Well Done Selangor MB

Those living in Selangor state earning less than RM1500 should be grateful because free essential goods will be given to them. This is the promises made by Pakatan Rakyat after 100 days since the 8th general election. Eventually SYABAS should keep their mouth shut and not pouring water in a hot soup. Hopefully the Selangor state will train poor earners to be more independent and does not depend on the government to get free goods. The aim to eradicate poverty in the state is by educating them and with the help of social welfare department to find a job where the pay is higher. Selangor MB is also giving away free water to any household using 20 or less cubic water. While, small family is just using ten cubic of water or less. The Selangor MB consider considerate. I do hope those who use more should be charged more so that the government will not be paying heftily RM128mil a year or RM10.4mil a month.

ESSENTIAL ITEMS UP NEXT MONTH

Consumers can expect the prices of many essential items to increase by as much as 10% next month. Stock up goods before next month. Maybe some shops or markets increases their goods before next month. Be prepared to pay higher price. If I'm not mistaken, the prices of some essential goods were increased on the day where the fuel increases. Pray hard it will not increase again.

Reference from TheStar:

Prices to go up 10% next month
IPOH: Consumers can expect the prices of many essential items to increase by as much as 10% next month.
Federation of Sundry Goods Merchant Associations of Malaysia president Lean Hing Chuan said sundry store owners have no choice but to raise the prices of goods not controlled by ceiling prices to survive the impact of the fuel price hike.
Lean said canned food and other items with plastic packaging were likely to be sold at a higher price but declined to disclose the actual list of goods.
“Goods transported long distance by lorries are also expected to increase by at least 10%,” he said yesterday after the 87th anniversary luncheon of the Perak Sundry Shops Guild.
Earlier in his speech, Lean urged the Government to open up more vacant land for cultivation and start measures for rice-producing states like Kedah to improve rice production per hectare.
He also expressed doubt about the effectiveness of the government’s move to place colour stickers on rice sacks enabling consumers to differentiate between price-controlled rice and imported rice.
Perak Sundry Shops Guild chairman Lee Kim Seng urged the state government to set up an air-conditioned “retailing centre” for shop owners to set up their business.
He suggested the lots be rented out cheaply to business owners of all races.
“It will be a place where you can find Chinese medicine, pharmacies, hardware, clothes, shoes and other goods all in one place,” he said.
Perak Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Datuk Lim Kok Cheong reminded members that inflation may be inevitable but it was no reason to close down their businesses.

Image from roadandtrack.com

BEIJING AUTO SHOW

This is the latest auto show in Beijing, China. View the recent car concepts by clicking one of the pictures above.

Image from: www.autoblog.com

SENSOR FOR HYBRID CARS

Many diseases are silent killers such as hypertension, heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, and also cancer. Remember the song "Killing me softly with his songs'? Perhaps depends on the singer.
Now hybrid cars are one of the silent killers factor. There have been many ideas thrown around in an effort to make hybrid vehicles safer on the road. Therefore, Toyota Corporation in Malaysia is finding ways before introducing the cars in Malaysia.
The Vibering concept, which is able to sense approaching doom by listening for key sounds made by a hybrid car. When worn in conjunction with its companion watch, the Vibering listens and alerts its wearer whenever a vehicle may be coming and how far it is from making impending contact (see www.autoblog.com for details).
For my opinion, place a sensor in the vehicle that will make sounds when it approaches anything. What about Honda Hybrid cars? What will they do so that they will not be silent killer contributor?

SAFETY FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN

How long school busses can operates? Maximum 20 years? Does a school bus operator care for the safety of school children? What you say?

NEW SEAT RULING

Mandatory for rear seat passengers to wear seat belts beginning this month but no summons for the offence will be issued until the end of August. The ruling is only effective for cars registered after January 1995. Owners of cars without rear seat belts have three years to get them installed. Police would work with the Road Safety Department to distribute flyers to motorists. Federal traffic police chief Senior Asst Comm II Datuk Hamzah Taib, when contacted, said police personnel would advise motorists on the new ruling until the three-month period was up, when summonses would be issued. Many suggested that more information be disseminated via the media on the new rule.

