TV Season 2008

Yoohoo...TV Season has started!! That means weeks of downloading, watching, working through the stories and plots, and so on and so forth. Actually the start caught me by a bit of a surprise since I was so busy with my travels, but it's gonna be busy nights from now on...

So I'm seeing the usual suspects - Heroes, House, CSI (all 3), Criminal Minds, Bones and I'm starting to get hooked on this new reality TV show called Kid Nation. Well it's about 40 kids getting a small abandoned mid-western US town called Bonanza City up and running - well, it's different as it involves kids only - so let's see how they fare compared to adults.

It's gonna be a busy few months!

Surf's Up!

OK, OK, I admit that I thought that this was another one of theose hyped-up movies initially - I mean about surfing penguins??!! Well, I decided against watching this at the cinemas, despite the fairly positive reviews. So it took me this long to wait for a good DVD-rip copy to appear on the Net...and I must say I was wrong.

The idea of surfing penguins still escape me. And the storyline was of course not extraordinary. The music was not catching either. But what grabbed my attention was the rich graphic details throughout the whole movie. I mean it was really really a visual feast, and made watching the whole movie as if it was a live video feed from a far off land. I loved the 'live-cam' sequences; you can even see the water droplets as if it was a real camera - that shows the realism and detail that went into the movie. Not since Finding Nemo was I so mesmerised by the animators' creation - and giving credit where it is due, personally I think it surpassed those of Finding Nemo.

Finally, I think it has one of the best final scenes of any animation - with Cody surfing the tube with Big Z towards the sunset...



Very highly recommended, for young and old alike!

Kuching: 25-27 September 2007

Cat City. But really I didn't see any cats at all! Anyway it's still a bit of a sleepy town in my opinion. Definitely not as happening as Kota Kinabalu. Well, I guess the town is a bit bigger compared to the last time I was here 12 years ago, but the main places of attraction remains as I remembered it. Some things never change, do they? Stayed at Harbour View Hotel - it's OK, but fell short of my expectations due to the lack of broadband Internet connection. But the dinner I had on Tuesday night - urrgh, it was as if the chef pured a whole bottle/bag or salt into the mee mamak goreng; with such a meal small wonder high blood pressure is not uncommon among Malaysians!

Anyway the trip and work was rather uneventful. Was brought around the city by a drug rep - but couldn't catch the breadth of the city and its places of interest on such a short time. But two things of interest happened on my was there and back. On my flight there, there was some 'drama' as a medical 'emergency' occurred and I was summoned - let's just say it was not any emergency (and it damn spoiled my reading pleasure!). And on my was back this evening, I bumped across a long-forgotten friend at the airport - I couldn't even recognise her at first but she recognises me! - and caught up on things. It's a refreshing end to a tiring journey.

Well, my shows are downloading fairly fast; can't wait to sink my teeth into them...bye for now!!

Massage!

This is something I have never experienced before. So when there was a suggestion for an office outing, I thought why not? How bad could it be? We went to a place on Brickfields where there were many blind massage parlours - near the YMCA building. It started of well and very relaxing, but as it progressed, it got more and more painful, especially when they started massaging the bony points. And I mean really, really painful! At the end of it my feet really felt numb - both of it!

But that didn't really distract us from our buka puasa meal at an Indian restaurant - it was different for me, again! The food was really appetizing, but I guess the nasi briyani was also quite filling so I didn't really have very much. All in all, it was an interesting night by my standards...

So tomorrow I'm off to Kuching...may my feet be with me!

More Adaptations?

Maguire in Robotech

Now this caught my eye...Tobey Maguire as Rick Hunter? Or would it be Max Sterling? Nah...has to be Rick Hunter. Wow...but it's a bit late in coming though. I love Robotech, maybe a bit more than Transformers. But they have a lot to do to make it better than Transformers; after all it didn't have the following Transformers had back then. Anyway I am chomping at the very fact that they are considering making an adaptation of the movie. The other one the article mentioned was Voltron. This I am not so thrilled...but it'll be interesting too. Just hope they do the lion ones, and not the vehicles - it looked better with the lions. Now there's another that would be interesting to make: Thundercats!

