The Damage Had Already Been Done

Gov't set to announce fuel price cut

Aug 1, 08 2:07pm (www.malaysiakini.com)

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today said the government was set to announce a cut in fuel prices, following a 41-percent hike in June that stirred protests.

Good to hear that, but it was meaningless. The damage had already been done. Costing of living had already shot up. Even though the government cut the fuel price, I doubt it can be restored back to the previous level.

Government has cut down their projects; private companies has changed their bearing from expansion mode to survival mode; inflation rate has rocketed to 7.7% (which I still believe the real life figure is much higher); job market looks shaky and consumer's spending is dropping (Generally a restaurant business dropped 20%-30% after the fuel price increase).

There is an old chinese saying: "If you know that this is the consequence, why you want to do it in the first place?" I don't believe none of the economist/expert warned the government before they announced the 78 cents fuel price increase. Why? Why do this at the expense of the general public?

Sue The Public Smokers

Was having breakfast with my wife and son at a restaurant this morning. It's NOT a non-smoking restaurant. Unfortunately we were seated beside a table full of male smokers. It destroyed our "breakfast mode", and we left as soon as we finished our food, of course inhaled a lots of "complementary" passive smokes.

According to tons of research conducted, smoking is the greatest risk factor for cancer. Read the article by Cancer Research UK here. Passive smoking has the same or even greater risk. Read the extract of the BMJ article here.

Though we are only exposed to the passive smokes for that few minutes, but no doubt we were mentally stressed, and left with some damage lung cells.

Some time one day, when I have the resource, I will bring these public smokers to court for attempt to cause injury/sickness to other. Or bring the restaurant owner to court for negligence for not taking care the interest of non-smokers, when the restaurant is not designated as "smoking only" or "non-smoking" restaurant.

Public Reserved Land or Private Reserved Land?

In KL/PJ city, every inch of land is so precious that lot of people are trying to take advantage to gain extra inches of public land for private use.

This is original backyard view as built by the developer, a 10 feet buffer zone between the backyard with the road shoulder.


This is what had been extended by the house owner. The plants are cleared, and are replaced with a piece of concrete wall:


Is this legal? Can these house owners claim ownership of the 10 feet buffer zone land?

Better Public Transport for KL?

KL folks promised better public transport
Fauwaz Abdul Aziz | Jul 11, 08 6:25pm
Commuters in Kuala Lumpur have been assured of improvements in infrastructure and public transportation in line with the overall increase in transport costs.

As long as KL Monorail Stesen KL Sentral still remained in Brickfield, and not inside Stesen Sentral KL building, I doubt all the promises and plans.

By its name, public transport is meant for the use of the public, and not the local council, government or the operating company. Public interest should be put as the first priority in any public transport plan.

I used the KL Monorail to connect to Putra LRT at KL Sentral once. After that experience, I concluded that driving is still the better alternative to travel in KL, despite the traffic jams, occasional floods, and the recent petrol price hike.

News? Or Advertisement?

8pm is the prime time slot for news. For mandarin news viewers, you can choose either RTM2 or 8tv. 8tv definitely has the better newscasters and production crews. Their newscasters are fluent in delivering the message, and the messages are short and clear.

As opposed, though after the "rebranding" exercise, the only significant change I see in RTM2 Mandarin news is the recruitment of a batch of young and energetic newscasters. Technical glitches are still so frequent, volume is like yoyo, loud and soft and loud and soft, till you get intimidated. When there is a technical glitch, the newscaster will look stunned, and dunno what to do next.

If you think 8tv Mandarin news is good, not really. Watching 8tv Mandarin news is like watching advertisement. There are far too much advertisements in that half an hour slot. Often I felt I am not watching the news, but being brainwashed by certain advertisers. The negative effect is, I never buy that particular brand of product. Sorry, dear advertiser. You get what you deserved.

There are more important things to do!!

There are more important things for our leaders to do rather than just focusing on the Sri Damansara (S.D.) Kolomee.

- Inflation is at all time high, and we will see recession if nothing is being done.
- Crime rate is rocketing, you don't feel safe wherever you go.
- Dengue cases in Selangor are rising fast. Even if you choose to stay home to avoid being a crime victim, you might end up a dengue victim.
- ...

Come on! Let's do something for this country!

City Life? City Behaviour?

For those who are/were part of your RA committee, you will definite agree with me with the following human behaviors in a city community:

1. When you ring the door bell, whether to collect security fees, or to give away goodies, people inside the house will look out suspiciously, or send their maid to handle you. Or the best is still they will freeze themselves in the living hall, pretending that no one is at home.

2. If you are organizing a community event, and the event is a festive celebration event or makan event, the participation rate will be over whelming. But when it's a gotong royong event, ha.. ha ..

3. Still on gotong royong, not many people would want to dirty their hands to clean up the community, but won't mind dirty their hands for the free food. The best is still there are shameless people who just come for the food.