31 December, 2009

Happy New Year

The year 2009 almost come to an end and there are a lot of interesting events that were happening in the year 2009.

Luckily there are no major untoward events occurs throughout the year.

Looking forward to the year 2010 and wishing happy new year to everyone.

Hopefully, the year 2010 will bring peace and tranquility to all nations of the world.

New Four-Car Train for Kelana Jaya Line

LRT Station Queues

One of the LRT stations along the Kelana Jaya Line


Kelana Jaya Line LRT now have new four-car trains as opposed to two-car train previously.

The four-car train has a capacity of 800 passengers.

The train is the newest version of Bombardier Transportation’s Advanced Rapid Transit Mark II driver-less trains, which are designed in Canada.

The new set of trains will ease passenger congestion using the facilities especially during peak hour.

However, the effectiveness of the new trains to reduce congestion still depend on the frequency of the train plying the kelana Jaya Line.

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With the increase in the capacity of each train and adjusting the appropriate frequency of the train will definitely solve the overcrowded passengers problem as in the past.

According to this report, 35 four-car train had been ordered and the deliveries of all the train will be completed until the year 2011.

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The two-car train of the Kelana Jaya Line.


Don't Blindly Follow GPS Direction

This news headline is the result of over dependence on technology.

This is a classic story of an elderly couple faithfully follow the GPS shortcut and eventually get stranded.

The news headlines blamed the incidence on the aging GPS technology and the custodian of the GPS provider, the Air Force Space Command, vehemently defended their state of the art technology. Instead the GPS provider suggests that the GPS devices, such as Garmin,  that the elderly couple were using that might not be functioning properly.

In case that you are using one of the GPS devices, make sure that you input the destination correctly and along the way make sure that you cross check the suggested route with the physical landmarks along side the roads.

That make me think of getting one of those Garmin GPS devices as a route navigational system. I think the benefits of having such a device is more than the chances of getting stranded as a result of using the devices.

Another case of blindly following GPS direction is happening HERE in Portland, Oregon.

28 December, 2009

Ready to Quit Smoking!


Thinking about quitting smoking! Better now than later since cigarette prices will go up again early next year.

What amazed me is that despite all of the sin taxes, the price increase, cigarette smoking is still getting popular and the effort to quit smoking seemed to be not popular among heavy smokers.

I bet smokers have their own reason for not quitting smoking despite all of the hurdles thrown in front of them. Eventually, due to its high price, smoking can be an elite culture and even worst can become another underworld culture similar to those of illegal drugs.

As for myself, I have my own reason for not smoking until now.

26 December, 2009

Another Case of Fatal Bus Accident

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Should there be an accident, especially if it is involving bus, every time there is a festive season.

According to the Star, ten passengers died while two were injured, one seriously, after a double-decker Sani Express coach skidded and hit a road divider at KM272.8 North-South Highway heading north eight kilometres from the Ipoh Selatan toll plaza at 1 am Saturday.


Based on the report, all of the fatalities involved only those who had been seated on the lower deck of the bus.

The two drivers and 36 other passengers were unhurt.

According to the report, the bus skidded onto the road barrier to the left and veered to the divider on the right before coming to a halt.

The metal barriers on the left of the road had pierced through the bus causes the fatality and also injuries.

Such accident could had been prevented if the driver stays alert throughout the journey and also if the metal divider along side of the road is designed and built properly.

Condolences to all of the relatives of the victims in this accident.

Note: Picture above is just for illustrative purposes only.

24 December, 2009

Confused!


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Originally uploaded by wanhashim
Signages are used to guide or inform drivers while they are on the road.

However, some of the signages are placed wrongly and causing confusion.

Especially, when you are in the middle of looking for a space to park your car.

In the picture above, the signages are so confusing.

Two arrows (showing the direction to park your car) pointing in the opposite direction plus a signage for no parking zone and a cone.

They could have use other mean to indicate that the parking spaces is currently closed.

20 December, 2009

How Much You Have to Pay for Data

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This mishap can happen just to anybody if the cellphone operators just keeping quiet about it.

As reported, a 13-year-old teen from Hayward, California downloaded about 1.4 million kilobytes of data last month and slapped with a cell phone bill of mearly USD22,000.

The problem started after his father adding his son to his plan and he wasn't expect that the bill will be that much.

Usually, anybody can use their cellphone to download anything from the internet without knowing how much the amount of data that they had downloaded. Even if they knew the amount of data downloaded, they will not know the amount of money incurred. The cost of the downloading activities only can be known after receiving the bill a month later.

The exorbant charges can be reduced usually by subscribing to the unlimited data plan. However, the plan is only valid for each individual phone number. By adding additional number to the family plan will need to have additional subscription to the unlimited data plan.

