Happy Birthday to My Niece

My Mom and Amber Chua, 1-year-old yesterday (Birthday: 18 Aug 2008)

Endemic "Pig's" Flu - A Pessimist Thought?

First of all, I apologize for not updating this blog. The apology is mainly for myself for breaking the promise I made myself. However, I do have valid reasons but that is irrelevant now... No, it wasn't due to FaceBook. :)

Secondly, what happen to Swine Flu term? I noticed RTM and TV3 and Astro Awani and others no longer use it... Well, some international medias still use it though. Supposed the Art Minister say something I wasn't aware of. *shrug*

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Now the title, when WHO announced Influenza A(H1N1) Spread Cannot Be Stopped in July this year, I fear this may become a reality. Will a pandemic (global) become an endemic ("local" - note the quote sign) eventually?

Definition of "endemic":

1. a disease that is constantly present to a greater or lesser degree in people of a certain class or in people living in a particular location;
2. of or relating to a disease (or anything resembling a disease) constantly present to greater or lesser extent in a particular locality

Definition of "pandemic"

1. an epidemic that is geographically widespread; occurring throughout a region or even throughout the world
2. (epidemic over a wide geographical area) "a pandemic outbreak of malaria"
3. (existing everywhere) "pandemic fear of nuclear war"

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Related posts:
Piggy Flu
Piggy Birdie Homo Flu

New Place

Just moved here (from Tawau to Kota Kinabalu (KK)) since Friday. Today is my 3rd day since then. ;) Tomorrow will get to new work place. :) Will tell you later...

Friday
Just arrived at 4.30AM at Inanam Bus Terminal. Feeling nausea and had stomache. I actually vomitted thrice. Must be something I ate. :D So, I rested for the whole day...

Saturday
Went to Inanam (Kolombong?) Giant Superstore to give some "kiriman" from Tawau from my GF to her youngest bro. Didn't meet him though, just her GF, Gie. Turned out Gie worked there.

Walked around the "tamu" at the Giant. Never thought there was "tamu" there but there really is. The "tamu" is on every saturday. Selling all kind of stuffs from traditional and "more modern" food/drink, clothes, "branded" stuffs (imitation branded stuffs), stuffed animals and actual animals (pets, non-pets a.k.a. small size farm animal e.g. chicks), pot plant, fertilizers etc.

All the while I was talking on the phone to my GF. :D I promised to call when I went home but small things led to another small things, the point is, I forgot to call her... So she got so pissed of and not picking up my phone till 10PM. *sweat* Only able to get to her at Midnight... Well, at least she forgave me. ;)

Sunday
My family plan to visit my 3rd bro’s new house (on renovation now). Ops blackout, saving, saving… Hi there again. :) Will be updating again, with pix hopefully…

I apologize for writing these crap, no I don’t! :D You all have a nice day. ;)

Rest in Peace, Yasmin Ahmad...

Yasmin Ahmad,an Internationally-acclaimed movie director, also renowned for her advertisements capturing the multiracial essence of Malaysia, dies...
Bernama news:

KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 —Renowned film and advertising director Yasmin Ahmad died here at about 11.25 pm last night.

Her death was confirmed by Media Prime Group Chief Operations Officer Datuk Seri Ahmad Farid Ridzuan, who was at the Damansara Specialist Hospital, when contacted by Bernama.

Yasmin, 51, collapsed while presenting a working paper at Sri Pentas, the headquarters of the private television station TV3 on Thursday and was rushed to the Damnsara Specialists Hospital.

She was reported to have suffered a stroke and brain haemorrhage.

I present here one of her truly touching advetistment which I like most...

Facebook is a Crime?

I remember reading an article on The Malaysian Insider with the same title (minus the question mark)... :D

Well, this is just an alasan (excuses) for me for not updating my blog for more than a week! ;) To tell you the truth, I'm online everyday (almost, I mean when streamyx wasn't suck) but always to Facebook, to play games...

Today I promise myself to pen something here, even if it is crap! :D

Let's start with the title. Initially I started facebooking to find friends and old acquaintances (not to mention "new friends we haven't met"). :D It's almost like Friendster, MySpace, and a score (scores?) of other networking sites...

Then, they (Facebook management?) introduced several cool applications, including games, I got hooked up with certain games and addicted to them. I kept adding friends I didn't know to expend my clans (or teams or controls or allies or whatever you want to call it) to respective sizes...

Then, today, while penning this post, I get to look back all those times wasted to build my (game character) stat, team size, randomly pick a fight with strangers (or make them "friends" or "enemies"), and losing time to draft, emm, ahem, "quality" post. :D

Now, I'm inclined to accuse Facebook of becoming a Crime instead of my Prime friends network. But wait! I'm addicted to Facebook games! How can this be when what I really want in Facebook is to find friends and to know people all over the world but gets diverted with time wasting gameplay???

So, how can I be cured from this "addiction"? I hereby solemnly pledge myself to update my blog once a week (every seven days) at least and only to play games every 3 days from now on. Yes, I think I will label Facebook as a crime (my crime) from now on! ;P

You all have a nice day. Cheers! ;)

Murder-Raper to Hang, Don't Forget the Drug Dealers

Some time ago I posted about a trial about a man who raped and then stabbed a 9-year-old girl before left her to her death. Today, Daily Express published this story which excerpt I reproduce from [their website].

