Monday, June 30, 2008

Impacts of Petrol Price Hike ( 2 )

A
A
A

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A
My Words:
Hey this is not really a joke! I experienced this one upon my part time at Petronas Station. Of course that liar driver is not me, but I'm the idiot who has been cheated! : (
a
Here is the story: The liar van driver order Super for a full tank. When the fuel price on the display screen ran almost to RM50 plus, he instructed me to stop filling the fuel immediately and asked me why I fill Super but not Diesel? He also asked me that, you don't know how to listen & differentiate the engine's sound? He even claimed that by just listen to the engine's sound I should know this van is using which type of fuel (Super or Diesel)! [ Can we? I'm not really so and I'm wonder if an experienced mechanic able to do this? ]
a
He later called a towing service company to pull his car to the nearest workshop, and said that he will come back soon with the receipts, as I will need to pay all the service and maintenance charges for him......of course, at the last, he never turn up with the receipts......My colleague (a female) saw him had lunch alone at a "KopiTiam" with the van parked infront the Cafe...anyway the tow truck is not in the scene!
a
Do you know how to differentiate a petrol car from a diesel car? Well, as I know, the engine of a petrol car needs a "spark plug" to ignite the combustion of the fuel (petrol), while a diesel car needs none ( this is the only different I knew so far ). You must know this if you are a car thief, or else you will never can drive far if the car that you have stold is out of fuel as you don't know if petrol or diesel to fill the tank?
a
a

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Thursday, June 19, 2008

We Love to Hear Nice Words

"Boleh ambil saya 1 kotak Dunhill?" Err...anything wrong? Why the casher who with smiling face few seconds ago suddently shows us the "white eye" (白眼), and reply us loudly cum rudely: "讲清楚一点, 要大的, 中的, 还是小的?" What would be your first reaction & what is the first premonition comes across your mind? "Wow, he or she has attended Chinese education!" or "Oop...is he or she a Chinese?".
a

a
The language used in a communication most time is depend on which ethnic group we are dealing with, such as if we meet with a Malay, India or other Bumiputra group ( Iban, Bidayuh, Kadazan, Bajau and etc) , normally Malay language would be the first choice, and English is an alternative; or if the other party is a Chinese, of course Mandarin would be the first choice, English is an alternative. We have no doubt on the language to use if we can exactly know a person is from which ethnic group. [ Of course sometime the occasion or environment plays an important role in determine the language to be used ]
a
However, we may sometime uncertain if a person who we wanna talk to is from which ethnic group, especially if the judgement is between the Chinese, Malay or Bumiputra. As one person can has 50% Chinese look + 50% Malay (or Bumiputra) look, so if you encounter such situation, what would you do? Or which language will you use to begin a conversation? [ Of course you will never have such worry if you are a non-Chinese, so just assume that you are a Chinese ]

a
a
Experiences tell me that, whenever you come across a person with 50% Chinese look + 50% Malay (Bumiputra) look, it would be better that you just speak Mandarin to him or her. Very unlikely you may provoke an unsatisfactory reaction or spoil his or her mood, despite he or she is a non-Chinese. Instead he or she probably will tell us politely "Sorry, saya bukan Chinese" (Sorry, I'm not a Chinese) or "Saya sik faham Mandarin!" (I don't understand the Mandarin).
a
Of course you may speak English to start a conversation, but beware you may offend those Chinese who love the mother language "Mandarin" like crazy and being scolded for being a "banana" man too...Please try not to use Malay language to start a conversation as well, as there are so many "racist" Chinese out there who are so offensive & unhappy when you judge them as a Malay or Bumiputra, it would be quite awkwardness too!
a
Then how about you? How is your feeling if a Chinese guy or girl speaks Malay to you?
a
a

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

What I Say Not What You Think

While hanging in Boulevard Hypermarket, I & Fern noticed that there were people crowd at a corner. So we walked toward that corner to find out what is happening? Well, the said corner which surrounded with people crowd is actually a promotional stall by Ladyship (贵夫人). There were 2-3 promoters doing the Ladyship's products demonstration; one of the products being demonstrated is multi-function Ladyship Extractor, which you can depend on it to produce you high fiber fruit & vegetable juices, vegetable soup stock, ice-blended beverages, rice paste and dairy mixture.
a

Ladyshop Essence Extractor

The photo above showing one of the promoter is having the extractor demontration infront the people crowd. He blends various kind of fruit & vegetable juices (e.g tomato, bitter, orange, coffee, apple juice and etc) for public tasting purpose. Suddently I found some one is listening the promoter's explantion with serious look (full attention). He tried all the juices blended. Please stare on the photo above carefully, have you notice something interesting?