Another approach is to have the cellphone operator putting a limit to the amount of data that can be downloaded each month. The limit can be imposed by requesting customers to specify the maximum amount of money that they are will to pay each month. By doing so, the customers will have a peace of mind without worrying about the amount of data charges incurred next month.

19 December, 2009

Another Effort to Reduce the Digital Divide

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According to Star, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will build more communication towers in Sarawak to ensure more rural people get connected to the Internet.

Thank you to MCMC for trying to closing the digital divide even further especially in this part of the world. Hopefully, the effort to increase the usage of ICT among the rural users will be beneficial to all. The most important aspect of the ICT is to open up the users to online advantages especially in the aspect of education.

According to the news, the MCMC will build 257 more towers from next year to 2013 to provide for wider coverage.

So far they have built more than 400 towers state-wide under the broadband and community broadband centre initiatives.

KLIA'S First


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Originally uploaded by wanhashim

Wondering why I shot this picture?

This picture was taken at the KLIA Airport. If you notice the picture is about men and ladies room.

It has been a standard sign to have a picture of men or lady to indicate the respective room.

What I found only in KLIA is a unique colour stripe at the entrance of the respective room. For ladies room, the colour is pink, whereas for men's room, the colour is grey.

If you ever encountered this unique colouring system somewhere else please let me know and chip in your comment below. Otherwise this is what I called KLIA's first since the colouring system is only available at KLIA, so far.

Just wondering why the room need to be differentiated using the unique colouring system as if the standard sign of men and lady is not enough. If you have any ideas on the reason for the colouring system please writes in the comment below.

Otherwise the only reason why the need to have the colouring system that I can think of now is that if anybody due to the urgency beyond his or her control just don't have time to look for the right sign, at least he or she will have time to notice the differences in the colour stripe at the entrance (only if they are not colour blind) so that they will not end up in the wrong room at the wrong time.

18 December, 2009

Pharmacy Fest

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Specialist Clinic Pharmacy of the Kuching Hospital has launched Pharmacy Fest recently. As shown above, the usual way of getting prescriptions is by visiting the pharmacy during the designated hours. The waiting time to get the prescription varies depending on the number of subscriptions being processed at any one time.

In order to provide alternatives to users, the pharmacy had launched the Pharmacy Fest which allows users to collect prescriptions without hassle. The subscription can be ordered in advanced (minimum of three days) through fax, sms, email or telephone. After three days, the prescription can be collected immediately without having to wait for a long time at the counters. The detail of the pharmacy fest is as shown below.

Personally, I would like to congratulate the management of the pharmacy for having such forward thinking in order to reduce the burden of users.

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Another Historical Gold for Malaysia

After 20 years of waiting, finally Malaysia bags another gold in the SEA Games men's football competition after defeating Vietnam 1-0 in the final played at the Main Stadium of the National Sports Complex in Vientiane on Thursday.


Malaysia last won the football gold in the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games in 1989, with a 1-0 victory over Singapore.

Congratulations to the team and we are proud of you.

14 December, 2009

Malaysia's Team Lotus F1


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Originally uploaded by mybigbro

According to the Star, Malaysia’s Team Lotus F1 has named Jarno Trulli (Italian) and Heikki Kovalainen (Finland) as its drivers for its debut in Formula One next year.

The third driver, or shall I say backup driver is Fairuz Fauzy (Malaysian). May be Fairuz can be the number two drivers after several races in the future.


Congratulations to Malaysia's Team Lotus F1.

Or may be it is still too early to congratulate the Team. Wait for next near, hopefully the team can perform very well in the Formula One.

Congratulations

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Congratulation to Azim and his bride for their weddings.




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Congratulations to Rosmanizam and his bride for their wedding.

I am wondering why both of the brides eyes were closed when the pictures were taken.


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Location of the wedding ceremony for Rosmanizam, located in Batu Kawa.

13 December, 2009

My Next Strategy

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This article in a blog motivates me further to continue jogging and brisk walking more frequently. According to the article, how healthy we are depending on how much physical activity we get as we aged.

So my next strategy is to maintain regular jogging or brisk walking and for each session will ensure that it will last not less that 45 minutes.

12 December, 2009

Another Fury Mishap

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Picture above is for illustrative purposes only and nothing to do with the following incident.

If your house is located just a few feet from roadside, do you ever wondering about runaway cars or worst runaway oil tanker hitting your house?

Or, Do you wish that oil tankers or any hazardous goods vehicles should use specially dedicated hazardous goods route (if any) to transport their goods?