---

Kota Kinabalu: A 31-year-old unemployed local was sentenced to death by hanging here Friday for murdering a nine-year-old schoolgirl five years ago.

Jamaludin Saripudin was found guilty of killing Haserawati Sarioi @ Saridi between 7am and 8am on Jan 8, 2004 in the bushes on a hill slope near a road in Kampung Ratau, Tebobon, in Menggatal.

Jamaludin, who has four convictions for theft, is currently serving a 20-year jail sentence plus 24 strokes of the cane for raping the same girl at the same place and time.

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In my previous post, he claimed he was under influence of drug. I commented that if the claim was true then all the drug dealers should be put to death. My feeling and thinking is still the same now.

I just read Clarice's post about people using rohypnol for date-rape crime. I commented the very same thing. Death sentence to the drug possessors (with ill intention) and the suppliers, or life prison if the possessors can supply information that may lead to the arrest of their supplier.

Ah, well, just ventilating my rage and most hated crime... You all (minus the drug dealers, murderers, rapers and other criminals) have a nice day.

My Family Got Accident!

[Updated: 8 July]
70% damaged but thank God everybody elses are okay.

Thanks God everyone is fine. Thank you all for the prayer. I notice there's one thumb down in what do you think. So sorry to anyone who disprove of this post. I was worried and being stupid.

Mum discharged. Lil bro go to school. My bro & his wife back to work. I'll be back to Tawau tonight.

[Previous Post]
Daily Express excerpts:

Kota Kinabalu: A family of four had a shock when the four-wheel-drive they were travelling in skidded off the road and ended up in a drain near Taman Ira Manis in Kolombong, here, Saturday... (click on the excerpt to read more)

They were actually heading to do an errand for me (meeting my girlfriend). When my little brother called me, "Bro! We had accident! Mum fainted!" I was worried so much until I learned everybody was okay and my mum regained consciousness later.

My girlfriend cried and she blamed herself for the accident which I repeatedly told her it was not her fault. (But in my heart I felt it was my fault but then I know accidents can happen anywhere and anytime and to anybody.) I was able to forgive myself but not my girlfriend. She was overwhelmed with guilt and not picking up my phone calls.

Well, will see to that later. For now, my bro & his wife & my little bro are okay (received only outpatient treatment). My mum got hospitalised for suspected internal injury but otherwise conscious and talking and not to mention happy to see all her sons there. She had X-ray and ultrasound this morning. Oh, she was asked to fast and on drips. Just hope everything will be okay.

Will update later. Pix of accident is incoming maybe later tonight. Pray for me please. You all have a nice day.

Piggy Birdie Homo Flu?

[UPDATED: 01 July 2009]
Well, it seems that the international medias (including AFP and Reuters) are against WHO's 2009 April, 30 "plea" (and a second repeated "plea") not to use the term Swine Flu. The pix was taken from CDC's H1N1 site. Does anyone know what is happening? It's like a big conspiracy where FAO/WHO/OIE/WTO/CDC and the Name Callers are wedging war for the "right of name/s"!

Oh, about the title, read the excerpt:

This virus was originally referred to as “swine flu” because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs in North America. But further study has shown that this new virus is very different from what normally circulates in North American pigs. It has two genes from flu viruses that normally circulate in pigs in Europe and Asia and avian genes and human genes. Scientists call this a "quadruple reassortant" virus. [Source]

Perhaps the "tug of naming war" is related with [this] news piece?
Excerpts:

This outbreak (sometime in Jan 1976) affected 230 military personnel, killing one person, but it was successfully contained and was almost certainly caused by the direct transmission of swine flu from pigs. [Source]

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My Related Post: Piggy Flu

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Piggy Flu

Few days ago Art Minister asked the media to use the term swine flu (only?) to describe the "Mexican 2009 flu", the MoH responded by explaining why they stick to Influenza A(H1N1). The Art Minister then amended his suggestion to use BOTH swine flu AND A(H1N1) thus becoming Selsema Babi A(H1N1) (A(H1N1) swine flu).

I notice that RTM, TV3 and Astro Awani all take the Minister's suggestion. Haven't checked the Bernama TV yet but Bernama seems to stick with MoH. BTW, I checked all the "references" given by the Minister above and I notice their media too uses swine flu but not the health people. *shrug* Same here I think. *shrug* It's up to the media to take the suggestion or not.

Cheers! ;)

P/S: Rest in peace, Michael Jackson @ Mikail. I grew up listening to his song...

Father's Day...

High from the earth I heard a bird;
He trod upon the trees
As he esteemed them trifles,
And then he spied a breeze,
And situated softly
Upon a pile of wind
Which in a perturbation
Nature had left behind.
A joyous-going fellow
I gathered from his talk,
Which both of benediction
And badinage partook,
Without apparent burden,
I learned, in leafy wood
He was the faithful father
Of a dependent brood;
And this untoward transport
His remedy for care,—
A contrast to our respites.
How different we are!

- Emily Dickinson (1896) [Source]

The "Safest" and Mildest Pandemic Ever?

