Columbia Icefield

Columbia Icefield, Jasper August 1988

Believe me, that was the real me in 1988. It was not super imposed.I was thin because I ate a lot of sardines. Why? Because it was hard to buy a muslim slaughtered beef or chicken then. We have to buy those from Winnipeg.My critics accused me of eating non slaughtered beef (its beef or chicken but was not slaughtered by muslims) which was untrue. But I did buy some kosher meat and chicken.

I was there in August 1988. The reason I wore a short and the Australian map t shirt was to denote it was cold (below zero) at Columbia Icefield  Canada in August (summer) but it is winter in Australia. I remember as I finished taking that photo, I hopped into my rented car and switched on the heater full blast. I was not a hero!

I thought I could go again to Jasper for a skiing trip but what can I say. There are many other wishes which did not materialize such as wanting to rent a one bedroom apartment at downtown Saskatoon. The rent was CAD 600 yet my scholarship was only CAD 420 per month. Another wish was to take a train trip along Banff and Jasper National Parks.

Lake Louis was another place I envy. But sad to say I burned that picture  I took at Lake Louis during my "uncertain period" between 1991 to 1998. Everybody I met in Saskatoon shared with me the feeling  of having a good honeymoon in Banff and Jasper.

I wish the royal couple Prince William and Kate the very best on their coming wedding.

Canadian Light Source Inc

For more than a year I have been trying to find a direct link between CLSI and Finance. With my limited incomplete B.Commerce knowledge, CLS will help organizations improve their cost structure.

Say in researching for better motor oils and paints, finance will make sure that although the cost of research is huge , the research will produce a long lasting impact on the environment.

I guess the smaller mobile phones nowadays was the result of synchrotron and Canadian Light Source in building powerful computer chips.Maybe then Blackberry and Ipod can be sold less than RM1,000 in Malaysia.

FAREWELL PONTIAC

I am quite emotional to learn that as at October 31st 2010, GM formally terminated Pontiac from its fleet.

I have also come to my senses that in fact I have driven another car (refer to my article 'Automobile' Sunday July 6th 2008). The car was Pontiac Tempest. The reason I drove Pontiac Tempest was to feel the difference between Chevy Corsica and Pontiac Tempest. Obviously Tempest and Corsica shared the same body, as with other GM brands such as Chevy Sprint and Pontiac Firefly.

Maybe I have the 'REZKI' to drive the Proton Inspira to compare it with Mitsubishi Lancer. As you know how can I afford a 100K car? Am I right?

I am tired of waiting. I have waited for 20 years. Let me go!

I AM NOT WELCOME

October 15th 2010 marked my 20th year in Malaysia. Certainly as a Malaysian I would love to be welcome. I don't meant VIP treatment but let me feel ease in this country where I was born.

The reality sucks. 20 years is a very long time. 20 years is not 2 hours and not even close to 2 years. 20 years is 7,300 days and it was a very, very, very long time. I have wasted 20 years of my life here in Malaysia.

Why must stupid bastard Malaysians care so much about where I got the money to put down my Perodua Kancil in 2002? Hello! I am not a bastard politician and I never succeed anything in life. But for sure I don't take no drugs and I have stopped boozing a long time ago.

See! See! I wrote a broken English. Although there is no bombastic vocabularies my English is wrong. Am I? or is it stupid bastard Malaysians who have been bullying and degrading me for the past 20 years who refuse to understand.

There is no point me saving money at Tabung Haji to do my pilgrimage in Mecca because remember I AM NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE MALAYSIA NO MATTER WHAT. BASTARDS! IDIOTS! CELAKA! SIAL!

Remember Tan Sri P Ramlee the great actor of Malaysia. He used those vulgar words and yet his movies was on TVs whether government or private. So buzz off and let me go to Canada.

Fortnight Events

PROTON INSPIRA

Proton launched a new model Proton Inspira recently. This model was developed with Mitsubishi thus certainly it looks like Lancer. I cannot afford Inspira.

RON 97

2 days before my 43rd birthday the government announced a 5 sen increase of Ron 97 to RM2.15 per litre. Obviously I am not affected by this move since my 1 litre Perodua Kancil uses Ron 95 only.

3G SPECTRUM

I don't see Malaysia as a developed nation in 2020. Reason, broadband and internet coverage in Malaysia is 20 years behind. I can understand a poor 3G coverage in a rural area like my hometown Kuala Pilah but to loose 3G connection abruptly while in Kuala Lumpur is a shame. The world is moving towards 5G and Kuala Lumpur is lagging in 3G spectrum. Please do something PM Najib!

BUDGET 2011

As expected when PM Najib and Finance Minister presented his 2011 Budget speech last Friday October 15th 2010, I was asking the question many people asked. That is the deficit.

Back in the 1990s Malaysia had a budget surplus while in reality the current account was largely negative. The situation now is reverse where the budget is deficit but the current account is surplus.

To me 2011 budget has a loophole such that it failed to address the unattractiveness of Malaysia as a place to invest. The corporate and individual tax rates in Malaysia is still high (corporate at 25% if I'm not mistaken). Thus Malaysia is losing its competitiveness to its neighbors.

Most interesting is the exemption of import and excise duties on hybrid cars until December 2011 and maternity leave for public employees. Now that cellphones are much cheaper,I guess I could buy those 3G cells.