Okie, is fine if you failed to or can't find it, as I knew that the photo taken with my Olympus Digicam has low resolution. Look at the photo above again, I have circled a guy's head with a red circle. Can you see his face clearly?

I have enlarged the image, perhaps you can see his face now? Can you? Do you know who is he? Does his face look familiar or strange to you? When I point my finger to this guy, Fern was shocked! She asked that isn't he the blogger celebrity, Kenny Sia? Err...well myself also uncertain, I can't tell if he is Kenny Sia or not, the face look alike. Anyway, I guess he is not, as I believe Kenny Sia who claimed that his camera never be obedience to the rules should always has a camera with him regardless of the "whenever" or "wherever"! Don't know who is Kenny Sia? Here he is......


a

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Don't Subsidise Fuel, Don't Tax Cars

Yesterday I received an email from my eldest brother. It was an article (news paper cutting) with the title "Don't Subsidise Fuel, Don't Tax Cars" by Jimmy Wah (Bayan Lepas, Penang). Jimmy wrote this article to voice out his opinions (unsatisfactory) on the Dzof Azmi's arguement in "Fueling Trouble with Petrol Subsidises"!
a
a
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
a
My Words:
a
Quote from Dzof Azmi: ......In fact, petrol in Malaysia is cheaper than in Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam. (The only country in the region where it is less expensive is Brunei, where it’s at just above RM1 per litre.) Still think it’s expensive? Consider this: Crude oil is currently priced at more than US$100 (RM322) per barrel. Now, you can calculate how much this would cost per litre in RM. Go ahead, do it......
Why gov & BN supporters like to use this comparison to fool the "rakyat"? No doubt that "rakyat" will never be so offensive & willing to accept the fuel price even if it is RM4 (or more) per litre if Brunei is the only country that produce the petroleum in the region. Yet Brunei is not only has cheapest fuel price, but car tax free; other countries in the region have cheaper car tax too . So how gov is going to explain this? Well, obviously they will say that the car tax imposed on the foreign cars is to protect the national cars' local market. The sad is with the fuel price hike, the market & sale of the national cars will shrinken too......
a
One thing that I still so confuse & curious about is when the global crude oil price is keep increasing, why Malaysia as a crude oil producer & exporter feel so worry? Isn't the Petronas can make more profits from the exportation of the crude oil? During the blog hopping, whenever I saw the post(s) related to the issue of "fuel price hike", I'll left a similiar comment sound like "Gov exports the local good quality fuel to the foreign countries to make profits, imports the low quality fuel from the foreign countries for local usage, to pollute the air & to harm the local people health. When global crude oil price increased, gov makes more profits from the exportation that only benefit certain parties; the costs increased from the importation to share fairly among all the "rakyat"...".
a
Anyway the above is my own statement & opinion, I don't know if the thing is really goes this way or whatever --- the fact is, even though Pak Lah has announced that follow the fuel price hike, to reduce the burden of the so called "rakyat", they can claim the cash rebate (e.g vehicle below 2000cc, RM625) upon road tax renewal at Pos Office. However, this "political candy" seem haven't yet to calm down "rakyat's" fury emotion; they keep criticizing on the gov's decision to increase the fuel price, some more gov may float the fuel price accorden the global market & may remove the petrol subsidise in coming Aug 08. [ I'm sure some of the "rakyat" still feel comfortable with the "fuel price hike", as they think that this is the best BN has did for them! ] --- Tomorrow Be A Better Day, Cheers!!!
a
a

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Predictions of Jucelino Nobrega da Luz

I have read an article in Si Hua Jit Poh last few days, it was about a Brazil predictor born in 1960, named Jucelino Nobrega da Luz. He claimed that he owned the supernatural power in the prediction since he was 9 years old. He can write, read & communicate in Portuguese (his mother language), English, German, Polish and etc, and what amazing is that he learnt those language in the dreams!
a
Majority of his predictions are made in his dreams. The predictions that he ever made in the past are death of Princess Diana on 31 Aug 97, the World Trade Center attacks on 11 Sept 01 (predicted in 1989), the Bandar Ache Tsunami on 26 Dec 04 (predicted in 1997) and etc.