Yesterday (or is it today?), WHO raised the pandemic level of Influenza A(H1N1) to maximum level 6 (meaning full blown pandemic). [Source] With confirmed cases reach 29,669 including 145 deaths over 74 countries, the mortality rate is "still" less than 1%. [Source]

And the symptoms are "only" flu-like, including fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat and runny nose, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea, mostly mild. [Source]

So, do we have the "safest" and "mildest" pandemic ever? Well, I don’t think so. Had the WHO not raised the pandemic level to level 5 in earlier date:

• many would have died because they were not managed (quarantine and/or hospitalised) properly and swiftly;
• and the spread would be too hard to control;
• and with more spreading, mutation from the "mild" influenza may become more rapidly developed and probably deadlier;
• besides, we do have mortality eventhough it is lesser than 1%, but death is still an unwelcomed result.

So, bravo to WHO for their fast action. But still, we always want to ask them to be faster than "most" fastest. :D

Primal-ry Fight?

Politic is not healthy for school especially for the primary school children.

According to Daily Express [sorry no link], two disputing
parties of a primary school management board were having discord over "power claim" causing havoc to school management and distress to school children and their parents.

Read the alternate site [news].

My thought is, sounds like two groups of primates fighting over “territorial control”. *shrug*

Wei! kasian lah (pity) those children and parents!

Stashed Cash Trashed!

Source: Reuters

Legal Illegals?

[Warning: Damn Long Post!]

Home Minister on Sunday (June 7) announced the registration of illegal immigrants (workers and their families?) in Sabah to be extended until October 31. Not only that, he also announced the foreign workers levy to be halved starting July 1, 2009. He added the employers MUST take this chance. [Source]

Yesterday, he said employers who failed to register their undocumented foreign workers would be named and shamed. [Source]

A brief anecdots (tuned to my taste):- :P

August to October 2008:
Immigration Department in Sabah received 312,837 applications from a total of 22,862 employers to register their “undocumented” foreign workers & their families. [Source]

April 2009 (Rumour but based on the then DPM – now PM – mini budget talk):
Foreign Workers Levy to be doubled effective May 1, 2009. [My related post]

April 31, 2009:
Human Resource Minister announced the Govt had postponed levy increase/double until the economy became okay. [Source]

May 2009:
Sabah State Secretary announced a total of 389,129 illegal immigrants were arrested between 1990 and 2008 (roughly 19 years, translated to 20,480 per year, or slightly more than 5,120 per three months, please compare the Aug to Oct 2008 number above.) and 80% or 315,752 were deported back to their countries of origin. [Source]

My thought:
1. Wow! The employers must be very happy for the second chance.
2. The existing and/or elusive illegals don’t need to hide anymore now that they have second chance to be “legalised”.
3. The (unscrupulous) employers/agents say, “Welcome, please enter illegally and en mass, we’ll legalised (all of) you (for a “small” fee).”
4. The criminal illegals also get a second chance (based on last year experience) now that they can change they identities. And I’m accusing the Consulate of DOESN’T-CARE-LESS attitude. Read their previous assertion [Click on the pix to know more] (DUH! Cakap tidak serupa bikin!).
5. The Job Agencies must be very happy for durian runtuh (fortune) of getting businesses from employers.
6. “Deported? No problem! Just come in (legally or illegally) (again), we’ll legalised you (with new identity if possible) (again).”
7. This means more “income” for certain (dodgy) enforcers/officers during their “impromptu” and (questionable) “routine” rounds.
8. Has mine ears heard (or eyes seen) wrong? Within 3 months we get 312,837 “LEGAL illegals” vs 389,129 “ILLEGAL illegals” over TWO DECADES.
9. What with the fluctuating levy???
10. What about our own (scarce) good quality local human resource (but underpaid, just because foreigners are cheaper labour)?
11. The papers failed to mention that employers are not only companies, factories, construction contractor etc., all that may have more than one top executives (few individuals as boss), but also individual bosses e.g. landowners (usually agricultural), housewives who hire maid/s. The point is, 22,862 employers who registered the illegals are ONLY a fraction of total number of all the employers in Sabah. Yes, only 22,862 employers registered their legal illegals during Aug to Oct 2008 “Amnesty” program in the WHOLE of Sabah!
12. Not only that, there are still MANY employers who employ illegal illegals (as opposed to legal illegals registered by the 22,862). Of course I don’t have the prove, yet. However, try to ask (discreetly please) the job agencies about last minute frantic employers trying to register their “unlegalisible” illegals (because registration date was closed). You’ll find MANY of them there are still employing those “poor souls” because they couldn’t register their workers. *shrug*
13. And now, the Home Minister wanted to name and shame them. Wah! Very kaya ah the Ministry?
14. Where to to put the names? Newspapers? Have to print very small lah, who wants to read small font and boring lists? TV? Impossible task and wastage of rakyat money! Well, perhaps some “object learnings” where you prosecute only a few of those employers, save money and instill fear (duh!)? But fair or not? You tell me!
15. Ah, I forgot about internet. Who give a damn about some lists in the internet? Well, except you also forward their names to the bank or IRB (loan blacklisting) or Immigration Department (travel ban) or perhaps the police can arrest them all and/or prosecute them (someone asked me, “Wah, so free ah the police? No crime to solve/prevent?”)??? Or... or...
16. Someone tell me, “Need to survive mah.” Yeah right!
17. Oh, I have almost forgotten about the NON-compulsory preliminary medical checkup for legal illegals like last year. So, to all those who have INFECTIOUS and NOTIFIABLE diseases, you don’t need to worry because:

