POS MALAYSIA sucks

On Thursday 9/12/10, my wife went to Pos Malaysia Taman Sri Sentosa (Jalan Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur) to send an important mail to Alor Setar by registered mail. She was given the 'red' sticker with number RD721518801MY.
On Monday 12/12/10, the recipient in Alor Setar said the mail still not received. We then clicked on Pos Malaysia web page to track the registered mail but the Web replied no such number was found.
On Tuesday 13/12/10, my wife went back to Pos Malaysia Taman Sentosa but the clerk said nothing could be done by her office. She asked my wife to go to Pos Malaysia's Post Processing Center (PPC) at Persiaran Perkilangan at Section 21 Shah Alam to check as that is the likely place where our registered mail has been stuck for past few days.
Instead of going that, we called Pos Malaysia hotline 1-300-300-300 at 2.30pm Tuesday, and the lady replied that she could not found the number either on her computer thus she could not track. So where is our important letter??
In afternoon 13/12/2010, we went to the PPC Shah Alam. Alamak! the staff there confirmed my registered mail has been been stuck in the complex and not processed yet, thus the track number not keyed into system of Pos Malaysia. They promised to get the letter to Alor Setar in next 2 days!!! We wondered though if the staff has indeed 'seen' our mail inside his office. Apparently a big mess is ocurring inside this PPC complex.
If I have sent the letter by ordinary mail on 9/12 (instead of registered mail), it probably already been received by receipient in Alor Setar
We hope (which should not be the case with this national letter service) the recipient in Alor Setar will receive the important letter before end of this week

Paying summons is really a pain and waste of human resources

I reached KL Traffic Office at about 09am 09/12/2010 and got my ticket number after the 300th. Already a big crowd was in and outside the payment office. Alas, then I realised the computer at the PDRM had been offline. Everyone fumed!! Finally at about 10am, the computer came back on line.
I was finally called called to the counter at about 2pm. Upon checking with the clerk, I was informed my few cars had 3 outstanding summons back till 2008!!! Yet, the web sites of 'Rilek' and 'myeg' both previously (25 Nov and 3 Dec 2010) said I did not get any summon!! I checked with the counter clerk on my wife's car and she also got a ticket in 2009, yet again previous check on the 'Rilek' and 'myeg' websites failed to show she got any 'saman-ekor'.
All our 'saman-ekor' were beating the traffic light!! I was surprised as I /my wife might have went through traffic light when the light was yellow, but we never went though a RED light. Havig waited so many hours just to reach counter , I did not wish to argue further on relevancy of each summon. I paid the 50% reduced fine and left the office.
And yah- I don't agree with saman-ekor as I doubted accuracy of each of the summons

PDRM e-providers are doing a dismal job

In Early Nov 2010, I went to JPJ renew my road tax but was informed I have a 'saman-ekor' by the police PDRM. Instead of 12 month road tax, I was allowed to renew for 6 months, until I settle my summon.

I later found out there are 2 e-providers to check summons, one is 'rilek', the other is 'my eg'. Upon clicking on both sites, registered on line, got acknowledgement by emails from both 'rilek' and ' my eg', I then typed in either my IC or car registeration.
Alamak, both sites said I did not get any summon.

It has been 5 weeks since my first check on these e-providers, and I checked again on both sites by 7th Dec. However, both sites still said I don't get any summon. I went to Traffic Police Department in KL, but did not manage to get the service to check summon as their numbers for clients were all given out by 11pm. A traffic police officer commented that 'rilek' and 'myeg' do not have upated summons.

What is the point of getting e-providers if they are not competetnt to update its contents, in this case, summons issued more than 1 month ago?

Bus overtaking in a dangerous manner

On the night 3 Dec 2010 while driving from Johore to KL, there were few buses driven at about 110kmph and overtaking slower lorries, especially on the 2-lanes towards Malacca (3-lanes from Malacca to KL). Nealy all these buses overtook lorries with sufficient notice and safe distance to other road users, thus I do not have problem with their speeding. Unfortunately, there was one bus (body painted red, company name start with DE.....) which tended to overtake with very short notice, practically forcing other cars to slow down quickly behind it. My daughter in my car said this bus company was involved in the recent tragic accident in Malacca which killed many passengers. I was surprised as I thought this bus campany was suspended, unless the suspension only applied to MALACCA route!!

Incorrect headli'looming storm' to cause flood ne of

A major daily should be correct in its report, especially its front page. On 11/11/2010. It headlined 'looming storm' and preparation by civil defence team in a northern state.