A check with IMDB shows that all three are in pre-production stage; maybe if all goes well it'll hit the cinemas in 2010. Ho!

Record Broken!

Darned it!! For the first time after driving for nearly 15 years, I experienced my first radiator leak yesterday night! And this coming after my car was serviced last week at that. Well, at least the car didn't burst into flames and the engine remains good...but having your car fill with steam isn't a very rewarding experience. Now I have to go to a mechanic and get the whole radiator system checked all over - another day gone...sigh...

Eye opener

Had a management meeting today. Since I am new, everything was quite an eye opener. Never been a person who cared about the mechanics of an organisation (since we doctors were too busy anyway), exposure to such information is really enlightening. Now I know why the company has to work in a certain way to ensure 'profitability'. Erm, that's in inverted commas because I'm in a non-profit organisation - so technically we have to call it surplus - but it basically means profit. Runs right down from the boss to Finance and Administration to Human Resource to Operations and Fund-Raising. All the cogs in the wheel has to be in place and run properly for smooth running of the organisation. The less disruptions the better. I guess that is true for all organisations, big or small.

After the meeting we has a dinner at a seafood restaurant in Section 14. Never realised there was one there. Well I'm not one for seafood, but I had to support it lah...anyway no comments on the food. The price was a bit heavy on the wallet though...maybe I'll bring some friends over there for dinner, and have them pay for it! Yeah...

Petition to the Agong

Petition to the Agong

Something to remember by...

At the last count, there has been at least 10,000 e-signatures and more are coming everyday. It seems that people's power is at work here. But how to pass them to the Agong? Not through the front door it seems....

Yes, we are embroiled in a Constitutional Crisis

Huh? Is the Agong is under house arrest? And when did the Internal Security Minister become so powerful even to prevent family members meeting each other?? Something smells here...and it's not roses!

Daulat Tuanku!

What beast?

Child found sexually assaulted and killed

What beast would do this to another human being? What more on an innocent child? Where is the humanity in this person? The things done to this girl is so unspeakable... And to be then stuffed into a bag and left out there to be found...

What has happened to our society? Rising crime rates, sadistic rapes and mafia-style killings happen irrespective of age, race and social status. Just a few weeks ago - the story of the UTAR student raped and killed by a campus security guard came and went. And who would forget the execution-style killing of a MCA Youth leader, or the many damning reports of unbridled crime in Johor Baru.

Is it a product of the ills associated with a urban society, or just shows the impotence of our police in protecting its citizens? Perhaps it is a combination of both. Influx of both rural and foreign individuals to urban areas in search of better wages where there is little is almost always a fertile breeding ground to those tempted into crime. This is compunded by the fact that the police force is under-staffed or under-motivated to catch these criminals, where more lucrative opportunities lay elsewhere, and by a leadership under siege from within and without.

Certainly there is no quick fix to this. But it is something that must be tackled immediately if we are not to lose confidence in our own safety, even if in our own backyard. What more if we are to attract foreign investors or their families...

Johor Baru: 17-19 September 2007

My first trip down to JB in two years. The drive was quite uneventful - since I started off at 5 in the morning - and smooth. But ran smack into the morning jam in JB town centre! Well, a jam is a jam whether it be in KL or JB. Anyway had to work for the next three days to the bone. It was tiring but I'm glad that the patients are generally uncomplicated. Stayed at the Crystal Crown Hotel - like I said before, I am a person of little expectations, but this hotel fell short of my one only requirement! Anyway it's OK for a short stay. Think it was the same hotel that I stayed in two years ago. The trip was too short for a trip to Singapore. Maybe next time. The drive back today was rather mundane as well. Anyway I survived the trip safe and sound: after all JB has got a real nasty reputation these days.

Met a friend of mine with his own clinic on Tuesday night. Guess business was fairly good from the number of patients I see in his clinic. He's a bit modest, but like most Chinese (and like me too!), financially prudent. We had dinner/supper at the Old Town coffee house in Nusa Idaman (or something like that) - it's the biggest one I have seen so far; makes the ones in KL look puny. And business is good too, judging by the number of customers they have at 10.00 p.m. at night!!

