Gunong Ledang, Johor

Me and my buddy Pak Adib had a chance to visit Gunong Ledang.

This is my first trip to Gunong Ledang. I have heard of Puteri Gunong Ledang but I had never known that there is a resort at Gunong Ledang.

Two days ago, Pak Adib and me traveled by car to Gunong Ledang. We stayed at the resort for 2 days; not for holidays but to conduct a seminar.

From Kuala Lumpur we traveled by the North-South highway and exit at Tangkak toll and then passed Tangkak town before arriving at Gunong Ledang.

This is the place:





This is our room:





This is the cupboard and dressing table cum reading table:





Here are the beds:






Fortunately the bath tub was quite nice:





Hehehehe ... the above is a wrong picture. It is this one below:






Gunong Ledang is more than 4,000 ft high. We didn't climb the mountain. We just walk around the foothill and there was a small waterfall for tourists to take a cold bath.




I am back in KL. I am tired and need to take a rest as tomorrow I had many meetings to attend. Good night!

Something I learned today!

Something new I had learned today ....

'Stewardesses' is the longest word typed with only the left hand.

'lollipop' is the longest word typed with your right hand.

'Dreamt' is the only English word that ends in the letters 'mt'.

The sentence: 'The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog' uses every letter of the alphabet.

The words 'racecar' 'kayak' and 'level' are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left.

There are only four words in the English language which end in 'dous': tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.

There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: 'abstemious' and 'facetious.'

TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.

(sent to me by Daniel)

Al Fatihah Yasmin

Al Fatihah Yasmin Ahmad.

May you now rest in peace

Rejoice now as you are back to the Kingdom of Allah

Kindly meet up with Teoh Beng Hock and find a way to tell our Prime Minister the mystery of his fall.

Another Bridge Crack?

This piece of news is reported at bolehlandconstruction blog.

The news is scary. After MRR2 Bridge cracks we never expected another of such news. This bridge is the interchange at Puchong Jaya - LDP, along the stretch between IOI Mall leading to the dispersal roads linking Bukit Jalil, Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong and Jalan Puchong.

Recently we heard of the Stadium Gong Badak, Terengganu roof collapse, Jaya Supermarket collapse, structural defects at Batu Buruk Aquatic Centre, Terengganu, building collapse at Tasik Banding, Gerik, Bukit Antarabangsa slope failures, etc. Now we have Gamuda/Litrak LDP bridge crack.


Go and read the news as here and we wait for further news from Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia, JKR and Gamuda/Litrak

Umno supports MACC & Police in whatsoever

About 60 members of the Ampang Umno division today gathered in the KL city centre in support of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police.

The protest was led by division chief Ismail Kijo.

Also present were members from the Umno divisions in Pandan and Gombak.

Ismail said the MACC and the police should be allowed to continue to investigate Pakatan Rakyat leaders for corruption.

He also warned the people not to politicise the death of Teoh Beng Hock at the MACC building.

"Don't exploit his death and don't evoke racial sentiments," he warned.

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Why I shall not be accepting Zaid’s offer
by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah
The Malaysian Insider

Excerpt

I am under no illusions that Umno is bound for destruction on its present course. Neither do I hold unrealistic expectations about the possibility of reform when the rot has gone so deep.

I am the last person to entertain illusions about the ease of reforming Umno. The party that I joined half a century ago as an idealistic young man has indeed lost its soul. It has become corrupt, this corruption has weakened it, and as it grows weaker it is tempted more and more to fan racial feeling and abuse public institutions to maintain power. This is a death spiral.

The Malay cause was not premised on an eternal zero sum game between the native and the immigrant. We meant to build a nation united by a prosperous, confident and enlightened Malay community, not a permanent state of divide and rule by political lowlife. We meant to foster Malay leadership worthy of national leadership, and we looked to our common future as Malaysia rather than to our past as people accidentally brought together by colonial history.

Our major public institutions and our political system have degenerated to the point that the public no longer trusts them. A democratic system of government cannot function below a certain threshhold of public confidence. The suspicious death of Teoh Beng Hock under the custody of a watchdog body reporting directly to a prime minister who has his own public confidence issues may have pushed us below that threshhold.