Nowadays, prediction of monsoon rain to cause major flooding is very accurate, and up to 5 days ahead. The prolong rainfall in early Nov 2010 that caused major flood in Kedah-Perlis-Kelantan was expected 5 days before the event.

Latest meteorological information (on 11/11/2010) indicates ZERO RISK in the next 10 days (till 21/11/2010) for monsooon rainfall to cause large scale flooding- i.e NO big flood in any state in Peninsular Malaysia /Sabah/ Sarawak.

In fact, with such accuracy, there is no necessaity to freeze leave of EVERYONE to prepare for flood. Just make inquiry with the Malaysian Met Department and their forecasters can advise the risk of a major flood in the next 10 days

However, within the same period 11/11/2010 till 21/11/2010, there could be 'local thundertsorm- not associated with NE monsoon surge' to cause heavy downpour at any place in Malaysia. Such event is 'localised' e.g. KL town centre, certain section along Federal highway etc

TM tidak efficient to maintain my details

In late October 2010, I upgraded my TM Streamyx to RM100 and told by TM Point rep to wait for feedback from TM to do the installation at my house. I patiently waited , but finally (after > 7 days) I sent email (with my handphone number) to TM who informed me that they failed to contact me. Finally TM contacted my handphone and I got the installation completed by evening 10/Nov/2010. (I was hoping to use the new package ASAP to make free calls to other states, but due to delay in completing the installation, have to wait till early Dec to use the facility)

While the installer was doing installation with my PC, I noted that TM has my old house's phone number 03-XXXXXXX for my present house address in its record. When I moved to present address, I have requested TM to transfer this old number but TM did not allow. I thus have to cancel that old number. Thus, it is really surprising that this old number is still maintained as my contact number whereas I have been paying TM bill (and streamyx) for > 12 months on existing phone number 03-YYYYYYY at my present address.
I hv sent sent mail to TM to 'alert' its mistake. Let's hope they have amended my record in its computer.

Big flood affected Kedah-Perlis early Nov 2010

In early November 2010, the most severe flood hit Perlis and Kedah. My in-laws told me never in their 60 years seen the heavy flooding in downtown (bus station Jalan Langgar and other places along Jalan Langgar and Jalan Sultanah etc).
I provide here series of cloud pictures. These are downloaded from USA NRL which uses certain algorithm to enhance the severity of bad weather clouds.
These 'yellow-colored' clouds represent very severe weather clouds with intense rainfall. As a comparison, NRL demonstrated that these 'yellow-color' clouds are normally associated with typhoon/cyclone. In early Nov 2010, there were huge clusters of these 'yellow-colored' clouds which moved slowly over Kelantan-Kedah-Perlis. The intensity and duartion of these bad weather clouds were linked to a tropical depression which was predicted to pass over these northern states. There was no escape for the residents of these northern states, except if warned properly, could have moved their properties to higher ground in anticipation of the most severe flooding expected to occur.

Oil spill due to blow out while drilling for oil can occur in Malaysian water

Do Malaysians think the blowup and subsequent 'largest oil spill in USA' will only happen in deep water drilling (The BP drilling was at 1,500m depth)? Do Malaysians think that our oil drillings in 30-80m depth offshore Malaysia will NEVER meet the same fate as BP?Are Malaysians not concern that similar blow up CAN occur in Malaysian water and the subsequent spill will spoil our beloved beaches in east coast Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah?

In August 2009, there was a blow-out at the West Atlas rig drilling in about 80m water depth (same as Malaysia) in the Timur Sea. The operator was PTTEP, Thai's national oil/gas company while the contractor was the same one which worked the Deepwater Horizon Rig for BP. Oil spilled out from the 80m depth at rate of about 2,000 barrel per day for 10 weeks. The well was finally cut-off in January 2010, the spill stopped but both Indonesia and Timur Leste till todate still has to bear the consequences of the spilled oil.

Investigation of the Timur Sea's blow-out revealed similar faults as those that caused the BP's blow out (see Forbes June 2010 June issue). These faults are the bad maintenance on the 'blowout preventer, BOP' and also process in cementing the hole.

As this contractor is the world expert in drilling, he may be presently doing similar jobs for many on-going drillings in Malaysia!!