Kuching next week then!!

Shocker no more?

THE SHOCK-A-LINGAM TAPE

And we just had the two bailouts, Auditor-General's report, Altantuya murder case, blah...blah...

Should we be surprised? The rumours and stories keep coming in - something that Malaysians know for many years has started to be exposed. Sometimes we wonder what it is all for: political mileage, beating-down the government, revenge against certain individuals? Whatever the reason maybe for the expose, the more important thing is whether action will be taken, or will the perpetrators get off scot free (or maybe a very light slap on the wrist)? The reaction is more important than the action - not just words, but true action!

Otherwise we would just be washing our dirty linen in public...again and again and again... Small wonder our country is not looked up to anymore...

Look East Policy...

You know we had (or are we still having?) a Look East Policy. Well, we came up with a few useful tips on how to manage and improve the country. But I think this is the single best thing we should learn from them: Taking responsibility

Unfortunately our shameless politicians (need we further name them?) - from lowly local councillors, members of parliament, cabinet ministers to the DPM and PM - will lie, cheat and do anything and everything to stay in power - do they know no shame?

And since they so good at mimicking and shouting slogans, maybe they should shout this one and follow the example!

Economic Triple Threat

I came across this in the Edge, and found it as a very interesting read on the global economy:

History tells us that September and October have not been good months for investors. The 1929 Wall Street Crash erupted on Oct 24, causing world markets to plunge by more than 30% and tipping the global economy into the Great Depression. In 1987, the US market crashed on Oct 19, triggering a chain reaction across the globe.

This year, as October approaches, the outlook seems rather glum. The silver lining is that no one is expecting a global recession at this juncture. Already, there has been a spate of negative news that has roiled financial markets worldwide.

First, we have the US subprime mortgage crisis threatening US growth and tipping it into recession. Meanwhile, the Japanese economy contracted in the second quarter, sparking concerns that it, too, may slide into a recession. China isn't doing that well either — its inflation hit a 10-year high in July at 5.6% while its economy continues to expand at a sizzling pace. To make things even more complex, crude oil prices are again rising, hitting a new high of US$80 a barrel last Thursday and heading for the next level of US$90 a barrel. Will the worst come to pass?

The US subprime mortgage crisis, whose roots go back to 2005, became full-blown this year. The problem, even as we speak, is still unravelling, and the danger is that it could spill over to the rest of the US economy and tip it into a recession — if not this year, then the next. The possibility of a recession in the US became more real last week when the US Labour Department reported that non-farm payrolls fell in August for the first time in four years. There was a loss of 4,000 jobs, down from 68,000 job increases the month before. Now, all eyes are on what the US Federal Reserve Board will do when it meets on Tuesday to decide on interest rates. The consensus view is that with the latest downturn in the labour market, the Fed will have no choice but to cut the benchmark overnight federal fund rate (FFR) by at least 25 basis points, from 5.25% to 5%, to ensure a soft landing for the economy.

"A 25 basis-point cut in the Fed Funds policy rate on Sept 18 is all but a done deal," DBS Research wrote in its report, adding that it expects another 25 basis-point cut in October. A recession in the US will spell trouble for Asia, whose main export destination is the US. While there is a growing view that China will take up some of the slack, a recession in the US will still hurt Asia. At this point in time, however, most economists are still betting that a recession won't happen. Projections are for US growth to remain flat at around 2% in 2007 before rising to about 2.5-2.8% in 2008. CIMB Investment Research, in a report, wrote: "At this juncture, we think the (US) economy will be able to ride through this period of uncertainty and volatility without heading into recession. "While problems in the housing and financial markets have hurt consumer confidence, we draw comfort that corporate balance sheets are healthy, non-residential investments are positive while job and income growth are still supporting consumer spending."

