PROTON CITY

I am imagining myself in the year 1955. I am about to take the bus from my hometown Batu Kikir Jempol, Negeri Sembilan to Tanjung Malim, Perak to attend Sultan Idris Training College. Obviously Negeri Sembilan and Perak was among the four Federated Malay States. So the road link is quite easily accessible.

In a few years time I will be a teacher and teaching my fellow son of soils. Now fast forward to 2010 A.D...................................................

Each time we went up north of the Peninsular Malaysia, my father will always make it a point to stop at Tanjung Malim to reminisce his college days. Whether to stop at the petrol station toilet or even to dine we must stop at Tanjung Malim. My father will always peek at the old SITC buildings.
BUT
That did not happen the last time we went up north to attend a relative's wedding in Taiping. My father asked me to drive at 110 km as usual and get him to Kuala Pilah safely.

A university student asked me why must Proton have a city in Tanjung Malim? My answer: My late father said as with his friends, "he attended college to inspire his students for independence from the British and certainly after 50 years of independence he never expected the developments to be as vast as it is now". Malaysians can build its own cars and even have an auto city. There were tears on his face....
Al- Fatihah

I will not let stupid emotions affect my choice of a leader. I WILL NEVER choose someone who has criminal records no matter how religious he is.

KLIMS 2010

I was at the Kuala Lumpur International Motorshow 2010 held at PWTC last week. Honestly I feel my RM15 spent on the entrance fee was not worth it. Reason I do not see any big names other than the usual brands. I was hoping to see big names but it was not there.

Proton showed its Emas car and other 5 concept cars which bear the names of five Malay warriors namely Tuah, Jebat, Lekir, Lekiu and Kasturi. Perodua also showed some new models. But I feel Proton can do more. I am yet to find Proton convertible and coupe models. Maybe in the future..

The last time I was at a car show was in the 1970s. The show was held at Changkat Pavilion near Stadium Merdeka Kuala Lumpur. I remember then the residential project of Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) was about to take shape.

I am disappointed that Chevy only reveal the new Camaro. I am not much of a Camaro fan. Where were all those names such as Jaguar, MG, Skoda, Volvo, Benz , BMW etc? I can't find those at KLIMS 2010.

But I must congratulate Malaysia Automobile Association MAA for being able to organize such a big event. I know it will better next time!

PEN PAL

That was the photograph of my pen pal whom I got to know when I was 12th. His name was James R Sollis. I hope I spell the correct surname. When I was in Canada I tried  to find him but to no avail. His last address was in Tenn.

I think it was a Disney program then or was it Sesame Street where they have a pen pal section.

I hope to meet James one day.

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.