Merdeka Day and The Kopi O Kings

What a day to celebrate Merdeka Day. I was on my way back from my parents' place when I was signalled by a Kopi O King on motorcycle to stop by the side of the road. I asked him what the problem was and he said I beat the red light which I did not. The light turned orange when I have passed it. So he came down and asked me whether I had anything to say before he summoned me. I said nothing, knowing very well what he wanted. So he gave me the summon and said I had 3 months to appeal before having to appear in Court and all that normal crap blah blah blah! In my heart I was swearing at that fat bastard. Really spoiled my day!

Li 42B Battery and Walkie Talkie

I wanted to get a Walkie Talkie and an extra battery for my Olympus camera for the upcoming trip to Hong Kong. I surfed the Net for the walkie talkie and found a few options but I have to pay postage of RM30 for delivery in two weeks or RM50 for delivery in 6-9 days. I was quite skeptical about the offers where the sellers were mostly from Singapore. Moreover I could not view the products before buying and so we landed ourselves in Low Yat Plaza ("LYP"). As I have never been to LYP, I thought I was in LYP when the building I was in was actually Imbi Plaza. Luckily Sue Ching embarassingly asked a shop owner whether we were in LYP. The shop owner said LYP was behind. Malulah!

When we were in LYP, I was quite shocked to see so many people bargaining over computers, cameras, handphones, iPod and iPhones. I have never been to a mall with so many computer, camera and handphone shops before. It was so crowded and it was difficult manuvering ourselves around what more with two kids tagging along. Search the whole place for walkie talkies but only found two shops and one of the shop owners were quite honest when I told them I was looking for walkie talkies which don't cost much, RM200 - RM300, which can transmit signal in the range of 4-5 km. She said actually the 4-5km only works in an open area or out in the open sea with nothing blocking or else these walkie talkies only works within 2 floors of a building. So I decided against the walkie talkies. In the end I only bought the original Olympus battery for RM119 from the Olympus booth after scouting around with offers from RM150-RM190. I Didn't want to take the risk with the compatible ones which were going for RM80.

Service Tax

RO was asking me the other day whether a car workshop is licensed to charge service tax and upon doing some research, the answer was yes. Provision of general servicing, engine repairs and tuning, changing, adjusting and fixing of parts, wheel balancing, wheel alignment or body repairs including knocking, welding or repainting of motor vehicles all are taxable services.


Then yesterday I stumbled upon an article in the STAR regarding restaurants charging service tax. The following is an extract from the article:


"From July 1, only 435 restaurants nationwide have the licence to collect the service tax. A total of 4,800 outlets had to surrender the licence as they were no longer eligible to make the collection following the Government's decision to increase the sales threshold level from RM500,000 to RM3 mil a year."


To read further click Kastam Diraja Malaysia . For a Adobe copy of restaurants still licensed click here. To complain e-mail to cd@customs.gov.my or kastam@customs.gov.my .

KL Tower

The pictures below were taken at KL Tower last Wednesday, 20 August 2008. We took leave on that day to renew our passports and since the renewal process took only half a day and also since it was School Holidays, we took the kids and the babysitter there. We reached at 2:30 pm and left at 4:00 pm for Seremban to beat the KL rushing home jam. The admission fee was RM33 for the 2 adults, 1 senior citizen and 2 kids.

Taken from level THO1 (I do not know that stands for)
Also taken from THO1
I never knew that this tree existed until I read this and looked for the tree when we were back down.
The binoculars were souvenirs for the kids when we purchased the tickets

The CFO Is Back

My CFO must have been a very recharged lady after a 4 day break. First she e-mailed me three software proposals on a software that the company is considering buying and asked to tabulate the comparisons early in the morning. Before I could start the comparisons she called me into the room to amend the presentation for this Friday's board meeting. Then she asked me to amend the budget figures in the presentation for one of the companies. I was in and out of her room for about 3-4 times the whole day before it was 5:30pm. Yippee!! Time to go home after a long day. To be continued tomorrow. So I anticipate tomorrow to be another long day.