What we must do now goes beyond political parties. We need the rakyat to rise up to claim their institutions, and demand that our public institutions are answerable to them. We must wake up to our sovereignty as citizens, reclaim the constitution which constitutes us as a nation and guarantees our rights, and demand a comprehensively reformed government to restore public confidence. We must do this before it is too late.

Extracted from the article published at The Malaysian Insider

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Teoh Beng Hock died bcoz of RM2,400 alleged misuse of fund?

Two tenders for World Expo contract, says MP
Tim Leonard
The Sun

PETALING JAYA (July 20, 2009): The award of a lucrative contract to drug firm Venturepharm Asia Sdn Bhd to construct a Malaysia pavillion at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai has raised more questions, with a member of Parliament asking why the first tender process in which Venturepharm did not participate was cancelled.

Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong, who first raised questions on Venturepharm in Parliament last month, told theSun yesterday that Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen must explain why she cancelled the first process of tender.

"In the first tender opened on March 13 and closed on April 3 this year, nine companies submitted proposals. Venturepharm was not on the list," he said.

"It was opened during Datuk Azalina Othman's tenure as Tourism Minister. But when the new minister took office, a fresh tender was opened on May 13 and closed on June 4. Venturepharm came in only in the second tender and its proposal was not the cheapest."

Wee asked why Venturepharm, which has no prior experience in this field of work, was given the job.

The contract sum was reported as RM19 million, but Wee said the sum was RM19.998 million.

Ng Yen Yen has denied any political link that could have influenced the decision to award Venturepharm the contract.

Venturepharm's director Chen Oyan Yun Shai was unavailable for comments. She was overseas.

Chen's son Chin Fook Kwon, 24, is involved in another company Daro Worldwide Sdn Bhd, which was awarded a contract to operate the Tourism Call Centre.

Two losing bidders in the tender express their disappointment: "We lost some RM80,000 just preparing for the bidding."

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Source: Sun2Surf

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Teoh Beng Hock and Ean Yong were investigated for RM2,400 alleged misuse of public fund by MACC?

Story: Sexy Killer

Subcon cc: "That guy was damn nasty. If I had my way I will whack him up and throw him down the building."

Subcon bb: "Don't ever try to do that. It's a crime."

Suncon aa: "Sent him to the ma, cc!"

A Road Less Travelled

What compelled me to ditch BN?

Today I make one of the most important decisions of my life ...

Today I am persuaded that I am standing on the right side of history at a defining and critical moment of our nation's history.

We see the abuse of power in the use of the federal institutions to harass, persecute and prosecute the leaders of the opposition, institutions that were supposed to protect the rights of the citizens of Malaysia.

The tragic death of 30-year-old Teo Beng Hock is the consequence of one such institution going overboard in its action.

My hope is that ordinary Malaysians will stand up and be counted in the struggle to protect, preserve and promote the growth of this system. Count me in.

I know that I am leaving the comfort and security of my present life for a road less travelled, a tough and rough road and that ahead of me awaits hardships. I am prepared for this last hurrah of my life. May God bless our endeavours, our struggle. CHANGE!

Chua Jui Meng
Former MCA vice-president and former health minister

Source: Malaysiakini

Occupier's Liability

A common duty of care is owed by the occupier of premises.

The duty is also owed to persons "other than visitors". This includes trespassers, persons exercising private rights of way and entrants to National Parks.

A duty will be owed by the occupier if:

(a) he is aware of the danger or has reasonable grounds to believe that it exists;

(b) he knows or has reasonable grounds to believe that the other is in the vicinity of the danger concerned or that he may come into the vicinity of the danger; and

(c) the risk is one against which, in all the circumstances of the case, he may reasonably be expected to offer the other some protection.

The duty is to take such care as is reasonable in all the circumstances of the case to see that the visitor or non-visitor does not suffer injury on the premises by reason of the danger concerned.

The occupier is any person who has a sufficient degree of control over premises.