Wah....waahh......wahhhhhhhhhhhh! But what's the fuss all about. Only implement the ruling after three years and that's it! Case closed.

reference from TheStar:

Jane Jacob (left) buckling up as her daughter Previtha looks on. Both have always used the rear seat belt and welcome the new ruling

Owners of locally-made cars can get rear safety belts installed

By TEH ENG HOCK and ROYCE CHEAH
PETALING JAYA: Owners of locally-made cars not already fitted with rear seat belts will get them installed for free.
Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said an agreement has been worked out with the manufacturers, banks and insurance companies and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) is expected to be inked soon.
“We have deliberated on this systematically as it involves money and engineering. We hope this initiative can help lessen the people’s burden with the new ruling to wear rear seat belts,” he said.
“I wanted original manufacturers involved because fitting anchorage points for seat belts must be done properly,” he said. “It is part of their corporate social responsibility programme.”
A source in a major local car manufacturer said the signing ceremony would take place tomorrow. Details on where to get the cars fitted with free rear seat belts would be announced later.
“I would like to advise passengers in cars already fitted with seat belts to buckle up when travelling and for car owners without rear seat belts to install them promptly and not wait until the last minute,” he said.
The ruling came into force yesterday making it mandatory for rear seat passengers to wear seat belts.
However, no summons for the offence will be issued until the end of August. The ruling is only effective for cars registered after January 1995.
Owners of cars without rear seat belts have three years to get them installed.
The ministry kicked off a media campaign yesterday to inform the public on the importance of wearing rear seat belts. It will run for six months.
Ong said the ministry wanted to drive home the message that enforcement of the ruling was “not so much focused on punishment” but for the safety of motorists.
A Transport Ministry official said the idea is not to pass down the burden of fixing the seat belts to the user wherever possible.
“It should be part of the corporate social responsibility of the manufacturers.”
The official said the idea was to help the public so that there was no excuse for them not to use the rear seat belts and to cover all possible loopholes.
“We do not want the voice of 19% of car owners who do not have rear seat belts to affect the 81% who do have rear seat belts.”
Perodua Kancil and Kenari cars manufactured in 1998 and until mid-2004 will be exempted from the compulsory backseat belt rule.
Road Safety Department director-general Datuk Suret Singh said this was because the models produced during this period did not have anchorage points for rear seat belts.
“Some models which came out between 2004 and 2005 have anchorage points but no rear seat belts.
“The department has proposed that Perodua offer special packages to owners of these Kancil and Kenari models to install rear seat belts.
“They have three years to do that,” he said.

and

Many not aware of rule

By STEVEN DANIEL
PETALING JAYA: Despite the rear seat belt ruling being introduced yesterday, many people still claimed ignorance of it.
Previtha Rajah, 33, said she was unaware of the start of the three-month advocacy period for the use of rear seat belts.
However, the mother of three can afford to “overlook” the ruling – for she has always got her rear seat passengers to buckle up anyway.
“For safety purposes, I have never failed to get my children, maid and other passengers to buckle up,” she added when met at a petrol kiosk here.
Not a problem: Jane Jacob (left) buckling up as her daughter Previtha looks on. Both have always used the rear seat belt and welcome the new ruling.
Roslan Hashim, 34, a technician, said he had heard of the plan but did not know it had already been implemented.
“Betulkah, saya pun tak tahu (Is it, I did not know),” he said, suggesting that more information be disseminated via the media on the new rule.
A 50-year-old businessman, who only wanted to be known as Choy, went one step further by questioned the need for the ruling.
“Most cars have only two rear seat belts. Does that mean I can only drive four people in my car?” he asked.
Federal traffic police chief Senior Asst Comm II Datuk Hamzah Taib, when contacted, said police personnel would advise motorists on the new ruling until the three-month period was up, when summonses would be issued.
“We will advise motorists of the new rule whenever we have the chance. We will not spare any effort,” he added.
He said police would work with the Road Safety Department to distribute flyers to motorists.

PLEASE BUCKLE UP!

All passengers are not exempted from not using rear seat belt. So ‘Kancil’ cannot occupy 7 people already ah? So, more lives will be saved. How many drivers are using it anyway?

Let’s face the facts first. Until now, I still can see bikers not wearing crash helmets, parents sending two or three children to school and yet did not wear crash helmet. This situation proves that there is no enforcement in Malaysia. Only 'hangat-hangat tahi ayam'.