Last week, Japan said its gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 1.2% year on year in the second quarter of this year, compared with a contraction of 0.3% in the previous quarter. The drag on growth was a decline in business investment. Now, economists say Japan will not be raising its key interest rate any time soon. Japan's sharper-than-expected economic contraction did not help sentiment any, as it came at a time when investors were already jittery about the possibility of the US sliding into recession. It was not helped either by the political uncertainties resulting from the resignation of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Still, economists aren't too worried about the latest statistics indicating a recession for the Japanese economy, noting that machinery orders in July surged 17%, its highest in four years. Economists say that while business outlays underperformed, export growth is still decent, and they expect a moderate recovery in consumer spending, which should keep the economy from contracting further. The projection is for the Japanese economy to expand by about 2% this year and the next.

The news flow out of China isn't very good either. Last week, China said its inflation rate hit a 10-year high of 5.6% year on year in July and that despite attempts to cool growth, its GDP still ran its fastest pace ever, expanding at a scorching pace of 11.9% in the second quarter. Not surprisingly, investors are asking how long the Chinese economy can grow at this breakneck speed without crash landing. China has raised its one-year deposit and lending rates six times since 2006 while the yuan has appreciated 10% since it was unpegged in July 2005.

The kick in the teeth, though, came from rising crude oil prices. Last week, crude oil prices finally surpassed US$80 a barrel. On Thursday, light sweet crude for October delivery closed at US$80.09 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Now, market pundits are seeing the next target at US$90 a barrel. Oil prices were pushed higher by three major factors — a sharper-than-expected drop in US oil inventories, a lower-than-expected increase in oil production by Opec and the hurricane season in the Gulf of Mexico and Louisiana coasts, where the refineries are located. A conundrum arises for policymakers if crude oil prices continue to climb. For one, it will fuel inflation, and thus limit the room for the US Fed to cut rates at a time when it may need to do so.

The upshot of all this is that the global economy is heading for some uncertain times. So, we should brace ourselves.

So we have the triple threat. As the author said we are heading for some uncertain times. We better heed the warning and be prepared...

More exciting...

You know badminton nowadays is more exciting under the new points system. I was watching Lee Chong Wei win the Japan Final Open a few hours ago, and I must say it really brings the sport to life. The matches end quicker; there is less reliance on fitness and stamina but more on skill and guile of the players, and concentration is very important. Gone are the days where you can outlast your opponent in marathon games or afford to lose serves instead of points. I think it is a change for the better.

Coming back to the game, Chong Wei should have won easily in the second after leading 15-9; instead he let Taufik back into the match. Deja vu again in the decider after leading 20-14, he allowed Taufik to creep back to 20-19 before winning on a Taufik net return. I must say although Chong Wei played well, he was lucky not to have lost the match.

A good game nonetheless.

What the %$#@?

So frustrated to know that ASTRO for the umpteenth time has changed its programme schedules unannounced. I was so looking forward to catching Criminal Minds at 11.00 a.m. but alas... And it's not just that. All the programmes have been moved to God knows where...

What's worse, there are no programme listings for Star World in the ASTRO channel guide. I wonder why one would need the guide nowadays, paper thin as it is.

Uurgh...

PGCC's web

Whaddaya know? No hangover from last night's drinking session! That must have been a first for me...

And now for some interesting reads...

PGCC boost for Penang
PGCC: Penang's Greedy City Centre?
The Equine Capital Bhd Crash
Datin Wong Mun Yee @ Mrs Datuk Patrick Lim @ owner Kamaluddin Badawi's house
Patrick Lim's Monsoon Cup scam

This shows the web that binds it all...

So who says that the NEP doesn't benefit non-Bumiputras? My only wish is that it doesn't go the way of the PKFZs, PSC-Naval Dockyards, Renongs etc. etc....

Something different...

I'm the kind of person who keeps to himself and is comfortable with daily routines - work, home, sleep. I rarely go out for various reasons, preferring to sit in front of the computer surfing and watching downloaded movies/TV series.

Well it's been some time since I did something different...so I went for makan and exepctedly, a drinking session with a friend tonight. The last time I had liquor was the New Year eve celebrations in 2005 - and that was hard drinking. I wonder how much I could take, but I needn't be overly worried. A few glasses of beer and some whisky coke hardly dented me. I guess I need more to be really drunk. But my friend and I had quite a bit to catch up...not enough for one session. Will have to arrange more similar sessions...and more drinks to go with that!