1. The first year is exempted from checkups and the year after, you just need to find OTHER’s blood/body for checking (can use this for first years too);
2. The “qualified health officers/staffs” are “susceptible” to being “ignorant” or easily “deceived” by the “evasive” foreign patients’ “tricks” in supplying health information or simply “equivocal” about how the health procedures are supposed to be conducted in TRANSPARENT and ETHICAL manners.
3. Growarisan not yet (or won’t be?) exercising the new foreign workers quarantine procedures. Why? You go ask them!

Did someone just accuse me of lying about the claims above. I say, bring it on! And please, please be a RESPONSIBLE Malaysian and Blogger!

As much as I like to “vent” my thought, I think I must give constructive ideas as well. However, many people had voiced their proposals way better than what I would have given. So, I’ll just put few good links below: ;)
1. Set up Royal Commission on Inquiry [Related news]
2. Step up enforcement [Related news]

Disclaimer: No offense to the kind, incorruptible, hardworking and dedicated officers, enforcers, employers, job agencies and staffs, local civilians, tourists, and legal foreign immigrants (workers), and all their families. Oh, also to those innocent men, women, children and bystanders. :D

Cheers and have a nice and happy days. ;)

My Blogging Ritual

First, the definition of the word "ritual" from http://www.dictionary.net/ritual:

"Ritual \Rit"u*al\, n. [Cf. F. rituel.]

1. A prescribed form of performing divine service in a particular church or communion; as, the Jewish ritual.

2. Hence, the code of ceremonies observed by an organization; as, the ritual of the freemasons.

3. A book containing the rites to be observed.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)"

If you still don't know what is blog by now... *shrug* Blog is define as:

"We have not found any entries on our dictionary databases for the word you entered. Perhaps you are looking for one of the following instead?

log bog clog flog slog brog blob blot blow

Please check your spelling. If you believe the spelling you have used is correct and the word exists below is an extensive alphabetical list of other dictionary sites you could try... (followed by a list of online dictionaries)."

:D

Okay just playing but that was really the result from http://www.dictionary.net/blog. Blog is actually abbreviated word from Web-log.

According to [Wiki]:

A blog (a contraction of the term weblog) is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

Back to my very brief topic. :) My blogging ritual is what I do every time I open my blog:
1. Check if I have got any comment in my post.
2. Check my chatbox.
3. Check my right-side (or active) blogroll.
4. Login.
5. Update my H1N1 pix.
6. Update my Vote Sipadan for New 7 Wonders of Nature.
7. Reply comments to my post/s.
8. Read new post from the blogroll list.
9. Make comment on blogroll list.
10. Post new entry/ies.
11. Reply chatbox.
12. Visit other blogroll (left-side/static) if got time.
13. Make comment on that blogroll.
14. Logout. ;)

You all have a nice day. ;)

(Un-)1(-ted-by-)University, People's (students & parents) Fists, Performance Blunder

Feeling rejected: Several of the 4,574 students who had applied to the apex-status Universiti Sains Malaysia holding up acceptance letters that were downloaded online at the university in Penang yesterday.



Unhappy lot: Some 200 irate parents and students gathering at the university’s registrar’s office to complain about the technical blunder.

Read the [news].

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reanaclaire said: such a big disappointment, i tell u,.. pity the students and the parents,... how can such thing happen.. if i were the parent, i surely feel sad for my kid...

KY replied: Me too. If I had a kid lah. ;)

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MariaFaizal said: So much for the 'world' class university.USM-Apex can't even handle the application level :(

KY replied: It was human error they said... If they could shortlist those student, it means they were good but not good enough, qualified but not not qualified enough, ...

---

D.L Sumunie said: Kasian the parents and students...:<

KY relied: I wonder how the U would compensate their trouble getting there... The tambang, the duit minyak, the makan minum, the penat lelah, the hancur luluh (dashed) hopes...

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DeePo said something. :)

KY replied: Totally understood. ;) :D

A Helping Hand? Don't Think So.

Excerpt from Reuters

BEIJING - A Chinese man was pushed off a bridge by an angry passer-by after his threat to commit suicide held up traffic for five hours, Chinese media reported on Saturday.

Retired soldier Lian Jiansheng, 66, broke through a police cordon and reached out to shake the hand of would-be jumper Chen Fuchao before shoving him off the bridge.

Read more [here].

My thinking:
1. Wow! The would-be "suicider" accepted handshake from "fans"! Is that for real???
2. If a "suicider" needed pushing it means that he was not really into suicide.
3. Why after FIVE HOURS no angry passer-by cheer, "Woi! Why don't you jump ahead and "ease" your life (and ours)!"?
4. Oh, ya. The title is inspired from the same news, at the end, (I misquoted) "Lian gave Chen a helping hand".