Reference from themalaysianinsider:

Free rear seat belts for locally-made cars

KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 — The government and local car manufacturers have struck a deal to provide and install rear seat belts for free to locally-made cars soon.
Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat said an agreement had been worked out and that a memorandum of understanding between the government and manufacturers is expected to be inked in the next few days.
"We have deliberated this systematically as it involved money and the engineering part of it. We hope this initiative can help lessen the people's burden with the new ruling to wear rear seat belts from today," he told reporters after opening a Chinese arts exhibition today.
Ong said the government was also working with the corporate sector to set up a fund to subsidise the cost of installing rear seat belts.
From today, rear seat passengers in cars are required to wear seat belts. After a three-month advocacy period, offenders will be fined for breaching the new law.
"I would like to advise passengers of cars already fitted with seat belts to buckle up when travelling and for car owners who have not installed the belts to do so promptly and not wait till the last minute," he said.
The government had given three years grace period for owners of cars without rear seat belts to get it installed. Currently, almost 90 per cent of vehicles are fitted with rear seat belts.
Ong, who is also a MCA vice-president and Selangor MCA chief, said he would meet Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan to get details on last week's incident of a group of thugs attacking Bandar Mahkota residents who were trying to remove concrete barricades built by Grand Saga Sdn Bhd, concessionaire of the Cheras-Kajang Highway.
The controversy ended on Friday following the Cabinet's decision to keep the disputed toll-free access road to Cheras-Kajang Highway open until the issue was settled in court. — Bernama

TEACHERS ALL WORKS AND NO PLAY MAKES THE PRINCIPAL ALOHA!

Some school administrator do not seem to like the teachers spending their holidays with their kids or the most favourite 'bujang' teachers simply 'nothing to do' at home. Especially rural school, the administrator which pursue in 'garnishing' the school more than academics will ask teachers to do some arrangement for form 1 registration before the next term starts, setting up banners, putting up backdrops and take care of students for a day or two during SPM's examination period if they do not apply to invigilate government examinations. Besides that, teachers have to come early for meeting just a week before the school reopen. Well, total up the days at school. Of course it is not even half of the holiday taken but reminds you, some teachers are not local there. Can you imagine how many days taken for the teachers to travel vice-versa?

Reference from TheStar:

Schools area reminded to use only two Saturdays in a monoth for weekend activities, Penang National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) chairman Lim Ming Tzong said.
He said some teachers had complained their schools had imposed upon them to participate in weekend activities, some almost every Saturday.
“In 2006, the Public Services Department (PSD) issued a circular stating that all government departments were allowed to hold activities up to only two Saturdays in a month.
“So, school heads must abide by this ruling and not unduly victimise the teachers,” he said.
Lim said that according to the Education Ministry, schools were also not allowed to conduct curricular activities, including tuition classes, and co-curricular activities on both Saturdays.
The schools, he said, were only allowed to hold parent-teacher association (PTA) meetings, meet-the-parents sessions and staff meetings on Saturdays.
“School heads must be mindful that if they still conduct activities with students after school hours, they could be held res-ponsible if any mishap takes place.
“The state Education Department is closed over the weekend, and it may not provide necessary legal support for the teacher incharge,” he said.
Lim also called on school heads to refrain from unnecessarily recalling tea-chers back for duty during school holidays.
He said unlike teachers, senior assistants and afternoon supervisors, who were not entitled to annual leave, headmasters, principals and office staff were given up to 35 days in annual leave per year.
“So, just because they (the school heads) have to report for duty during the school holidays, it is ridiculous to instruct teachers to do likewise, merely to accompany them.”
Lim said many schools often prepared a roster for teachers to work during school holidays, but the number of days should not exceed half of the total length of the holidays.
He said many teachers had complained they were still unclear over the reasons to return to school during the holidays.

TRAFFIC OFFENDERS ON CANDID CAMERA

Smile, you are on candid camera! If I'm not mistaken, last year the government came out with an idea to punish traffic offenders through a rewarding scheme. Haven't they learned from their mistakes? Some might snap a photo that looks like an offence. Is it better if the traffic police officers take shot on plain clothes? Maybe put on a spy camera somewhere at accident prone area or an area where offenders will make such as jump red lights, over taking double lane and jump queue on a busy street. Then, recruit more traffic police officers.

Reference from http://www.panducermat.org.my

Click and post pictures of road offenders

PUTRAJAYA: The Road Safety Department has created an Internet portal to allow the public to be the private eyes of the department and the police in an effort to reduce accidents.
Among others, the website, www.panducermat.org.my, enables motorists to take snapshots of traffic offenders.It also contains driving tips, sections for suggestions, a forum, a road safety blog and identification of risky or accident-prone stretches in the country, including Sabah and Sarawak. Snapshots of offenders can be posted there and the department will forward them to the relevant law enforcement agencies for further action, said department director-general Datuk Suret Singh after the launching of the portal by Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat at the ministry yesterday.He added the portal would allow members of the public to interact not only with the department, but also the police.
"We are actually providing an interactive, educational and responsive platform for the public in efforts to reduce road fatalities and accidents. "We believe this interactive engagement will make our motorists more considerate and responsible towards other road users."He said all reports or complaints would be acted upon. "We promise rapid action against traffic offenders and the particulars of complainants will be kept confidential."Suret, however, cautioned that only passengers or pedestrians should use their cellphones to take snapshots on the road.