Malaysia do not have an Occupier Liability Act. However, Section 3 of the Malaysian Civil Law Act 1956 provides that the Malaysian Courts shall apply the Common Law of England and the Rules of Equity as administered in England.

The aide of a Selangor state executive councillor plunged to his death from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Selangor headquarters in Shah Alam.

Teoh Beng Hock's body was found on the rooftop of a building next to the towering block which houses the MACC headquarters.

The MACC is the occupier of the building and could be held responsible for his death. That duty is of care is a duty to take such care as in all the circumstances of the case is reasonable to see that the visitor will be reasonably safe in using the premises for the purposes for which he is invited or permitted to be there.

Today's Thought

There is a moment in every man’s life when he has to make ready for a departure, and at last the moment comes for him to leave his earthly home, and to give an account of his labor.

May every one of us then be able to say:

I have not darkened immortal souls with suspicion or fear, I have been frank, loyal and trustful; I have looked those who did not share my ideals straight in the eyes and treated them with brotherly affection, in order not to impede the carrying out of God’s great purpose, in his good time- a purpose which must bring about the fulfillment of the divine teaching and command of Jesus, “that we may all be one.”



Pope John XXIII

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Thoughts & Motivation

If I have been of service,
if I have glimpsed more of the nature and essence of ultimate good,
if I am inspired to reach wider horizons of thought and action,
if I am at peace with myself,
it has been a successful day.

-- Alex Noble

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It was a tough month of July;
There's much that needs to be done and achieved;
There's a lot unfulfilled;
We must just get going!

It is easy to make a man miserable when he feels he is unworthy of himself .

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Manik Urai Malay dilemma

Your choice - vote PAS or new bridge

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today gave voters in Manek Urai a rather stark choice - choose either PAS or a new bridge for the state constituency.

Muhyiddin told the 12,293 voters that should they back Barisan Nasional they would get a 300-metre bridge connecting Manek Urai Baru and Manek Urai Lama in Kuala Krai.

“We can build it (the bridge), insya'Allah, but there is a condition. It is easy - all you need to do is to 'pangkah' (vote), but you must vote for BN. If not, there would not be any new bridge. If you want the bridge, vote BN,” Muhyiddin said.

The new bridge will replace the existing single-lane bridge, which was built in the 1990s (left).

Muhyiddin said the federal government would also consider building a new mosque in Kampung Temalir, a village which is located in the Manek Urai constituency.

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Source: Malaysiakini

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Insya'Allah, we will have a new bridge!

Insya'Allah, we may have a new mosque in Kampung Temalir.

Insya'Allah, we may have a third bridge connecting to Singapore.

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NEP died 18 years ago, says Tengku Razaleigh

NEP 'dead and buried 18 years ago'
by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah

The New Economic Policy (NEP) had ended over 18 years ago, but we still speak confusingly about liberalising it, lamented veteran Umno politician Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

“The NEP was necessary and even visionary in 1971, but it is a crushing indictment of our lack of imagination, of the mediocrity of our leadership, that two decades after its expiry, we talk as if it is the sacrosanct centre of our socio-political arrangement, and that departures from it are big strides,” he said.

“We were devising a time-limited policy for the day, in pursuit of a set of measurable outcomes. We were not devising a doctrine for an eternal socio-economic arrangement.

“But as I said the NEP is no longer around, why do you feel the need to liberalise something that is no longer around - might as well announce that the NEP is over and gone, why confuse the issues?” he said.

According to Razaleigh, the NEP was set up to “solve finite set of problems” but when it was over, the government did not have the courage to tell people this fact.

“We must break the stranglehold of communal politics and racial policy if we want to be a place where an economy driven by ideas, and skills can flourish.

“We can do much better than cling to the bright ideas of 40 years ago as if they were dogma, and forget our duty to come up with the bright ideas for our own time.”

Instead, he said that policymakers should think of a “new deal” in order for the country to be talent-driven and competitive.

“A fair and equitable political and economic order, founded on equal citizenship as guaranteed in our constitution, is the only possible basis for a united Malaysia and a prerequisite of the competitive, talent-driven economy we must create if we are to make our economic leap,” he said.