I hope PETRONAS experts have pulled up their sleeves in managing the contractor or get the 'right expert to manage the expert'. We want our future Malaysians to enjoy the same beautiful beaches without the oil patches

I demand my taxed money paid to the corrupted officials

On 5 March 2010, the SUN newspaper (by Terence Fernandez) reminded us ""Who can forget the Youth and Sports Ministry spending RM224 for a set of screwdrivers which only cost RM32 retail? Or the ministry forking out RM2,500 for a RM22 car jack?"
I did not forget the reported incidence but I have forgotten amounts being siphoned. To avoid my memory lapse again, I have now put this SUN's edition into my computer under a folder 'corruption by Malaysian Govenment'.
I should further demand Government to pay me back the total difference of (RM224-32, and RM 2,500 - RM 22) as rebate for my paid taxes. In fact all the Inconme tax payers should similar demand similar rebates (in other overly charged items) from the Government

Wow- amazing Singapore 2010

I have never driven in Singapore, but in Jan 2010, I drove a few times in Singapore with the help of a GPS. In the past 30 years, I have been to Singapore a few times for but rarely travelled far from the hotel (only being driven in route between airport and hotels). The GPS performed very well in guiding me through various parts of Singapore.
Purpose of these trips in Jan 2010 were to bring my elder daughetr for interview in Sinagpore, and later (after being offered the job) to move her stuff from KL to her room in a HDB flat. She quit her KL job and took up appointment in late 2010. Another daughter (previous ASEAN scholar) came with us on these trips.
WOW, how amazing has Singapore developed. In morning, there are bad jams on the highway leading to town centre. We drove few times through the tunnel (my error in not following the correct instruction of the GPS), but I am never tired of admiring the beauty of thistunnel (in contrast to the Malaysian's SMART tunnel or the SPRINT tunnel). However, once within centre (Orchard Road, Exeter Road etc), there are no jams. Marvellous!! Poor me for past 25-30 years getting daily jam from outskirt into KL town centre and also jammed for hours within Ampang /KLCC/Bukit Bintang Road. Buses are on time, no rushing. MRT trains are clean. We went to East coast (Maine Parade/Singlap area)- what a beautiful sight of the trees- lined area; it is a pleasure and relaxing to see the people jogging or cycling in the park.. what a beautiful sight---
We went on the night safari tour where we saw the 'tribal dance' of the Borneo Island - seem Singapore has hijacked the best of the Borneo Dance from Malaysia-- I have never seen good performance in Malaysia Sarawak, Sabah or indonesia. What a shame that as a Malaysian, I have to see such a good show in Singapore. Each of the animal performance show was fullhouse - my session the last show and all seats were taken up ( I learned later from others who have seen similar shows in the Singapore night safari that every show has full attendance!). We then jumped on the train which took us through the 'tropical forest' - wonderful experience even though there are not a wide variety of animals as in other 'day zoo such as that in Zoo Negara Malaysia.
Once we have concluded our business in Singapore, we drove back to Malaysia via the CIQ. immediately departing the Malaysia CIQ and driving into Johor Bahru, and seeing the haphazard development, jam and dirty streets, one can feel we are back to 3rd world. AND welcoem to Malaysia-

LAM finally called me on my complaint of one of its Registered draughtsman

In mid December 2009, I sent email and letter to LAM (Board of Architects) to complain on a its member of registered draughtsman who has caused me sufferings on my inability to get the CF from DBKL on completed house renovation. The complaint was that this member has 'sold' its signature to other unregistered draughtsman in obtaining the 'oder to build' from DBKL. A lady from LAM called and asked me to fill in fomal forms of complaint available on LAM's web site.
The renovation works were completed 4 months ago, but during the renovation works, I kept asking this unregistered draughtsman to complete other processes required by DBKL. He refused to answer my call, so I called the registered draughstman who signed the plan as well as letters of submission to DBKL. DBKL has also replied/directed all its letters to this registered draughstman.
Unfortunately, this registered draughtsman refused to proceed, always used the phrase ' Dia makan tulang, lain makan daging' whihc means' 'He ate the bone while others ate the meat'. This already implied this guy 'sell his signature' to earn commission from the many other unregistered draughtsmen, and in my case, he considers he is NOT liable for any wrongdoings with regards to completing the processes to get a CF for my renovated double story house.
By this 'eating bone' for selling LAM signature on renovation plan, this guys is really 'eating lots of meat' . When he came twice to my house 'while my house was still WIP under renovation' following many of my complaint calls, he did not even know which 'project' I was referring to, and he does not have plans of my house. ALL works were done by the unregistered draughtsman.
I shall fill up the LAM complaint form later. LAM should rid of bad members in its list to prevent similar suffereings by the public