para huffaz dengan memberikan peruntukan RM1.5 juta setiap tahun kepada sekolah-sekolah agama rakyat.

Sehubungan itu, katanya, PAS mengucapkan tahniah kepada kerajaan Pakatan Pulau Pinang kerana berjaya menunjukan prestasi yang begitu membanggakan selepas mentadbir negeri pulau mutiara itu sejak dua tahun yang lalu.


Idris mendakwa, walaupun BN cuba menggambarkan bahawa Pakatan tidak mampu mentadbir negeri itu dengan baik, namun rakyat dapat melihat sendiri cekapnya pemerintahan di bawah Pakatan.

“Pada 2007, kerajaan BN mensasarkan belanjawan 2008 mengalami defisit RM35 juta tetapi sebaik sahaja kerajaan bertukar kepada Pakatan, belanjawan itu mengalami lebihan RM88 juta, iaitu lebihan paling tinggi dalam sejarah Pulau Pinang.

“Bagi belanjawan 2009 pula, anggaran defisit dibuat sebanyak RM40 juta tetapi pemerintahan Pakatan sekali lagi memberikan hasil dengan lebihan RM77 juta,” tambahnya.

Kontraktor Melayu tak diabaikan

Menurut Idris lagi, sepanjang pemerintahan kerajaan negeri Pakatan Rakyat, kontraktor Melayu juga tidak diabaikan

“Dakwaan Dewan Perniagaan Melayu Pulau Pinang yang dikuasai Umno bahawa Melayu dipinggirkan dalam agihan projek dinegeri itu adalah tidak benar.

“Pada 2008, (seramai) 78 Kontraktor Melayu, berbanding 35 kontraktor bukan Melayu, telah menerima projek melalui sebut harga.

“Satu kontraktor Melayu dan satu kontraktor bukan Melayu masing-masing telah menerima projek melalui tender terbuka.

“Pada 2009, 89 kontraktor Melayu diterima untuk projek melalui sebut harga dan bilangan kontraktor bukan Melayu yang diterima berkurangan kepada 19 syarikat sahaja,” kata Idris.


Pada tahun yang sama, tambahnya, projek yang diberi kepada kontraktor Melayu melalui tender terbuka bertambah kepada 45 syarikat dan bukan Melayu 6 Syarikat.

Menurutnya, peningkatan yang ketara ini membuktikan kerajaan Pakatan masih menghormati hak kaum Melayu dan tidak menafikan hak kaum lain.

“Keutamaan pemberian projek adalah bergantung kepada kelayakan, kemampuan dan kesungguhan yang ditunjukan oleh pemohon tanpa mengira kaum mereka.

“Inilah bukti kesungguhan, dan iltizam pembangunan yang dilaksanakan hasil dari kepercayaan rakyat dalam pilihanraya lalu,” tambahnya.

Idris berkata, Pakatan sesekali tidak akan mensia-siakan harapan dan amanah rakyat apabila mentadbir mana-mana negeri.

“PAS berharap akan kejayaan ini dapat diteruskan dan rakyat di negeri berkenaan dapat memberikan keyakinan serta mandat yang berterusan kepada Pakatan untuk penggal yang akan datang,” tambahnya.

Thursday, February 04, 2010

培才小学校地见曙光 待割名办妥呈图测明年建新校舍

News from Kwong Wah:

(槟城3日讯)引颈长盼了将近15个年头,峇都丁宜培才小学校地问题终于拨开乌云见明月,如今一旦校地割名手续办妥后,该校将即刻提呈建筑图测给槟岛市政局,期望明年可顺利达成重建新校舍的目标!