Real Man Has Beard - Duh! :D

My favourite Pix: A. Samad Said ;) Sasterawan Negara (1986) SEA Write Award Winner (1979) His Facebook He's in [Wikipedia] (Malay lingo)

Beauty is in the Eye of Beholder

Promised to write a post about beauty but never got quality time to draft. (Alasan!) ;) Presenting you this video, old news but always refreshing to watch.



Check her full singing [here]. (More than 59 million views)

Latest news: ['Britain's Got Talent' starts semi-finals with Susan Boyle leading the pack]

Interesting news excerpt: "By Douglas Wight, 10/05/2009
SUSAN Boyle turned down the chance of a dream dinner date with President Barack Obama in Washington . . . to stay at home and wash her hair, we can reveal." Read more [here].

Beauty is everywhere. You only have to look for it. Cheers! ;)

Current Mood

Feeling like this cat. :D

Instant Millionaire, Instant Criminal

Read the news [Police hunt couple fleeing bank error].

Excerpt: "SYDNEY (Reuters) - New Zealand police have launched an international search for a couple who fled with millions of dollars after NZ$10 million (US$6.05 million) was accidentally deposited into their bank account."

My reaction:
1. How could you accidentally give someone NZ$10 million?
2. How could a highly secured and advanced banking system "make" a mistake?
3. The couple must be very quick on their foot (to flee) and mind (to take advantage). :D
4. Wow! They have become instant millionaire!
5. Wow! Now they become criminal (instantly after become millionaire). :D

[UPDATE]

The bank says the mistake was the result of human error and not a systems problem. It is pursuing criminal and civil action to recover the money and reviewing procedures.

Earlier this year a Pennsylvania couple withdrew more than $175,000 that had been mistakenly placed in their account after a bank error.

Randy Pratt, 50, and wife Melissa, 36, withdrew the money, quit their jobs and ran off to Florida before being caught. Randy said he thought the money was "a gift from God".

Westpac says the account holder tried to transfer about NZ$6.7 million out of the account but NZ$2.8 million was recovered, leaving the thieves with NZ$3.8 million.

Meanwhile, police say "two individuals of interest to the inquiry have left New Zealand and are believed to have travelled to Hong Kong. Enquiries to locate those individuals are continuing through Interpol in Hong Kong and official channels in Beijing."

Banker & Duck Tales

Spotted this on TV3 today. Have fun watching. ;)

Two Days Cuti

Check the item "I". Got this from Indonesian Consulate Perjanjian Pekerjaan (Work Contract), page 3. Wow! Indonesia, the most populous Muslim country asks Malaysian employers to give two (2) days off for their countrymen (irrespective of religion).

Cheers. Have a nice day. ;)

WHO needs time... Who? WHO. Who?

Like the AFP news topic. :D Read the [news].

Incommunicado

Incommunicado:
1. In a state or condition in which one is unable or unwilling to communicate;
2. In a manner in which communication with outsiders is not possible, for either voluntary or involuntary reasons, especially due to confinement or reclusiveness; [Wiki]
3. Without the means or right to communicate. [wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn]


Unable to update blog for 2 days due to:
1. Faulty monitor
2. PC got infected with viruses
3. Blackout (celebrating Earth Hour now and then) ;)
4. Busy-ness

Happy Teachers' Day

Unusually Me

Current Mood (One eyebrow raised/twitching), must be something will happen. Ugh, I'm quite superstitious. ;)


Modified Raised-Eyebrow-Smiley by ~Prince-of-Powerpoint on deviantART
Ugh! Was accused of being insincere. Didn't know what to say and still don't. Maybe I was. Sigh... Sorry if you can't read this text properly, the font size represents my current mood... Kecil Hati (小气)...

Dare to play "child's play", anyone?

Got this from email. Look at the pix below:
Which way is the bus above traveling?

To the left or to the right?





Can't make up your mind?

Look carefully at the picture again.

Still don't know?

Primary school children were shown this picture and asked the same question.

90% of them gave this answer:

'The bus is traveling to the right.'

When asked, 'Why do you think the bus is traveling to the right?'

They answered:

'Because you can't see the door to get on the bus.'



How do you feel now???

I know, me too.

Unduk Ngadau (beauty pageant) at Wisma Merdeka

"Unduk Ngadau is a beauty pageant held during Kaamatan in Sabah, Malaysia.
The Unduk Ngadau, or Harvest Festival queen, symbolizes Huminodun, the sacrificed daughter of Kinorohingan.
The pageant was formerly known as Miss Kadazan (1960-1970), Miss Harvest Festival (1971-1980), Ratu Kaamatan (1981-1990). The current Unduk Ngadau title has been in place since 1991."

Source: Wikipedia

BTW, this is not an essay about Unduk Ngadau. :D Saw an advertisement from Daily Express on May 8, 09, about WISMA MERDEKA UNDUK NGADAU CONTEST, and this pix:


The text reads:

Ms Clarice Tony Winner of
Wisma Merdeka Unduk Ngadau 2007
(The actual year Ms Tony won was 2006.
She herself affirms it. Thanks Clarice!)


Asked Ms Clarice Cassandra Tony if it was her, said she was. And I was like, "Wow! I 'know' a beauty pageant!" :D Here is the link to her [post]. And here the colour pix of her.

