Where Is The Green Nozzle?

Government had announced that starting 1st September 2009, RON92 (a.k.a. Regular) will be removed from the market and it will be replaced by the better grade of petrol which is RON95. RON95 will become the first choice of consumers while RON97 (a.k.a. Super) will be promoted to be the premium grade and will be sold at higher price.

When I visited one of the Shell petrol station in town recently, I felt weird because the green nozzle which suppose representing RON97 are totally unseen from the station! I thought only the red nozzles (RON92) would be replaced by the yellow one (RON95) and the green one will remain? Is it not so?

I scratched my head. But after I think about it, I guess it is probably because the petrol station owner doesn't want to buy RON97 for the time being as government haven't clearly fix the selling price yet. Although government did mention RON97 will be sold at RM2.00 per liter starting September, but that's not the final word.

I am not sure if that's the explanation some petrol stations stop selling RON97, please correct me if I am wrong, will you?

Anyway, it is too bad that government did not explain clearly to the public about the issue of mixing RON95 with RON97. But you just have no choice when there is only RON95 left at the petrol station. Many of my friends and colleagues including myself already mixed them and so far our vehicles still can move on the road. So what do you say?

Vessel Hit It Again!

It happened again! This is not the first but the 2nd time pavilion at Jiang Zhuang Garden being hit by container vessel!

Last year on 29th May 2008, 1 out of total 2 pavilions owned by Jiang Zhuang Association beside Sibu Tua Pek Kong Temple accidentally being knocked by a vessel and entirely collapsed!

After one year, the association started the rebuilding of the collapsed pavilion. While the reconstruction still in progress, on 17th August 2009 which was about 10 days ago, the other pavilion which escaped the tragedy a year ago this time couldn't avoid the unfortunate incident.

The pavilion was hit when a container vessel wanted to berth at the adjacent Rejang Port Authority. Athough there is saying that strong river wave might be one of the cause of the incident but I guess poor seamanship would be the main reason.

After being hit, the pavilion was damaged badly and totally collapsed! There were 2 persons, one fishing and another one resting under the pavilion at the time the tragedy occured, but luckily both of them were not hurted and saved.

Well, I was wondering if the association did consider about all these when they decided to build the pavilions that close to the port. Anyway, today the association's president told the press that maybe the council should consider building few piers to avoid the vessels to navigate too close to the pavilions, but I am doubt if that is the best solution.

Let say if the vessel hit the piers that protect those pavilions, is that means council shall use taxpayers money to rebuild those damaged piers just to protect the pavilions? I can't see its logic here!

Is this a pure incident? Or a karma?

Dry, Hot and Hazy!

Sibu is facing dry, hot and hazy weather these few days! The temperature reaching up to 35 degree Celsius in the afternoon time.

Besides that, the air is full of strong smoke smell because of some open burning by those irresponsible person or caused by the bush fire. That's why early in the morning when sunrise, the sun light is red in color and it is not the usual yellowish.

The streets were covered with haze but the visibility still acceptable. Yet the smelly air is really bad for health.

In the past, usually this kind of extremely hot and dry weather would only happen in the middle of a year, normally June but somehow we are still facing this kind of weather in August! Is this indicates that global weather is changing slowly because of human activities? Perhaps we should seriously think about this issue and take necessary precautions to prevent it from getting worse!

Issue of Batang Lebaan Bridge in Sibu

As a Siburian who born in Sibu, grew up in Sibu and stay in Sibu should I feel proud? Sibu will have country's longest bridge across a river by October 2009!

This was what being announced by local politicians who called themselves "Sibu Visionary Development Team" and now this issue had became the hottest table topic in the town of Sibu. Sibu people were not discussing about how proud they are, but they started to express their worry about Sibu future after the completion of this bridge.

Why so? Definitely a good question! It is because the height of the Batang Leba'an bridge will disallow ships heigher than 20m from passing through it! Then what? Then the taller cargo ships which cannot reach Sibu Rajang Port Authority will have to berth at Tanjung Manis wharf for loading and unloading, and the goods will later been sent to Sibu through road transport. So what? So the containers cannot reach Sibu directly and need extra transportation charges to sent them through road transport from Tanjung Manis to Sibu through Batang Leba'an bridge!!