The veteran Umno politician also said it was “too early” to evaluate Najib's performance.

“But I think he (Najib) is making effort to improve the situation. He is going all out, that poor fellow... he is working hard to bring in more investment into the country to provide employment and jobs for our people,” he said.

However, he urged Malaysians to trust “less in personalities and more in policies”.

“Look less to politics and more to principle, less to rhetoric and more to tangible outcomes, less to the government of the day and more to enduring institutions - first among which must be the Federal Constitution,” he said.

Razaleigh said Najib's 1Malaysia dictum should be evaluated against issues such as the constitutional crisis in Perak and claims of corruption in the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) project.

“I don't know about you (but) I am embarrassed that after 50 years of independence we are still talking about bringing Malaysians together.

“I would have wished that by now, and here tonight, we could be talking about how we can conquer new challenges together,” he said.

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Source: Malaysiakini

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I don't know about you but I am not embarrassed. We are not able to talk about meritocracy and global competitiveness and that is important as I am competitive.

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Terengganu Aquatic Centre Shut Down

Leaky RM18m aquatic centre shut down

NST Report
10th July 2009

The RM18 million Aquatic Centre in Batu Burok here was ordered by the Works Ministry to close indefinitely yesterday. Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said too many flaws had been detected in the year-old centre, making it unsafe for public use.

"We inspected the lower ground level and found too many leaks.

"We also found rusty structures and faulty electrical connections that were exposed to water. All these have made the centre unsafe for use," Shaziman told reporters.

In an immediate response, Public Works Department director-general Datuk Seri Dr Judin Abdul Karim, who was also present, said action would be taken against the Terengganu PWD officers who were the supervisors of the project if they were found to be negligent.

The state PWD was in charge of the contract, which meant they implemented and managed the project.

The closure of the aquatic centre is the latest blow for the state government after another of its sporting facilities, the roof of the RM228 million Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Gong Badak, collapsed on June 2.

Shaziman expressed regret and questioned how two important and costly sporting projects ended up this way.

"We have asked the contractors (Pakatan Nadiwangsa Sdn Bhd) to conduct immediate remedial works as the project is still in its defect period."

Shaziman said, more importantly, the PWD found other weaknesses.

They included its design, the implementation of the project and the supervision of the project when it was being built.

"Maybe they hurried the project to meet the (Sukma) games deadline but this is not an excuse why the project did not meet the required standards. This is supposed to be a safe facility for the people."

Shaziman said PWD must, from now on, look seriously at how it conducts its projects.

He said the department must stop looking only at deadlines and instead ensure specifications and quality standards were met.

"We do not want projects that are unsafe and have short lifespans. This aquatic centre is a good example. It is just one year old and already there are so many problems. This is definitely not healthy."

Shaziman expected a preliminary finding on problems affecting the aquatic centre to be submitted to him by the federal PWD in 10 days.


Source: NST

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I felt sorry for my buddies in JKR Terengganu. They have now become the scapegoat for someone else.

Gaji sikit, kena tanggung dan jawab!

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Malaysian Dictionary

Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat defined "Bail Out" as an act of giving money to failed distressed organization that would not be repaid.

He was commenting on the RM4.382 billion soft loan given to the Port Klang Authority (PKA).

"PKA not only has to repay the loan but also has to repay it with an annual interest of 4%," Ong said in an interview with Dialog@1 on TV1 last night.

This is something new to me. I have studied economics and I have difficulty to digest.

In Wikipedia, "Bail Out" is defined as: "an act of giving capital to a failing company in order to save it from bankruptcy, insolvency, or total liquidation and ruin".

Bailout of a company might be seen as a necessity in order to prevent greater, socioeconomic failures.

Bailout is also seen as an unacceptable passing-of-the-buck to taxpayers.

Government bailouts are criticized as "corporate welfare" which encourages corporate irresponsibility.

Bail Out is definitely about giving good money to rescue the bad situation of an organization in distress and whether interest is charged for the loan is another matter. PKA's soft loan is a bail out, like it or not, my dear minister.

Tsunami again?

Unknown Source!