SMALL MATTER MAKE IT BIG

Since Pakatan Rakyat won the Pokok Assam State and Taiping Parliamentary seat, previous Barisan Nasional state government were always in a limelight.

'Ho, who was a former state exco member, said the discount for industrial land was introduced by the Barisan-led state government since 2006.“We had two state exco meetings before the state assembly was dissolved to make way for the March 8 general election and I recalled that it was decided that the discount would be made effective until 2008.“I hope industrial land owners in Perak will bring along their old receipts when paying their quit rent to avoid having to pay more than required'.

The Taiping Municipal council should also have the previous copy of any payment in their own files. Improper filing and the attitude of the staff in Taiping Municipal council lead to their work done by Rakyat not them. Change the new Taiping Municipal council staffs and chairman unless they will change. Do not find ways to put the money in the pocket such as buying unnecessary decorative road lamps.

According to last week metro from TheStar, SHOPKEEPERS in Taman Kota Jaya in Taiping, Perak, are unhappy that the drain in front of their shops is clogged with garbage. I don't think the drain is clogged overnight. Why only last week the shopkeepers in Taman Kota Jaya complained? Previous Barisan Nasional state government no doing their job? They plea for the Pakatan Rakyat to help them, is it?

Reference from TheStar, IT pays to keep old receipts as businessman Ang Poh Tit found out recently.
Ang, who runs a factory, said the habit had helped him save RM515, the amount he was requested to pay to the district land office as part of the quit rent for his plot of industrial land in Kampung Benggali, Taiping.
“The RM515 was actually a discount introduced by the previous Barisan Nasional state go-vernment.
“The actual annual quit rent payment was RM2,518 and after deducting the RM515 discount, a move introduced by the former state government since 2006, I need only pay RM1,967 for the plot,” he said.However, recently Ang receiv-ed a demand to pay up his quit rent minus the printed word discount as being done by the land office previously.
“But when I showed my old quit rent payment receipt and after much persuasion, the counter clerk agreed to include the RM515 discount,” said Ang.
Ang said that if the current Pa-katan Rakyat-led state government wanted to do away with the discount, the matter should be made public.
Perak MCA secretary Datuk Ho Cheng Wang, who was present, said he feared other industrial land owners might overlook the matter.
Ho, who was a former state exco member, said the discount for industrial land was introduced by the Barisan-led state government since 2006.
“We had two state exco meetings before the state assembly was dissolved to make way for the March 8 general election and I recalled that it was decided that the discount would be made effective until 2008.
“I hope industrial land owners in Perak will bring along their old receipts when paying their quit rent to avoid having to pay more than required,” said Ho, adding that the deadline to make such quit rent payment would expire soon, following which a late-payment penalty would be imposed.

Nissan Sylphy 2.0L starting price RM113 000

The rear looks a bit familiar. The new Camry rear design perhaps. The body design has the same touches of new Cefiro.
I hope the new Cefiro will be out soon. No more facelift please. Maybe this is one of the Tan Chong Motor's strategies. Sold less but profit more from old model (price is low compare to new model/ arrival).
Teana model sold here is quite expensive. Teana can be competitive between Honda Accord and Toyota Camry if the price is appropriate.
Tan Chong Motors can push up their sales with the introduction of Nissan Sylphy. Nonetheless, it still depends on promotions and potential buyers. Toyota Camry and Honda Accord still are Malaysian choices.

50% DISCOUNTS FOR TRAFFIC OFFENDERS?

Reference from TheStar yesterday, THE Klang district police will offer discounts of up to 50% for traffic summonses during its Crime Prevention Campaign at the Rukun Tetangga Centre in Taman Sentosa Zone B.

What do the traffic offenders contribute to the country? Promoting more traffic offenders in Malaysia? Shouldn't they be penalised heavily? The later they pay their summonses the more discounts they will get. Is this the way they should be treated? Damn traffic offenders.

TIME TO CONVERT DATA FROM DRIVING LICENCE TO MYKAD.

With reference from TheStar, THE Penang Road Transport Department (JPJ) has urged mo-torists to convert their data from their driving licence to their MyKad. State JPJ director Hassan Yaccob said they could do so at JPJ. The service is free.