Wonder whether I'll get a hangover in the morning?

Of earthquakes, aftershocks and tremors

Every time an earthquake strikes these days, the first picture that comes to mind is a tsunami. After all, tsunami was stuff of legends before 2004. So when an earthquake struck southern Sumatra on Wednesday - tsunami warnings went off all over the region. Dunno about you, but for tsunami to strike Penang when the earthquake is in southern Sumatra seems far-fetched to me. Anyway I am not an expert. Of course it is better to be safe than sorry.

But the aftershocks really caused some tremors here in KL. Actually I thought I felt something, but it could have been my stomach rumbling. Anyway, any vibration is enough to send people scurrying out of their high-rises these days.

Since we are so close to the Ring-of-Fire, we should brace ourselves for more tremors and tsunami warnings. It is unavoidable. Let's pray there is no repeat of 2004.

Old story - new life

Actually this is an old story given a new lease of life...after all it comes in the wake of the Port-Klang Free Zone bailout...

Najib must bear brunt of the RM6.75 billion naval scandal

And this involves a massive bailout too - Boustead Sdn. Bhd. had to fork out money to 'save' the company, PSC-Naval Dockyard, a subsidiary of PSC Industries (or is it Tan Sri Amin Shah's butt?) whose major common shareholders are Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera. Incidentally the bank most affected, Affin bank, has a major shareholder in Boustead. So it is a bailout bigger than that of PKFZ. PSCI was once a public-listed company on Bursa Malaysia; if you wonder where it has gone, don't worry - it has been renamed Boustead Heavy Industries (BHIC).

One question I want to ask: will the Tan Sri involved in the centre of this bailout ever be brought to court for mismanagement of funds? After all the billions of ringgit 'disappeared' just like that...of course into pockets of certain individuals...

Wait: let me give you the answer - no, and never will. After all, this is Bolehland.

What else is new?

Paying through the nose for tools

So what else is new? It's an open secret for many years. It'll blow over after a few weeks or months and it's business as usual. So much wastefulness that it doesn't shock anyone anymore. But what is this compared to the PKFZ and naval patrol boat (PSC-Naval Dockyard) scandals?

Retch...

P.S.: Can anyone tell me where I can get the report for remembrances sake? Since we Malaysians are so forgetful?

Ouch!!

Missed this 233% increase in brokerage fees when I was going through the Budget 2008. Now that's a pain in the arse... A lot of negative reaction from retail investors because it affects us a lot. Basically it means the entry and exit charges amount to at least 8% (not including stamp duty, clearing fees); this is even more than charges for unit trusts! You have to buy at least RM 6,000 worth of shares before the increase becomes negligible...and very little retail investors can afford to invest this amount on a single stock! I can see the justification but certainly not the quantum of increase. To encourage investing and not speculating? Hmmph...our market is not conducive to investing as there is so much speculation going around; and to think the degree of market manipulation that occurs shudders me. No investor in his right mind would want to sit on their shares for long periods of time. I think it would kill off whatever little enthusiasm among the retail investors - so much for encouraging retail participation in the stock market.

Anyway there's still three months for the authorities to change their mind. If not, I plan to stop trading and switch back to unit trusts. Probably make all my buys by the end of the year and sit on them. Anyway I'm not too optimistic of the stock market these days...sob...

Fraying at the edges?

Now this is a bit of a shocker!

Ceramah clash in Terengganu

Heard of the incident yesterday when having dinner in Kota Baru. And I was actually quite surprised! Friend of mine said one of the victims was still in Hospital USM ICU in stable condition.

After all it was said to be a peaceful ceramah, and ended up with a riot and two victims shot. And some flag burning to boot too! Have to go through the blogs to see the reaction - can't trust the mainstream media - too pro-government. Who knows...it might have been started by an agent provocateur!

Hope this is not a start of something worse...especially with the general elections around the corner and May 13th incident so fresh in our minds...