See the picture below:



There is a prediction that there will be another tsunami or earthquake hitting on 22 July 2009.

Predicted that it is going to be really bad and countries like Malaysia (Sabah & Sarawak), Singapore, Maldives, Australia, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Philippines are going to be badly hit.

It may be wise to stay away from the beaches in this July month.

Better to be safe than sorry.

July 22, 2009 is also when there will be sun eclipse. On 22 July 2009, a total eclipse of the Sun is visible from within a narrow corridor that traverses half of Earth. The path of the Moon's umbral shadow begins in India and crosses through Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and China.

A solar eclipse means that the moon is blocking the sun. The moon has enough gravitational pull to cause the tides other natural phenomena on earth. The sun has enough gravitational pull to keep the earth in orbit.

The theory is that during a solar eclipse, the moon has the Sun's added pull on the earth's tectonic plates. When the Sun and Moon are together on one side of the planet, they pull together and lift up the earth's tectonic plate, just beneath the eclipse. This causes the plate to shift upward, and then an earth quake when the lifted plate gets the little extra push (lift) it needed to move over its neighboring plate. The theory may be hair brained, or it might actually have some pull to it.

The theory that the gravitational pull of the Sun and Moon pulling together will do the following things:

1. Lift the tectonic plates
2. Cause the tide to rise more than usual
3. Cause an underground molten magma tide to dip and raise the plates following the water tide.

I don't know whether it will happen or not. I thought it will be good to share this "rumours" with my readers here.

Please treat this news as rumours!!! However, I am staying away from the beaches. Let's go visit the bitches ............

Another BayiSingh in my life's journey

Sometime ago, last year, there was a young boy sitting at the front row at a seminar I was facilitating. He looks more like a boutique toyboy, a rich man's son. During the seminar his hand phone never stops ringing and each time he has to walk out to take the calls. However, his phone was on silent/vibrating mode and it doesn't disturb the others.

This guy asked a lot of questions at the seminar. He seems eager to learn, far too eager to learn such that, at times, it was quite annoying. Anyway, he was young and I had to respond to all his queries.

After the 2 days seminar he invited me to have dinner with him as he had things to discuss with me. I became his mentor and coach thereafter.

This stylish boy was indeed a son of a rich and successful entrepreneur who owns a listed company, a very successful company. This guy has so much energy and drive; he has great dreams and he pours his heart and soul into his works . He drives the business at extreme speed and power. His passion in his work and his drive and energy would cause great anxieties to his parents and colleagues, in particular, his father who is conservative and a careful businessman.

Less than one year, this boy has set up a number of new businesses models and everything is going his way. Each time when he discussed with me on his desires and intention to venture into new business and wanted my advices I had to pull him back and insisted that he ponder over those new ventures and analyzes the risks and its downsides. I am more of a critic than a motivator. If you overheard me you would have called me a doomsayer, negative most of the time in my advices.

Most people would have been upset with my comments and opinions (I often poured cold water on hot passions). Though he may be upset but I think he accepts my style and negativity. Most of the time he proof himself beyond my apprehension and illustrated his passion and hard works, and most of all, he delivers the result. I must say, he is destined to rise high and become big in the corporate world.

Today, I was invited to attend a board meeting at his office. The board of directors were to deliberate on a new business venture that may require huge sum of investments. I was quite concern over this venture and had been skeptical over his ability to undertake such big investments and of which is not their core competency. However, after the presentations and deliberations, and after meeting up with all his experts and consultants for this project I somehow felt positive and confident that this project would succeed and would contribute positively towards the corporate business structures and drive the company to a higher plateau. I only have this words for him: "Keep it up and keep going."

The company gave me a Certificate of Appreciation and a gift in a tiny box as a token of appreciation. The box is about 100mm x 75mm in size. I had to leave before the board finish their business as I have to attend another meeting which was rescheduled in order that I could attend this board meeting. As I was in my car I opened up the box to see what's inside. To my surprise it was .... it was ... astonishing ... it's a watch!!!

It's an Armani! Emporio Armani watch!

Thank you, Michael! You are another BayiSingh in my life journey. I truly appreciate your gracious gift and it is really nice and sweet of you. I love this piece.