On another matter, one of my badminton kakis told me on Tuesday, "Hey, you should have joined Tan Chong lah the last time when I told you so. See, now all their Senior Managers are given a Latio each". I told him "Haiya, don't play me. Go back to work on Saturdays. No Way Jose!". Maybe I was being sour grape but hey! what's the big deal of given a Latio. Company car only mah. Come to think of it PKRB also not bad mah. Five day week, 15% EPF, free medical and dental and can reach home about 6:30 pm everyday. Some more got company trip to Jasin. Ha!!

Life After The Olympics

The past two weeks have been Olympics, Olympics and nothing but Olympics. Seriously, 98% of my TV viewing time for the past 2 weeks have been dedicated to watching the Beijing 2008 Olympics. The other 2% I would say was spent on watching TV3's Nightline. The "R" button has been my favourite button on the remote.

Just when it seems that I can excuse myself from sports for a while another major tournament is starting today, The US Opne 2008 - Grand Slam Tennis . This tournament runs from 28 August until 7 September and for the first time in 4 years, Roger Federer is not seeded No 1. He is seeded at No 2 behind Rafael Nadal. Sigh! I think his form is dropping and every Tom, Dick and Harry is able to beat him with ease now. His Grand Slam wins now stands at 12, is still 2 short of Pete Sampras' record of 14.

After the US Open, there is the Yonex Japan Super Series (16-21 Sept), where our "Datuk" Lee Chong Wei will be playing. Let's see how he fares here. If he beats Lin Dan to win the tournament, then I definitely think that he threw the match against Lin Dan in the Olympic final.

Rainy Day

That's how heavy the rain was this morning when I was on my way to work to Nilai on the KL-Seremban highway. This picture below is actually the announcement signboard before reaching the Nilai Toll. The picture below were taken with my SE K810i

This is the stretch nearing the Nilai Toll exit.

The strange thing was that it was clear, weatherwise, in Seremban. Don't why they still having roadblock (since Saturday) in front of the Museum in Seremban. There was also a roadblock after the exiting the Nilai Toll. Must be the stupid BN's ploy for the coming Permatang Pauh by-elections tomorrow. Can't they paly it fairly?

Banned From Hockey Match For Black Undies

Extracts from and interesting article from The Star 21 August 2008:

"The Olympic dress code applies to places never seen, it seems, with the New Zealand hockey manager banished from the field at a crucial men's match because officials objected to his players' underwear.

Kevin Marr was ordered to watch the must-win match against Germany from the grandstand as punishment for three players wearing black undies beneath white undies in an earlier match.

Initially, the officials wanted to suspend the players involved but Marr successfully argued that was unfair because he was in charge of what they wore.

Under the Olympic field hockey rules, shorts and undies must match, but New Zealand were in their alternate white strip in their earlier match against China and the players did not own alternate white undies."

Wah! Wearing undies also have to be restricted. Never knew this. I wonder if they have this rule in the office.

Move A Side LCW, Here Comes YesYeh!

I strongly share RO's frustrations on LCW and I couldn't agree more with RO. It was a waste of my time watching that stupid and should I say "fake" match. I mean LCw was so convincing when he displayed a sublime performance in destroying Lee Hyung Il of South Korea in the semis (he did not make any unforced errors in the 1st set) and it was a total 360 degrees turnaround in the final. I strongly believe there's money involved.

There's this congratulatory message on Astro "Congratulations to Lee Chong Wei and Misbun Haji Sidek". WTF!!!! This is not the first Badminton Silver Medal we have won lah. We also won a silver through Cheah Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock in Men's Doubles in 1996 Atlanta Games. So If LCW gets Datukship then CSK and YKH should be accorded the same lah. WTF!!! What's all the celebration about a silver medal?

Anyway, I have put all the frustrations behind me now and have some plans of my own to produce the future world beaters. Step aside Lee Chong Wei, here are the future world beaters :

森美蘭芙蓉東安會館's 112 Annual Dinner

森美蘭芙蓉東安會館 (Persatuan Toong Onn), of whom my Father is a committee member, held its 112 annual dinner at Ming Kok Restaurant on 10 August 2008. The Guest of Honour was YB Dato Dr Ng Yen Yen. Other invited guests include Dato Lee Pit Chern, YB Anthony Loke Siew Fook, Dato Lee Yuen Fong and a few others lah which I could not really recognised lah. Too insignificant. The dinner began with lion dance which I missed because I was looking for Car Park! Then it was speech time with Ng Yen Yen giving the first speech.