Alang-alang post about this already. Why don't I just reproduce the whole ad. :D

WISMA MERDEKA UNDUK NGADAU CONTEST
16th May 2009 (Saturday)
12 Noon - 2 PM

Attention to all single girls (meaning you can lie, like I'm married but single, no?) :D aged 18-25! Do not miss the opportunity to enter the following contest. Hurry, only the first 15 contestants will be entertained. (Meaning what? They have ONLY 15 entry forms?)

This contest is open to all Malaysian citizen age 18 to 25. Those interested can obtain the entry form (free of charge (but limited?)) from our Information Counter at Ground Floor, Phase 1, Wisma Merdeka, (Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, just in case someone from Perlis or Johor or Sarawak or all other non-Sabahans asking about WHERE THE HELL IS WISMA MERDEKA? They did say all Malaysian, didn't they?). :D For further information, please call Chris or Susan at 088-232763.
Closing Date: 14th May 2009 (or at the earliest entry form is out of stock, and at the latest 2 days before contest!)

No offense guys. :D

And Today is Mother's Day

Did a piece about my mother here. ;)

Guys, don't take your mother for granted! ;)

Spotted this from AngelBear's blog.

A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper, and handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his Mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, and this is what it said:

For cutting the grass: $5.00
For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00
For going to the store for you: $.50
Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping: $.25
Taking out the garbage: $1.00
For getting a good report card: $5.00
For cleaning up and raking the yard: $2.00
Total owed: $14.75

Well, his mother looked at him standing there, and the boy could see the memories flashing through her mind. She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he'd written on, and this is what she wrote:

For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me:
No Charge

For all the nights that I've sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you:
No Charge

For all the trying times, and all the tears that you've caused through the years:
No Charge

For all the nights that were filled with dread, and for the worries I knew were ahead:
No Charge

For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose:
No Charge

Son, when you add it up, the cost of my love is:
No Charge.

When the boy finished reading what his mother had written, there were big tears in his eyes, and he looked straight at his mother and said, "Mom, I sure do love you." And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote: "PAID IN FULL".

Belated Wesak Entry

Cleaning my old boxes and I found my childhood love letters/diaries. :D Here is one that somehow related to Wesak. ;)

A friend once asked me, "What is the importance of Wesak (to you – the intended question)?" She thought I was an alim (devout) Buddhist.

"Holiday of course! And the feast!" I answered merrily. :D And she raised one eyebrow.

End of story.

That happened when I was 9-year-old. My (pretty) friend was 10-year-old mixed Malay-Kadazan. So you see, had she asked that question to me now I would have answered differently. BTW, I had a crush on her at that time. You know who you are. ;)

Don't want to take your time reading this crap. Have a nice day, and a meaningful (belated) Wesak Day. ;)

Not a Perakian but...

Watched NTV7 7PM news the other day about Courtroom bickering regarding who the "real" Perak's Menteri Besar should be. NTV news gave these two lists (provided by the respective counsel) for comparison:

NTV7: On why DS Nizar should be MB?

1. DUN not yet dissolved.
2. He has not resigned yet.
3. No vote of "unconfidence" made towards him.

NTV7: On why DDr Zambry should be MB?

1. Forgotten. Too long to be committed into my poor memory...
2. Forgotten. Too long to be committed into my poor memory...
3. Forgotten. Too long to be committed into my poor memory...

Basically, what NTV7 news tried to explain, I think, was (from various other sources):

1. PR had 28 ADUNs, BN had 28 ADUNs, the 3 Bebas were “partiless” BN supporters.
2. DS Nizar didn't gain the confidence of the majority, because [repeat no. 1].
3. The Sultan "expected" DS Nizar to resign, because [repeat no. 2].
4. The Sultan had chosen another to be MB, so [repeat no. 3].
5. It was considered disloyalty not to resign because [repeat no. 4].

Why can't NTV7 make simple person like me to understand? :D Ah, perhaps I'm plain stupid, not to mention demented! Of course, how could I NOT realize that?! ;)

BTW, where's the “Against the Constitution” part? *blur* :S Ah, perhaps it was hidden in the “forgotten” part...

---

Probably unrelated news:
Perak’s day of infamy and bedlam
Nizar claim today's sitting 'null and void'
What does the standoff in Perak mean?

[UPDATED May 11, 2009] High Court ruled DS Nizar was real MB but DDr Zambry could appeal.

[UPDATED May 12, 2009] DDr Zambry succeeded in appealing for a stay on the High Court rule in his favour. So DS Nizar may become unreal MB?

Your queue is...

The text reads:
Your queue is 1526.
Current number is 1257.
Please be seated. You'll be served after a while.

Went to Pos Malaysia the other day. When I arrived there was were perhaps 30-40 people only. Thought I was having hallucination looking at the queue number. Ah well, "Perhaps I'll come back after half an hour." (I thought.) Came back later, the number just moved about 20-something. Decided to come back one hour later, but then the number only moved 50-something. So, I put my slip for others. Konon-kononlah good samaritan. :D

Actually, I'm was pissed off. ;)

[Update] Decided to put Kay Leaf's comment here. ;)

KL wrote: Haha... so good business the pos office...