With 26000 Malaysians heading for Mecca for the haj, I feel the time has come for the government and Tabung Haji to have a better Tabung Haji Complex. Obviously the Kelana Jaya complex is too crowded and it is a nuisance to the neighborhood at this time of the year. Maybe the present LCCT at KLIA can be used as the new Tabung Haji Complex when the new LCCT terminal near Bunga Raya Complex is complete.

I presume many Malaysians abroad will come home in 2011 as the Talent Corporation takes shape. They should have no problem in getting a good job commensurate with their qualification and experience. I have nothing and I am Not a professional.

Overall it is the budget for the people as PM Najib always said People First, Performance Now.

ISLAMOPHOBIA

PM Najib spoke to the United Nations General Assembly(UNGA)recently. I think his most interesting topic was Islamophobia i.e. prejudice against Islam as a religion and Muslims as its followers.

The prejudice was evident a long time ago. There were 25 Muslim Malaysians government sponsored students attended College of Commerce University of Saskatchewan in September 1987.Four males and 21 females. One male and one female student was discontinued in September 1988. I was forced to leave in October 1990 and I guess the rests graduated in 1991.

Talking about Islamophobia...There were talks among students since we were the first Muslim batch attended the college. There were other Malaysians at U of S but they were NOT government sponsored. Some of my female friends wore the veil or tudung and that made people asking "nuns are attending school too?". Another student asked who will be the next Abu Nidal.

Another aspect is the 'SAMAK' or cleaning with the soil. Muslims do not eat pork, in fact bacon is a taboo (no offense to actor Kevin Bacon) to us.So each time we move to a new place we have to 'SAMAK' the fridge and the big freezer. The procedure is to clean the fridge 3 times with earth water and 4 times with ordinary water. We have to do the same procedure if we were exposed to dog's waste and saliva. Initially there was a misunderstanding but as time went by my very good friend will always have some earth soil stand by every time I went to her place because each time I went there her puppy will always kiss my hand.

I am not sure about the stringent checks at airports since 9/11. I HAVE NEVER BEEN OUT from Malaysia since 15 October 1990. But taking off shoes to me is nothing. I am NO VIP in Malaysia. Checking out shoes to me is nothing, not much of a problem compared to some Malaysian VVIPs, ex PMs and ex DPMs.

As to building a mosque at New York ground zero I have reservations.Initially the idea was good but as many people opposed it then I guess majority wins. To me Muslims in North America must remember their roots compared to the Caucasians and Metis.

Muslims are not terrorists. A Muslim must believe in 5 pillars of Islam, 6 pillars of Iman, the Quran and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Even in Malaysia there were many deviant Islamic teachings. Those people just use their followers for their own selfish gains i.e. money, assets and sex. Those deviant Muslim teachings were the roots of terrorism, so to speak.

But I am just an ordinary Muslim. I must admit while in Canada I seldom go to the mosque for Friday prayers. That is why for the last 20 years I tried my best to attend Friday prayers at the mosque. Furthermore I'm going 50.

THERE IS ONE GOD WHICH IS ALLAH and MUHAMMAD(pbuh) IS HIS MESSENGER.

PROTON Safety Recall

Finally the National car maker has made the call. All those Gen2 1.6 A/T with auto cruise function and Satria Neo 1.6 A/T with auto cruise function manufactured between April 2004 to June 2008 are recalled to inspect the clock springs.

More information at www.protonaftersales.com

1 MALAYSIA - ETP

When PM Najib took the office of the Malaysian 6th Prime Minister, he heed on a trademark of 1 Malaysia. In a nutshell, 1 Malaysia is a principle where the people come first in any government action. 1 MALAYSIA - people first, performance now.

Economic Transformation Program - ETP


While the government was previously the main engine of growth, ETP paves the way for private sector involvement. EPPs (Entry Point Projects) are the mainstream of the newly identified economy. There are 12 National Key Economic Areas (NKRAs)
1)Oil, gas and energy
2)Palm Oil
3)Financial Services
4)Tourism
5)Business Services
6)Improving electronics and electrical
7)Wholesale and retail
8)Education
9)Health care
10)Communication content and infrastructure
11)Agriculture
12)Greater Kuala Lumpur

As for #4 Tourism it could be subdivided into Health Tourism and Education Tourism. I remember when my father had his operation at IJN, there was a couple from another ASEAN nation who had their by pass operation there.

Lately Malaysia has also been a center for students from Africa and ASEAN nations to obtain tertiary education. These students would be traveling to many parts of Malaysia during term breaks.

I am anxious to know the actual size of greater Kuala Lumpur. Will it be like the MSC i.e.Multimedia Super Corridor where it covers the area of KLCC, Putrajaya and KLIA? My instinct says it will also cover the Negeri Sembilan north west area(Nilai or VALue)

HOWEVER
1 Malaysia to me is not completing my Bachelor's degree at Universiti Utara Malaysia UUM (at one time ESB USASK had an MOU with UUM). Never ever I wrote any letter nor I spoke to anyone to complete my BCommerce at UUM. It was absolute nonsense.

To my fellow friends who studied at Commerce University of Saskatchewan, Thank You FOR NOT inviting me to the raya gathering becoz you people do not have my contact number, does it not?