So what is the implication of this? The implication is consumers will have to bear all the unnecessary additonal transportation charges which also means goods prices in Sibu will increase!

There are symptoms showing that Sibu economic is going nowhere when most youngsters choose to work outstation as job apportunities are limited and the pay is among the lowest in major towns of Sarawak. Flooding and poor drainage system problem is still remain unsolved, and now Sibu people likely to face another "challenge"!

Here is the main question - the individual or authority concern should have aware of this bridge height issue since before the planning stage, but why nobody sound it out? Why those local politicians only choose to tell Sibu people the truth at the final stage of the bridge building? If really it will harm the economic of Sibu, why they still approve the project with such specification? Got rumours saying it is related to some personal interest which I also not sure what it is.

Building a lower bridge certainly will save cost, but who is gonna responsible if it affects the local economy and development from now on till forever? Is it worth to risk Sibu people's life just for the sake of costs saving?

In Sibu Municipal Council official site, it stated that upon completion, the bridge will link the town with Tanjung Manis new township which is the fastest growing and major industrial area. Who care if you build a bridge to enrich other town by risking your own town's future?!?!

Starting today, 1st of July, only ships with maximum height of 20m will be allowed to pass through the bridge because the bridge connection construction is started. Nothing we can do now when some people purposely want to hide the truth from us and only choose to tell us at the very last minute!

Michael Jackson Passed Away Today

I guess most of you had know this shocking news already...

The Lord of Pop, Michael Jackson had passed away today, 26th June 2009 at the age of 50 at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. He is believed to die of cardiac arrest.

Recently Michael is actually planning for a series of comeback concert in London from July 13 until March 2010 and the shows for the 50 London concerts sold out within minutes of going on sale in March. However, his dream cannot come true anymore.

Michael Jackson is one of the most influential person in entertainment industry. The death of this legend definitely is a big lost to the industry.

KL Ah Long Poster War

Recently if you pay attention on mainstream media, it is not too hard for you to see reports about "Ah Long" or loan shark. Police are now tracking down some of the "Shark heads" especially in Klang Valley area.

Ya! In my 2 months working attachment in KL, I did actually notice how open and rampant Ah Long's activities are in the metropolis. Ah Long's poster war can be seen everywhere, from housing area, shop lots to roadsides, road signs, flyovers' pillars or even on the tree's trunks.

A lot of them claiming that they are "Government licensed loan", but I am not sure how true is it. Maybe you can judge by yourself.


Some Ah Long will even calculate and plan for you how to pay the debt back. Ah Longs are smart and professional. The calculation shown to you really look affordable and not too hard to pay back. But I think there are still a lot of hidden charges and interest which are invisible to you. So please think twice. Furthermore, when you are already out of money, do you think you still able to pay back in short term?


Yeah! Ah Long sure will tell you it is "low interest". Most of the poster or advertisement will specify that. But after you heard so many stories about Ah Long and what happened to the debtors, you still believe that?

This one telling you that loan without any mortgage needed, "Borrow 1000 get 900 pay1000". No other condition?

"Borrow 1000 take 950 and low interest". Are you interested?

Some Ah Longs are advanced. They accept loan through sms...

Ah Longs' poster war...



This one has a well designed poster and looks very professional... don't you think so?

"Very easy to borrow..." and your information is confidential!

The tree became the victim of poster war...

Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid

Heart-breaking news for Manchester United fans!

I guess most of you knew this already... Manchester United had accepted a world-record offers of 80 millions pound from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo!

C.Ronaldo was bought over from Sporting Lisbon by Sir Alex in 2003 when he was just 18 years old as an inexperience but potential player with 12.24 millions Pound. Under Sir Alex's coaching, Ronaldo had became the best footballer on earth after winning FIFA World Player of the Year in 2008.

However, all these while C. Ronaldo kept showing his desire to leave the club that had grew him up. Finally, Sir Alex decided to let him go with the world record breaking transfer fee from Real Madrid!