a
a
Below are part the Jucelino's predictions:
a
Year 2008
~ Effective medicine for HIV & dengue treatment will be in market within year 2008
~ Earthquake (Magnitude 8.1) in Philippine (18 July)
~ Earthquake (M 9.1) in NanNing & NanHai Island of China, which may cause a tsunami of 30M high. (13 Sept)
a
Year 2009
~ Earthquake (M 8.9) in Osaka & Kobe, Jepang of Japan (25 Jan)
~ Earthquake (M 8.9) in Istanbul, Turkey (24 Aug)
~ Earthquake (M 7.8) in Sumatra, Indonesia (16 Dec)
a
Year 2013
~ Big achievement in treatment of cancer or tumour.
~ Existence of a new virus which called "ALS", which may cause human lose their immunity & can die within 4 hours of infection
~ 7300 million people die from the bird flue (virus H5N1)
~ Volcano explosion in Bahamas Island (nearby the Caribbean Sea) lead to the happen of an earthquake which may cause a tsunami of 150M high.
a
Year 2010 to 2043
~ The temperature of the few countries in Africa may reach up to 58 degree Celsius, which cause a serious dry season. (2010)
~ New virus species (called "ALS") found which can cause human lose their immunity & can die within 4 hours of infection (2011)
~ The Farm fires during the dry season has spread widely causing the phenomena of desertation, and between 2015 to 2020, the amazon forests will disappeared. (2012)
~ A small planet called "2002ZNT7" which has been confirmed by NASA on 31 June 2002 (Jucelino has informed the NASA the exist of a small planet in year 2000) will crash with the earth in year 2014 (60% of possibility).
~ The worldwide average temperature will reach 59 degree Celsius and many people will die from the heat (2015)
~ 80% of the human population death in the huge disasters in year 2043.
a
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
a
My Words:
I'm sure all of us don't want to see the incidents or disasters above to happen in the future as predicted by JNL, but most time they are out of our control & unavoidable. Perhaps what human can do at the moment is just to delay the happen of such incidents or disasters, although no one can guaranty it will 100% works, at least we must do some prevention works & try the best to reduce the casualty & the lose in the disasters.
a
Some said that once the nature disasters like earthquake, tsunami, cyclone and etc happen, it may indicates that the mother earth is angrying & "She" need more care & love from us human being; or it may be a signal or warning from the universe to us human, that we must reduce or stop any activities which can cause harms the mother earth or it may be a sign of the coming of "the end of the world"......
a
Lastly, have you hear about him, Jucelino Nobrega de Luz, in short JNL before? Do you believe in his predictions? What all these things mean to you? The end of the world?
a
a