培才小学校地问题自前任首席部长丹斯里许子根的年代,即引起不少争议,该校董事部当时鉴于当地人口激增,有意重建新校舍以吸纳更多学生就读。然而,多年来皆碍于地段非董事部所属,而面对诸多阻滞。

但两年前在槟州民联政府积极协助及争取下,培才小学地主即EDEN集团拿督全会贞总算点头,更答应以1令吉的象征式收费,把校地割让给该校。如今1万3000平方尺的校地割名手续已在处理当中,相信近日内将可办妥。

该集团早前已把2万8000平方尺的校地转让给该校,如今再把其余的部份“卖”给培才。换言之,目前该校校地共占4万1000平方尺。培才董事长沈龙福周三中午在丹绒武雅区州议员郑雨周,实地巡视该校以争取2010年州政府制度化拨款时,正式透过后者向槟州华教事务协调委员会提出100万令吉拨款申请。

沈龙福指出,校舍原址重建计划预料耗资350万令吉,第一阶段工程即4层楼高的20间校舍及行政大楼,约200万令吉,至于第二阶段的兴建礼堂及食堂工程,则估计耗费150万令吉。如今,该校经已展开内部筹款,初步筹获24万令吉。

“在全新的建筑图测下,原有的户外篮球场将因校地有限的问题被迫 ‘让路’ 给新校舍。” 沈龙福也是建校委员会主席。培才小学目前只有6间课室,校内建设简陋,去年在民联政府的制度化拨款下,获得4万5000令吉,充作修复厕所及食堂费用。

除了沈龙福,其他迎接郑雨周的该校董事包括陈世荣、何荣华、吴中刮、陈勇维、钟得杉及建委会委员陈绒美。林清和市议员则陪同出席。

向中央申请拨款 争取成中元联合会筹款对象

培才小学校长庄厢贵透露,待校地割名手续办妥后,校方向市政局提呈图测的同时,也会向中央政府申请拨款。

与此同时,董事长沈龙福也表示,该校也将向中元联合会提呈申请表格,极力争取成为今年的筹款对象。“希望华社及支持华教人士,可以助培才一臂之力,让新校舍可以顺利在预期的1年时间内建竣。”

丹绒武雅区州议员郑雨周承诺,将极力为培才小学争取拨款,纵使要成功争取100万令吉的申请确实有点难度(占了槟州政府拨给州内华校、国民型中学及教会学校预算中的17%)。他说,峇都丁宜是州内的旅游重点区,但过去30年来,公共基设方面都备受忽略;再者,随着当地的房屋发展及人口倍增,学校的需求量也跟着提升。作为区内唯一的华小,培才小学简陋的设备已不敷用。

郑雨周也提及,他经已透过公共工程局向中央政府争取在第10大马计划下,拨款2300万令吉兴建北岸高速公路。“北岸高速公路距离水平线50至100尺,全程约长20公里。如今,少过2公里已建成的北岸公路,是近年来陆续由房屋发展商局部建起。”

他说,槟州地方政府为了建立法制社会,近期采取了许多执法行动,而丹绒武雅海岸线一带的非法建筑物,也会受到执法人员的取缔。“政府并未针对任何族群,为此,不希望有心人利用这课题,炒作为种族问题。”
相关照片

■ 峇都丁宜培才小学4层楼新校舍图测外观。

Monday, February 01, 2010

SKH jr Birthday


SKH jr is 4 years old kid .... now Naruto, Ultraman, Ben10...

Malays in Penang not marginalised!!!!

Malays winning majority of Penang open tender jobs

PENANG, Jan 31 – Some 70 per cent of two state firm’s open tenders have been won by Malay contractors, showing the community to be as competitive as others, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (pic) said today

He said Malay contractors won 16 out of 23 tender awards, or 70 per cent, from the Penang Development Corporation(PDC) and 44 out of 66 or 67 per cent of contracts issued by the Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang(PBAPP) in open tenders since Pakatan Rakyat took over Penang in March 2008.

“The performance by Malay contractors in an open tender system with non-Malays proves that Malay contractors can compete with others and win tender awards on their own merit,” Lim said in a statement today.

The DAP secretary-general has been advocating open tenders under his “Competency, Accountability and Transparency” (CAT) programme since becoming chief minister although Umno and Malay rights groups accuse him of sidelining the community.