[C.Ronaldo in FIFA 09]

Personally I feel a bit sad about Ronaldo's decision, yet it is not the end of the world without him in Manchester United. I am sure Sir Alex can build another superstar for Man Utd soon just like how he brought up David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo previously.

Long Live Manchester United!!

Something Happened On Rejang River

I think the photos below explained or at least give you some idea why I mentioned before that one of the major reason of recent Sibu flood was caused by shallower riverbank.

[Speed boats trapped on the precipitated sand at low tide]

Can you see how thick the sand precipitated at the riverbank? When low tide, this is what happened to the small boats. I guess these boats can only move away when the high tide come. Poor boats! Honestly, I never see such situation before where the boats were trapped on the shore.

[Another trapped boat]

Initially I thought this is normal. I thought whenever there is low tide, the boats will surely trapped. Until I read a local newspaper today reporting that the water level at Rejang river abnormally decreased and the wharfs were seriously dry out, then I just realized this is some abnormal phenomenon. Nobody can explain why as this situation never happened before. Perhaps this is another sign of human irresponsible activities had causing harm to the environment!

[Today's newspaper reported about the abnormal water level decreased in Rejang river]

As a conclusion, shallower Rejang river is a fact that nobody can deny. This is the main reason of frequent flooding in Sibu. Photos above only show a very minor part of precipitated sand in the river. In the mean while, abnormal low tide is something we may also need to pay attention to.

Long Live Jalan Alor!

About a week ago I was talking about the street name Jalan Alor had been changed to Jalan Kejora because some people from the authority concern came out with this "brilliant" idea to give area around Bukit Bintang a galactic theme. Then I felt that was a very stupid move as the name Jalan Alor already become synonym to eateries paradise not only in local but also in tourists eyes. Therefore, I wish DBKL to leave Jalan Alor alone!

Just now, I saw a good news in tv about Jalan Alor! Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Ab Hakim Borhan officially announced that the name Jalan Alor will be remained as it is! Although I am not staying in KL, but I felt please with this decision. It is a right move and it will save a lot of troubles brought to locals, businesses and also tourists from improper planning of street name renaming.

Long live Jalan Alor!!!

From Jalan Alor To Jalan Kejora

Jalan Alor, Kuala Lumpur (KL) is not a strange name for most Malaysian as well as tourists from foreign countries. It had been labeled as foods heaven or foods paradise within KL area as one can find various kind of foods and local delights along the road.


Although I had being to KL many times, but I never being to Jalan Alor before. Yet, i knew Jalan Alor as I heard too many people around me talking about it. When people are discussing about good places to eat around KL, the first place of recommendation will be Jalan Alor.

However, how many of you realized that the name "Jalan Alor" in KL already become a history?? Ya! It already disappear from this planet because Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) changed its name from Jalan Alor to Jalan Kejora few days ago!


++++++ FAQs section ++++++

1. The reason?
UNKNOWN! DBKL didn't give any reason for that.

2.Why "Kejora"?
Kejora is Malay term of planet Venus.


3. Then why planet name?
I think those being to KL before realized that there is a place called Bukit Bintang (Star Hill), right? So someone from the authority concern came out with this brilliant idea to design and name the area around Bukit Bintang after planets/stars name or maybe the whole concept behind it is to create a galactic theme for the area.

++++++ ++++++

How about that?? Sounds good? Galactic theme... how advanced!

But that is not the way! If you rename Jalan Ah Beng, Jalan Ah Kaw, Jalan Ah Ngiao and Jalan Ah Tu which have no significant meaning, then it is fine... but if Jalan Ah Beng attracted thousands of local and foreign tourists to the place, then just leave it alone! People already remember the place from generation to generation by the street name, then why you still want to kacau-kacau (disturb)? After all, the street name itself doesn't serve any bad meaning, so why you so worry till have to change it silently?

The name Jalan Alor already being carved into local's as well as tourists mind as a eateries hotspot. So just let it be. People won't care how creative you are neither what kind of concept or theme you trying to adapt to the area. In fact, people won't even care what "Alor" actually means. For them "Jalan Alor" only means a eating heaven, a tourists attraction and nothing else. So, just let Jalan Alor be itself.