Kota Baru: 8-11 September 2007

Was in Kota Baru over the weekend for a company trip. Wow...it's amazing how the town has grown over the last ten years since the last time I had been there. And there are traffic jams too! Weather was a bit on the hot side...I guess it was better than if it was raining. The hotels were nothing to shout about (I won't name names) - pretty old and run down but live-able, if your expectations are not too high. I'll make it a point to stay at the newer hotels the next time around. People there are rather nice as a whole, although they view non-Kelantanese a bit suspiciously. I'm not surprised as Kelantanese supposedly are very parochial and more xenophobic than people from other states.

Was introduced to this fare called nasi kukus - which is supposed to be like some form of glutinous rice with your choice of dishes. Unfortunately for me, I can't tell the difference so it ended up tasting up like normal rice for me! Anyway, it's a change from the usual food I partake. Sorry, no pics! Maybe the next time around. But I missed tasting nasi kerabu (which I quite fancied when I was in Kota Baru previously).

A bit difficult to travel around though, as the buses and taxis were difficult to find. You have to call for taxis, and the charges were exorbitant - so a bit difficult if you have to lug bags all over the place. Guess I need a car if I want to explore. Didn't have the time to visit the places of interest. It's all about work.

Speaking of work - it is quite enjoyable as I get to travel around and see different places. Not so boringlah... Next stop Johor Baru!

Reactions?

Haven't been able to get online for the last three days...but there seems to be a muted reaction to the Budget 2008 both on mainstream media, and online. Of course I am not surprised!

But there are lot sof other news to hog the limelight!

Rumours...

PM: Transport Minister Chan has not resigned

I caught the rumblings in the blogs last night...but I wonder how much of it is true. Of course I am not holding my breath. It would be a first for this country!

Budget 2008

Eh? That's all? So much was expected of the Budget...especially being a pre-election one - would have thought there would have been a bevy of goodies for the man-in-the-street. Alas I guess I was mistaken! And judging by the stunned silence in the online community, I think a lot of people is in agreement. Of course this perception will be quickly corrected tomorrow when the 'spin papers' hit the streets!

Anyway, here's a rundown of the 'highlights' of the Budget:

1. Corporate tax to be reduced to 25% by 2009. Good, indirectly.
2. Single tier tax system, i.e. no more taxation of dividends at recipient level. Good.
3. Commissions for internet stock trading is negotiable. Clearing fees down to 0.03%. Good.
4. 50% stamp duty reduction for house purchases less than RM 250,000. Good.
5. Monthly withdrawals from EPF Account 2 for home loan repayment. Definitely good.
6. Tax-relief up to RM 5,000 for post-graduate education. Good.
7. Tax-relief up to RM 300 for purchase of exercise/sporting equipment. Good?
8. PLC's have to disclose employment composition by race and gender. Very bad.
9. No bonus for civil servants. Definitely bad.

Anyway, I have not much to look forward to, so I'm gonna give it some rest. If you read between the lines, this budget also outlines many opportunities for the well-connected to make money off the people - so in a way it is not so different from the previous Budgets.

Yawn...can't wait for tomorrow to read what the reactions are!

Hubba, hubba...

Look out! Behind you!!!

Dog-gone it!

RM15,000 for dog catching

I wonder who came up with this rather ludicrous idea. Especially when financial rewards are in the picture, human cruelty may know no bounds. Who or what else will be safe in the future?

Can we organise a contest like this to catch the ever-increasing Mat Rempits or those involved in misuse or misappropriate public funds? I think that would be more worthwhile!

Under fire

Seems that our Transport minister has been under the kosh lately, and stress has been getting to him. Now he is on medical leave! Or is it to escape the scrutiny that is piled on the Port Klang Free Zone fiasco/scandal/bailout? Only he knows.

And speaking of medical leave, don't our politicians trust our local doctors? Is he suffering from something so rare that our doctors are helpless? They don't need to shamelessly spend tax-payers' funds to go for medical consultation out of this country...unless it comes out from their own pockets!

I really think there is more to it than meets the eye...