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

My sufferings to get CF for renovated house

A bit of history :
(1) In March 2007, I finally completed the S & P to take delivery of an old double story house in OUG, Kuala Lumpur.
(2) I then approached few builidng contractors on proper procedure to get approved renovation from DBKL and also quotation of the renovation. Contractors recommended few draughtsmen or architects. I gatherd some costing information (both DBKL approval and my required renovations) from the survey. Due to cost consideration as well as doubt on the backgroud of the recommended draghtsmen, I went to seek help from DBKL in July 2008.
(3) At DBKL, I asked for help and advice from the Technical Assistant (TA) sitting at the helpdesk at ground floor. The TA pulled cards from few name cardholders on his desk and asked me to discussed further with these guys whom he said know the approval processes on house renovation in DBKL. ( During the discussion, he never offered any direction to me to ask Board of Architect for the list of Buidling Draughtsman who can submit plans to DBKL!)
(4) I called few of these guys, and one of them, Afizul Bin Tajuddin (IC 790420-10-5335 H/P; 012-343 4766) answered and we discussed further at the project site (the house in OUG). We negotiated the price, scheduled payment and works. I took his particulars (IC, phone and photo). I then paid him the deposit as first payment.
(5) Afizul quickly came out with the plan and made further amendments to meet quirement. On 22/09/2008, I went with him to DBKL and submitted the plan to Planning Department (DBKL). At that moment, I realised the signature was 'Jamali Basir -Building Draughtsman at Pandan Jaya. I was concern and asked Afizul if he wotked for this Jamali. He did not answer but proceeded to submit the builing plan to DBKL which accepted the submission and gave me the receipt. He then smiled and said 'don't worry, the proof is here that I am genuine'
(6) On 13 Oct 2008, Planning Department (DBKL) issued a green form which is the approval for the submitted plan. Afizul then proceeded to prepare the strucural plan and later submitted the plan to Buiilding Department (DBKL) . (My fault for not noting there is a directive stated in the Green form of Planning Department that we have to submit a sanitory drawing!). I paid Afizul for the completed works to submit the sructural plan to Budiling Department.
(7) Problems started from here. Since the submission, we did not hear further from DBKL. Afizul did not answer all my phone calls. We then call the Jamali Basir who claimed he 'makan tulang, while others makan daging'. I then realised that Jamali 'sold his signature to Afizul!!.
(8) My wife managed to conatct a En Tahir of Building Department. En Tahir informed that his office had sent letter and contacted Jamali on a minor amendment on the submitted plan. However, Jamali did not respond. He said it was lucky we contacted him, as he was about to reject the plan due to non-action by Jamali. He advsied my wife to come to office to do the amendment herself. My wife called Afizul but again no reply. She then bought the necessary stationary and at that time Afizul retuned the call. He and my wife then rushed to DBKL yo make the amendment (just 2 short strokes of pencil on the gutter).
(9) Tahir reminded my wife on the sanitary plan infront of Afizul. She requested Afizul to complete the plan.
(10) Thereafter, we did not hear further from Afizul.
(11) On 27/03/09, We got the approval from Building Department (yelloe form). We engaged a contractor to execute the renovation. Meanwhile, we kept up contact with Afizul and Jamali. Afizul did not return our call, while Jamali came twice to building site.
(12) On these 2 visits by Jamali, I urged him to submit the sanitary plan and asked him to help to complete the last process (Form F) to get CF (from DBKL) for my renovated house. This Jamali always stated ' dia makan tulang, while others makan daging'. I did say ' so, give me quotation and we would then discuss further on an agreed price'
(13) Alas, this Jamali never responded. I went to Building Department DBKL to seek advice. Their view is ' the builing by-law does not permit me to change Building draughtman on my renovation' . feedback form staff of DBKL indicated this Jamali is a 'rouge' Building Draughtsmand with problems similar to mine (i.e. selling names to submit plans, but no follow up). I then wrote to Jamali Basir (by AR letter) asking him to release himself. He did not reply despite acknowledgement of my letter. I then wrote to DBKL to ask DBKL to release this Jamali Basir.
(14) 01/12/09, DBKL issued me a letter to release Jamali Basir. Upon the receipt of this letter, I googled the web page of Board of Architects (as advised by a friend) to look for registered Building Draughtsman (BD) . I called up few of these BD to seek their service. Their responses were (a) DBKL letter to me to release Jamali Basir ias the BD of my house is not valid for the other BD to take over the works I requested, i.e prepare the sanitory plan and later to complete the Form F to get CF, and (ii) They consider other basis such as responsibilty, legal, etc which are not advisable for them to take over the work of Jamali Basir as the BD.

All my sufferings !!!! Due to one man - this Jamali Basir who lent his signature to draughtsman.


On 11/12/09, I have written a letter to tell the Board of Architect on my present sufferings and chronology of the events listed above

Public beware---- This Jamali Basir is still on the registered list of BD in the Board Of Architects.

East coast Peninsular Malaysia will 2nd flood on 29-30 Nov 2009

For many years, I have been monitoring the changes of wind flow, resultant high waves and rain for Malaysian region /other areas (overseas) of interest.

On first week of Nov 2009, A strong NE monsoon surge coupled with a incoming 'weather system'. brought heavy rainfall (and resultant flood) to the NE coast and Kedah/Perlis.

On 21-23rd Nov 2009, a weather system ('low pressure' which was advised by Guan Typhon Centre as a possibility to develop into a more severe weather system) developed in-situ off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, and brought heavy rain again to east coast states. This pressure system was advised by the Malaysian Weather Department to hit the land of east coast to result to more rain /thus flood , but I preferred movement away (to East towards central South China Sea) from Peninsular Malaysia. Indeed, this weather pattern moved away to East and We in Peninsular Malaysia has beautiful sunshine from 25/11/09 (and relatively calm sea for fishermen to get their catch).

Alas, this weather system is now making a U-turn tn head back towards Peninsular to bring strong winds, high waves and heavy rain again (and thus flood to east coast states) by 29-30 Nov 2009.

I attach a image of the path of this weather system (a 'low pressure')

Police's resources should be used diligently by its men

What is the purpose of police patrol cars? They enable mobility of policement to deter crimes, right? Between 10am till 1pm on Sunday 22/11/09, 3 patrol cars parked by the road between Kesas Highway and OUG. The men put cones to narrow passge to one lane- few of them checked on motocylists (mostly) and motorists, while one stood to direct traffic. Their action did not look an 'operation', more adhoc type. Even if they intend to deter crime, why 3 patrol cars parked at same spot, back-to-back at this spot? These men wasted expensive and useful assets to deter crime in OUG and surrounding areas!