KY replied: Sure, very good business. :D The other counters were ... "occupied" with other "duties". The lone functioning counter staff was doing her job as fast and efficient and polite as she (humanly) able. ;)

[Added May 11, 09] Angel Bear commented: u should see if there is any invincible words that says "tidak payah tunggu, bagus kau pulang."

Hahaha. That was funny. ;)

[Added May 12, 09] DeePo said: usually i will makan first and have my hot coffee...since my head is almost explode wait for it...sambil mnyumpah seranah......hahaha

KY: I did exactly that, er, the sumpah seranah (curses) part. :D

An Unforgettable Experience by Michelle Cham

Read this in Daily Express (May 4, 2009), Express Child section (page 15). Written by a brilliant secondary 2 Michelle Cham. She won the first price of, er, perhaps story writing contest, for the entry with this essay. :D So I put it here (obviously without permission) for you to share. ;)

An Unforgettable Experience by Michelle Cham

Experience is a hard teacher as she gives the test first, the lesson afterward. And I surely had an experience – an unforgettable experience.

It was the end of May coming to June when we were having our school holidays. My friend came to sleepover with me one night. Before we got onto bed, I climbed up onto the table trying to grab two blankets from the top of huge, tall wardrobe.

As I was grabbing the blankets, my friend sat on my bed when she suddenly saw a cockcroach on the floor. She screamed out loud and held on my legs tightly. She was trembling in fear. She then knocked on the edge of the table when the cockcroach went near her. That was then I fell onto the floor. Ouch! What a terrible pain! I was sent to the hospital soon after that.

I was in the hospital for about two days as I had strained my back and broken my left knee. One morning, a little girl came into my room. She sat on my bed, introducing herself, “Hello I’m Lily from room 205 just next to yours. May I know your name, please?”

I looked at her frowning and rolling my eyes. She then looked around and spotted my my patient card on the table. “So, hello, Annie. Nice meeting you and what a nice name you have,” she said.

She asked me to wait for her before rushing out of the room and at that time, my mother had just arrived to visit me. Not long after, the little girl stood by the door, knocking on it. “Can I come in?” she asked while peeping her head into my room. My mother was about to allowed her when I replied rudely. “Can’t you see that I’m busy talking to my mother?”

She then spoke in low voice, “I love drawing but nobody has ever drawn with me. Can you draw with me later?”

I was annoyed and replied, “Better not as I’m going to be busy for the whole day. Furthermore, I hate drawing.” “Oh, sorry for the disturbance then.” She then left my room sadly with her head down looking at her box of crayons.

My mother was giving me a certain look which she always did whenever I had made a mistake. She was about to say something when I interrupted, “I’ll apologize to her tomorrow. I’ll draw her a card of apology. But I’m tired now. I’ll do it tomorrow.” And a smile wiped across my mothers face.

The next day, I woke up early to get my drawing done. I took the card and went to Lily’s room next door. I opened the door silently and was surprised to see people packing up the bags. I asked surprisingly, “Is Lily here?” One of the people shook his head sadly and answered, “I’m her father. She passed away last night due to cancer.”

My jaw dropped. And I immediately asked, “Cancer? Since when?” “Lily has had cancer for three months already. Uh, are you Annie?” I nodded. “She left this for you,” he said and handed to me a piece of paper with a drawing attached. I read the words on the paper:

Give me the eyes of an owl,
To look at you everyday, every night.
Give me the ears of a giant,
To listen carefully to everything you talk about.
Give me the heart of a friend,
For me to touch, for me to understand,
The true meaning of friendship.

From dearest Lily

Tears were rolling down my cheeks as I went out of the room and hid at a corner. I cried loudly as the pain in my hear deepens. Every friend is a chance to open your heart, but whether you take it or not is your own decision. Therefore friendship is a test. I learnt that friendship is what people always talk about but friends give it the meaning, the definition.

No More Foreign Workers for Service Sectors

[Warning: This is a hearsay. Unless someone tell me it's official then I'll remove this heading.]

"TAWAU: Employers who are applying to hire foreign workers are told to forget their intention apply for local workers instead. This is because the Labour Department (Tawau) will no longer issue the letter of certification confirming the utilisation of JCS (Job Clearing System) for employers in service sectors and thus denied them the permission to recruit foreign workers."

The letter of confirmation on JCS utilization is only one of the requirements for recruiting foreign workers. To understand more, please read this news article.

What is considered Service Sectors? This is taken from handouts from Immigration Department.
Restoran / Kedai Kopi
Pemborong & Pembekal
Kontraktor yang tidak mempunyai Lesen CIDB
Perniagaan yang tidak mempunyai Lesen Pengilang
Rumah Kebajikan (Levi RM600)
Pulau Peranginan (yang digazet sebagai Pulau / Pusat Peranginan)
Recycle (Barangan Logam, Lusuh, terpakai)
Pencucian & Pembersihan (Hanya bagi yang mempunyai Tender)
Rumah Ibadah (Tokong / Gereja bagi Tukang Kebun)

However, the source didn’t specify whether all or only certain service sectors are involved in the decision (not to issue letter of confirmation).