Dinner comprise of the usual eight course dinner lah. Shy to take pictures of the food because there were others guests at the same table with us. After 3 dishes, Dato Ng was asked to present awards to some people lah. She left after the award presentation. While Dato Ng Yen Yen was making her exit with her entourage, an announcement was made for the car onwer of NAF183 to remove the car because it was blocking the way. Guess whose car? Then came the toasting time by the association's committee. Can you spot my Dad below? Then, of course got Karaoke lah. That YB Loke also sang a Mandarin number, 朋友, by Emil Chow. Not badlah, considering that he was a Paulian. Dinner ended at 10:30pm.

Know which is my Mum?

Grandpa and grand daughter

Ee Sean's Tadika Graduation

TBSC held it's 8th annual graduation ceremony on 9 August 2008. This year it was held in Klana Resort from the usual Royale Bintang (formerly Hilton Seremban) due to cost factor. It was held in the lounge.

The ceremony was supposed to start at 8am but the VIP (see the joker below) thought it was 9am. So it was delayed waiting for him to arrive.

The poor kids have to stay in place for more than half an hour waiting for him to arrive before starting the day off by presenting a medley of five songs starting with Kemegahan Negaraku, 500 Miles, Massachusetts, 听妈妈的话, and 爸爸的肩膀. The songs were arranged by Teacher Angie Voong but she was unable to come. So Teacher Ann conductored the presentation.

After the song presentation, graduation scrolls and special awards were given out by the VIP. Family members were allowed to go on stage to take picture with the "Graduates". After the scrolls were given out, refreshments were served at the Coffee Terrace (Hotlah! There. No air-cond one) while the "Graduates" and their families took turns to take their graduation photographs in a room provided, before leaving. The air-cond was not turned on when it was our turn (Very stuffy leh). But didn't matter lah. Only five minutes.

Ee Sean's Angels

Teacher Jasmin, Teacher Molly and Teacher Pek Yen

A Funeral And The Olympics

Woke up at 5:30am to get ready for the trip to Jasin to attend our Chairman's Mother's funeral at 9:30am. Everybody gathered at Wisma BBN to board the Nilai College bus which left at 7:00am. It took us 2 hours and 10 minutes to reach Jasin in what was supposed to be a 1 hour 10 minutes trip (the time we took when we attended the wake on Tuesday night) because the bus was travelling at 80km/h!! We were in Jasin for 30 minutes before we boarded the bus again for the burial at Nilai Memorial Park. Again we took another 2 hours plus and luckily when we were there, the service was still going on. Everyone was given a petal of flowers to throw into the grave as a last respect. After the funeral, refreshments were served at the Nilai Memorial Park's sales office. It was over by 12:30 and everyone who went to Jasin was not required to report to work but was allowed to go home to rest.

The evening was spent watching the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics and what a great show Beijing put up. The best part of the ceremony must have been the last part with the lighting of the Olympics cauldron by Li Ning, a gymnast who won 3 gold medals at the 1984 LA games.

A Day At The Dentist

This is a picture taken by yours truly when I took Ee Sean to the dentist recently. He had been complaining of tooth ache quite oftenly. Suspecting only gum problems, I took him to Integral Dental Clinic. I opted for the Punjabi lady dentist which I cannot recall the name because there were ten people already there waiting for Dr Oh. We were immediately called in after 5 minutes.

Upon examination, the dentist confirmed that there were 3 cavities that needed to be filled and all the cavities were on the upper row. Oh! Boy! It's going to be a long day. The dentist explained to him that the drilling and cleaning part would be quite painful. To my surprise he was ok. Just that he gagged a few times due to the suction pipe that was left in his mouth.

Then came the filling part. The dentist had to fasten a metal strip around the tooth she's filling to prevent the filling from going to the adjacent tooth. It must have been quite uncomfortable to have the metal strip between the teeth because he started complaining of pain tears were welling in his eyes. Poor fella. The filling had to be done repeatedly because he kept pushing the metal strip out. In the end when everything was over I was so reliefed and stressed out.