Friday, June 6, 2008

Stress Over The Money

I'm wondering why lately I feel that the "Money" suppress me hard & harder till I can't breath smoothly! Do I gain more & more money now-a-day which make it heavier & heavier? No, I don't! My income still remain the same and my money get lesser & lesser day by day instead...then why I have that feeling? I'm stress over the money I guess?!! ~ Sigh ~
a
a
The price of the rice has just been revised not long ago in June 08 and the increment is almost 70-100%. Well, so far I found that most blogger only blog on the "Petrol Price Hike", only few blogger found to blog on the "Rice Price Hike". Huh? why no one voice out their complain? Hmm, I'm wondering of most Malaysian do not eat rice or have their meal(s) without rice now a day? I have no idea, maybe only the rice price in Sarawak has been increased or Malaysians concern more on petrol than rice? Anyway it was a big shock for those who eat rice as a main staple. Most of the Miri citizen went to the supermarket & hypermarket to shop for the rice as many as they could crazily last few days, until the related authority has announced that each consumer is only allowed to buy the max of 2 packs of rice per purchase yesterday in the press.
a
a
Petrol price hike! Pak Lah has announced that the petrol price is revised from RM1.91 to RM2.70 with effect 5 June 08, which increased by RM0.78 or 41%. This was the 2nd big shock to all Malaysians who owned a bike or vehicle or more! Pak Lah also announced that government is going to float the fuel price in accordance with the global market price in August 08, is it a good news or bad news? Well with this tactics the petrol price can be rised up to RM4 or above according to the news! Now all people claimed that we are affordable to buy a car, but unaffordable to buy the petrol to "feed" the it. So what should we do? Buy a bicycle and use the bus "No 11" for short distance traveling? ( I will suggest my boss can float my salary accordance with the global market too, with the min RM2,000 and no max limit ... just kidding! )
a
[ Are you also in the long Q to fill your car's tank before the petrol price "climb" up to RM2.70 after 4/6 midnight? Honestly I did, I'm in the long Q for 1 hour (22:45 - 23:45P.M) ! Anyway I'm there to take the closest photo on the scene in Shell Petrol Station for blogging purpose at the beginning, not to fill the tank. Since I have been in the Q for almost 15 minutes, Fern suggests me just fill the tank even though still full. So at the end as estimated, only RM13.50 of petrol pump into the tank. ]
a
a
Have you do a health screening or blood tests before? Do you believe in "Laboratory Testing Price Hike"? For your information, my company (private healthcare group) has just launched its new price list (which will take effect on 1 June 08) end of May 08, so all marketing staffs (of course include myself) are urged by the management to inform the clinics under the coverage within 31 May. I'm shocked when go through the new price list thoroughly, the price of the lab tests are increased by 20% to more than 100%! OMG, how should I expect GP doctors and customers willing to accept this "surprise" if myself still not ready for the change?
a
Luckily, I'm always being so lucky, Miri GP doctors listen my explanations calmly with good understanding; Unlike other marketing staffs who got shoot or bomb by GP doctors. Anyway, doctors always have more then one choice, there are many other laboratories that providing the same services, e.g Gribbles, Pathlab and etc, which recently still selling the lab tests at cheap old rate. Of course my company have an advantage against the other local labs, by which our group is accredidated with ISO15189 (which recognize internationally) by Department of Standard Malaysia, this is the strong point to gain doctors' continuous support.
a
The problem is that we are not the ONLY one, Gribbles also accredidated with ISO15189. These are the only two labs accredidated with ISO15189 in full scopes (Chemical Pathology, Cytophatology, Histopathology, Hematology, Medical Microbiology, and Virology) in Malaysia so far. The existence of single potential competitor like Gribbles is enough to cause me an serious headache. I'm so tension now, as I'm sure my monthly lab sale performance will drop dramatically in the recent month, next month & onward if other labs still remain unchanged in their pricing. Will I lose my career soon?
a
You know what? Today I heard people said that the cooking oil will rise in the price too by tomorrow, by 50% increment. I have visited few supermarkets to observe the condition after work, well terrible...only few bottles of cooking oil remain on the racks! Some said that they have called Miri Domestic Trade & Consumer Affairs Department (DTCA, 美里贸消部) for clarification and DTCA has denied on the price increment in the cooking oil. So is it just a hearsay or a truth?
a
Perhaps you know why am I stress over the money now, because of I'm having the "Vitamin-M malabsorption" disorder. The main symptoms of the disorder are:
1. complaining of money no enough all the time
2. weak immunity to against the rised in daily expenditures
3. phobia to the price hike in all aspects
a
Vitamin-M insufficiency reminds me on the "M-Shaped Society" (M型社會) too, which is an observation put forward by the Japanese business strategist and writer Kenichi Ohmae. According to this theory, only 2 societies exist: the "Rich Society" who comprised of 10% rich men who monopolized the 90% of the worldwide wealth and the "Poor Society" who comprised of 90% of the poor men who shared the another remaining 10% of the worldwide wealth (The "Intermediate Society" has extincted! ) The economic & social gaps among these 2 societies becomes greater & greater over the time. So which society are you in?
a
a

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Should I Say "YES" or "NO"?

When having lunch with Fern at "2020 cafe" at Pelita Commerce Centre, a guy with a plastic bag of "cj7" key-chains walked toward our table. He shows me a file which kept with lots of the photos of the "disabled childrens" and their activities. He hopes that we can make some donation to help those "disabled childrens" by buying one or more key-chain(s) at RM10 each, the profits made will be fully donated to the related charity body.
a
I have said a "NO" to him last Saturday, whilst I had my dinner with Fern at "Sea World Restaurant", Miri Water Front. I recoginize his face very well, but he seem remember me anymore or else he won't approach me again today. I'm so sorry that I have to say "NO" to him again this afternoon. Anyway, it doen't mean that I don't wish to help or do a merit......

a
a
I refuse to help because of I have read & heard lots of negative news or reports on how a cheater or lier imitating as a social worker, "lama" or Buddhist monk with a fake acknowledgement letter with the official stamp & signature of a local authority which can be looked so real; they appear at everywhere at anytime to ask for donation, said that with the purpose to raise fund for charity, social works or welfare and etc, which actually those money gained were all go into their own pocket instead.
a
These group of "rubbish" have make public more aware of the current affairs & guard against themselve from being cheated by the illegal bodies; they choose not to believe any individual who claimed that he or she is a representative from certain welfare organizations, even though sometime is might be true. Just like the guy above, who know he is really work for "disabled childrens" welfare?
a
So I prefer make a donation through a charity organization that I familiar of, such as the Tzu Chi Buddhist Merit Society (慈濟). I just sign up as a member last week with this society, with donation of RM10 each month. Between I have donated RM50 each for SiChuan earthquake (China) & Myanmar's cyclone.
a
For those who wish to donate the fund to support the victims of Sichuan earthquake & Myanmar's Cyclone, can just head on the buttons or links provided at the sidebar of my blog. You can donate via either Mercy, MRCS, Tzuchi or Sin Chew. Your little contribution can help to light up their life & bring them more love, care & happiness. May you be well & happy too. Cheers!!!
a
a