Misunderstood

Should I tell her or not? Hmm. Nope! Can’t bear the embarrassment. :D

The other day I got a “frantic” SMS from my “potential” GF. :D Said she was stranded somewhere. So I asked her if she’s alone and if she’s still there. She said she’s with her sis (half relieved already) and they “WERE” waiting for cab.

I didn’t ask further, borrowed my uncle’s car and drove straight to her place. En route there I SMSed her to wait for me. No respond after 5 minutes. I was getting worrier (I was worried already.)

Drove top speed and reached the place but no one was there. I was worried sick! Called her hand phone, no reply. Then suddenly, she SMSed, “I'm at home. Where are you?”

I SMSed back, “Oh, I thought you’re stranded here!”

“No! I said we WERE stranded. Now, where are you?”

“Home!”

“Good night then.”

“Good night.”

Ah, just another boring story. Well, at least she’s safe. :D

Dear Dato' Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein (nothing really, just a question of rumour about Immigration Department's Irregularity)

[UPDATED: 02 May]
Bernama reported (1 May):

The Cabinet has decided to defer temporarily the implementation of the foreign worker levy hike, Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr. S.Subramaniam said.

"The Cabinet felt that it was not the right time to implement the levy hike on foreign workers due to the uncertain economic situation,"

"With this decision, the implementation of the doubling of levy payment for foreign workers will be deferred temporarily until the economy improves," he said.

My comment: Then my request considered scrapped for now. ;)

[UPDATED: 25 April]
The news is confirmed already. Daily Express reported (25 April) in a very small paragraph:

"Meanwhile, in a statement the levy for foreign workers in the services, agriculture and factories sector will be increased effective May 1, this year."

However, the "rumour" of the different levy increase between the two agriculture sectors are still the same. If someone can correct me I'll be happy to add it here. ;)

[ORIGINAL POST]
First of all, allow me to congratulate Dato’ Seri on your appointment as Minister of Home Affairs Ministry. It is hoped that you will do as excellent as or better than the previous administration.

Now, to the task. I heard a “rumour” that spreads like wildfire. Nothing scandalous or mind-boggling really. (No, not like the bribery investigation of the department director/s.) Just that the last time when the then DPM (now PM) presented the Mini Budget (Financial Stimulus), he said ONLY the foreign worker’s levy for service sector would be raised (and 100% at that) which causes much furore from the service sectors especially from the restaurant owners.

The “rumour” I heard indicated that NOT ONLY the foreign worker levy from service sector would be increased 100% but also from and [KY: Edited 24 April] the manufacture sector and but also from [KY:Added 24 April] SMALL SCALE (less than 100 acres) AGRICULTURE sector. Starting 1st May 2009, all foreign worker employers from those sectors mentioned were needed to pay additional 100% the cost of levy aside from the usual fees. Exceptions were given to the construction and LARGE SCALE (100 acres or larger) AGRICULTURE sectors.

I am not against the notion that the employers should employ local instead of foreign workers. However, I would like to quote from an employer, Mr YS:

“Kalau pekerja tempatan boleh diharap kami tak bising punya. Ini! Baru kerja dua bulan sudah berhenti!” (If local workers can be depended then we have no qualm one. This! Just after a couple of months work they quit already!)

No, if I know Mr YS well, he isn’t the one who treat his worker badly. In fact, he rewards his workers by their work performance, accordingly and generously, even more so if the workers are local. According to another employer, Mr G, not all but most of the available meagre numbers of (former) local workers actually:

1. Demand more wages.
2. Demand more day off.
3. Do less work (less productive).
4. Have habit to disappear once supervisor is away.
5. Have habit to steal from employers.

Well, I could add more, but I’m sure you see what I mean. I know there are some fair employers (and unfair ones at that) and hardworking local workers out there. However, the case of bad impression of the local workers is not something that can be overlooked or brushed away. Okay, I’m straying from the main question.

The point is, if the department wanted to (according to that “rumour”) double the levy for hiring foreign workers, they should be FAIR to all. Supposedly you ask, “How unfair?” I suppose I can provide you with a table for comparison (based on Tawau Immigration Department Fee):

Sector	Usual Fee (RM)			Additional Fee (RM)	Total (RM)	Percentage Increase
	Levy	Pass	Process
Agriculture (Small-scale)	360.00	60.00	10.00	360.00	790.00	45.57%
Agriculture (Large-scale)	540.00	60.00	10.00	-	610.00	-
Construction	960.00	60.00	50.00	-	1,070.00	-
Manufacture	960.00	60.00	50.00	960.00	2,030.00	47.29%
Service	1,440.00	60.00	50.00	1,400.00	2,950.00	47.46%

If you can see from the table, all 3 double levy sectors have increase of at least 45% cost. However, please check between the two different scale agricultural sectors. The small-scale agriculture employers need to pay MORE than their large-scale agriculture “counterpart”. Talk about helping small time/scale agriculture! Sorry if I appear to be “shouting”. ;)

So, Dato' Seri, since Immigration Department is under your Ministry, can you confirm or deny this irregularity (with explanation how this “rumour” arise if it’s okay with you), and possibly (if confirmed that is), can you influent to have them fixed/amended (fairly), or postponed (which is preferable)?

Thank you for taking your time to look into this insignificant inquiry.

KY (An insignificant voter) ;)