“Clearly it is not the race that is an issue but failed policies that encourage dependency especially when it helps Barisan Nasional maintain the status quo and its grip on power,” he added, referring to the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government.

Lim accused the BN of instituting policies that “stifles initiative, creativity, hard work, drive and productivity which benefited only the few BN cronies at the expense of entire country”.

“For instance, a 30 per cent quota of publicly listed shares were reserved for Malays but only a few benefited as many ordinary Malays never received shares from the Federal government,” he added.

But the chief minister expressed regret that there were allies within PR Penang “is aligned with BN in opposing efforts to implement an open tender system and CAT governance”, referring to Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim, who had criticised his administration.

“We must remain steadfast as we are backed by results. The Penang state government has been able to turn a projected deficit of RM35 million in 2008 budget to a record surplus of RM88 million.

“A projected deficit of RM40 million in 2009 Budget has been turned around to record a surplus of RM77 million.

“In fact, the 2009 budget surplus would have been a record RM92 million were it not for the payment of RM14.7 million as a result of the Tang Hak Ju land scam of the previous administration,” he said.



民联槟州政府宣布,在其实施公开招标制度后,马来承包商非但没有一般认为那样被边缘化,相反地,他们成功证明自己具备竞争力,赢得槟州政府两机构约7成的合约。

槟州首长林冠英(右图)今天发表文告表示,事实证明,“通过公正的政策,可以让马来人以及马来西亚人参与竞争,也让他们脱颖而出”。

“尽管人们普遍认为马来人不能竞争,而非马来人承包商一定会获得全部公开招标的合约,但是,这种观念是错的。”

马来承包商成功获七成合约

“自从民联政府执政以来,槟州发展机构已经颁发了23项工程合约,其中7份(30%)合约由非马来人承包商获得,16份(70%)合约由马来人承包商获得。”

此外,槟州水务机构共颁发66项工程合约,其中22份(33%)由非马来人承包商获得,而另外44份(67%)由马来人承包商获得。

国阵鼓吹依赖企图保住政权

林冠英因此结论说,马来人承包商在公开招标制度里的表现,证明了马来人承包商也能够与其他人竞争,凭自己的实力与优点取胜。

他更批评国阵政府过去一直以马来人无法竞争的说法,坚拒开放公平竞争的做法。

“很明显地,这不是种族课题,而是鼓吹依赖的失败政策之问题,它协助国阵维持现状,保住权力。”

暗批再林人在民联心在国阵

不过,林冠英也话锋一转,不点名批评前槟州公正党主席再林(左图)。

“州政府对于槟州民联至今还有一部份‘人在民联、心在国阵’的人士感到遗憾,这些人反对公开招标及能干、公信及透明政策。”

坊间最近盛传,也是槟城峇央峇鲁国会议员的再林有跳槽之意。再林前天(29日)更公开倒戈炮轰林冠英是一名“独裁者、沙文主义者及拥有共产主义思维“,并未兑现竞选承诺。

槟州行动党昨天反击揭露,再林的倒戈行动是基于后者曾要求林冠英推荐其意属的某公司获得高球俱乐部管理权不果,因而挾怨报复。

“无需政治,只需电脑联系”

林冠英指出,槟州政府实施一系列的新合约发放措施,包括公开招标,直接付款而不是通过中间人、让槟城承包商优先、实施电子竞标系统、设下两个星期的反对期。

他表示,这些做法是为了“确保成功得标的承包商不再需要政治联系,而是电脑联系”。此外,公开招标不但省下许多钱也提升了素质。

“很多承包商已经在各阶层的公开招标获得自由。对只开放给土著的F级承包商而言,公开招标让槟州那些与巫统无关联的承包商第一次获得合约。从前,合约只保留给巫统朋党及外州承包商。”

PKR again...

PKR really need to screen thier candidates for coming GE. A lot of rubbish and scum in the party, giving an impression to Rakyat that PKR is an opportunist party, with leaders especially from ex-UMNO.

Whether PR can with the federal government is now really depends on PKR's "cleaning programme", the fastewr the better.