Well, the nightmare of a house located beside a road comes true based on the following tragic news.

In the News (courtesy of Star): Three people, including two siblings, were burnt to death when an oil tanker exploded after crashing into a house at Kampung Ulu Klawang, Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan on Saturday.

The tanker, due to faulty brake, lost control of the wheel causing it to skid and crash into the house located beside the road.

The tanker overturned and caught fire killing its driver and two siblings whose bodies were found in the burning house. The siblings were believed to have been asleep when the accident occurred.

The lorry exploded two or three times and firemen took about one and half hour to douse the flame.

What do you think about this tragic accident? Is it the fault of the drivers or it just happen that the house is located besides the road.

06 December, 2009

Travelling Via Low Cost Carrier Terminal

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Upon arriving at LCCT (Low Cost Carrier Terminal) in Sepang, there are several transport alternatives to go to Kuala Lumpur. There are several express bus services carrying passengers directly to Kuala Lumpur and other destinations.

However, in this posting I would like to share my experience using a newly (just within several months of service) introduced KL Transit Service at the LCCT. Upon arriving at the LCCT arrival terminal, you will only notice that there are counters for express bus services and taxi service.

For KL Transit service, there is only a banner informing passengers to proceed to Bay 6. As a first timer, I am not sure what Bay 6 mean and where it is located. They should provide more information to passengers regarding the availability of bus services for KL Transit Service. The picture above shows the bus at the Bay 6. Even at the Bay 6, there is no information on how to use the bus service. I just try my luck to board the bus since there is no driver or bus attendant within sight.

Learn more about KL Transit Service HERE.
The bus departed at designated time and it is very reliable (always on time). From LCCT Bay 6, the bus travelled to Salak Tinggi KL Transit station. Upon arriving at the Salak Tinggi Transit Station, I wasn't sure on how to pay for the service. I asked the driver whether I should pay him for a ticket. He asked me to proceed to ticket counter at the Salak Tinggi KL Transit Station to pay for the ticket.

I asked the ticket counter whether I can pay for the bus ticket only. The answer is positively "NO". By using the bus service, the passenger has to pay RM 12.50 (the price is inclusive of the bus service and KL transit) and the next destination is Kuala Lumpur Sentral. Well, considering the reliability of the KL Transit Service and the speed of the Train, the fare is reasonable.

I think they should improve on the passenger information system so that more passengers can use their service.

The picture below shows the bus waiting at the Salak Tinggi KL Transit Station.

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05 December, 2009

Stretch of Roads To be Avoided During Downpour in Kuala Lumpur

According to this report, during heavy downpour, there are several stretches of roads in Kuala Lumpur that first to experience flooding and should be avoided.

A stretch of the Kuala Lumpur-Seremban Expressway (only during really heavy downpur lasting several hours), Jalan Pudu, Jalan Chan Sow Lin, the Federal Highway and several locations in Wangsa Maju.

02 December, 2009

No Sugar, Please!

The Government is mulling the idea of abolishing the sugar subsidy. According to this report, the price of sugar will increase by almost 70%.

The reason for abolishing the subsidy is to promote healthy living to all citizens and at the same time will save the Government more than RM700 million.

The effect of  abolishing the subsidy:

  • May be people will reduce sugar intake.
  • If they insist on taking sugar, they have to pay high price for the sugar.
  • Skyrocketing all items that are related to sugar such as cakes, beverages, etc.which will increase inflation.
  • Increase in sugar smuggling activities. Previously from Malaysia to other countries. Now with the increase in the price will icrease smuggling activities of sugar from other countries into Malaysia.
  • Immediate shortage of sugar in the market because most of the suppliers did not want to sell the sugar because they are waiting for the increase in the sugar price to reap more profit.
  • Immediate shortage of sugar also due to consumers started to get panic and they are purchasing sugar in large quantities.

As of me, all this while I prefer to drink black coffee without sugar.

However, I still require some cakes or cookies to come with the coffee. By then, the price of those sweet items will be beyong imagination.

Sri Aman Waterfront


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View of the almost completed waterfront in Sri Aman, Sarawak. The waterfront is on the riverbank of the Batang Lupar River which is famous for its tidal bore.

Once completed, the waterfront will serve several purposes.
  • One is to strengthen the riverbank from further erosion.
  • Another is to beautify the riverbank.
  • Third is to allow people to view the tidal bore phenomena closely at the waterfront.
  • The last use of the waterfront is as venue for the annual boat race held in Sri Aman.
  • Of course, there will be a lot of other uses of the waterfront and if you have a good idea please feel free to chip in the comment below.
Picture below shows the almost completed waterfront along the river bank of the Sg. Batang Lupar.

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