Thank you once again.

Illegal Charter Flights from Subang Airport

New Sunday Times
July 5, 2009
Page 26 News

'Illegal Flights' out of Subang

NST news crew caught a picture of a foreign aircraft operating charter flights in Subang. That plane has a Malaysian flag on its rudder but the code number on fuselage indicates it is a foreign registered aircraft.

According to NST's report, Subang airport had been used as a hub for illegal charter flights and no actions were taken by Department of Civil Aviation (DCA).

Aviation industry sources claim such operations have been going on for almost 20 years and DCA has turned a "blind eye". "Such practices have been going on for so long because the DCA, being the enforcing authority, is not cracking the whip," NST reported.

DCA Director-General Datuk Azharuddin A. Rahman said his department needed proof before that can investigate the matter.

"Ask those who complain to give us the official complaints in black and white and I will definitely crack the whip. I have been the D-G for 2 years and no one has complained to me," Datuk Azharuddin said.

"Frankly, if foreign-registered aircraft are being used for charter and hire, we will not know it. All the DCA will know is, the number of passengers on board and its destination," he said.

Source: NST: Show us proof and DCA will crack the whip

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Ai shi man! It is really tough for DCA's job. How can they know that's charter flight or private use? Don't blame DCA lah, they also don't know - tak tau mah!

But, Mr Azharuddin, you ask those complainants to write officially to you so that you can investigate ... Sir, do you mean you and your DCA cannot investigate if there is no official complaints in black and white? Ai, this statement sounds so familiar lah, Sir? Datuk, Malaysians who complaint may end up being investigated and charged for making such complain and some even had been detained and charged under the ISA. Even if it is not true but when the complainants have pictures with conspicuous evidence, isn't it good enough for you and DCA to investigate and find out ... I am still puzzled why you need black and white complaints.

Oh, by the way, dear Datuk, the official owner and song writer of Black and White who himself is a black and officially turned white is now dead and his funeral is expected to be held on the 7th of July. Are you attending the memorial services of Michael Jackson, Sir?

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Quote for Today

"Being wealthy is not a sin. It cannot be in a capitalist market economy. Enjoying the fruits of one's own labour is one's prerogative and I have no right to chastise those who choose to live luxuriously."

-- by Lee Wei Ling, Lee Kuan Yew's daughter

News for today: Registration of voters - whose right or who is right?

The DAP and PAS set-up a table for the voter registration exercise at Taman Melaka Baru, Bukit Katil, Malacca. The counter was set-up to facilitate the public to register and become voters. They were helping out the Election Commission to register voters. The EC issued authority cards for them to do this.

At about 6.30pm, a group of people from Umno Youth came and started jeering and harassing them.

About two hours later, a senior state Umno youth division leader who was with the group kicked the table used for registration.

Malacca PAS information chief Sofi Wahab reported that Umno Youth members acted as like thugs, and had even taunted the local council workers.

An Umno youth division leader, shouted vulgarities aimed at DAP and PAS leaders.

Bukit Katil Umno Youth secretary Safrie Abdullah when contacted confirmed the incident but claimed that they were provoked by the Pakatan Rakyat members.

"Last week it was the DAP youth and this week they brought PAS members with them. Such exercise should stop as they do not represent the EC," he said.

Source: Malaysiakini

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Safrie said Umno believes the local residents' association was against the setting-up of such counter by Pakatan members to register voters. They preferred Umno members to register them. It is hope that Pakatan members should not try to provoke Umno and the rakyat. Please let Umno do this deed. They are entitled to do it and if they did not, it is not to be construed that they would not. So, please be sensitive to the people. If the DAP wants to do it, that's fine. Please do not get PAS to jointlly do it as it is not proper.

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Maid from China

Wanita MCA strongly objected to the proposals to allow maids from China.

I don't understand why should Wanita MCA object. The maids are hardworking, low wages and are competent. They don't even need washing machine and they have great skills and expertise in managing the household matters.

This picture is the maid employed by Datuk Ng Yen Yen's husband and the salary is less than RM400.00.