So it is best to do it now and we don't have to wait till the last minute. Later on, it will be compulsory for the whole nation and the JPJ Department will be like a can of sardines. The only problem is how will we know when our driving licences going to expire later on? Do we need to buy a MyKad reader? Or to save the cost we just keep the receipt printed by the JPJ's staff. Do it now before the time comes. I will do it my own next year when my licences expired.

Plaza Perbandaran Taiping is charging RM2.00 per entry. Is Taiping Lang can afford it?

This is a new crowded market in Taiping town. Offering a place to eat and also a bowling

centre. Opposite, there is a Prima Cake House. Nice cake though. However the Taiping Supermarket is closed down. Need a bit of exercise to go to Taiping Jaya Supermarket (Now known as The Store Supermarket) or Maybank to do some banking even spend some time at the Popular Bookstore.

What is the word BMW connected to Taiping Municipal Council? It is place, not a car but a toilet. It is just situated opposite Taiping Supermarket. BMW stands for Bersih, Menawan and Wangi. Toilets maintained by Taiping Municipal Council captivating? Some sort of toilet promotion. If I have a choice, I will not go there. Sure it is captivating when you are in an emergency.

Kem Lencana Maju at SMK St George on 24-26th May 2008

Perodua Myvi Facelift coming soon

I don't think so. Perodua Myvi just came out with special edition. Maybe someone alter it . Just wait and see. I'm waiting for a totally new Myvi. Not just make-up the grill and the bumper. It just doesn't make any difference. Its still the old Myvi.

TOYOTA VIOS MANUAL VERSION

Toyota Vios J Spec will be available in Malaysia soon. From the pictures, the manual versions are without sport rim, volume control or airbag on the steering wheel, light indicator on side mirror and even fog lamp. I just prefer automatic cars. The E, V or S-Spec is much better.

Giant Latest Promotions

Imagine two hypermarkets located near to each other. What will both of them offer? Best values products or best of all, trying to compete within themselves. Both of them giving their best to the customers. All I can say is Tesco great and Giant sucks. Recently went to Giant to buy grapes offered at very low price. To my dismay the quality were different from the hand-outs sent to housing areas. Don't try to con people lah Giant. Better called G....Ant!

Taiping’s Hospital

Can't get a picture of Taiping’s new health clinic at Jalan Tupai from the web. Another Streamxy low performance. Yesterday, Sultan of Perak , Sultan Azlan Shah , Raja Permaisuri Tuanku Bainun, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Nizar Jamaluddin and Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai came to Taiping for the grand opening of Taiping’s new health clinic. According to Datuk Liow's statement, the clinic treated between 600 and 800 patients daily. The opening of Taiping’s new health clinic should be held during weekdays for the Sultan to see the problems faced by the rakyat. Limited parking space and the new health clinic can't accommodate a lot of patients at a time. Some patients have to wait for hours. It is advised for a patient to arrive at 8 am and not later than that. What about government officers? Some have to take a short break from work to attend their medical aid. Hope to see a few health clinic in Taiping soon.

Ref: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/5/25/north/21359621&sec=North

The Sultan of Perak has called for a strategic approach to combat the escalating cost of providing health care and services to the people. Sultan Azlan Shah said yesterday a preventive approach via effective education especially at the school level, should be enhanced. He said the young must be inculcated with values which promoted healthy lifestyle including a balanced diet, promoting daily recreational activities, adequate sleeping time and rest period, abstain from smoking and avoid excessive drinking. “Among strategic approaches that need to be developed are preventive measures through effective education,” he said when opening Taiping’s new health clinic. Sultan Azlan Shah also said there might be a need to introduce a medical and health treatment scheme, which benefited the poor and low- income earners. Present were Raja Permaisuri Tuanku Bainun, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Nizar Jamaluddin and Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai. Sultan Azlan Shah also called for stern action to be taken against those who carried out activities which contributed to pollution and environmental degradation. He added approval requirements for economic activities should be tightened so they would not affect the health of the people.
Earlier in his speech, Liow said the clinic treated between 600 and 800 patients daily.
Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, he said the ministry had built about 4,000 health clinics throughout the country. He added Malaysia’s life expectancy had also increased from 56 years to 72 years.

CONFLICT BETWEEN TWO GROUPS

Lately there is a miss communication between two groups who handle the security between 'Taman Kami' and 'Taman Pertama' . In my opinion there must be an argument about the money they received from the residents here. Some might wants a bigger share. So to settle their disagreement, one of the group members kicked the booth until it fall at 6 in the morning. Later in the noon, the booth is being allocated back. This out-gracious behaviour only exists when the Taiping Municipal Council accepted bribe to place an illegal booth here.